Stay With Me

Chapter 1

If you want to know anything about the characters or want to ask any of the characters a question then just ask. I’d really appreciate it. Just tell me your thoughts, I reply to everyone and I love every message I receive, even the critical ones. I just want to improve and I need your feedback to do so.

Chapter one

Walking out of the store, I nibbled my lip, a bad habit that I was never able to shake. I looked up to the sky. I was surprised by the lack of stars. I know that the sky is always orange inLondondue to the street lights, but having lived in the outskirts ofSydney,Australia, my whole life, it was a strange sight. For me, the moon and stars went hand in hand, but it was like the stars had left the moon alone and incomplete. The stars had left the moon to cope with the darkness of the night sky all on its own and that scared me.

 I saw a dark figure out of the corner of my eye, so I clutched my new topshop purchases tighter. I know that nothing was going to hurt me. No one was out there but I was still afraid of the dark. In the dark, people could attack, friends could change and old habits could bubble to the surface.

I hurried towards my small red car, fumbling with the keys as my hands shook. I needed to pull myself together, I am 19, living in the centre ofLondonand every bump in the night frightens me to death. I shook off my fears and memories and placed the bags in the backseat, closing the door and walking to the drivers side.

“Clare?” I heard a deep voice call from the other side of the road, over the roaring traffic. My stomach flipped and heard my keys fall with a clatter to the road. It couldnt be him, I hadn’t seen him in so long. No. Stop. He is gone, you need to move on. I dropped to the floor, running my hands over the tarmac, searching for the cool metallic surface of my keys, I found them and grabbed them. I stood up and spun around just in time to see the tall, muscular figure, jog across the road, the heavy traffic pausing for him.

“Clare!” He smiled at me. It was him. “I haven’t seen you in a year! How are you?” He asked, desperate for me to respond. I had ignored his calls, texts, visits. I needed him out of my life because if I let him in again our relationship would fail and when he leaves me again I will fall back into that dark place. I would let the dark shadow that follows me around engulf me. I raised my eyes to meet his and his small smile fell. He ran his thin, dark fingers through his hair and let out a sigh.

“Clare… Just let me know that you are ok. I have been dying here.” He said exasperated.

“I am so sorry..” I stammered, tears pricking at my eyes as I collapsed onto the pavement. He scooped me up in his arms, holding my weeping frame to his chest, shushing me quietly and stroking my hair.

I pulled myself off him and he ducked his head, placing his hands on either side of my face and wiping my tears away with the pads of his thumbs. His orange eyes were flooded with concern as he stared into mine.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” He asked. I nodded and locked my car again before letting him take my hand and lead me to a nearby café.

I followed him in silence, walking to the furthest corner of the café. He sat down and motioned for me to sit opposite. Pulling myself together and taking a deep breath in, I sat down.

We sat in silence for a while, just thinking. I could feel his eyes boring a hole into my head as I looked down and remembered back to where this all started. A year and a half ago, a new girl moved next door. Her name was Lottie, Lottie Tomlinson and she introduced me to him, Zayn.