A Backpack Full Of Flowers

She had a Feeling...

So I'm thinking of changing the cover, vote for your favorite!

•year 12•

"Aster?" I asked, looking at her.

This was the third day of her stay here. Her hair, which was almost to her waist, covered her face as she picked at a croissant. Her usually lightly tanned completion was a sickly alabaster. Her golden irises were tinted red and dark bags lined the bottom of her large eyes.

The night before she had a long conversation over the phone and went to sleep at the house on the hill, but she came back in the morning.

"It's nothing. Nothing." Aster assured me. I nodded.

"Who was that, on the phone last night?" I asked.

"My boyfriend." She said casually, making me pause.

"Who?"

"Finn. I think I told you about him, when we were younger?"

"I asked how school was for her, and she told the story on how a girl pushed down the stairs but another boy caught her. She got this dreamy look in her eye talking about this 'Finn' saved her. I felt my fists clench by my side."

"Yeah. I think I remember something like that."

"Yeah. We've been dating for like nine months but he's so fucking aggravating. It's like he needs to know here I am every fucking second."

"Well, I would be too if my girlfriend ran off a some guys house all the time."

She was silent.

"You did tell him about me... Right?"

She sighed. "Kinda..."

"What the hell do you mean 'kinda'!"

She ran her hands through her hair. "All I said is that I'm staying with some old family friend. He's just so..... Jealous that telling him I sleep in the same room as a boy and sometimes in the same bed he would lose his shit."

I got up and leaned against the chair. "So I'm just some dirty little secret then?"

She stood from her chair. "Caleb-"

"Am I some sorta charity case? Huh!" I slammed my fist against the counter. "Am I just some boy who you fixed? Do you only come here out of pity for my fucked up life? Huh!?"

"Caleb-"

"Am I just your little bad boy fling? Just someone who you can tell you daughter about?"

"Caleb!" She yelled, interrupting me. She placed arms around my neck and clung onto me.

"You're not some damn charity case. You're not some story to tell my grandkids?" She sighed and nuzzled her face into my neck. "Caleb, you my best friend, my escape. You're the one that pulls me up when I'm down and carries me to the finish. I could care less about your fucked up life."

We stayed like that for a while until a slow clap broke us apart.

"First lovers quarrel. Nice." Leo said as he walked in, followed by a swollen bellied Penelope:

Aster rolled her eyes and let her arms fall limp by her side. "Whatever. I have to go pack up."

A few hour later we were back from sending off Aster.

"She has a boyfriend." Penelope said, her voice sounding almost as if this was a question.

"Yeah. Finn." I replied. Trying, but failing to keep the bitterness from my voice.

"So, what's the plan of attack?" Leo asked.

I shrugged. "What'd you mean?"

"You're in love with Aster."

Penelope's fork clattered against the plate and smacked Leo's bicep. "Leo!"

"What!" He defended. "We all know it!"

I got up from the table, my feelings towards Aster being a sensitive topic, and left to my room.

Around twenty minutes later a soft knock at the door sounded against the barren walls of my room, then slowly my door creaked open.

"Hey man." Leo greeted as he walked in and sat next to me on the bed. "I'm sorry-"

"Penelope made you come in here." I said, my voice muffled by my pillow.

He sighed. "Yeah, I still think you should tell aster how you feel."

"Leo-"

"I know," he said, lifting up his hands. "I know, just hear me out: you and aster are meant for each other. You guys are past the point of simply friends ship. You're both still young, you got plenty of time."

And with that, he was out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts for another sleepless night.