My Only Exception

Chapter Five

The thing I hate the most about being high anytime is how vividly I can feel everything draining out of me. As I stand next to Aria, I can painfully feel the void breaking back through.

I couldn't focus on the conversation the three were holding in this tiny hotel room, all I could focus on is the fact that I could feel the throbbing in my feet, from the long day of jumping around. I wiggled my toes, hating the feeling of how I could now feel the sensation.

"Link, are you listening?" I sighed as I glanced to Aria's concerned eyes, pulling a small smile onto my face and nodded shortly. "Uh, yeah yeah. I'm just exhausted." I stretched with a yawn, causing the three of the girls to agree.

Aria watched me slowly as I stood from the bed and walked toward the bathroom. I locked the door behind me, turning toward the toilet. My eyes locked with the image of myself causing me to stop altogether.

I barely recognized myself these days. I always tried to keep from looking at myself in mirrors for too long, not being able to stand the sight in front of me. Gripping the counter top now though, I had no choice but to take in the sight that peered back to me.

Underneath the makeup, I guess you really couldn't tell how shitty I actually felt- which I guess isn't really a bad thing. My eyes were dull and I couldn't recognize myself. I guess I never could. I never felt comfortable in my own skin, ever.

I can't remember a time where I actually liked myself, I always found something wrong. Staring at myself now, I just wished for happiness. Why was I not deserving of that?

A knock sounded from the door causing me to release a tight breath, "Hey, you okay?" I nodded to myself, turning and opening the door with a smile plastered onto my face. "Yeah. I'm okay." I smiled wider, attempting to convince my suspicious best friend. Her eyes narrowed, but before she could say anything, the perky red- haired girl spoke up.

"Now that we're no longer tripping off our asses, tell us about you guys. Are you from here, we haven't seen you?" I grinned as I joined the two girls on the bed and spoke first.

"I was born in Connecticut, but I moved when I was young to South Carolina, when my dad extended his business." Both girls looked confused, Ivy spoke up first though.

"Wait, you guys aren't related?" Aria and I glanced to one another and laughed, shaking our heads. "Yeah we are, but not technically. Our moms and dads were and are best friends so we just grew up together as family, which soon became best friends." We grinned at each other, the two grinning at us in return.

"How fucking cool would that be?" Juniper exclaimed, Ivy agreeing. "What's even cooler is that Link and I are birthday twins." Their mouths dropped open, causing a snicker to slip out. "Same year?" We nodded, "me being older!" I claimed, causing Aria to smack my shoulder.

"You always rub that in, sorry I wasn't born in a fucking car!" I gasped dramatically, grabbing my shoulder. My mouth hung open in feign hurt. "Hey! It's not my fault either, in my defense I wasn't even supposed to be born that early!"

"Wait, don't tell me-" Ivy stopped and Juniper finished, "You were born in a fucking Lincoln and named after it?" I threw my head back laughing, Aria nodded as she said, "Yeah, her parents are really fucking cool."

I rolled my eyes at her statement, "Your parents are cool too, don't act like they aren't." She merely shrugged, nodding in agreement. "What about you two? What are y'alls stories?"

"Well," Ivy began, "I grew up here, unfortunately my parents are divorced, I live with my dad who isn't around much. I met Juniper when we were 6 and we've been best friends ever since." Juniper and Ivy smiled at one another with so much love, my heart ached as I glanced to Aria, grinning at her.

"I was born in Maine but moved here when I was 6 with my moms. From the time I remember it was always just Ivy and I." Aria nodded agreeing, "Yeah, same with us. We never really got to go to the same school or anything so this really is a first for us; Being this close without the distance."

"Where did you live, Aria?"

She sighed heavily before grumbling her response, "Stupid ass Georgia. My mom is a doctor and my dad is a contractor, so we moved around Georgia a lot."

Juniper spoke up again, "Please tell me, you guys are going to be attending Westport High."

Aria squealed excitedly, "You guys live in Westport?" Ivy and Juniper squealed with Aria  screaming "Yes" as they grabbed hands. I giggled excitedly, wondering what fate has brought us here into this moment right now.

"This is so fucking exciting! Who knew that this would be our odds. I'm so happy I bumped into you, Link!" I laughed loudly as I agreed with Ivy, her smile beaming brightly in my face.

For once, I could say I was genuinely happy; I don't know how long it's going to last and I know that I can't rewire my brain, but I'm going to try and ignore all of the negative. It's time to live my life and whatever happens, just happens. Sometimes there isn't an explanation, sometimes things just happen.

This year, I'm going to embrace that. I'm tired of hiding away and wasting a life I don't even want to live anymore. Now, I'm going to live like tomorrow is my last day on this irritatingly beautiful earth, it's time to try finding things that make me happy.

Maybe, this time, things could actually be different.

I'll try to be better. If not for me, for them.