TWELVE

|chapter song: panic cord - gabrielle aplin |

|dedication: _heyorhi - for the dope cover xx |

TWELVE

After that, neither of us spoke.

We both were deeply absorbed in our thoughts, my mind doing a terrific job of constantly replaying things I wanted to forget. If there was a pause button, everything would be great. Heck, if there was an erase button everything would be fabulous. But I guess that would be cheating life and life made sure it was ahead of the game, regardless of your admirable tactics.

My stomach growled and I quickly moved around to cover up the embarrassing sound. I haven't eaten anything since I left Versa's house with a sandwich half-eaten, came to Brandon's and Link's fight, came to the bakery, made a mess of the place, cleaned it up with Link, and now I was stuck with him. Something was bound to file out a complaint and my stomach did it gladly.

"I don't think she'll mind if you eat one of the cupcakes." Link voiced form where he sat. He was still on the counter, his leg dangling down beneath him. My cheeks started burning, embarrassed that he heard my confident stomach. He looked relaxed, in a tranquil state almost. He looked far from worried as I probably did which made me question a few things.

My eyes glowered at him from across the room. "Are you not bothered about the fact that we're locked in Palmer's bakery, probably for the whole night?" I questioned, my voice dripping with irritation.

Link lifted up his head slightly to and shot me glance. "Nope."

For a moment I simply gazed into her eyes, and then Link drew a deep breath. He muttered something in a low voice and jumped off the counter. I watched intently as he reached inside his pocket and pulled out his phone.

To my utter horror and shock I watched him switch on his phone. He waited a few seconds before he could use it and then he texted someone.

"Right now would be great," I started, pushing myself off the floor, "if you tell me you're kidding."

I rushed to his side and the first thing I looked at was the battery percentage. My mouth sputtered open, unable to create any coherent words. I pointed at the screen. "You lied!" I cried out incredulously. I could not believe this!

I snapped my head to glare up at him. "You're so twisted." I snarled up at him. How could he pretend that his phone was dead! Why would he do that?

Link ignored me and hit sent to a text he composed. "Palmer should be here any minute."

"How can she get here so quickly?" I asked, my voice coming out higher than we both anticipated. Link took a step away from me and pointed at the clock that was hidden behind a stack of books. "She told me earlier she would be here at seven."

"And you thought to me tell this when?" I questioned, baffled at everything to do with Link. He was a twisted human being and after this, if I was caught so much as a feet near him I would jump to another continent.

Link shrugged in answer. "I didn't."

I clenched my fist down my sides, reminding myself to breathe through my nose and exhale deeply. This should refrain me from hurling at Link and quite possibly avoid a bloodbath. He looked unfazed by, what I suppose was my blotchy face and he carried on texting on his phone.

"I thought your phone died." I stated.

Link didn't spare a glance from his phone when he replied. "It did. But now it's alive again."

My eyes narrowed down on his head. I opened my mouth to dish out a mouthful of profanities that would undoubtedly leave a burn but was stopped when the door knob twisted. My eyes widened to their max when the door slowly opened and Palmer stuck in her head.

"Hey there loves," she greeted, a massive smile beaming on her face.

I ignored her happy jibe and stalked to the back room. I grabbed my bag from where I placed it before in the corner and walked back to the front. Palmer had a small duffel bag in her hand and she was talking to Link.

"See you later Palmer." I muttered when I hurried past Palmer, not even lifting my head to face her. Like I said, avoiding Link was on my main agenda for the rest of my life.

And to be quite frank, I was still fucking pissed.

_

_

_

I had been walking up and down the streets for a long time before my feet took me to my own house. I stared at the front door, wondering how fake everything would be inside. Did Dad know? Maybe he did. Both my parent's cars were parked out front. It was an unusual sight because normally, one parent would be out when the other was in. It was always like they planned to cross paths for a millisecond before they carried on with their lives.

Their lives weren't as glorious as anyone would believe it to be. My Dad was consumed by other responsibilities that didn't include his wife nor his daughter. My Mom dedicated her life to keep up her beauty and mould me into her ideal pretentious daughter.

I gulped down my throat just as my stomach decided to grace me with its horrendous tone-deaf note. I was so hungry that I felt my stomach eat itself up, a punching pain coursing through my insides every other second.

I was home. I could eat. I could sneak to the kitchen, make a quick sandwich and go straight to my room. That way, I could avoid any sort of confrontation with both humans that resided in that house.

I walked up the front door carefully and after a quick inner push, I walked in. The front hallway was dark but I could see my Dad's shoes and my Mum's heels. I closed the door behind me carefully, taking extra care to minimise the noise it would have made. Light beamed from up the stairs, casting shadows on the staircase.

I tip toed across the hallway, into the kitchen and went straight to fridge. I opened it and to my sheer dismay, I found it to be empty. There was nothing edible in the fridge and I could literally feel my stomach breaking down.

I closed the fridge and dropped my head on the counter. Something poked the top of my head, causing me to slowly lift it up. I squinted my eyes in the dark and made out a wire. I reached for it, realising it was a charger for my phone ad quickly plugged in my phone. Within seconds, I had my phone switched on and text messages from Versa and Ryan flooded my lock screen.

I unlocked my phone and went to reply to Versa first. She asked if I was up for the fireworks by the park tonight.

Me: Only if you feed me.

She replied instantly and then a few minutes later, I was out the house.

_

_

_

"Was that sandwich I gave you this morning really the last thing you ate?" Versa asked in disbelief. I took another bite of my cheeseburger, my eyes closing at the beautiful taste and greasiness of it.

Ryan was driving the car and he chuckled from the front. I nodded at Versa who had her body twisted so she could see me. Her eyes widened at what I told her. I simply shrugged and carried on eating.

"We're here."

Ryan put the car in park and I quickly shoved the last bit of my burger in my mouth before stepping out the car. I grabbed a handful of tissue and my water bottle.

The park was lively at this hour, with every teenager around the area coming out to play with fire - literally. Some people usually brought fireworks the size of my body and fooled around with it as though it was candy.

I followed Ryan and Versa towards the area of the park where everyone was at. I recognised a few faces from school and few other people that were friends of Brandon. I looked around, not sure who exactly I was looking for. There was beer, the stench of it reaching my nose. I flared my nostrils just before Ryan passed me a beer.

"Let lose." He winked at me playfully. I rolled my eyes at him but took the beverage anyway. I should just have fun tonight and regret the massive hangover tomorrow morning.

I heard a girl's scream come from across the park and all eyes turned towards the sound. I spotted Thomas circling the giggling girls, clearly flirting with them. He must have felt the several gazes on him because he turned his face and landed his eyes on me. I raised one eyebrow at him and raised my beer.

He looked shaken for a few seconds and I frowned at him. What was wrong? He glanced to his left. I followed his gazed. Ah. That's why.

Brandon was here as well and he was pretty flirtatious with one of the Greene's sisters. I couldn't tell who it was from such a distance but no other girl would so obviously throw themselves at a guy unless the Greene blood rushed through their bloodstream. Brandon looked much better from when I last saw him - with Link beating the shit out of him.

I shook my head at Thomas who was already making his way towards us.

"I'm not bothered about it." I told him when he was closer in range. The lie stumbled out my mouth so smoothly that I nearly believed it myself.

Thomas looked back at his twin brother. "He's such a dick." He voiced.

I let out a chuckle. "Funny how you were the dick twin just last week."

Thomas feigned a hurt look before he went to greet Ryan. They fell into a boy conversation - something about the football match that was on last night. Versa linked her arm through mine and lifted her head up to look at me.

"Have you talked to her yet?" I knew who she was referring to and I shook my head, a clear no.

She nodded at my answer and gazed across the park. People were drinking, laughing, all over each other and pretty much being typical eighteen year olds. I remember when I was just like them but it was like the fun was sucked out of me. The presence of a certain human being in this world pretty much did that to me. I just had this deep wish that he would just disappear and next time, not grace us with his presence at all.

Everything was fine before him. Along with the nightmares and my ineffective parents, I could say I was coping. I wasn't as careless as I used to be before the accident but I was still a joyful teenager hiding behind a few secrets.

Versa was sucked into the conversation and I just stood to the side, twirling the beer bottle in my hand.  I glanced around and when I was sure that no one was watching, I tipped all its contents behind me. I quickly unscrewed the water bottle lid and poured the water inside the beer can.

I had no fucking idea why I did that.

Expect that, I was suddenly acting drunk and I was enjoying it.

"Whoa," Ryan steadied me when I stumbled over my own foot.

"I think it's safe to say I'm drunk," I purposefully slurred my words and threw my hands over my head. The beer can filled with water in my hand wasn't even empty and here I was, acting drunk like that was the normal thing to do.

"You never drink like this." Versa commented, a frown on her face. "Is everything okay?"

I bopped my head at her rapidly. "Everything is fine girl. You shouldn't be so worried about me. I worry that you worry."

Versa reached for my hand. "I think it's perfectly acceptable for your best friend to worry."

"But Versa, you are not allowed to worry."

Versa dropped her hand by her side. "Ori..." she said slowly, realising where I was heading with this. It was dangerous. It was stupid. Heck, I wasn't even drunk and I was acting out of proportion.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. "I'm sorry. It's just that you're so-"

"Fragile? Glass-like? Breakable?" Versa inputted a few words which made me feel shitty. I gulped down my drink, avoiding Versa's gaze.

"Something is definitely up with you."

I was quick to deny it. "There's nothing babe, honestly." I picked up my bag and stepped away from Versa. I had a feeling that a second longer around her would be horrible and I would probably say something that would ruin many things. And I couldn't quite possibly handle another broken thing in my life.

I pointed over my head towards the river that ran through the park. "I'm just going to head over the river and collect my thoughts."

Versa took a step towards me. "You want me to come?"

I shook my hand at her. "No, no! Stay with Ryan." I jutted my chin out over her shoulder, towards Ryan. He looked puzzled at my departure.

I cupped my hand around my mouth and yelled out of it. "I'm just heading over by the river!"

I turned on my heel and walked towards the river side. It was darker around this side but it didn't frighten me as much. I sat near the edge and threw my head back.

Exhaling deeply, I fought the urge to pinch and slap myself. How could I be so insensitive to Versa? I knew that with her state she could be deemed fragile and my overly protective nature always kicked it around her. Whenever something happened that included Versa or her loved ones, the first and last person I would always be scared for was Versa.

Even though it happened nearly four years ago, something like that would never leave a person. It made its mark on her, embedded itself in her life and made it clear that it wasn't going to leave anytime soon. And gosh, I worried. Every midnight call would make my heart pound loudly and I would have feelings of despair running in my bones.

I took off my shoes and crawled closer to the edge. I dipped my toes inside the ice cold water and a feeling of euphoria rushed through my body. I leaned back on my palms and inhaled the crispness of the air. My eyes fluttered shut.

I lifted up one hand and blindly reached for my beer can that contained water. My hand grabbed nothing but empty air.

"Sitting alone in the dark? You are asking for trouble." A voice said from right next to me.

I gulped down a shriek and lost my balance on my hands because of the jump scare. I opened my eyes and found Link sitting next to me.

My heart started racing rapidly, the drumming sound filling my ears. All that my mind could process was that I had to jump to another continent right now.

It wasn't even two hours since I last saw him and I already failed my life mission.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes into slits.

Link had my can in his hand and I watched, my mouth gaped open as Link took a sip. Both his eyebrows arched upwards and he slowly dropped the can from his mouth.

He looked at me carefully and I could see him judging me. "Water? Seriously?"

I snatched the beer can out of his hand and drowned the rest of it. I wiped the sides of my mouth with my sleeve. "You got a problem with water?"

Link shook his head, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

It was quiet between us and I went back to closing my eyes and taking in the feelings of the night. Link didn't make a sound next to me but I knew he was still there, in sync with my breathing.

"What do you like the most about the night?" I asked him, not opening my eyes.

Link shuffled next to me and I heard him take off his jacket. I didn't expect him to answer, but when he did, I really didn't expect that answer. "The night scares me."

I opened one eye and saw that he was laying down next to me, using his jacket as a pillow. "It does?"

"Yeah."

"But you were in prison."

Link lifted up his head and levelled his gaze on me. "That's why it scares me."

My forehead creased into tight lines. "But why?" I questioned, not sure if he was being serious or not. I mean, the stigma around ex-prisoners was that they were fearless.

"A lot of open space. Too many shadows. In jail, the shadows fuck you up."

I looked around us and I saw all the shadows I previously ignored. The shadows were everywhere and a chill blew through me.

I quickly changed the subject. "If you had any place you could be right now, where would it be?"

Link held my eyes for a long time before he dropped back on the grass. "A wintery place would be nice. Snow. I missed the snow."

A smile crept on my face. "You'd think any British person would run away from the cold. But here you are, running towards it."

Link laughed at that, the sound so carefree and normal that it took me by surprise. A strange feeling erupted inside me. This was normal right?

I could handle normal Link.

Twisted Link was someone I could not handle.

"What about you?"

I looked up at the sky, taking note how the stars acted like a blanket. They were protecting something. But what?

"I'm going to university. Maybe in Manchester, so I can be near Blackpool."

"Let me guess, you want to be near Blackpool so you can be near a beach."

I didn't look his way, instead turned away to cover up the smile that was slowly etching on my face. Link took my silence as my answer and I heard him whisper lowly, "bingo."

I turned to face Link. "What are your plans? For University."

Link blinked at the question. He didn't expect it. "I was thinking of joining the military," he answered. He sounded like he was holding back.

I raised my eyebrows up in question. "Is that what you really want to do?"

Link managed to shrug whilst lying down. "I should make use of myself in some way."

He wasn't doing it for himself. He was doing it so he could be seen as someone useful and not a waste of space. I bit my lower lip, trying to find the right words to say to that. The easy flow of the conversation was slowly disappearing.

"They all come back scarred." I whispered. Just then I realised how close our faces was and my head started spinning so far - even thought I was lying down.

Just a few hours ago, Link and I were like oil and water. I would have laughed and cried simultaneously if someone told me I would be in this position with him at some point. I was certain I saw something in his eye - something akin to regret.

"There won't be anyone waiting for me." He said back, in an equally low voice.

It sounded lost and broken and just for a second, I pushed away all the dark things that hung between us. Link was still a human and he was vulnerable to every feeling as much as I was. The tone in his voice, the deep sorrow that lingered made it evident that more was going on with him than he let on.

My hands lifted up boldly and lowered down closer to his face. My fingertips grazed the edge of his chin, up across the stretch of his jawline.

Link's eyes flicked down to my lips and I grabbed my lower lip with my teeth. That's what pulled the last straw in Link because the next thing I know, we were kissing.

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> yes, i know just last chapter they weren't feeling it, so don't comment some bs because everything link does has an explanations ((in the future))

> on a different note, I've literally binge watched once upon a time, just started the 4th season... regina and robin hood comment and vote if you enjoyed this chapter <3