NOTE: @thefictionawards is launching something called 'The Fiction Awards' which is a competition for all genres and is 100% fan voted. If you want, you can go vote for TCBB under Teen Fiction category. I would love it if you could :) And if any of you want participate, you can do that as well. You can check the information on how to vote or compete on their profile.

I wish everyone a good luck!

QOTD

Chapter |34|

Sometimes thinking you're truly happy, is just an illusion you weave yourself into so that you won't have to experience hurt when you've already been through so much.

Maybe that's why, even when Andrew left me in the store yesterday- even when I felt his hurt- I couldn't make myself change my decision of leaving.

Andrew hadn't talked to me and I didn't force him to. He didn't tell anyone else about my leaving and I was thankful for that.

I'd asked myself whether I was being selfish. I'd asked myself to reconsider because I was going to hurt everyone I cared about. But then the question came. What if I hurt them more by staying?

I knew I could easily stay but was it going to be for me? I mean, honestly, would I be staying for them or for myself?

No matter how much I smiled with the people here, no matter how much I felt like home, the truth was always going to be the same screeching voice at the back of the deepest corners of my mind, yelling that this was not my home.

The past would never leave me until I found a way to start fresh. It would hide in the shadows of my mind, forcing itself into my happiness, creating cracks into it, never letting me live freely.

And I didn't want the dread of my past deep into other people's happiness.

I needed time away from anything that reminded me of everything that I'd been through. Maybe once I got over it, I could come back. I needed peace and calm instead of the storm that still brewed inside me.

Keeping this in mind, I listened to the person on the other end of the call. "Your ticket has been emailed to you. Check the details and tell me if you need anything."

"Alright. Thank you," I spoke, barely any emotion reflecting my words.

I disconnected the call and resumed my position on the bed, staring at the ceiling. A soft, happy murmur of voices echoed from downstairs, making it difficult for me to gather courage to tell them that I'd be leaving tomorrow.

The gift box that had my dress in it felt as if it was constantly poking a part of my head, making it's presence known even when it wasn't in my line of sight.

Taking a deep breath, I sat up. I had to tell them. I couldn't betray them by disappearing without a word.

I owed it to them.

Hardening my resolve, I got up. Without giving myself time to back out of it, I quickly opened the door and stepped out. The giggles of Chloe echoed along with delicate laughter of Emma. I almost wanted to back into the confines of my room.

Taking another deep breath, I decided that I had to do it. There was no way out.

Without further ado, I ran down the stairs, towards the living room, where everyone, including Daniel sat. Not giving myself a chance to even think about it, I blurted-

"I need to tell you something."

All the three heads snapped towards me, their surprised gazes landing on my face. Emma was the first one to respond.

"Sure, what is it dear?" she asked, her gentle smile making it hard for me to utter anything.

I gulped, thinking of the right words to say. In the end, I just said it in the easiest possible words. "I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Oh, are you going for some work?" she asked and I realised that she didn't understand the depth of my words.

I couldn't do this. I shut my eyes, mentally smacking myself for being idiotic. At least I should've planned it out a bit.

"Skylar? Sweety, are you alright?" her gentle voice broke through my reverie, making me shut my eyes tightly.

Clenching my hands into tight fists, I blurted,"I'm leaving for London, tomorrow."

I couldn't bear to hear their response, so I quickly turned around and opened my eyes. Without pausing for even a second, I bolted for my room, not stopping until I'd shut the door and stood against it, trying to calm my racing heart.

I hope I did the right thing. That was the only thing I wished for as I slowly dragged myself into my bed, willing for sleep to overcome the havoc starting in my mind.

***

I couldn't sleep.

I glanced at the clock by the bedside table. 4:04 AM flashed in bright neon, making me groan. Frustrated, I got up from the bed. I contemplated going downstairs to the living room but I didn't want to risk waking anyone up, just in case.

Considering different options, I decided that it would be the best if I went for a walk outside. I slowly escaped the warmth of my bed and went out of the room. Tip toeing quietly, I descended the staircase and carefully went out.

The air had a chill to it, that pinched my bare arms and face as I let my feet take my to the now familiar path though the small crooked road. The night was colder than before but the serenity around me offered peace that made me forget about it.

The crickets chirped, silencing after a few moments as i walked. The leaves of the trees around me twinkled as the dew drops on them reflected the light of the beautiful shining stars and the moon. I hugged myself as the chill increased but kept walking slowly, enjoying the peace.

It took a couple of moments before the hemispherical building came into view. A strange feeling bubbled inside me as I neared the abandoned building that Daniel had introduced me to. A feeling of emptiness awoke inside me when I remembered that I would be leaving everything behind.

I shook my head, trying to remove the thoughts from my head because I didn't want my mind to manipulate me into changing my decision. Trying to distract my mind, I increased my pace towards the entrance.

I was so busy trying to get rid of these thoughts that I didn't notice the already ajar door as I went in. It was only when I noticed the person's silhouette that I stopped dead, my stomach starting to flutter like it did when I was in his presence.

"Couldn't sleep?" Daniel asked, turning his head so that he could look at me.

I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't utter more than a single word. "I..." I trailed off. He was lying down with his arms pillowing his head, as he stared at the night sky through the opened roof.

"Don't worry, I couldn't either," he said after a pause and returned to his previous position.

I stood there like a statue for a few minutes, trying to figure out what I should say or do but when Daniel didn't make a move to do anything, I slowly walked towards where he lay and quietly lied down beside him, keeping a distance so that our arms didn't brush.

My stomach felt as if it was hosting a circus inside it, creating a havoc. I let out a loose breath and turned my attention towards the view in front of me. Stars scattered in the sky, giving life to the darkness of the sky.

I let the beauty of the sky calm my nerves as I lay there in silence. Neither of us uttered a single word as we appreciated Mother Nature in silence. We lay there like that-still and quiet- for what seemed like long never ending minutes until Daniel finally spoke.

"Do you know, most of these stars are bigger and much brighter than the sun? And all we can think is about the sun which is in front of us, trying to outshine and cover up these beauties when it comes out," he said, making me turn my head towards him.

I watched him in surprise as he continued,"It's funny how we consider someone so special, just like the sun, because it brings a ray of light into our life but forget that it hides the stars brighter than itself creating an illusion and fooling us into believing that its the only one that brightens up our life," he spoke.

I wasn't dumb. I knew his words held a much deeper meaning. The words held a burden of emotions that was difficult to outweigh because of the darkness that surrounded them.

I don't know what made me speak, but I couldn't help but blurt out-

"But shouldn't we stick with the sun? After all it does bring us light."

At this, Daniel turned his head towards me, making the distance between our faces decrease and simultaneously making my heart beat increase. Our eyes locked and it was after a few moments of silence that he spoke.

"And yet the stars provide a greater solace in the dark than the sun could ever, during the day."

*****

I don't know how long we sat there, staring at the sky, occasionally sneaking glances at each other but not saying a single word. The faint orange glow that lit up the sky was the only indicator of the time being passed. Without it being the proof, I was ready to believe that the time was not moving.

I was a little surprised that Daniel hadn't said anything about my leaving yet and it was slowly filling me with boundless curiosity, craving to make itself known through words.

More time went by and I found it almost too hard to control myself so I asked him.

"You don't care that I'm leaving?" I couldn't help it but the hurt in my words was a bit evident.

I didn't want to feel these negative emotions as I thought about him not caring about my leave. I don't know what I had even expected or why I had expected it but I knew that deep inside, I hoped that he did like me a little.

I sat up, facing away from Daniel, so that even if his reply hurt me, he wouldn't see it.

"It's not that I don't care," Daniel said, making me look at him in surprise.

He sat up with me but didn't look at me. Instead, he stared ahead into nothingness, as if trying to control himself from uttering something that he was trying to suppress.

"Then why haven't you said anything about it?" I asked, my heartbeat increasing as I anticipated his answer. If he did care, why didn't he ask me why I was leaving? Why did he not talk about it?

I don't know why, but I held my breath. My nerves were creating a ruckus inside me and my heartbeat was resonating in my ears. My eyes were fixated on him, not wandering away, eager to see him answer the question.

"It's because if I did," he said, looking at me with a gaze that made my stomach flutter," I didn't think I could hold back my desperation to ask you to stay."

***************************************

Heya People!

How was the update? I hope you enjoyed it!

I'm sorry for making you all wait for so long but it was hard for me to type the words that could give justice to the story

THE STORY IS NOT YET FINISHED.

You will know when it is over when you see a big THE END after a chapter.

Thank you for supporting me <3 I will always be grateful.

All the wonderful covers and banners will be put up in the later chapter since I lost the saved ones because I lost my phone. I'll have to save them all over again.

Love you all so so much <3