T H I R T E E N

❝ i thank the universe
   for taking away
   everything it has taken
   and giving to me
   everything it is giving ❞
                                             - Rupi Kaur
                                                Balance

The sound of his phone ringing woke him up, he shifted uneasily as his hand escaped from under the quilt and grabbed hold of the buzzing phone as a mumble escaped the lips of the naked girl beside him. A soft smile erupted onto the boys lips as he remembered last nights antics. He pulls back the quilt and climbs out of bed, answering the phone as he does so. He heads out his room as the voice of Callum explodes into his ears.

"Where are you man? You were supposed to be at practice an hour ago?"

Simon checks the time on his phone, "Fuck,"

"Fuck indeed, coach ain't happy man, you're the captain! You're supposed to turn up!" Cal says, he was evidently angry due to the volume of his voice.

"Sorry...I kinda...Got caught up last night," Simon says, trying to keep his voice low.

"Caught up? With what? Don't tell me you went to a party without me dude," Cal says, his voice sounding even more angry, if that was even possible at this point.

"No, I was...With a girl man, now shut the fuck up, I won't be coming to training, tell coach I'm ill," Simon says and Cal laughs.

"A girl?" Cal laughs even harder, "You with a girl? You gotta learn to lie better man,"

"I'm not lying," Simon says firmly and a soft mutter comes from his bedroom, he looks over his shoulder, glancing between the gap between door and door frame.

"I gotta go," Simon says quickly, Cal's shouts can be heard as he hangs up and he replaces the phone in his pocket, pushing open his bedroom door with his other hand.

"Oh, there you are, I thought you'd left me here," Margo's morning voice fills Simon's ears and it sounds like heaven to him. He smiles at her.

"No, no way would I leave you like that, plus this is my house after all," Simon chuckles as he walks towards the bed.

Margo holds the quilt up round her chest as she pulls her hair up in a bun.

"Last night was..."

"Don't tell me, I was absolute shit," Simon laughs and Margo rolls her eyes.

"Let me finish what I was going to say idiot!" She chuckles and Simon smiles softly, "Last night was perfect,"

"Good, thats good," Simon says and Margo lifts her hand to settle on Simon's cheeks.

"Who was on the phone? Your parents?" She asks softly and Simon shakes his head.

"Cal, I missed practice this morning," Simon says and Margo frowns.

"Was that my fault? I'm so sorry," Margo says and Simon shakes his head.

"No, no, its okay, missing one training session won't hurt the football team," Simon says and Margo smiles at him, bringing his lips to hers, the kiss was delicate unlike the rough kisses of last night.

"Honestly, I do love you," Simon tells her and Margo smiles, biting her lip as she pulls away.

"And I love you," She says and his eyes search hers, making sure she was telling the truth- and it seemed she was, unless she was a good liar.

Margo was a good liar, but this was no lie, this was truth, and she wanted to share that with him.

"So, now you've missed training, what are you doing for the day?" Margo asks and Simon shrugs.

"Hanging out with my girlfriend?" He suggests and Margo smiles.

"I'm guessing thats me?" She asks, causing Simon to laugh.

"Of course, no other girl would ever get with me," Simon says and Margo rolls her eyes yet again.

"Simon, shut the hell up, you're gorgeous, you're the best looking guy in school, I'm pretty sure you're the only guy girls talk about in the changing rooms during P.E. and as a matter of fact, I never intended to be like those girls, I thought you were just a fuck boy like Cal or Harry, but no...You're different," Margo says, her eyes glistening as she looked at him, "You're perfect, you're like some kind of god,"

"Well, you're like a goddess, and you should know that by now, Margo, and you have to remember that I am here for you, and so is JJ and Vik and Tobi and Chip and Josh and everyone else, including Summer and your mother, and now your fathers gone, it'll get better...I promise you that," Simon says, his hands holding Margo by the wrists, where the scars were etched into her skin permanently, "And these, these wounds that have healed will fade into the past, and you'll forget it ever happened, okay?"

"I love you," She says, its all she can manage as the tears swell in her eyes.

"I love you too," He says, their lips connect again, its more heated this time as she shifts closer to him, her body leans against his, their skin sets on fire as they make contact, their eyes shimmering when they move apart.

"Sorry, its just, my hips hurt a little," Margo says softly, "Don't look so worried, its normal,"

"Oh, okay, good," Simon chuckles and Margo smiles.

They both got dressed, Margo sent a text to her mother saying she was at a friends and her mother told her she was going to work and when she got back she would start packing the boxes to move house. The night Terry attacked Simon and then smacked his daughter was the day her mother had finally cracked, she told the police everything he had done and provided photograph evidence of bruises and the hospital provided CCTV to get Terry at least up for a trial in court. Of course this meant that the money was going to be significantly less for Diana and her daughter, but they knew that with time, everything would be okay again. Margo had agreed to see a different counseller, who would be paid for by the hospital and also aided by a suicide prevention charity to allow her to have proper sessions within groups and with individual sessions. Diana had found the perfect 2 bedroom house in a smaller neighbourhood that was actually closer to Margo's school and closer to Diana's work place, Diana had snapped it up right away and her and her daughter were set to move in within 2 weeks time.

"So, will I see you more or less now you're moving house?" Simon asks curiously after he's pulled on his shirt.

"More, mom said you can come over whenever you like, she thinks you're the best thing ever, you're like the son she never had but always wanted...Plus ya' know you did, save my life and all,"

"Oh yeah, of course, your mom is an amazing woman, she's so brave, just like you," Simon smiles and Margo smiles back, buttoning up her jeans.

"Anyway, I think we should get some food, and then we could...Go to the movies or just go to mine and hang out?" Margo suggests and Simon smiles.

"I'd like that, Margo," He says, pressing a light kiss on her lips, "I'd really like that,"

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Thanks for reading!

honestly thanks for the support on this book, we've got 20k reads and I can't thank you guys enough for that tbh, I have so much love for you all

thanks again guys!

~KatnissBajanCanadian❤️