| ABSQUATULATE |

❝There will always be a place in my heart that is reserved just for you ❞

word count:: 1678 words

Absquatulate. Leaving someone without a word.

Without a word of how one would return after months or years. Leaving without a goodbye leaves the relationship hanging with the person waiting for you till eternity because of a goodbye that was never said. Having a wish unfulfilled because goodbye was never said. 

And all he wished to tell her was a proper goodbye rather than leaving without a word.

"Your autophilia must be treated before you become a loner," Alex seethed from the phone, as he sighed making his way towards the lake, which was at the other end of the hotel.

"I'll be back, Alex. Just five minutes, that's all I ask from you all. I have got a really good reason to be out here, trust me," Julian Hayden said hurriedly, as the voice of his footsteps echoed down the empty hallway which led to the lake behind the hotel.

He hung up quickly on him before his best friend could make him doubt his decision any further. He was already aware that Alex would be insanely pissed with him once he returned to them, but he immediately pushed that thought away.

I'm coming, hold up right there, he thought to himself as he hurried towards the garden, as Alex remained forgotten in his rush.

The chills of the weather at the nighttime were treachery as darkness swept over the hallways, fog solemnly floating over it. The Morgensten Hotel, which was booked for the Music Festival Auditions where school bands from all over the states flocked to participate in it, which would be officially hosted the next year.

His feet met the grassy patch surrounding the serene lake, crushing them within his weight, as they glistened from below him with dewdrops, the moonlight making them prominently glimmer.

I don't have much time left with me, he thought as he took long strides to reach the bench near to the shimmering lake, where he was sure that she'd be waiting for him, just like the past three days.

Five minutes, he thought. Five minutes is all I have to meet her for the last time before I leave.

Her silhouette was visible from where he stood, as he stopped midway to catch my breath momentarily. He quickly sprinted the remaining distance, covering it rather easily. She turned around, her dark blue mask covering her face as usual, just like how the rules were made. 

The rule of how each participant of the Music Festival would wear the masks, which would be used to identify them with their bands. Her glistening blue mask, which covered the upper part of her face just allowed her deep-sea blue eyes visible along with her long and smooth jet black hair to be visible. She positioned herself just that her lower part of the face was barely hidden by the shadows.

Her lips pulled into a smile as she saw him coming near to her, her expression quickly morphed into one of confusion as she saw him breathless, running desperately towards her.

"Something wrong?" She voiced concern, as he stood in the shadows of the trees around them. He nodded as he raised a finger to give him a minute to catch his breath tightening his mask, which was slightly skewed from his sweaty face.

"We are leaving. Right now," he announced sluggishly, as the atmosphere around them suddenly felt heavy. She looked away from him at that instant, her eyes now focused on the lake instead of staying on him. He walked nearer and sat right next to her on the wooden bench, awaiting her reaction.

The silence was loudly deafening, but he apprehensively waited for her to say something. Anything.

It was just three days of them being there, of them getting to know each other a little better, but it was almost scary as to how well they had connected, and in the short time, they came prominently closer to each other.

"After you leave, will I just be a memory to you?" She questioned, after a minute long of silence which had already started to feel like hours.

Her blue eyes pierced the side of his head as he turned from his position to meet her eyes with his green ones. The lake in front of them solemnly glimmered under the silent moon on that cloudless night. Her black locks, covering her round yet sharp face as her lips quivered with a slight trace of anxiety.

"I won't say exactly that. It's not like we know each other very well. We met three days ago, and these three days were probably the most stress-free days for me, at least. Thanks to a certain blue-eyed beauty-" to which I winked at her as she smiled nostalgically, her mouth sealed shut.

"- and we can still meet the next year, around the same time and after the competition is officially over, we can exchange our numbers or at least reveal our faces, if you want to," he reasoned, hoping that she'd agree with him on that, as he registered newly-grown desperation in him for her.

She pondered over it for a moment before nodding. "I've indeed known you for just three days, but it was so easy going with you that I forgot that we are mere band rivals," She laughed slowly, but sardonically.

"Come on," he started, convincing himself along with her. " You won't miss me once you have your boyfriend around," And to that, she rolled her eyes as she shook her head briskly, her black bangs lightly hitting her face while he groaned with how upset she looked and how disheartened he felt at that offhanded statement.

"Never mind, polaroid friend," She smiled at him, patting his shoulder lightly. "We'll meet soon, I can feel that."

She stood up, extending her pale hand for me to shake to which he happily complied. Her skin felt extremely soft and vulnerable undermine as their fingers were entangled in a handshake, but felt brutally intimate. Her blue eyes had him completely mesmerized like always, with a glint of hopefulness evident from it.

"And we will take another polaroid the next time we meet. How about at the same place we took the first one?" She grinned slightly. Her eyes stared back at him, never breaking the soothing yet powerful gaze.

The stare broke though when his phone started vibrating in his pocket and he roughly held back a groan and took back his hand to receive the call, much to his inner dismay.

"Julian Hayden, I hope there is a valid reason for where exactly you are now?" Ethan Evergreen sassed him from his phone as he gruffly grunted in reply.

"I'm coming, alright?" he declared, standing up and pocketing back his phone after hanging upon him swiftly and he was sure that Ethan definitely wouldn't have liked that attitude of his.

"Seems like you've to go," she smiled solemnly, leaning back into the bench while he groaned slowly, frustrated at how their time was cut short and how he would not be able to be with her until next year.

"Look, we have hope," I started, hoping that she'd resonate the same hopefulness as he had about the prospect of them spending time after a year." It would be fine once we get back to our way," she sighed, adjusting her dark blue mask which covered half of her face, deep in thought.

"Promise me- promise me that you won't forget me." She suddenly straightened up, after being silent for almost a minute, again.

"I promise."

His phone vibrated again, and that was when he looked back at her, with guilt as he started walking back from where he has appeared in front of her; he walked towards the bus in front of the hotel gates with a promise in his heart.

This is not the last time I would meet her.

He picked up his phone and pulled it near to his ear, listening to a groaning Ethan yet again.

"Julian Kyle Harris Hayden, be back and pick up your bags in two minutes before we leave without you."

I promise that you won't just be a memory.

He turned around briefly to steal a glance at her, trying to memorize every feature of her because he didn't want to forget her at any cost.

He realized how three days are sometimes enough to get accustomed to a person well enough to cling to the thought of meeting them again.

Because some people are worth waiting for.

And he was sure that she would be one of them.

I'm back with it once more!

(I've lost count of the number of times I've published it smh)

But here's the edited and polished version of the prologue *throws confetti*

(what exactly was I thinking when I accidentally removed the author's note too? It's a pain to write them for the same book- again and again)

Honestly,  I want to do justice with my characters,  especially for THIS particular story, which was always tagged as "weird and messy" as the plot was very confusing at the start, but it would all click towards the end.

(and guess who never published till the end? ME *laughs rhetorically*)

Bear with me and with Julian, cuz he's very naive and brainless,  but a humble piece of utter depression and social recklessness.

(That's my Julian Hayden in a jist, so don't go around expecting something good outta this boy,  he loves disappointing everyone, me included)

And this mystery girl *points to a shady girl hiding behind the curtain* well- I'll keep her a mystery, though those who read a lot of cheese-flicks know who she is.

(Though they are REQUESTED to play the dumb card because even Julian would do so.)

Shit, why did it grow this long- *coughs* cheerio to the prologue!

*tips coca-cola can*

Peace out,
Sasha♡