Now this day was probably the worst since you moved to Plainview considering it was your past haunting you once again. Waking up this morning, there was a text from your ex-boyfriend Jaxon awaiting you. More precisely a snap you’ve got at 3.28 am. which could only mean bad news.

Before opening it, flashbacks of your break-up once again filled your mind. How you told him that you never loved him the way he loved you, his disappointed face expression, the deafening silence. You have not only lost your best friend this day, but also left him heartbroken and started a new chapter of your life not worrying about him anymore. Yup, that’s who you are, a selfish bitch. You haven’t even texted him once. Why would you anyway? It’s not like you could be friends after what happened.

As you finally opened the snap, you’ve watched Jaxon being at a party, high and drunk, some girl sitting on his lap, kissing his neck. “See Y/N, I moved on. I don’t need you anymore. I’m so over you” he said with a trembling voice, holding his phone, his hands slightly shacking, his eyes red.

Watching the recording, you couldn’t help but notice how much he has changed. He never was the type of person who gets stoned for fun, he wasn’t into that kind of stuff. He never liked one-night stands or making out with random people, he was scared he would get too attached to them.

His appearance has also changed. There wasn’t much left of the golden boy you used to know. He dyed his blonde hair blue, pierced his nose and is that a tattoo on his left arm? Yes. There is a big snake covering his skin. And even though he has changed nearly everything about himself he still looked like a perfect fictional character, who isn’t good enough for anyone.

And then suddenly the screen went black. The video ended.

Did you want to replay it? Yes, you wanted. You wanted to watch that perfect human, whom you used to love so much again. You wanted to hear him say your name once again. But you didn't replay it. You knew that he didn’t move on, that he wasn’t doing great, he wouldn’t have sent you that video otherwise. And the worst part was that you were the reason but couldn’t do anything about it now. It was too late.

You already messed up and there was no going back. Yet you’ve spent the rest of your day going through your old pictures. Great moments, that remained nothing but wonderful memories. And after you finished going through Jaxon’s and your pictures you couldn’t help but continue going through other old pictures with other friends you had to leave behind, a few tears flowing down your cheeks from time to time. At some point you even put on your sad playlist to match the vibe. When I’m doing a pity party, I should at least do it the right way.

After a few hours passed and you were done with pitying yourself once again, you decided that you finally had to let go of the past and stop looking up old pictures when you were sad. It wouldn’t change anything except of making you even sadder than you already were. Thus, you wanted to get rid of all your pictures. You knew that this wouldn’t make you forget about the past but maybe it’d help to get over it and help you to let go. It was a ridiculous and naïve idea and you knew that there was no way it would work, but it’s not like you had anything to lose.

You made some research how other people let go. You read that some froze pictures and then broke them. Some burned them and others just simply deleted them. But you knew that sooner or later you’d regret doing that. These were some great memories after all.

So, what you decided to do was to just simply put these pictures into photo albums, which you would then put in a place you didn’t go to. One album for each place you lived in, which makes 7. But standing in the aisle you were wondering about getting 8. Even though your parents apparently liked Plainview you knew for sure they wouldn’t stay here forever.

But then suddenly a thought shot to your mind. They might leave, but that didn’t mean you had to leave as well. You were nearly 18 years old, you could just simply rent your own apartment and have a mini job while going to college. It would be hard but at least you wouldn’t have to leave again. You liked Plainview. You liked the city, the beach, the people. You liked Rodrick. You couldn’t just leave once again.

You made your choice and with that steadily approached the checkout.

Back at home you were sitting at your bedroom floor, pasting pictures into the albums, adding additional notes. It was 11.25 pm. as you were just about to start the last album when you’ve heard a sudden rustling at your open window. What the hell? Is someone seriously trying to break in while I’m not even asleep yet? Rude. And dumb.

You quickly grabbed the nearest object and threw it at the person appearing in your window, hitting the burglar right in the head. “Ow” you’ve heard a familiar voice whimpering.

“Oh no” you whispered quietly, knowing exactly who the visitor was. “Shit, I’m so sorry” you said, quickly approaching your open window, just to see Rodrick sitting at the roof, massaging his left elbow. “Are you okay?” you added, leaving your room and stepping out on the roof, quickly heading towards him.

“Look at us throwing things at each other. We’re basically a real couple already” he said smirking, looking up at you as you knelt down, checking what’s wrong with his elbow. You rolled your eyes at his joke as you suddenly realized that he’s bleeding. “Holy shit” you whispered “Did you slip down?”

“Yah, kind of. But don’t worry, it’s just a simple scratch.” he answered rapidly, gently pushing your hand away. “What about your head though?” you asked, remembering that you threw something at him. But instead of answering your question he just gave you an amused smile handing you something. “Seriously? You wanted to fight a bandit with a glue stick?”

“Well at least I tried” you said serious. “And to be fair, it worked. But that’s not the point right now. I’m asking you, how your head is? Does is hurt a lot?” you asked him once again, surprised by his indifferent attitude. “I’m fine. I’m serious Y/N, there’s no need to worry” he said giving you a reassuring smile.

“Do you wanna get in then?” you asked after a moment, pointing to your room. “Please, let me take care of your elbow at least. I won’t take a no for an answer.” you added worried, and before he even got the chance to respond, you took his hand and helped him to get up.

Entering your room his eyes immediately shot to the pictures of Jaxon, your friends and you. You watched him opening his mouth to say something, but you quickly interfered telling him to sit down on your bed and that you’ll be right back.

Coming back with a cup of tea, a first aid kit and a sanitizer, you sat back up at your bed right next to Rodrick. “Don't you think you’re overreacting a little Pinky?” he asked, as you looked back up at him, raising your eyebrows slightly. Another nickname. “See how the pinky is our smallest finger? Well, you’re small as well sooo...” he explained as you let the cotton pad soak with sanitizer.

“These are cute actually, you know” you said still looking down, rolling up the sleeve of his flannel to inspect his wound, feeling him smiling at you. “I knew you like them” he said proudly “Every-” but you quickly cut him off.

“Okay, this might hurt a little, but we gotta disinfect the wound, so there won’t be any infection. I’ll count to three and then press it to your elbow” you said looking him in the eyes giving him a calm smile. “Is that all right with you?”

He nodded his head as you started counting. “One...Two...” and before you got to three you pressed the pad to his elbow, knowing exactly that if you wouldn’t have done this, he would have probably just pulled his arm away.

“Ow” he shouted loudly and you quickly put your hand over his mouth. “Rodrick please”, you whispered “my parents are in the living room.”

And as you were just about to finish cleaning the scratch you’ve heard your mom shouting from downstairs “Y/N honey, are you okay?”

“Yes mom, I’m just on facetime with Maddie right now” you quickly answered, giving her the best lie you could think of in that moment, giving Rodrick an angry look, who responded it with a sweet smile.

“Okay, won’t bother you then” you’ve heard her saying. That’s actually a thing you liked about your parents. They respected your privacy and let you be alone whenever you wanted to.

As you turned back to Rodrick you’ve realized that you were still holding his mouth shut with your hand. “I-I’m sorry” you said quickly taking it away, looking down with your cheeks all red, realizing that additionally you were sitting in the free space right between his legs. But as you attempted to stand up, he quickly pulled you back down. “It’s fine.” he answered giving you one of those sincere smiles you liked so much, which you returned going back to his elbow, putting a band aid on it. “Done” you said giving him a smile.

“Thank you” he said checking your work. “A little over the top, but I appreciate it.”

“Okay, now please drink this” you’ve said handing him the cup of herbal tea “And stay here, I’ll be right back” you added leaving him in your room once again, going down to the kitchen to get a cool pack for his head, telling your parents that it was for you.

You knew that you were slightly exaggerating but that didn’t change the fact that you felt responsible for what just happened.

“I’m back” you whispered sitting back down next to him, putting the pack with ice on his forehand, causing him to laugh. “You’re crazy” he said putting aside the cup of tea.

“No, I want you to drink that Rodrick” you quickly said, giving it back to him. “Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it” you added smirking.

“Well, I wouldn’t be so sure about that, but fine. I’ll trust you on this one” he answered, drinking the whole thing.

“Now, what was your original plan? Why did you come here?” you asked, tiredly leaning your head against his shoulder. “I highly doubt that you wanted to get thrown at with a glue stick” you added, which made him laugh. “Well, no, not really what I’ve planned but I’ll take what I get” he answered. “Actually, I don’t really know what I wanted.”

You looked up at him with your eyes wide open in shock. “What do you mean you don’t know? Rodrick, this might actually be the first symptoms of amnesia. It’s because I threw that glue stick at you. Are you sure you don’t remember?” you asked terrified.

“Oh my God” he said as he couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a dumbass. I mean that I didn’t have a certain plan. I just came to hang out with you.” he said innocently. Suspicious.

“Oh, you’re lying” you answered, now lying down in your bed, casually putting your head on his lap as he started stroking your hair. And there it was again, that warm, comforting feeling filling your chest. The feeling of safety surrounding you, making you smile.

“Okay, fine. It kinda sounds ridiculous but I was thinking that maybe we could go stargazing, like at your roof?” he suggested, rubbing the beck of his neck, getting all shy suddenly, looking everywhere but at you.

“Sure” you responded almost immediately. “I would love to, but I still don’t know anything about the stars, the moon and all that. So, this might be a little embarrassing but I’m down.”

“Wait, are you serious?” he asked surprised, as if you’ve just said something surreal. “Of course. Go ahead, I’ll get us some blankets” you answered, giving him a sweet smile as he did what you said. “But don’t fall” you quickly added remembering what just happened.

As you entered your roof you looked up at the sky, that in fact was filled with millions of stars. “Wow” you whispered quietly, admiring the beauty of the night, your eyes then turning to Rodrick who was sitting a few steps away from you, looking you up and down. “You like the view?” he then asked smirking, and even though you knew exactly what’s going to happen now, you decided to just let it. “Yes” you answered smiling. “You’re my best view” he then quickly added which made the both of you absolutely crack up.

“Here” you said sitting down next to him after you calmed down, handing him a blanket, wrapping yourself in another one. He took it and did the same. “You knew that if we had one blanket only and had to share it this would be a whole load more romantic. You really messed up this one Y/N” he said playfully as you smiled. “But it’s so fucking cold. Would you rather freeze till death but at least in a romantic way?” you answered quickly as he ended up agreeing on this one.

You looked up at the sky and started telling him which animals you see when you’d connect the stars. “A bird? Tell me you’re joking Pinky. That’s obviously a crocodile.” he said after you pointed out a certain pattern of the stars, which made you look up at him with disbelieve. I think this man might actually be blind.

“Did you know, that there’s this one bird that actually cleans the teeth of crocodiles attempting to find food in there?” you suddenly said, which is a thing you always do. You might not be a straight A-student but therefore you knew a whole ton of unnecessary facts.

“Well, that’s pretty gross” he said looking down at you as the both of you started laughing again. And that’s how you went on and on, until you were at a point where you didn’t even want to know anything about the stars and the moon anymore since this was definitely way more fun.

But then suddenly after some time Rodrick asked you something, you were expecting but not in this moment. “Hey, I know you don’t have to answer that question but I just- uhm...I wanted to ask you, who that guy on these pictures was. You know, the blonde one on your bedroom floor.”

Shit. You felt your smile fading away from your face. This definitely caught you off guard. “Hey, you don’t have to tell me, it’s fine” Rodrick quickly said since you haven’t answered his question. “Oh no, it’s fine” you said after a moment. “I’ll tell you.”

And that’s when you told him about everything. About the people you’ve hurt by pretending to feel a certain way for them, friends you’ve left and places you’ve loved but wouldn’t see again. At least not any time soon. And surprisingly you didn't cry, you didn’t feel sad. You just told him like the things that happened didn’t affect you in any way.

You didn't know how long you’ve been talking, since you’ve lost track of time after the first 10 minutes, but throughout that whole story time you did, Rodrick hasn’t said a single word. All he did was nodding occasionally, holding you in his arms the whole time.

And after you’ve finished and a long moment of silence passed, he suddenly spoke up. “I hope you don’t blame yourself for what happened.”

“Of course, I do Rodrick” you said looking up at him and then back at the stars. “I've hurt so many people in the most beautiful but cruel way” you added quietly. “I took them to museums, beaches, and monuments. I kissed them in every beautiful place, so they can never go back there without tasting the sweet and sour taste of me on their tongues. Without remembering the way I left them. The way I broke their heart, because I didn’t love them. People like me are the reason why storms are named after people.”

“That’s...” he started attempting to say something but cut himself off. “So that’s the reason why you don’t want anyone to fall for you nor to fall for anyone yourself? Because you’re just leaving after some time, leaving people messed up?” he asked and you nodded in response.

“But you know that thunderstorms help to keep the Earth in electrical balance, right?” he added after some time.

“What do you mean by that?” you asked, looking up at him confused. How come this emo guy who seems so dumb at times says stuff like this?

“Oh, I don’t know. I just thought you might want to know” he answered looking down at you with a small smile on his face and sparkling eyes, looking like stars.