Sep 20, 2024
Out in the Open (19/19)
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Out in the Open (19/19)
Metronomy Night Owl
Out in the Open (2/19)
“Can you do your thing and talk some sense into him?” Dan angrily asked Sadie, gesturing at James. He needs to get his act ànd his nerves together, and I think you’re the only one he’ll listen to.”
“Why? What happened?” Sadie asked, looking worried.
“Oh, he’s just being an annoying twat, basically. And you know I don’t easily say that about him. I actually very much love that dude, but he’s picking fights over the most random things. Almost like he wants us all to be on edge, which I don’t think is smart because we have to be on this stage in a few hours. But when I say that to him, he just twists my words and tries to make it like I’m the one who’s picking a fight. And frankly, I’ve had enough, but he’s still all fired up there, and I really think he should calm the fuck down before he can go on stage,” Dan snarled those last words. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and cool off myself.”
Sadie sighed deeply, exited the stage and walked up to James, feeling a little annoyed herself. This show was an important one, and she didn’t even doubt James knew it, too, so why would he jeopardise it now?
Out in the Open (18/19)
Joshua nodded carefully and ran his fingers through the sand.
“…It’s you…” he then said softly.
Malik looked at him, “Yes, I had a feeling it might be…”
“So… Do you hate it…?”
Malik shook his head, “No. If anything, I’m flattered.”
“…But you don’t feel the same, do you?” Joshua asked.
Malik sighed deeply, “I don’t really know, Josh. The truth is, I like you. I like you a lot. And I’m so glad you’re in my life. You’ve become very special to me really quickly. You’re kind and funny and hugely inspirational. So yes, I feel things for you. But is that romance? Is it attraction? I have a lot of trouble defining things like that…”
Joshua shrugged, “Yes, I understand… But do you… maybe… slowly want to figure it out together?”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Josh… And I can’t promise you anything…”
“I know. I take my chances…”
Malik seemed lost in thought for a moment.
“… Okay… Let’s explore what this is together…”
Joshua smiled at Malik, and Malik carefully smiled back.
For a few minutes, the sound of the waves was the only thing breaking through the silence.
“Malik?”
“Yes?”
“In the interest of exploring, I would really like to kiss you… would that be okay?”
Malik swallowed and then nodded, “Yes… I want to see how that makes me feel…”
Out in the Open (17/19)
“I can’t believe this night!” Josh exclaimed happily. “First a concert, now I’m at the beach! A year ago, I would never have been allowed to do all this!”
“So why did your mother become so much more lenient all of a sudden?” Malik asked.
Joshua chuckled, “I wouldn’t say it was suddenly, really, but after my runaway sister came back, it was like a wake-up call or something. She took it like God giving her a second chance, I think. To give her children a bit more space to be themselves so that maybe they won’t run away,” he laughed.
Malik laughed with him, “Now that’s a God I can get on board with!”
"Shall we sit down? We've been walking for quite a while now..."
“Can I ask you something personal?” Malik said.
“Sure,” Joshua shrugged, “There isn’t much I wouldn’t tell you, I think.”
“Are you really over your crush on Joel…?”
Joshua sighed and then nodded, “Yes. I truly think him and Kyra getting together sped that up.” He smiled, “To be totally honest, I kind of like someone else now. It’s probably a hopeless case again, but oh well…”
Malik shook his head, “You don’t know that for sure. You can never know what’s going on in someone else’s head. And I meant what I said earlier: you’re a great guy, Josh; anyone would be lucky to be with you.”
Out in the Open (14/19)
Julliet spoke softly and calmly, “For quite some time now, I have known something was going on. Your father would often come home much later than usual, and his behaviour changed, too. He was suddenly buying new clothes and using products in his hair…”
“I noticed that!” Esme interrupted, “I just figured it was part of some midlife crisis thing.”
Julliet nodded, “So did I at first, but something wasn’t adding up. Two weeks ago, while he was in the shower, a message came in on his phone. I noticed it by accident; it was from ‘Linda’, and she said, ‘Have you figured out an excuse for your wife? I can’t wait to see you.’” Julliet shook her head, “Those words have been dancing in my brain ever since I saw them…” She bit her lip and then continued, “So, when he got out of the shower, I confronted him about it. We had a fight because he felt I shouldn’t be looking at his phone, which, of course, wasn’t the issue here. He denied Linda was anything more than an acquaintance, but as time went by and we had more discussions about this, eventually he had no choice but to admit the truth; Linda is someone he’s met through work and…” Julliet paused and closed her eyes. It was clear she was fighting back a lot of pain and sadness. “…they have fallen in love and want to be together…” A tear rolled down her cheek as she spoke these words.
Crushes and Squishes (14/14)
“I always look forward to spending time with you as well,” he bravely admitted. “In fact, I think of you pretty much all the time, even when we’re not spending time together… You’re first on my mind when I wake up and last before I fall asleep… I guess what I’m trying to say, Kyra, is… that I like you. A lot.”
“I… I like you a lot too, Joel…” Kyra stammered, and Joel felt a flutter in his stomach, which he hadn’t experienced before.
“I’m glad,” he said and smiled at her. She smiled back, and they both knew what would happen next.
Out in the Open (16/19)
Julliet smiled lightly, “Sometimes, my loves, strength isn’t in fighting. Strength can also be in taking a step back, in acceptance. Sometimes your heart just needs to cry for a while and then it can start healing.”
The sisters looked at each other, neither really knowing what to say.
“Well…” Sadie then said after a few moments of silence, “Then… maybe… we should go do something to take your mind off it? Go for a spa day or something? I can go on holiday a day later, and we can have a girls’ day tomorrow?”
Esme nodded, “Yes, let’s do that. Cheer you up a bit, mum!”
But Julliet shook her head, “I really appreciate you girls wanting to do this for me, but at the moment, I just need to be in my own space for a while.”
Esme sighed, and Sadie nodded.