100 Sleepless Nights

"Do you believe in ghosts?" Vic asked, his eyes lit up with something I've never quite seen before.

"No, not really. I don't know this place has creeped me out a little but I don't believe it's really haunted I guess" I shrugged. My honesty with him was a bit short. I do believe this place could be haunted but I really don't wanna creep him out.

"Why? This place is very creepy" He laughed.

"Then why don't we hang at your house?" I asked, knowing he's gonna say no but it's worth a shot.

"My mom is a bit moody, sorry. One day" He smiled. I rolled my eyes and threw myself backwards to hit my pillow. "Harleigh?" I heard him ask.

I looked at him carefully. "Yes?" I asked.

"You're beautiful" My eyes widened. He wasn't so bold, usually, he was usually quite collected.

"Thanks" I mumbled as our eyes met, he smiled softly.

"I just think you should know it" He blushed and lowered his head.

I sat back up and faced him. "Tell me about yourself, about who you are. We always talk about me, my life and how things are for me. What about you Vic?" I sorta demanded.

He looked at me thoughtfully. "Okay" He nodded. "Hi I'm Vic. I live across the street and I go to an all male boarding school. My mom and dad hate me, my younger brother gets bullied and I have only ever loved one person before, but she cheated on me and broke my heart. I always wanted to start a band but I don't think I'm good enough. I play guitar and sing. That's about it Harleigh. I'm extremely boring and you could do without me in your life actually" He stood up and began to walk out.

"No wait" I climbed over the end of my bed and grabbex his arm. "Sing for me" I said quickly. He blinked at me and nodded. "I have an acoustic guitar you can use" I said walking over to my closet. I pulled it out and turned, handing it to him.

He sat down on the bed and strummed it, a smile forming across his lips. "I breathe you in with smoke in the backyard lights, we used to laugh until we choked into the wasted nights. It was the best time of my life, but now I sleep alone, So darling, don't, don't wake me up, 'cause my thrill is gone. Say I'm wrong and the sunset turning red behind the smoke, forever and alone." I watched his eyes, they were filled with pain but happiness at the same time. "You've gone and sewn me to this bed, the taste of you and me will never leave my lips again under the blinding rain. I wanna hold your hand so tight I'm gonna break my wrist, and when the vultures sing tonight I'm gonna join right in." His voice gave me chills. "I'll sing along, oh 'Cause I don't know any other song. I'll sing along, but I'm barely hanging on. No, I'm barely hanging on. By the time you're hearing this I'll already be gone, and now there's nothing to do but scream at the drunken moon." This song was so beautiful. "This isn't fair! Don't you try to blame this on me. My love for you was bulletproof but you're the one who shot me. And god damn it, I can barely say your name, so I'll try to write it and fill the pen with blood from the sink. Whoa oh But don't just say it, you should sing my name. Pretend that it's a song 'cause forever it's yours, and we can sing this on the way home." I was almost in tears. "I'll sing along, oh 'Cause I don't know any other song. I'll sing along, but I'm barely hanging on. No, I'm barely hanging on. By the time you're hearing this I'll already be gone, now there's nothing to do but tear my voice apart. Nothing to do, and scream at the drunken moon." He finally stopped and looked up at me.

"That was beautiful Vic" I blinked away my tears, goosebumps covered my skin.

"Thanks" He said, setting the guitar onto my bed.

"Why did you write that?" I asked, wonder shooting through my mind.

"It's sorta like a twisted love letter saying goodbye to someone you love" He looked at his feet as they scuffed across my wooden floor.

"It's really good. Why do you have no faith in yourself?" I sat down next to him. "You could easily start a band and become really famous and one day look back and be like "remember that Harleigh girl, she had faith in me" and totally be rolling in the dollas" I playfully nudged him.

"But the reality is that it's not gonna happen okay" He grumbled. I rolled my eyes.

"Stop being so negative, y'know sometimes I wonder about you. For a pessimist you're pretty optimistic." I walked over to my window and seen Kellins car pull up. "One minute the world is beautiful and perfect, the next it's chilling and evil. Make your mind up bro" I laughed as I picked up my backpack.

"IT'S JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN OKAY!" He stood up and screamed at me. I jumped back in fear, in the past week he has never shown me anger.

"Jesus, calm down. Okay you're doomed to have a shitty life forever" I said with frustration. "You best leave, I gotta go anyway. Concert is tonight" I mumbled.

"Oh, you're going on a date with that guy" He mumbled.

"It's not a date, it's a concert" I said walking over to my mirror. I fixed my bangs and brushed my hair.

"He bought you a ticket, he is picking you up and bringing you home. Harleigh it's a date" He said standing behind me and talking to me in the mirror.

"What do you care Vic?" I asked biting my lip.

"I don't like that guy, he seems creepy. Don't go" He begged.

"Sorry, I'm going. He's my friend now if you'll excuse me. Gotta change my shirt" I pointed for him to leave.

"Fine, see you later" He slummped as he left my room. I changed my shirt then left the house, got into Kellins car and went to the show.

----

"Thanks for the ticket man" I said as we stood leaning against Kellins car infront of my house. The concert wS amazing and we sung our hearts out. "I loved the show" I smiled to myself.

"It was nothing. I had the best time with you Harleigh" He nudged me. I looked up at him and smiled.

"You're really sweet Kellin. How is that so?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows a little. He stared down at me. "I was sorta hoping I could make a pretty girl like you fall in love with me" He smirked.

I looked away, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm not a pretty girl" I mumbled.

Kellin stood infront of me and put his hand under my chin, lifting it up. "You're right, you're not just pretty. You're beautiful" He smiled, leaning down and catching my lips in his.

My first kiss, that sounds lame. I'm 17 and this is me just having my first kiss. It was sweet but promising. "Kellin" I said pushing him back. "That was my first kiss" I swallowed down, hoping he didn't think it was lame.

"I'm glad I could be your first" He said kissing me softly.

"I gotta go, my parents will be angry that I've been out so late. I'll see you tomorrow" I said quickly then ran off down the path.

I didn't go into my house but ran around the side of the building to the back porch. I need a cigarette to calm myself down. I sat on the stairs and lit one up. The nicotine soothed my soul quickly and made me feel calm again. "Where the hell have you been!?" A voice startled me. Oh shit I've been caught.

I turned quickly to see Vic standing behind me on the porch. "What the hell? Are you serious right now?" I was so angry, why was he here and being so weird?

"You're out so late, I didn't see you come home.. I was worried" He rambled.

"Wait were you watching my house to see if I came home?" I shook my head in confusion.

"No, I just didn't see you coming home. I was worried especially with my theories about Kellin" He shrugged.

I rolled my eyes at him and finished off my cigarette. "Stay away from me okay. You've crossed the line" I pushed past him but he grabbed onto me and turned me around.

"Harleigh, he's trouble. Don't let him in" He pleaded. His eyes were filled with fear, he looked terrified. I could see the tears filling up in his eyes.

I shook my head. "No."

He pushed himself away and walked off into the night. Talk about creepy, that's exactly what he is.

Notes