The Lighter That Shone Like A Star (Story of The South) Read Online Free Page A

Lornea he always felt overwhelmed.
    Overwhelmed by her presence, how softly her words landed upon his ears, how deeply he fell into her entrancing green eyes. He loved her, he was sure of that. She loved him too, but it was impossible for Lornea’s feelings to outweigh his own. Love isn’t a competition , thought Freddie, but if it were then I would win.
    “What are you thinking, Fred?” Lornea asked quietly, her eyes still closed. She was the only person that had been granted permission to shorten Freddie’s name.
    “I’m thinking about how amazing my girlfriend is,” he replied. Lornea smiled, as she always did when he answered her questions that way. “And about how I could stay here for ever.”
    “Aww, how cute,” mocked Lornea sarcastically. Freddie poked out his tongue. “Besides,” she continued, “You don’t want to stay here for ever, Fred. What a waste of life that would be.”
    “Yeah, you’re right. Spending time with you is a bit of a waste,” he joked, earning himself a sharp prod in his side from Lornea. “Kidding, kidding! Not a second I spend with you is wasted, in fact it’s quite the opposite,” he said, pressing his lips against her ear.
    “We should do something,” Lornea chirped, sitting up suddenly.
    “What?” Freddie asked curiously.
    “I don’t know. Waste more time together or something,” she suggested, rising to her feet. Freddie stood too, finding this change in behaviour rather peculiar.
    “But we have all the time in the world. Can’t we just waste our lives here for a bit? Besides, we’ll have to go back to lessons soon,” he reasoned.
    Freddie looked into Lornea’s eyes only to see that tears had gathered, creating small oases. He had never seen his girlfriend cry before and Freddie struggled to know what to do. Trying to shake away his sudden sense of awkwardness and panic, he stepped forward and gently dabbed away her tears.
    “What’s the matter?” Freddie asked, confused. He could not see what he had done to make Lornea cry. “Have I said something wrong?”
    “No, no it’s not you,” she replied, tears now streaming down both her rosy cheeks, “It’s my dad. He got a new job”
    “Well that’s good news, isn’t it? Your dad’s always moaning about work.” It was true, whenever Freddie made small talk with Lornea’s father it always ended up with him ranting about his job; the morons that worked beneath him and the fools in charge.
    “It’s in Salmont. We have to leave Pipton. We have to leave Hurburt. I have to leave you.”
    Freddie stood in a stunned silence. He felt as though his heart was slowly being torn in two.
    “ Wh-When?” he choked, his own eyes now becoming seas of sadness.
    “In two weeks,” Lornea answered. The couple fell silent, Lornea sobbing whilst Freddie fought back a waterfall of tears. Tears could come later, not in front of his girlfriend.
    “Freddie?” she managed.
    “Yeah?”
    “I love you.”
    “I love you too,” he whispered back.
    The couple embraced and Freddie could feel the wetness of Lornea’s tears on his cheeks, yet still he refused to cry in front of his sweetheart; he needed to be strong enough for both of them. In two weeks the pair would no longer be able to be together, miles apart, separated by a vast ocean. Freddie could not accept this information. He could not even begin to imagine his life without Lornea. Delicately wiping away the tears from Lornea’s face, he placed his thumb under Lornea’s chin, tilting her head up towards his. Their lips met, softly.
    “Let’s go,” he whispered, grasping her hand. “We still have some time to waste.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Haze
     
    It was the earliest they had arrived home all week but still they were exhausted. Haze headed straight for his bedroom to change into his comfy grey joggers and purple hoody; a much better combination than the dark-grey skinny jeans and white shirt he had been told