A Love Like Warped

I’m crouching down behind the front table of TWLOHA’s tent opening a box of tee shirts when I hear a familiar voice. Not famous-familiar, like I had been expecting to hear today, but personally-familiar. I stand up and look over my shoulder… and there he is.

“Lucas?” louder this time, “Lucas Kyle?”

He looks around to see who’s calling him. When his eyes land on me, it takes a moment before recognition sparks in his eyes. I might be mistaken, but i swear his jaw drops a little bit.

“Marley Hayes?” he says as I step out from under the tent. He reaches out for a hug.

“The one and only,” I smile and wrap my arms around his waist.

“ How long has it been?”

Six years, two months, and… four days.

“A while,” I laugh and try not to press my face into his chest and inhale his cologne because I know it’ll make my knees go weak.

“What in the world are you doing this far from home young lady?” he fake scolds me.

“I’m working with To Write Love On Her Arms this summer. But I could say the same for you! I don’t remember seeing Generation Nothing on the line-up.”

“Well that’s probably because we changed our name last year,” he chuckles.

“Oh,” I feel my cheeks get a little warm. I hadn’t meant to make it sound like I was avoiding his very existence for the past six years… which is exactly what I had been doing, I just don’t need him to know that.

“We’re Regardless now.”

This time it’s my jaw that drops.

“Regardless? The ‘must-see band of the summer’ Regardless? That Regardless?”

“Is that what they’re calling us now,” he laughs nervously and runs a hand through his hair, “It’s all been so surreal,” he confesses, “I still can’t believe we’re even here.”

“I know what you mean. I keep thinking I’m gonna wake up any second now.”

“LK!” a voice calls over, “There you are, dude!” A short blonde guy jogs over to us. “I thought you were still right behind me, I was halfway to our tent before I realized you were gone,” he turns to me and offers a handshake.

“Jaylen, you remember my friend Marley?” Lucas pipes up.

“Ummm… yeah, why?” he says as he shakes my hand then looks over at Lucas. I have to hold back a giggle. Lucas just nods towards me. Jaylen looks back at me and then his eyes get wide. “No way! Dude, I haven’t seen you since we were, what? Fifteen? And here I am shaking your hand! What the hell!” he exclaims, pulling me into a bear hug. I can’t help but laugh now, and I remember that I had always liked Jaylen. “You look amazing! What are you doing here?”

“I work with To Write Love On Her Arms.”

“That’s so cool, so you’ll be around all summer?”

“Sure will.”

“That’s awesome. Well, Lucas and I gotta go get our shit straight for the day, but we’ll see you later?” I nod, “Cool beans. Let’s go, man,” he says to Lucas. Then, as they walk off he exclaims, “It’s gonna be like old times!”

He didn’t look back, so he didn’t see my smile falter when he said it. But I was watching them go, so I saw Lucas’ shoulders stiffen.

Notes

Hmm something about those "old times" isn't too appealing to Marley and Lucas...

Please excuse what an idiot I am. Also I know this one's a little short. They should be getting longer soon! Creative juices are flowing right now, so hopefully the third chapter won't be too far behind.
Fair warning though, I have been known to get really bad writers block just when I want to write the most so... fingers crossed!