Page 79 of Poems He Wrote

“I miss you, too. It’s really weird not having you around all the time,” I respond, hearing a bell chime in the distance. “Working since the early morning? Hustler vibes.”

“Yeah, yeah. Tattoos are getting popular. I gotta go, babes. I will text you all the details.”

“Bye-bye!”

“Bye, Rory!” he sing-songs before clicking the call off.

I scroll through Pinterest, looking for fancy outfit ideas whilst peeing. A knock on the door startles me from my scavenger hunt. Noah pops his head inside, before walking in.

“Ahm, hello?” I say, laughing from the toilet. “I’m peeing?”

“You were gone for almost an hour, is everything okay?”

“What?” I squeal, glancing at the upper screen, seeing the time. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

I pull my panties up and grab my toothbrush, extending my other hand to him, giving him his. He steps next to me, taking it.

We look nice together, I think to myself, watching us in the mirror. We fit well. All ink, piercings and long hair in copper and onyx.

“I got lost looking at the outfit ideas. We have a party to attend.”

“A party?”

“Mhm…” I hum through the brush strokes. “It’s time for you to meet Corey.”

30

True Friends - Bring Me The Horizon

Noah

Falling in love feels like drowning and right when you think you’re going under, right when you feel like the last bubble of air is about to leave your lungs as it stretches and burns, your person pulls you out.

Every moment without her hurts. She is always in the front of my mind. Is she okay? Did she eat? If she did, was it enough? Does she need anything? Does she know how much I love her?

I keep replaying in my head the first night I told her I loved her. I didn’t exactly tell her first. She told me.

I was so lost on mom’s birthday. Jensen couldn’t come from his school, Tiana couldn’t come from Poppy Valley for some unknown reason, and dad outright refused to see me. I suppose he wasn’t doing so well, and didn’t want me to know. I wasn’t doing so well either.

I still feel Ronan’s hands around my body, and her face pressed into my back. I relish in knowing she was there, even though I didn’t deserve it. I refused to speak to her all day, but of course, like the saint she is, she understands. She always does.

Volim te, Noah.

A shiver runs through my body at the sweet memory. Of my language on her tongue. Of her soft words, and softer hands comforting me. What did I do in my past life to deserve someone like her in this one?

I am honestly scared of meeting her best friend. I heard so much about the man, that I feel like I already know him, but I am afraid of leaving a bad first impression. I know he was there for Ronan through thick and thin, that he went to rehab for some time, that every tattoo and piercing on her body and face was done by him. And that he is gay.

I knew Ronan’s mother before I knew who Ronan actually was, but even when I found out, I wasn’t scared of what Christine thought of me. I care about Corey’s opinion because I know what he means to her, how important he is to her.

She said that the party is going to be a laid back, casual event, but I am still highly stressed about it. Would simple black jeans and a band tee be considered casual?

Shit. Why am I so worried?

I put my Chuck’s on, get my wallet and grab his neatly wrapped birthday present before walking out the door. Ronan said there’s no need for me to get him anything, but that’s not a case in my culture. You get invited to a birthday party - you never, and when I say that, I mean that, NEVER go empty-handed. I was raised like this, this is how I am.

I bought him a set of some high end, high quality ink in various colors. I made sure it was the one he uses. Ronan checked multiple times. I guess, since he is a tattoo artist, that would not be a miss.

I set the box in the backseat of my car and start the engine. The ride to Silver Lake won’t take more than three hours, I hope. I am getting kind of giddy, since that’s the place I first met the love of my life.

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