× Mercury

The Courtyard Bar was pretty deserted on a Wednesday afternoon, which was good because I was exhausted from yesterdays practice. Ever since we got into the BUSA, Coach has push more and more during our practices, keeping us an hour after it was supposed to be done, making sure our muscles were stretched to their max before finally releasing us. I had blisters on my feet, turf burns on my skin, toes frozen from playing in the snow, and two dozen questionable bruises all over my body. I understood why he was pushing us so hard, but if I had to take another ice bath just to sooth my aching muscles, I might lose my mind.

"Are you going to the concert festival this Friday?" Annie asked me as she rounded the counter.

"What festival?"

Annie grabbed a glass and poured some liquor into the crystal. "The one in the stadium. You haven't heard of it? It happens every year. Local bands go on stage and perform; some of the performers are even from our school."

"Really?"

The last time I had been to a concert was when I went to see Fall Out Boy in 2009, seven years ago. I remembered the energy of that night and how wild it was. Maybe going to a concert would be fun...

"Yeah, it's like a little break from studying before finals, ya know? I go every year," she said with a wide grin. "Also, you should probably go in the back and look in a mirror. You're starting to show."

Then she was gone, bringing the glass of alcohol to a guy sitting in a booth in the corner.

My eyes went wide, hand automatically going to my neck to cover the bruises I knew were still there. I told Finn I was taking five and quickly went into the backroom, grabbing my bag and taking out my concealer before going into the bathroom and doing an ineffective job of trying to cover up the purple marks.

I was going to have to hunt Niall down and demand some money for this. Concealer wasn't cheap and I've been using a lot of it since coming to London, no thanks to him.

Once I managed to make the marks a little less noticeable, I went back out onto the floor and picked up where I had left off. I grabbed the coffee pot and refilled the white mug in front of an older man before moving around the bar to do the same with everyone else.

When I returned the pot to its base, the bell above the front door went off.

I turned to see who it was, surprised to find Jillian looking around sheepishly. When I asked Finn where she was last week, he told me that she had called and asked for the week off, but he never told me why. The last time I saw her was when I finally told her that her boyfriend, Alex, was cheating on her. That was almost three weeks ago.

I watched as she walked over to the bar and took a seat next to a guy with a shaved head and tribal tattoos up and down his arms - the seat in front of me. I stared at her, not sure what was going to happen next. Our last conversations didn't end very well, after all.

"You were right," she finally said.

I knew instantly what she was talking about because she was giving me the same look I recognized on myself when I saw Bradley in bed with Lucy. She had the expression like she just didn't care anymore - like she once had everything planned out and the map of her life was suddenly ripped out from under her. I felt like that on more than one occasion.

"When I went to see Alex for our anniversary, I found him in his room," she said, her voice hollow. "Apparently he found it appropriate to celebrate it with another girl, in his bed... naked."

Normally I probably would have reached a hand out to touch her, to tell her that everything was going to be okay, but I knew that the last thing Jillian needed was comfort. She didn't want to feel any worse than she already was and getting pity was absolutely not going to help the situation.

"The saddest part was when he saw me, when I ran out of the room, he didn't even follow," she continued. "We were going out for two years and he didn't even fight for me."

The guy with the tattoos next to her must have caught onto the melancholy mood Jillian had brought with her because he stood up and moved to the end seat, casting glances at us every so often.

Jillian traced invisible patterns into the counter. "I stayed with my parents for a week. I knew I was going to be distracted to do any school work, too busy wondering what Alex was doing at that moment - was he with another girl? Was he thinking about me? I came back to London on Monday. I should have found you sooner, but in all honestly, I'm kind of embarrassed. I should have listened to you and I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," I said. "None of this is your fault."

"How is it not? Obviously he wasn't happy in the relationship if he was off shagging some other girl."

"That's his own issue. If he wasn't happy, he could have said something. None of this is your fault, Jillian. I was cheated on once, too, you know. It hurts like hell, but it will get better. It did for me."

"I just... Alex was my other half. I can't see it getting any better."

I reached out and placed my hand on top of hers. "I'll help you."

She looked at me and gave me the smallest hint of a smile, and I knew that it would be okay. Boys aren't everything; you don't need them to survive. A lot of girls go out looking for their other half, but the problem with that is we aren't a half. I think it was about damn time us girls figured that out.

× × ×

I never would have thought I'd be able to find comfort in a dark room, but as I stood in front of the table, my photographs soaking in solution, I developed a sense of tranquility.

The room was, well, dark. There was a red hue from the safe light so I wasn't completely engulfed in darkness, but it did make everything look eerie. I had only used the dark room once before, when my photography professor was showing me how to use it. I quickly caught onto the process and now preferred film cameras over digital. I felt more in control when I was the one developing my own work.

I looked down at the photography in the chemical stop bath. I had taken it a couple of days ago when I went out exploring the city. I had come across the abandoned building, a house someone a long time ago must have lived in because as seen in the picture, books and old toys lay on the lawn along with debris.

After taking the image out, I hung it up to dry. Just as I was getting ready for the next photograph, there was a knock on the door.

"Uh, come in," I told them.

The door opened a little, a streak of light shining through and someone's head peeking in the crack. "I'm so sorry," they said before opening the door wider. "I know you have this place for an hour, but I'm running late and need to develop my stuff. Is it okay if I work at the other table? I swear I won't disturb you."

I went to the dark room to be alone, but the guy looked pretty desperate. "Yeah, go ahead," I told him with a smile.

"You're a life saver," he said and quickly stepped inside and closed the door shut behind him.

The guy plopped his backpack on the floor and he squatted down next to it, digging out his camera. I couldn't tell from the darkness of the room, but I took note that he was buff enough to give Reece a run for his money if they were to stand next to each other. His brown hair was short, almost a buzz but not yet fully committed. His eyes looked like melted chocolate and they twinkled under the low light of the red lamps. He has a defined jawline with some scruff, more than stubble but not quite a beard yet.

I focused back onto my work and placed another image into the liquid in front of me.

The boy kept his word; I didn't hear anything out of him except for the shuffling of his feet when he would walk between the table and his photographs hanging up along the wall.

So that was why I jumped when he said, "You're really good."

I grabbed my chest in surprise. "You scared me," I said with a little laugh.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I just- I'm waiting for mine to soak and I looked over and saw your work. You have a good eye."

I tapped my fingers on the table awkwardly. "Thank you."

"You like broken things, don't you?"

"Excuse me?"

He pointed to the row of photographs. "Your images. They're all things that have been damaged."

I followed his finger and saw my photographs in a row. It was everything from abandoned buildings, to cracks in a sidewalk, a broken bike, a shattered window, and finally a phone booth that lay on its side. I never noticed that I had a theme going until I saw them in a row.

"I guess I do..." I said softly.

"I'm Liam, by the way," the boy said. "Liam Payne."

Looking away from the row of images, I saw his hand out in front of me. I took it in mine and shook his hand. "Lynn Mercury."

His brows rose from the mention of my name. "Are you really? I don't watch many sports, but my little cousin is a huge fan. He tells me you're quite good on the field. Maybe I'll have to take him to a game just to watch you play."

I smiled at him. "Yeah? Just let me know and I can hook you up with some seats."

"I might take you up on that offer," he responded, turning back to his work once again.

We went back to our comfortable silence, finishing up our film. It was the most peace I had gotten in a long time.

Then my phone started ringing, disrupting the quite, and I quickly fished it out of my backpack.

"Hey, Jace," I said into the receiver.

"I need a favor from you," he said, slightly out of breath. Before I could tell him no deal, he continued. "I'm meeting a... old friend of mine from secondary school and I need you to come with me as moral support. Or, more so that I don't say something I might regret."

"Does this have anything to do with why you're acting so weird lately?"

"Yes."

Curiosity got to me. Maybe now I can finally give Jamie a solid answer to why Jace has been so distant and quiet. Maybe now I can see a little bit inside Jace Layton's life that he had kept bottled up from me for so long.

"I'm at the art building, come pick me up," I told him before I ended the call.

× × ×

The Kaffeine Coffee shop was nestled under an apartment complex. The small room smelled like a mix of newly brewed coffee and fresh baked blueberry muffins. One wall was made of complete brick where the other three was a simple white. The flooring was wood and the windows looked out at the street with people walking by. It was small and cozy with a tiny lit fireplace (I made sure to stay far, far away from that) and leather chairs for your butt's pleasure.

I was currently sitting at the booth that faced the windows and watched the different colors of the stoplights as cars zoomed by. Jace was sitting in one of the chairs a few feet away from me, fingers tapping nervously on his knee as he looked up at the door every three seconds.

On the ride to Kaffeine, Jace told me his plan. He never intended for me to be there with him, but more a few seats away so that I could hear their conversation. He was honestly concerned that he might say something stupid and he needed me nearby to stop him if that opportunity ever came up. But Jace insisted that it was necessary. He told me all about Hazel and how they dated in high school before one of his best friends stole her away.

"I was in love with her once," he had said. "I'm afraid that I might fall all over again."

I knew what he meant. I may not have been in love with Bradley, but I was terrified that if he showed up in my life again and wanted to take me back that I would let him. I mean, he had already done it once...

So there I sat, staring down at my coffee with a little leaf design in the foam, waiting for this Hazel girl's arrival.

"Why didn't you ask Niall to come?" I questioned when I started getting impatient, and also to distract Jace from being so anxious. "He knows about all this, doesn't he?"

Jace didn't even bother to look over at me, instead kept staring at the door. "He couldn't come," he explained, his fingers tapping away. "Said he had to go to some pawn shops or something."

Before I could question him about that, the door to the shop opened and a short, auburn haired girl walked in, looking around. From Jace's sudden stiffness, I realized that she must be Hazel. The girl had a round face with dark brown eyes and thin, pink lips. When she spotted Jace, her face lit up and the smallest of smiles spread on her face before she took the chair across from him.

"Hi," she said shyly.

I made sure it wasn't obvious that I was listening into their conversations by grabbing the newspaper someone left behind and started reading the comics.

"What did you need to see me about?" Jace asked, getting to the point.

I understood that Hazel broke his heart a few years ago and that he didn't want to be sucked back into her, but I would have thought he would be a little more welcoming than that.

Discreetly looking over my shoulder, I saw that Jace had lost his nervous tick and was now leaning back against the leather chair, arms crossed over his navy blue button-down shirt. His face was expressionless, but his blue eyes gave off a chill. As for Hazel, she didn't seem to notice his stone stance, or maybe she just didn't care, because the small smile was still on her lips like she honest to God couldn't believe Jace was in front of her after all those years.

"Jace," she started and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees. "I'm sorry for what happened between us. I was young and confused and I never should have left you. It was a mistake and I'm so sorry I hurt you."

The coldness in Jace's eyes softened, but he kept his mouth shut. I figured Hazel would have an effect on him, but I never knew how influencing she really was to Jace. Was I like that with Bradley? I already knew the answer, of course. A few caring words and I was putty in his hands. Always.

"I came to you because you're the only person who knows me, really knows me," she continued. The setting sun through the window shined down on Hazel and I noticed that there was a tint of purple in her hair. "You were always there for me, even when my hamster died. I always went to you with my problems because you had the best advice to give. I just... I just really needed to see you."

I watched as Jace continued to stare at her, waiting for him to crack under the pressure of her gentle words. But he never did. Instead, he stood up and started to tug on his coat. "Was that all you needed? Because if it is, then I'm leaving."

"No, Jace. I-" Hazel bagged.

But he wasn't listening anymore. Knowing that it was time to leave, I finished the last of my coffee and stood, following Jace out of the shop and into the cold winter evening.

The Honda Civic was parked down the street from the coffee shop, and as we walked, we remained silent. I knew Jace was disappointed in the reunion. He may never admit it, but I knew he was hoping for something more, maybe hoping that Hazel would want to take him back, just to be wanted, a feeling I was all too familiar with. But he also knew that was a bad idea, something I had to learn the hard way. So I didn't push him to speak, knowing the silence was the safest place to be at the moment.

Or it was until Hazel stepped out of the shop behind us. "Jace, please talk to me," she said as she hurried behind us. "Please."

Jace didn't bother to look behind him, didn't ever bother to act like he heard her at all. We were only a few feet away from his white car and I could hear Hazel's feet against the pavement as she tried to catch up to us.

There wasn't anyone around and the street beside us was quiet so it was easy to hear the next words that came out of her mouth.

"I'm sick."

That was when Jace stopped walking.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Hazel standing there, defeat on her face as the wind blew her hair around. Her brown eyes were sad and I knew the one thing she needed was a friend, someone who would always be there for her even if it was the death of her hamster. And seeing that one person walk away from you could easily bring on that face of hurt and make you feel like you lost everything.

"I have cancer, Jace."