When We Were Young
Prologue
I will leave my heart at the door
I won't say a word
They've all been said before, you know
So why don't we just play pretend
Like we're not scared of what is coming next
Or scared of having nothing left
All I Ask – Adele
That was the last time they would make love; they both knew it. They had been together for over three years now and although they still loved each other deeply, they both came to the conclusion that breaking up was the best thing to do. It wasn’t a decision they took lightly; instead, they spoke a lot about this before finally deciding what to do with their relationship. Their break up wasn’t a classic one – there weren’t plates thrown around nor bad words said, everything had been peaceful. Maybe too much.
Nancy was resting her head on his chest, listening to his regular heartbeat. She wondered how his heart could beat like that, hers was pounding in her chest and she was afraid she would get a heart attack. That was the effect he had on her every single time he looked at her, even after so many years, even now that they were breaking up. His hand was playing with her long hair as he kept his eyes closed. He didn’t want to open them; this way, he thought, they would have some more time left together.
“Do you think we should tell them?” Brian asked, mentioning their friends.
“No. Not yet, at least.” She replied, “I’m not ready to hear all their questions and opinions. I mean, you’ve seen what happened when we told Jimmy.”
Jimmy.
Nancy and Jimmy had been friends since when she moved to Huntington Beach, in the house next to his. They were children and at first they couldn’t stand each other, then, as it usually happens, they became inseparable. Their mothers joked about them eventually falling in love and getting married, while the two children were disgusted at the thought of getting married to each other. When they got older, though, they wondered if maybe their mothers were right, but a couple of kisses afterwards, they realized they were only friends. He was the brother she’d never had, and she was like one of his sisters, only better.
When Jimmy introduced Brian to her, Nancy didn’t know what to think. He didn’t stand that guy who was so full of himself. He didn’t stand him so much, that when he kissed for the first time she slapped him. Only to kiss him again after a couple of seconds. The rest is history. Jimmy was the first one to know about their relationship and when they told him, he was euphoric, like a puppy getting picked by a little girl. When they told him they were breaking up, though, he was miserable, looking like the same puppy getting abandoned on a highway in the desert.
To make sure not to make Jimmy suffer anymore, Brian and Nancy agreed to stay close to him. They decided to break up, but they were adults and knew that remaining friends could be possible and that was what they were trying to do.
Nancy looked out of the window and noticed how the sun was rising. She slowly pulled away from Brian and sat up, grabbing one of his t-shirts. He looked over at her and slowly moved his fingertips up and down her spine. She froze and closed her eyes, feeling shivers running through her body. She couldn’t cry. Not again.
“I’ll go make coffee.” She said, putting his shirt on and heading downstairs. Avenged Sevenfold was supposed to leave for tour in the morning and she knew that after the night they just had, Brian would need more than just two cups of coffee to face the day.
After about two hours, the horn announced that the tour bus had arrived and Brian ran outside, carrying two of his bags.
“Finally! About time, Gates!” Zacky exclaimed as he walked towards him, helping him with his luggage.
Nancy walked out of the door, wearing the same t-shirt she put on earlier. Valary walked towards her and hugged her tight.
“You sure you don’t wanna come? You know, we have room for you.”
Nancy smiled a little, trying not to look too sad.
“I’m sure, thanks Val. I gotta stay here and focus on my study this time, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah. You told us about that. Well, if you change your mind, just give me a call.” She said, “I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t worry.” She winked at her as Brian walked towards them, then walked away.
Without saying a word, he walked up to Nancy and hugged her tight. She closed her eyes and sank her face into his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to impress the memory of her smell in his mind. He left a soft kiss on her neck then slowly pulled away, looking straight into his eyes.
“I love you.” He whispered.
No other words were needed. Even the night before, spent making love, featured no words. Wandering hands, tears and salty kisses were enough.
“I love you.” She whispered back before placing her lips on his.
“C’mon, guys. We’re running late!” Johnny yelled from the bus and the two pulled away for good.
Jimmy was watching them from the bus. Never in a million year would he have thought that they would break up and yet, it happened. What a great mistake they were making. He thought they were soulmates and it broke his heart that they couldn’t see it. It wasn’t fair. He was sure, however, that they would realize that breaking up has been their worst decision, in a way or another.
I won't say a word
They've all been said before, you know
So why don't we just play pretend
Like we're not scared of what is coming next
Or scared of having nothing left
All I Ask – Adele
That was the last time they would make love; they both knew it. They had been together for over three years now and although they still loved each other deeply, they both came to the conclusion that breaking up was the best thing to do. It wasn’t a decision they took lightly; instead, they spoke a lot about this before finally deciding what to do with their relationship. Their break up wasn’t a classic one – there weren’t plates thrown around nor bad words said, everything had been peaceful. Maybe too much.
Nancy was resting her head on his chest, listening to his regular heartbeat. She wondered how his heart could beat like that, hers was pounding in her chest and she was afraid she would get a heart attack. That was the effect he had on her every single time he looked at her, even after so many years, even now that they were breaking up. His hand was playing with her long hair as he kept his eyes closed. He didn’t want to open them; this way, he thought, they would have some more time left together.
“Do you think we should tell them?” Brian asked, mentioning their friends.
“No. Not yet, at least.” She replied, “I’m not ready to hear all their questions and opinions. I mean, you’ve seen what happened when we told Jimmy.”
Jimmy.
Nancy and Jimmy had been friends since when she moved to Huntington Beach, in the house next to his. They were children and at first they couldn’t stand each other, then, as it usually happens, they became inseparable. Their mothers joked about them eventually falling in love and getting married, while the two children were disgusted at the thought of getting married to each other. When they got older, though, they wondered if maybe their mothers were right, but a couple of kisses afterwards, they realized they were only friends. He was the brother she’d never had, and she was like one of his sisters, only better.
When Jimmy introduced Brian to her, Nancy didn’t know what to think. He didn’t stand that guy who was so full of himself. He didn’t stand him so much, that when he kissed for the first time she slapped him. Only to kiss him again after a couple of seconds. The rest is history. Jimmy was the first one to know about their relationship and when they told him, he was euphoric, like a puppy getting picked by a little girl. When they told him they were breaking up, though, he was miserable, looking like the same puppy getting abandoned on a highway in the desert.
To make sure not to make Jimmy suffer anymore, Brian and Nancy agreed to stay close to him. They decided to break up, but they were adults and knew that remaining friends could be possible and that was what they were trying to do.
Nancy looked out of the window and noticed how the sun was rising. She slowly pulled away from Brian and sat up, grabbing one of his t-shirts. He looked over at her and slowly moved his fingertips up and down her spine. She froze and closed her eyes, feeling shivers running through her body. She couldn’t cry. Not again.
“I’ll go make coffee.” She said, putting his shirt on and heading downstairs. Avenged Sevenfold was supposed to leave for tour in the morning and she knew that after the night they just had, Brian would need more than just two cups of coffee to face the day.
After about two hours, the horn announced that the tour bus had arrived and Brian ran outside, carrying two of his bags.
“Finally! About time, Gates!” Zacky exclaimed as he walked towards him, helping him with his luggage.
Nancy walked out of the door, wearing the same t-shirt she put on earlier. Valary walked towards her and hugged her tight.
“You sure you don’t wanna come? You know, we have room for you.”
Nancy smiled a little, trying not to look too sad.
“I’m sure, thanks Val. I gotta stay here and focus on my study this time, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah. You told us about that. Well, if you change your mind, just give me a call.” She said, “I’ll keep an eye on him, don’t worry.” She winked at her as Brian walked towards them, then walked away.
Without saying a word, he walked up to Nancy and hugged her tight. She closed her eyes and sank her face into his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to impress the memory of her smell in his mind. He left a soft kiss on her neck then slowly pulled away, looking straight into his eyes.
“I love you.” He whispered.
No other words were needed. Even the night before, spent making love, featured no words. Wandering hands, tears and salty kisses were enough.
“I love you.” She whispered back before placing her lips on his.
“C’mon, guys. We’re running late!” Johnny yelled from the bus and the two pulled away for good.
Jimmy was watching them from the bus. Never in a million year would he have thought that they would break up and yet, it happened. What a great mistake they were making. He thought they were soulmates and it broke his heart that they couldn’t see it. It wasn’t fair. He was sure, however, that they would realize that breaking up has been their worst decision, in a way or another.
Notes
Hi, guys! I know you probably hate me and I'm really sorry for this but I got this story in the back of my mind for a longer time than all the other stories. I started writing it down months ago, then it sat there in a folder of my laptop until the other day, when I decided to add something to this story and a prologue and five chapters later, I'm here to post the prologue!
I really hope you enjoyed this short prologue. I might post the first chapter in the next couple of days, so you guys can see if you might be interested in the story or not. In the meantime, feel free to leave comments, votes and subscriptions <3
Please continue <3
4/5/18