A short story

hi guys!! So i thought I'd post something a little different today. This is a short story that i submitted last year at Uni. It's about the typical feeling i feel we all face now and then when you want to be heard and seen for what you are. It's about loving yourself regardless of what others think or demand of you.

I feel like it's important in this story that i've left an open ending because i want you all to leave a comment telling me what you would have done in the situation.. to stay or go, i suppose.

anyway, without further ado, here's my piece Smile.

“Ya smile too much.” The guy I met last night says, sprawled against the couch. He’s only in his boxers. I laugh and stand up, walking over and pulling the cigarette from his fingers, taking a long drag. If he wasn’t so gorgeous I’d tell him to sling his hook, to fuck off. I’d tell him that my smile is the most beautiful part of me, and that he’s an arsehole for even questioning it. I want to tell him just that. But I’m afraid he’ll leave.

“Nothing wrong with smiling.” I mumble and turn my back. I’m wearing the few clothes I could find on the floor this morning, knickers were slung on the windowsill, t-shirt was tossed on the floor- proved to be a comfortable bed for the dog, Billy or Bailey… something like that. God knows where my bloody bra’s gone.

“Yeah I know, there ain’t a thing wrong with it,” He sits up and scratches the back of his neck. “It’s just annoying when it’s all ya ever do.” He shrugs and looks me up and down, licking his lips. I’m a piece of meat in his eyes. I sit against the window and take another drag of the cigarette, closing my eyes. His words circle in my head. I toss the cigarette out the window and rid myself of the thoughts, flashing him a smile, laced with irony. He laughs and motions for me with his finger.

“Look, yer smile is hot.” He mumbles, sitting up and grabbing my wrist. He tugs me in to his embrace and hooks my legs either side of him, finding his hands a warm place between the rolls of my t-shirt. “But I’m just sayin, I don’t wanna see it all the time.” He laughs, his lips curling in to a smirk of sorts as one of his hands brush my hair behind my ear slowly. He cuts me down with his words. I try to act natural but end up frowning, hiding my face in the crook of his neck. It’s warm and smells of coffee and faint aftershave.

“I like my smile.” I whisper softly, and press my lips against his neck. I try to ignore what he said but the words won’t leave me alone. He nods and slouches back again, cold fingers gently digging in to my hips, his head slanted against mine.

“Okay.” He shrugs. His hands begin to wander.

“Do you like my smile?” I murmur and kiss his neck gently. I know I’m playing right in to his hands, but I don’t care.

“I guess.” He says, shrugging. I fall back on to the couch beside him and sigh heavily, lighting another cigarette.