Lake Of Missed Signals

So, I'm gonna try and get back on track with posting stuff on here. But today's writing is one that I've had for a fair while which has been re-envisioned plenty of times. I'm really happy with how it is at the moment and I think might reach a wider audience, showing off my style a little bit.

I hope you like it, it's a short sad romance called 'Lake of Missed Signals':

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  The occasional moonlit glimmer bounced carelessly off the empty lake. People were scarce and the ducks were ashore. From behind one of the mini islands, a swan glided. Arrow head ripples disturb the water's surface.

  He couldn’t help but think about her…

  Going for a walk helps things. It allows one to clear the head. The cold ground beneath his foot quivered as one hefty lorry made it's self known. Unfazed, he continued to the boating lake. He was usually walking swiftly when listening to his music, though now, he had slowed right down.

  The concrete quivered again; distracting his attention as the timing of his step made a weightlessness awe spring through him when the lorry hit a bump. He stopped and looked up to make sure it didn't shake a third time.

  Thoughts racing; heart the same.

  Annoyingly, the end of the number plate read 'LVE'. The word seemed to be chasing him. Carry on walking. The word hurts.

* * *

  Confusion. The cold ground beneath her bench quivered for a short, wavering moment. Undisrupted in her confusion, not the will to become distracted, she stared accusingly at a small patch of stone laden floor. The floor did nothing. The stones did nothing. Music almost full volume. The water of the lake rippled as the earth quivered again. A single swan flew away, miniature waves gave animation to floating leaves. She watched. Lamp light cast on weeping willows, causing silhouettes in the lake.

  Only, questions were still flowed in thought. Confusion. What he really felt? What he said? What he thinks? Falling for him in the first place was a massive mistake; always was. One she hated herself for.

  Glance caught a slumping figure. Double take. He turned away. Stop. Eye contact. He walked over.

 * * *

  Shit. Is that...? There she was. At the boating lake. This was his place to think all night, not hers. Why is she here? Walk away. Eye contact. No choice. Not prepared. Walk over.

  “Hey there. You OK?” he hesitated.
  “Not really, no. How about you?" she hesitated.
  “Erm… Y... Yeah, fine” he managed to fake a smile. “Tell me then, I’m happy to listen.”
  Her stare into her own mind and straight through him lingered, before spinning toward the lake. The swan was back, static. A second was nearby. Had appeared, as nobody was looking, from under a bridge. Both Cob and Pen face opposite directions, paddling. Not a single fish seemed disrupted by the motion.

  She held out her arms as if asking for a hug. He accepted. Seconds passed, and the unwanted lower twitch caused him to let go. Not that she noticed.
  “I’m confused” She sighed “I just don’t know what’s happening with me and you know who. One minute I really think everything is gonna be brilliant, and going well. Next, I want to rip his balls out cause he calls me his friend. He just doesn't realise how I feel about him. I'm locked in this sort of friend-zone. I just wanna scream or go on a massacre… either one.” She pulled a half grin and looked into his eyes. He didn't grin back. He just acknowledged. Putting his arm around her with a comforting squeeze. He let go before he got too comfortable.

  She's complaining to me about a friend zone?! Wow, not sure this could get any more awkward.

  With the movement, he reassured: “Everything will pan out fine… I’m sure.” 'I'm sure' meaning 'I hope'. Hope is all he has to be with her. Reality is defiant.
  “Maybe, but I think really like him. And I don’t want to, any more. I just don't know!”
  “Well it’s OK for now. I’m here, so you don’t have to feel lonely. And I’ll stay and listen for as long as you need. I'm a comforter y'know? It's like my job by now.” Using the most comforting voice possible to muster, hoping she hadn't noticed how he was looking at her. Even on this cold day he was sweating under his jacket. This had gone on for too long already.

  He's so nice. He has such a loving stare. Do you maybe think...?

  “Thanks.” She paused to look him in the eye as he looked at her. “You’re my best friend, y’know?” He went to speak but stayed silent. She was smiling sweetly. Though the moment was broken as they realised the music was playing loud and each turned it off. They looked at each other. They giggled. One swan turned. Saw the other. It moved quickly. Second swan must have felt something as it span a half turn.

  Best friend. Typical. This can never happen now. She likes someone else and I just can't tell her.

  The water was never clear. But at night, it didn't matter. All you could see with the surface and that was as shiny an object as they both could wish. Corner of his eye, a lone figure had a length in it's stride. Even at this time of night people had destinations, goals. Perhaps was just another one with problems.

  He laid his arms round her shoulders. In this moment he was comforted by clarity. Pain. Internal sigh. He knew all he had. She was all that mattered.

   I need someone like you. I do care for you. Then again, I do still like him. I'm sorry, but I'm not sure if me and you would really...

   The swans swam by each other; it was a nice scene. Their necks arched over apparently meeting in the middle. They totally ignored each other. The distance between them was larger than it appeared. The lamps went off. The moonlight grew. Stunning scenes of dismal trees turned to dimly lit masterpieces. Time to go home? Just give me five more minutes. Here. 'With' you. The ground quivered once again.

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Thanks for reading :) Here is my other work.