The Other Side of Hollywood | Luke Patterson

THIRTY-THREE✨

"What is this place," Maya asked, running her fingers over the wooden walls, "and are you sure Caleb won't find us here?" I had taken her to the first place I could think of, somewhere I knew Caleb didn't know about.

"It's my childhood treehouse," I explain, glancing around the small space; to my surprise, unlike my old bedroom, nothing in here had changed; in fact, I don't think anyone's been here since I left, "We should be safe here for now." I don't expect us to live here forever, obviously, but for now, it's better than nothing.

Old polaroids and pictures hung all over the walls; ones of Hanna and I, the boys, and more than anything, Luke and I. The treehouse was something I used all the time when I was really young, but once I'd hit 13, I stopped coming up here as much; that is until Luke, he loved this place, we spent every spare minute up here, the treehouse became more than just mine after we got together, it became his as well.

"Oh my gosh," Maya laughed, picking up one of the photos to inspect it further, "Is this you?" She held the picture out for me to see; it was of Luke and I; we were both in the treehouse, Luke with his guitar on his lap, while my head rested on his shoulder, a book in hand; Hanna had stuck up and took this.

"Yeah," I laugh, "a lot has changed," I still looked the same, minus the preppy fashion and glasses, another perk of being a ghost? I have perfect vision now.

"So, tell me," I plop onto a stack of cushions, gesturing for Maya to sit, "what was the old Maya like, before all of this," Maya shook her head in amusement, but shuffled beside me anyway, immediately filling me in on her life before being a ghost.

It turns out; I wasn't the only one who's changed a lot; Maya hadn't always been the girl she is today; back before she died, she was anxious and introverted, she told me about how much she regretted not coming out of her shell, because by the time she wanted to, it was too late.

"I wonder what they're doing?" The two of us were lying down now, staring out at the stars through the skylight above.

"Probably annoying everyone," Maya answered quickly, "Luke is probably rambling about his music." I was probably supposed to laugh at that, but my mind had wandered to something else, "you always laugh at my jokes," Maya nudges me, "what's on your mind?"

"I just can't stop thinking about what life would be like if we could all be free," I say; I'm grateful to have Maya, don't get me wrong, but I also can't help but wonder what it'd be like if we all could escape together, with Willie and the boys.

"What'd it be like?" Maya asked; she laughed lightly, as if she imagined something funny, "Well, you and Luke would probably be off in some corner, acting all gross and coupley." I smack her arm, shooting her a playful glare, "Alex and Willie would probably be having some deep conversation over there." She pointed to the other corner of the treehouse, "and I would be stuck with Reggie," She shrugged; she didn't sound annoyed at that thought; a sad smile danced across her lips at the mention of the bass player.

"I'm sure you would've hated that," I nudge her.

Maya, who I had never seen actually have serious feelings for anyone, blushed, "He wasn't as annoying as I thought," She admitted, I chuckled, nodding for her to continue, "like he was still annoying, don't get me wrong, but he was also adorable, and kind."

At this moment, I could tell just how much Maya was hurting too; even though she didn't have a history with the boys like I do, they still had affected her life in some way, "I'm sorry you never got to tell him that,"

Maya shook her head, "Me admitting my feelings for someone?" She scoffed, "gross." I can tell she doesn't really mean that, but I don't push the topic of Reggie further.