Chapter 7
*Alex's POV*“Where are we going?” I ask impatiently. We’ve been swimming for at least an hour. I admit I’m getting tired of all this swimming.
“We’re almost there. We’ll be there in a couple of minutes. I promise,” Stacie says glancing over at me smiling. I sigh while nodding. Stacie looks back ahead, but I can see her frown first. I shouldn’t be so mean to her; I know it’s only making her upset. I know I’ve been distant the past couple hours, but it’s only because she’s been acting strangely. One minute she acts like she likes me, the next minute she doesn’t. I don’t get it.
“Okay,” I reply back.
We walk for the next couple minutes in silence. Why has she been acting weird around me? Why did she have to want to go see Marissa? I wanted us to get closer! I wanted to tell her how I feel! I wanted to kiss her! Why Stacie?! Why?! Why did you have to see Marissa?!
“I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t mean anything when I said that. I just felt like everything was getting awkward…” Stacie says stopping dead in her tracks.
“Did I say that aloud?” I ask myself.
“Yeah, you kind of did,” Stacie says frowning. I instantly feel bad for what I have said. She wasn’t supposed to hear that. It was meant for my mind only.
“Well, now I feel bad. How much did I say?” I hope she didn’t hear me talking about the plan I had for tonight which went entirely wrong.
“Not much. You started by asking why Stacie? And ended with asking me why I had to see Marissa.” I sigh happily.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that. I was talking to myself. It was supposed to be said only in my head. I was only suppose to think it, not say it.”
“I’m sorry, too. I should have told you when I felt things were getting awkward. It was childish of me to get out of the situation that way.” Stacie smiles her beautiful smile.
“That’s okay. I understand why you did it.”
“You do?” she asks shocked.
“Of course. I would think things were getting weird when someone showed me their bedroom, too. Either that or you didn’t know what else to say,” I say shrugging.
“Yeah! That’s it! I mean you caught me.” Stacie half-smiles. I don’t think that is it though. I think something else made her want to get away, but I don’t know what. I only said it to make her feel better about wanting to leave me.
“Yeah, I thought that might be why. I’m just glad I’m right.” I smile back. Stacie turns around and smiles grateful that I didn’t find whatever out. She turns back around to look at me.
“We’re here,” she says enthusiastically. I turn around to see a magnificent view. There are bright green kelp forests in one area, a bunch of rainbow colored coral in another, and a wide-open view of the great, aquamarine ocean in another. I can see a city full of bright lights and tall buildings in the distance.
“This place is beautiful. Where are we?” I ask glancing at Stacie who also is admiring the view. She passionately smiles.
“This is my mountain top,” she replies glancing at me. It all starts to click.
“This is your favorite place?!” I ask astonished as I swim over to the edge to make sure this was in fact a mountain. She nods.
“Yeah.” Stacie lays down on the ground staring up.
“Why did you bring me here? I wouldn’t want anyone to see this. I would want it all to myself. If someone was to see it, they might keep it all to themselves.”
“I thought I would show you since you showed me your drawings. You didn’t have to, but you decided to anyways. I wanted to return the favor.” She pats the ground motioning for me to lay down next to her.
“Well, thank you. I think this is great,” I say as I lay down on the hard, surprisingly warm ground beside her.
“No problem.”
I stare up seeing the moon already out from hiding. It’s blue tonight. I barely ever see a blue moon. I glance over at Stacie. She’s smiling looking up at the blue moon. She looks amazing. Just seeing her like this takes my breath away, and the setting is perfect. I wish I had my drawing pad, so I could always remember this moment. I could put the drawing of this moment with all the others I have hidden in my room. I’m glad Stacie didn’t see those. She would probably freak if she did.
“Isn’t the view beautiful? I love coming here to see it. Everything around me fades away when I’m here. All the pain, worries, hard decisions slide off me. I can think easily without any interruptions here if I need to,” Stacie says startling me. She keeps her eyes fixed on the moon not looking at me.
“Yes, it is,” I say gazing at her in awe. I know she’s talking about the setting around us, but I don’t care; I think she’s beautiful, and I need to say it even if she doesn’t know I’m talking about her. She glances at me smiling that beautiful smile of hers. There’s a sparkle in her eyes.
“Alex, I have to tell you something,” Stacie says sitting up looking down at the ground. I sit up confused. I inch closer to her.
“What is it?” I say placing a finger under her chin forcing her to look at me.
“I’m scared to say it. I don’t know what you’ll say back. I might not like your answer.” Stacie frowns.
“That’s why people say things. They want to know the response to what they have to say. Whether they are asking something or saying things, they are going to get a response regardless. You don’t have to like the response you get, but I promise you’ll be happier once you get it off your chest.” Why don’t you take your own advice? You never want to speak your mind. You always want to keep everything to yourself and remain a loner. “I have something to say, too,” I say sighing.
“You go first.” I nod hesitantly.
“Well, this is hard to admit, but I know I must say it. I’ll regret not doing so for forever if I don’t.” Stacie nods as if to say go ahead. I sigh.
“You can say it, Alex. You can trust me. I won’t think any less of you. I-” I smash my lips against Stacie’s. She pulls back in shock.
“Stacie, I’ve liked you all my life. I’ve only ever liked you. I got upset earlier because I had wanted to tell you this. My plans were foiled, so I got upset. I had everything planned. You made it better with this beautiful setting though.” I gesture to everything around us. Stacie glances around. “Stacie, I think your beautiful, and I love your personality. I like how you care about everyone around you and put your needs last. I like how you’re so sweet and intelligent. I love how shy you are and how embarrassed you become at the little things.” She blushes looking down trying to hide it. “I love when you blush because of me. It makes me feel special.” She glances back up at me. “I love those chocolate brown eyes. When I see them, I instantly melt. I feel like I have everything in the world when I’m with you. I’m the only person you have eyes on.” Stacie smiles pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “And your smile- Your smile brightens my day. I can be having the worst day, and all I need to get through it is one look of you smiling. Whenever I see you, you look like you’re having the best day. You look brighter than the sun. You act like no one can mess with you and screw up your day. Stacie, I don’t know how you feel about me, but I needed to tell you how I felt about you. Do you feel the same way?”
“Alex, I-” she begins frowning. I look away feeling my whole world crashing down. “Alex, look at me. You don’t even know what I’m going to say.” I refuse. I don’t want to look into her eyes when she tells me she doesn’t feel the same way. Stacie places her hands on my shoulders. I shrug them off. Stacie swims over to where she’s in front of me. I see her frowning. “Alex…”
“Don’t. I know what you’re going to say: you don’t like me.” She sighs. Suddenly, Stacie’s lips are smashing against mine. I’m shocked at first, but I quickly get over it and kiss her back. After awhile, she pulls away.
“Alex, I was going to say I like you too. I was just shocked when you kissed me. I didn’t expect it, but I wasn’t prepared either. I have never had a boyfriend, my first kiss, anything. No guy has ever held my hand or told me I was beautiful. I just wanted to tell you all of that first.”
“Really?! I would have thought you would have had several boyfriends by now. I was scared because I thought you had more experience than me. I’ve never had a girlfriend either. I’ve never had my first kiss before tonight. Everything that you haven’t done, I haven’t either.”
“I thought you would have had several girlfriends! I was afraid you had more experience than me,” Stacie says laughing. I laugh too.
“I guess we both had high expectations.”
“Thanks for saying all of that. It was really sweet of you,” Stacie says beginning to blush again.
“And I meant every bit of it,” I say rubbing her cheek with my thumb. “Stacie?”
“Hmm?” she mumbles enjoying my touch. Her eyes are closed. She looks so peaceful.
“With all of that out of the way, would you care to be my girlfriend?” Her eyes burst open happily.
“I would love to.” I scoot over towards her. We watch the view before us. Stacie places her head on my shoulder. I place my head upon hers.
“A perfect ending to a perfect night.”
“Perfect? What about-” Stacie begins to ask looking at me.
“I wouldn’t trade any of it. Without it, this wouldn’t have happened.” I smile at her. She nods.
“You’re right. A perfect ending to a perfect night.”
“What time is it? I don’t want your mom to get mad if you’re late.” She checks her shell.
“I have to go!” she screams hastily getting up. “Come on!” She grabs her stuff and swims speedily away. I grab my stuff and follow.
Join Qfeast to read the entire story!
Sign In. It is absolutely free!
