Still Holding On

thirty-five

❁ 4 HOURS EARLIER ❁

Nishi was doing better apparently. That's what Cole told me on the call. They went out somewhere and Cole didn't bother telling where so I didn't ask. But how did she?

I've been trying hard not to think about what went down at the carnival. It was quite shocking but also scary that Nishi—my dearest friend Nishi—would keep something so big hidden.

Maybe I've judged her a lot in the past. Maybe she didn't feel the need to tell me what actually was going on. Maybe she thought I wasn't going to understand?

But the fact that I have a mental disorder too and she knows well enough I wouldn't judge her for that.

There is this strange resistance that I'm facing while thinking about this. The deeper I think the worst it makes me feel and the more I resist the topic.

But for now, to get us both a distraction, Jace decided that we have to go somewhere.

He just said it and I followed along. Without any questions, without any queries.

We reach around the edge and I see a Taco Bell outlet.

"I am hungry. Let's go to Taco Bell. It's been hours since I had something." I speak quickly as though if we miss the turn we wouldn't ever be able to come back here.

"Nope." He blurted, without looking at me. Now I wish I was driving.

"But I AM HUNGRYYYYY!" I let out a beastly groan and I am sure he didn't see that one coming. That's what I am when I don't get food—a fucking beast!

"We are going somewhere better." He spoke, now eyes on me.

"BUT TACOS!" I gestured towards the Taco Bell. "IT'S LIKE THE TACOS INSIDE ARE SCREAMING MY NAME OUT JACE LET'S GO."

I know I sounded like a little kid begging for toys. But well. Nothing seems to work on my boyfriend.

My boyfriend! (According to Maddie)

"I am not giving up what I've planned for us just because of tacos." He side eyed me.

He has planned something?

"You've planned something?" I let out a big scream as though I looked at a ghost.

"Fuck!" He realised he gave away a little more information than he should've.

---❁---

I wouldn't stop asking questions and he wouldn't dare answer any. It was like he was in an interrogation. Well how else am I supposed to process my (probable) boyfriend telling me he has planned something for us?

Well, all my questions were answered soon. Jace pulled to the edge of a street. It was almost time for the sunset. The houses were old but looked pretty classy.

"What are we supposed to do here?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Walk with me?" He said, calmly. I like how he handles me. I have no patience so well I am very very very hard to handle at times.

I followed him to the end of the lane by a small garden. I hadn't noticed there was a lake around.

He held my hands and now turned towards me. "I was planning to do this earlier but I wanted it to be special and I wanted it to be unique." He spoke.

He took me towards one of the benches soon after which the land ended and waves of the lake water hit the high white embankment, smooth and soft.

We sat down at the grey rusty bench as his warm hand was still wrapped around mine. It was cute how he planned this.

Very cute!

He hesitated a little, which made it clear that he was nervous. "I've never.. umm.. done this." He spoke as his voice got rough and raspy. I loved it when that happened.

"I have no clue what to say or how to get this done with. But i just.." He wasn't exactly smiling. His expressions were hard enough to read anyways.

"I've never crushed on a guy before. Hell I haven't even crushed on anyone this hard. I.. umm.. think I really really like you, Allan!" There's something that happens within me when he says my name with that voice. A wave of sudden anxiousness ran through me as I realised what he had just said.

I knew he liked me so then why the fuck is this a fucking shock to me?

"Will you.. umm.. be my boyfriend? And I know this sounds very kiddish and like you—" I cut him off in between and kissed him.

His soft lips against mine as his hand moved around my face, cupping it. It was sudden for him, but I'd only wanted this since forever.

I pulled back and leaned out for a second. But a second was not enough. It never could be. To notice his pale skin which shone as the orange of the sunset light hit his skin by the edges as the last wave of heat hit us. His eyes ran deep, something I'd wanna dive into—an ocean that I'd want to swin into, drown into. His voice being my strongest weakness. Raspy and rough, fading in and scratching its way through my body as a wave and disolving in my ears as a melody.

"Do I still have to say a yes?" We looked at each other and let out laughs. A relieved giggle.

And that's how I fell in love.

❁❁❁

Heyyy! Hope you liked this chapter. I personally loved writing it though.

Anddd THANKYOU SO MUCH for 800+ reads. Makes me glad that people do check back and like reading my story.

Anyways, don't forget to vote for this chapter and check back soon for another exciting update to the story!

(Drama on the way!!!)

<3