𝘾𝙄𝙉𝙉𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙉 𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙆𝙎 , dreamwastaken

epilogue.

the next weeks of jade and clays life went back to normal after nick and george had went back home. clay had been busy working, his channel growing more and more everyday. jade had packed up her house in the time he was at his computer, preparing to move with him before she got back on her feet.

jade had finally finished packing up the rest of her bedroom, sighing to herself. she looked over to the cat sitting in the doorway, bending down to his level.

"you ready?" she asked him, lightly running her hand along his back. she had been worried she was stressing him out, the commotion with her running around all the time had to have been overwhelming.

clay
you got everything together?

jade
yeah. come over?

clay
k.

jade stared at the message in front of her. it was unlike him to say that in the first place, and the period threw her off.

she shrugged her shoulders, figuring he was just as stressed as she was. she brought all the boxes to her front entryway, ready to pack them into clay's suv.

she walked around making sure she had everything with her, and sat and the couch she was leaving at her apartment.

she had put her house up for sale a few weeks prior. after a few days, and older lady had come and expressed interest in the space. particularly, she liked the green of the couch, so jade decided to leave it there when she moved.

while in her thoughts, clay walked through the door. he gave her a small smile before picking up his first box.

the two spent the next twenty minutes putting all the boxes into his car. they were gonna come back and get her car the next day since she needed to sign a few final papers.

"this ones heavy," clay chuckled, dropping it in his car with a loud thud.

"that's all my cookware i think," jade replied, looking at him with delight. clay hummed and leaned on his now closed trunk.

"is that everything?" he asked, looking back at the building behind him. jade nodded her head, following his eyes. clay walked around to the passenger side, opening the door and gesturing to the seat.

jade laughed, walking over and sitting down. she craned her neck to look in the backseat, cinnamon sitting in his crate. his eyes were droopy and he looked sad. "i know baby, you'll be out soon,"

clay got into the car and backed out without another word. the pair drove in silence to his house, an occasional meow from the cat in the back.

when they got to clay's complex, they only took up what was necessary and left all the other stuff for later. jade let cinnamon out, and patches immediately ran up to him being the curious cat she was.

jade laid down on clay's couch, taking in a deep sigh. she started to close her eyes when she felt someone pick up her feet. she scooted towards the edge of the couch so clay could slip behind her, and she turned around to face him.

"do you wanna go for a drive in a little?" clay asked her after a moment. jade lightly nodded her head, before falling asleep quickly. clay felt her breathing even out, so he reached for the remote in front of him to turn on some shitty tv.

after an episode of 90 day fiancé, jade rubbed her eyes near his chest. she looked up at him, his eyes lidded and his cheeks pale.

"do you wanna go now?" she asked, not sure if he was still up to it. he nodded, and nudged her to get up. she gave a light protest, but finally did.

the pair walked to his car, jade turning on the radio and hearing an eagles song playing. she lightly tapped her foot, keeping her eyes closed.

eventually, she felt the car come to a stop, and she opened her eyes to see a familiar park in front of her. she turned her head to see clay already looking at her, and she laughed lightly. "really?" she asked him, a smile broad on her face. clay just nodded, hopping out and around to her side. he grabbed her hand, leading her to the same pavilion they had their first "date" at.

clay stood in the center, the moonlight behind him giving him an aura. he held his hand out in front of him as an offering. jade took it quickly, squeezing them lightly.

clay did a really good job of hiding his anxiety, and jade knew that. he very rarely cracked under pressure and was able to speak for himself confidently. however, in this moment, his hands were clammy and his cheeks were white.

he closed his eyes lightly, taking a breath in. jade looked up at in curiosity.

"i love you, jade." he started. jade was confused as to why he seemed so tense about three words they had shared many times. "i mean it. and i mean it in a way i can say i've never loved anything else."

he took in a deep breath, opening his eyes to feel a tear lightly swell in his tear duct.

"and i know. that's the kinda shit we would make fun of in romance movies. but i mean it j, i do. and i know we've been whatever for so long and i know i've been telling you i love you over and over again but now i feel like i have to do this—" he stopped himself, letting himself breathe. "—but i've known it's been you since the second you told me your cats name. the second you texted me for the first time and you were all freaked about me just giving you my number. since- since the beginning, jade. i've felt this way since the beginning," he moved one of his hands to her face. "please, let me be finally be yours."

jade jumped up to connect her lips with the man in front of her, tears spilling out.

that was all he needed to hear.

𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙.