Sadly Forbidden

Chapter 3

For a year Michael and I didn't really go out of our way to talk to each other, we would say hi whenever I hung out with Emily but things were different between us. He had been dating Shauna for over a year so I very rarely saw him without her nearby, the two had become inseparable.

Everyone talked about the blonde duo and how they were the perfect couple, their smiles were like knives to my heart every time I saw them. I wished with all my heart that I was the one on his arm, but Shauna deserved a good guy like him. No one's life was perfect no matter how they look on the outside, you never really know what someone else has to go through.

I can remember the day so clearly. The day that Michael finally, after over a year of no communication, became my friend again. It was near the end of my sophomore year and his senior year, I was roaming the halls after school until Emily was ready go. She was in the cooking club and today they were learning how to make fried rice, she refused to leave the school until she got it perfect.

That's when I found him in the forgotten photography room, because of the lack of membership the photography club had shut down and the room was a prop closet for the drama club. Midst all of the feather boas and coats sat a crying Michael, I thought about walking away only for a moment.

But he looked so defeated and I couldn't just leave the man I... cared for all alone on the floor crying his eyes out. I had never seen him cry before, his hair was hanging in front of his eyes as he sat against the wall.

I entered the room letting out a small cough so he knew that I was there, his head snapped up towards me eyes widening. He quickly tried to scramble of f of the floor but I sat beside him before he could get up. He lowered his head not wanting to meet my eyes, so for awhile we just sat in silence.

"I broke up with Shauna." Finally he spoke, although I certainly didn't expect those words to come out of his mouth, I couldn't help the small skip that my heart did at his confession.

"Wh-" Before I could even ask why or even reply to his confession he interrupted me with words that I never thought I would hear him say.

"I love you Sierra and because I love you I know that you haven't found your place in the world yet." I took in a sharp breath tears welling in my eyes, my eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"You need to find your path Sierra before you can invite anyone to walk with you." His gaze locked with mine, his jade green eyes pierced to my very soul and I could feel his love radiating through those eyes. He smiled softly at me tears welling back up in his eyes and I realized that my heart wasn't the only one that had broke last year.

"But I-" Before I could utter a single word his lips were against mine, my eyes fluttered shut as he gave me a soft kiss. It was warm and kind of odd feeling, but as far as a first kiss can go I was sure that it was the best that the world could ever see. His scent, his lips, his love it surrounded me for a moment. Which was all this was, a fleeting moment, but it was a precious moment that I carry with me to this day.

The kiss only lasted for a couple seconds before he pulled away his eyes filled with tears and his smiling face, "But if our paths ever do meet Sierra I promise you I will never let you go again."

We sat there for awhile just enjoying the peace and quiet, our eyes closed as we just enjoyed each other's presence. Neither one of us wanted to leave each other again, not when we... loved each other so much. Because that was what was in my heart, love. But we couldn't be together just yet, I was still just as lost as I was four years ago after we moved here from Miami.

"I think I'm gonna be a photographer." I blinked in surprised looking at him funny, what on earth was he talking about.

"A photographer?" He was going to inherit his father's company, how on earth was he going to be a photographer. He let out a laugh seeing my bewildered face, smiling kindly at me.