Below the Sky

Chapter 38: Riana

Tears rolled down my face as I walked back to Elijah's apartment. I knew it was wrong, ending it with Lila before I had to. This was important though, and though it hurt, it had to be done. I loved my life with Lila, but I missed college, and my family, and now that I wasn't interning under Bill Hayes, what was the point of staying?
As I was walking, the sky turned a dark color of grey and spots of rain started to fall. Then the clouds opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour that soaked me to my bones. I pulled my arms around me, shaking off the cold water droplets and speeding up my pace.
I finally made it back, wet, but home. I threw open the door, shutting it quickly then entering the small house. I took off my soggy shoes, and went to the bathroom to shower and change immediately.
It hit me when I was already under the steamy water that I had left Lila, still a while from the apartment, and then it had started pouring. I felt horrible, having just broken up with Lila, then leaving her to get soaked. I scrubbed my body, fighting back more tears and hoping that Lila would come back soon. That she wouldn't get too wet, or maybe she would find shelter before the worst of the rain hit.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body and leaving the bathroom. I walked out, drying my hair, when I noticed Elijah sitting in the middle of the living room.
"Oh, I'll go get changed," I turned to go put some clothes on when Elijah interjected, stopping me.
"No, Riana stop." I returned back to his viewpoint, then with a lurch in my heart I realized that Lila was standing near him, out of sight.
"Are you leaving Riana?" Elijah asked. Lila moved out of the shadows, and I could see her clearly. I saw the tear marks running down her face, and her soaking wet frame.
"Elijah, I have to go soon. I need to return home, finish college, and be with my family again."
"I understand that, it's just, we're going to miss you." Then Elijah was holding me, wrapping me up in his strong arms. Lila joined our embrace, and I became aware that I wore only a towel.
"I'll miss you guys too," I pulled away, tugging my towel down and smiling. Lila gave me a look that broke my heat, a look of absolute heartbreak. Then I turned, and went back to the bathroom to change.
I thought of Lila as I pulled on clothing, and the summer we had had. Sure, it been full of many ups and downs. The canoe trip, when we first kissed. Then the fire, when her house had burned down. Being kicked out, moving in with the Davis's, and finding the courage to leave them. Yes it had been crazy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

A little more than a day later I was packed and ready to leave. I had a purchased train ticket home, and everything I owned was stuffed into my one duffel bag. It was late at night, and I was leaving the next day.
Elijah was asleep already, the clock reading about midnight. I was laying on the couch, but I didn't want to rest. Lila was on the floor, her breathing quicker than it should be. I thought she was still awake too, with her side rising and falling at a swift rate.
"Lila," I whispered.
"Ya Riana."
"I don't want to leave you." Lila sat up, turning so she was looking at me. She took my hands in hers, squeezing.
"You do want to leave you just don't want to leave me."
"Ya, that," I pulled my hands free, swiping at the tears starting to escape from my eyes.
"Okay, well you know what we should do then," she said cunningly.
"Okay," was all I said before Lila was on me, kissing me feverishly.
I stood up, my lips never parting from Lila's, and led her so I was pressing her up against the wall. She gasped when my lips left her lips, trailing down to her neck. Then I ripped her shirt off, her chest bare. A small moan escaped her lips when I moved over her front, and as I made my way down to her stomach her heartbeat sped up.
I didn't make it all the way though before Lila took the reins, stopping me at her waistline. She took off my shirt, kissing down my chest and my stomach. She pulled down my pants, then put her head between my legs. It was my turn to moan, gasp and pant as Lila gave me pleasure. It felt so good, to be loved like this.
Lila finished on me, then I led her back to the couch, resuming our kissing. I pulled down her pants, so we were both bare for each other to see. Then she was on top of me, thrusting herself so we were both panting and moaning. She kissed my neck as she did this, emitting more sighs of pleasure from me.
Eventually we stopped, and rested, Lila laying on top of me. She kissed me slightly, but nothing aggressive. No, this kiss was of love, and of heartbreak.
Lila fell asleep, and I started to think. This was the last time we would do this, the last we would sleep together. My heart cracked, splintering into thousands of little pieces. No more stolen kisses, no more playing with Lila's hair as she cuddled up to me. No more running away together, and staying with each other even after we had been kicked out of our house. This blissful summer was coming to an end, and much too soon for my taste.
I fell asleep too soon enough. A dream entered my mind, but this was a pleasant dream. In this dream, me and Lila were on the beach. We were running, fingers entwined, giggling. The sand was scratchy under our bare feet, and we wore gorgeous dresses. Then I looked down, and realized they weren't any dresses. Me and Lila were adorned and beautiful, white wedding dresses. The flowed off our bodies, outlining our curves and giving us a pretty demeanor. Our hair was done up in fancy updos, and our makeup was painted on so heavily we were basically unrecognizable. Suddenly, as we were running, the sky opened up, unleashing a downpour. It soaked our gorgeous dresses, ruining the white pattern. We didn't care though, in fact instead of searching for shelter, we ran to the surf lapping up on the beach. We ran into the water, giggling. I noticed something though, I was also crying. Salty tears mixed with rain water and poured down my face. Me and Lila kissed in the waves, a kiss so passionate. It was beautiful, and I knew that weren't getting married, because otherwise the sadness I felt would be the opposite, happiness. So in my dream, me and Lila kissed in the ocean, drenching our dresses in the pouring rain, on a day that would seem like our wedding day but wasn't.