Magic Love (A Cethany Fanfiction)

Chapter 20 - Breezy Beach Nights

Beth

I go home with thoughts of Connor swirling in my mind. How am I gonna tell Adam? Am I even gonna tell him? And what am I gonna do? I don't even know how I feel about any of this...

An unread text on my phone.

Hey, miss you. How's school? Sorry I couldn't drop by today, had some work to do. Might visit tomorrow. Love you.

What perfect timing, Adam.

I sigh and put my phone in my back pocket. I can't deal with this right now. Too much going on. I just want to dig deep into my covers and sleep forever.

As I walk up the stairs, Brittany calls out to me. "Beth? Have you seen my phone anywhere?" She appears from outside her bedroom. When she sees my tired expression, she looks concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"You lose your phone again?"

"Don't try and change the subject."

I sigh. "Nothing. Really. Your phone's probably in the car."

"Okay, thanks. Oh, and by the way, Adam stopped by earlier, when you were at photography. He said you weren't replying to his texts so he thought he'd check what's up."

I raise my eyebrows but walk quietly back to my room. I take out my phone and reply to Adam with a smiley face. He texts back almost immediately.

Oh thank god. I was beginning to worry that you were mad about that one date night. Sorry about that, by the way. Can I come over?

I don't want him to come over, but if I decline he'll be even more worried.

Yeah, sure. Come help me with hw (:

Be there in 20.

"Brittany!" I yell. "Adam's coming over in twenty minutes!"

"Okay!"

I begin to pull out my books from my backpack and remind myself what I have for homework. Science worksheet, math problems, and history notes. Great.

As I start writing down the math problems on the page, the doorbell rings. I check the clock. How can Adam be here in 5 minutes?

I get out of bed reluctantly, considering how exhausted I am, and run down the stairs. I don't check who it is and am immediately unrewarded when I see Connor outside.

"I know, I know," he says quickly. "You just saw me at school. But I have a small problem. I kinda maybe sorta left my keys in my room, and no one's home so I thought I could come here and hang with you if that's okay since you're just next door but if you don't want me to I could totally just chill in my car or something until my mom gets back from--

I stop him with a laugh, momentarily forgetting our situation. He's still my best friend. This counts as friends, right?. "Con, it's fine. How could I possibly leave you outside? Come in."

He gives me a nervous smile and follows me to my room. He puts his backpack beside mine and climbs onto my bed, staring at his phone. I smile at the awkward angle his legs are in, since my bed is kinda small. I close my door and continue working on math.

It is pretty hard to focus when someone else's thoughts keep getting into your head, I have to admit.

I really need to call my mom and tell her to put some keys under the welcome mat.

Wow, these are cool shoes.

Beth's room smells like roses, like it did when we were little.

Hey, she still has that movie we watched from when we were kids.

Oh crap, can she hear everything I'm thinking?

"Yes, yes I can," I say, smiling to myself.

He groans. "That's gonna get so annoying."

"You may as well speak your mind when you're around me," I say, looking at him. I climb onto the bed beside him, bored with homework. He sits up.

"You really want me to tell you everything I'm thinking?" he says.

"I don't think you have a choice, do you?" I say, laughing and tapping his head.

You wanna know something, Bethers? I'm still in love with you.

Suddenly, his presence takes over my body, and I can't help myself, I want him, too. A memory flows through my brain.

It's freezing cold, and we're at the beach. I'm wearing a thin cardigan but I'm still shivering against the icy January wind. The beach is empty, besides a few campfires. Connor is running towards me, and when he gets to me, he wraps his arms around me and I'm warm. He kisses my temple.

"Do you ever wonder how we're gonna end up?" he asks.

"I don't know, Con. I hope we're forever."

"You better not forget about me once you're famous and meeting new people."

I turn around to face him and kiss him lightly on the lips. "It's pretty hard to forget about you, but if I ever do it'd be impossible not to fall in love all over again."

And now I'm back and staring at his eyes again and he's so beautiful and I just... I lean forward and press my lips to his.

He kisses back, and I turn so I'm facing him and he lifts me onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck, not once pulling away. He deepens the kiss and leans forward, so I'm laying against my bed. I put my hands in his hair and smile against his lips, and now he's laughing. For this moment, I forget about everything else.

Until, that is, the door opens. Just as Connor pulls back, I turn to see what I should've known was coming.