Still Holding On

sixty-eight

He leaned in closer as I stood there, awaiting his touch. I am never getting tired of this touch of his. His gaze, his perfect smile, his eyes. All of it reminds me of this soothing comfort. That I'm much more comfortable than I ever imagined myself to be.

We were drenched in rain but all I could care about was him.

He moved his hand and locked it between my hair. Our breaths tangled and my heart fluttered. Every time Jace kisses me, it feels like I have unlocked a new level. Like all this is a game and every kiss is a greeting to enter another stage of this game—the ultimate goal, him.

I swayed out. A little fun does no damage. I'd anyways want to play this game forever.

I leaned against the wooden edge and smiled at him. He came closer than earlier this time, with the hand I placed on his chest becoming the only barrier between us. "Still wanna call me that?"

His hand was tight enough as it wrapped around my own. Within no time our bodies coalesced into one as his lips frantically brushed over mine. My lids fell shut as I felt his warmth delving through my bones, in the cold wind and droplets.

A taste of him was all I needed to realize I wanted more of him—an endless insatiable need for love. He was something I'd never realized I wanted so bad until I had.

The moment broke as he leaned out, leaving my lips parted—dying for more. "We're probably gonna catch a cold." I waited patiently till he finished speaking, only to kiss him even more passionately.

The kiss lasted for quite a while. Then we walked to the end of the wharf that had a small stairway by the left side. We took the creaky stairs to the smaller portion of the wharf which had the water hitting its edges. I left his hand and pulled up my jeans. "What are you even doing?" He chuckled as I kicked out of my shoes and slid my socks off.

I went by the edge and sat on the wet floor. I slowly dipped my feet into the seawater—cold and sharp. Brisk as the waves hit the edge and receded.

I turn my head then, and look at him. He follows me and dips his legs into the agile waves as I slide my arm and lock it between his. I lean in and rest my head on his shoulder as he looks at me. My hand finds his and our fingers tangle, until he holds it tight as we sit there under a vigorous sky over troubled waves. 

---❁---

He called dibs on driving. I wouldn't really prefer driving while it rained so heavily anyways but I wanted to drive today. But he called in first.

I look at my phone that I left back in the car as soon as I get in. Three missed calls from Nishi and one from an unknown number popped on top of my notifications.

I rang the unknown number back as I put the seat belt on. It rang for the longest time but finally, the mystery person picked up.

"Where are you?" A random man spoke from the other end with an ample amount of background noise.

"Who are you?" I questioned back.

"Quinn here, Allan." He answered. "All of these people are drunk. Are they gonna be passing out here?" He shot up more questions. "How are you all getting home?"

"About that," I hesitated while Jace eyed at me just as confused. "We really haven't figured that out."

"Oh." That's all he said. And right when I began to speak to cut off the awkward crippling silence, he cut me out. "Y'all could crash here for the night. I just won't have people throwing up on my bed though."

The only one doing that would be me but I didn't drink at all.

"We'll be back in a bit. Lets figure it out then?" I asked, half unsure myself about what we were going to do.

Quinn agreed and hung up.

"Who was that?" Jace asked.

"Quinn." I answered, half distracted by the rain outside. I leaned against the window as I felt this comfortable silence in the air—a softness. Like the chaotic balminess under twilight, like the soothing shades and haziness driving into dusk. 

I snuggled into myself and stroked his arm with my leg, smiling at him.

"Kid, dont do that!" It was almsot as if I could feel him smile—hear it in his voice, let the warmth of it deluge my heart.

"Why not?"

"It tickles, Allan." I looked into his eyes as he chuckled. Just then, I noticed a strange spark of uncertainity and fear—something deep and peculiar.

In just a moment then, everything turned upside down as a loud horn rung through my ears.

His hand reached for mine and I clasped onto it firmly as the fear lurked into my chest and spread just like the vicious numbness that took all over my body.

❁❁❁

<3