Yours, now and forever.

Chapter 32

While reading to this chapter, I recommend listening to these songs on repeat:

-Echo, Jason walker.

Inside out- The Next Step

Bella's POV

We lit the fire much later than usual that night, and I watched as the boys danced around the rippling flames, banging sticks together and cheering with joy. Oliver and Noah were dancing about together, Oliver teaching Noah how to flip in the air. I was going to miss them so so much, but Noah was in good hands with Oliver, and come to think of it, with Peter too.

Peter was sat with me on a log, playing his pipes for the boys. He waved his hand over them and stopped playing, but the music still continued. His arm slipped around my shoulders slowly and I saw him look to me for reassurance. I stared into his eyes and nodded, moving myself closer to him and melting into his chest. My head came to rest right over his racing heart, beating into my ears. His arms wrapped all the way around me and I brought my arms up to hold onto them, closing my eyes and listening intently to the repetitive noise of his heart as it slowed down a little.

"I'm sorry." his chest vibrated onto my ear as he spoke. "I'm sorry I put you through all of this."

"It's ok, It's all over now. Soon I'll be gone, and you won't have to remember me-" I started to whisper sleepily, my eyes still softly closed as I rested on his chest.

"Don't say that." he interrupted me gently. "Please don't say that. I will never be able to forget you, not until all the stars in the sky burn out and die." his voice was cracking slightly, and his heart had sped up again. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. His head was buried into my hair, his eyes creased up as if he as being forced to forget. I moved my way out of his arms, looking at him silently.

"Peter..." He didn't move an inch. he was stuck, his arms lent on his knees and his head drooping over his shoulders. I felt awful. Guilty for letting him love me, for coming to his home and ruining it by letting him actually care for me. I got up from the log and knelt down in front of him, placing my hand under his chin and lifting it to face me. He looked so broken, like he couldn't pretend anymore, I knew how that felt. I got to my feet and held my hands out towards him, he simply gazed at me like a confused little puppy dog.

"What?" he whispered agonisingly.

"Come dance." I nodded towards the fire, where the boys had created the perfect little space for us. His expression didn't change, he still simply looked at me, confused as anything. I rolled my eyes at him and sighed out a laugh, grabbing his hands and pulling him to his feet. I guided him towards the little space made for us and placed his hands on my waist. He seemed to have a growing nervousness, but wouldn't stop me in curiosity of what I was doing. I linked my arms around his neck, feeling the tufts of his soft hair brush against the palms of my hands. Once we were together he seemed to naturally understand what to do and begun swaying from side to side with me, although keeping a close eye on his feet. "Hey!" I laughed quietly, lifting his chin again and looking into his eyes, "You never look at your feet when dancing."

He nodded and laughed nervously in return. I felt him pull me a little closer, and I wrapped my arms a little tighter around his neck, never breaking eye contact with him. After a while the fire was merely embers, and everyone had gone to bed. It was just me, Peter and the stars. My head resting against his chest again, his chin sat on the top of my head, and still swaying to imaginary music. He slowly came to a stand still and whispered in my ear. "We should sleep." I pulled away from him and stopped my swaying. I nodded and took my arms away from his neck, instead sliding my hand into his. "I'll take you to your bed."

We walked to my tent and he opened the door for me. It was more silent than I had remembered. I crawled in and picked up my joggers and hoodie, which had been neatly folded for me on the pillow. Peter shut the door and stood guard, while I changed into the comfier clothes by the light of a single lamp. I called out and gave him the ok to come in once I was changed, and he came in and sat down on the bed. We talked for a few minutes, just about the new lost boy and what might happen when I'm gone, and then he placed a blanket over my knees as I sat up and stood up.