Fates Fickle Ways

Chapter Five

Alan was talking with Hannah when the others arrived. Richy made it out of the mine and was in the back of one of the police cars. Thomas, Lilly, and Cleo were with Hannah; crying, giving her hugs, and telling her how much they missed her no doubt. Jessy had tried talking to Richy, but after Alan had walked over and stopped her she stood beside the ambulance with Dan. I turned back to meet Jake's curious look.
"I can't stay here Ella." Jake solemnly stood up.
"I know." He was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. Unruly black hair, blue eyes, even underneath his hoodie you could tell he had a toned body. I'd just met him and I was supposed to let him leave?

I walked over to him and gave him a hug, making sure to capture his scent in my memory till I could see him again. I didn't want him to leave, but I knew the longer he stayed the more danger he was in. "Go. Get back to safety and I will figure things out here. As long as you promise that we will see each other again."
"We will Ella, I promise." He wanted to stay too, I could hear it in his voice. But I knew he was right, he wasn't safe here. He hugged me one last time, as he turned to walk away he grabbed my hand. Just before our fingers were out of reach of one another, he turned around.
"Ella?" I couldn't help but wonder why he had a goofy smirk on his face. I almost lost footing as his smirk became a laugh and he yanked me into his chest. "There's one thing I have to do before I go..." he leaned down to my face, my heart fluttering more than it ever had, and gave me a long deep kiss. As he pulled away his ocean blue eyes locked onto mine. "Your eyes are the prettiest green I've ever seen. I know you've been through a lot today, it'll be okay. I'll message you when I get settled in again. I love you." Hearing those words come from his lips was more surreal than the first time he said them to me. I love you. Oh Jake you make it so hard to watch you leave. "I love you too"

As he walked towards the tree line away from the town I let my thoughts run wild. In all the cheesy romantic movies the couple walks hand in hand into the sunset. Were we star crossed? Tears formed in the corners of my eyes. The hope we would see each other again, Jake as a free man, blossomed in my chest and made it hard to breathe. I couldn't stay in our perfect field forever. Our story isn't over yet.

I turned and took a deep breath in. It's time to face my next adventure. I made my way down to the tree line I was at not long before. The cops were still here, though everyone was working on wrapping it up and heading to the station. As I walked down toward them I questioned how well I'd thought this over, admittedly it wasn't the best of plans but it was all I had.