The Final Project

Chapter 88

Ivy

We lay by the shore, Aaron watching the starlit sky, and me watching him. I don't think any infinity of stars could compare to the shape of his lips. To the angle of his jaw. To the crook of his neck. I could stare at him for a lifetime, and even that would be much too short.

I play with the sand on either side of me, trying to hold on to it, but it slipping no matter how much I tighten my grip. Perhaps it's a little evocative of life. You can only hold on to good moments for so long before the adrenaline wears off, and reality settles in. And it always settles in.

"I don't wanna go back to my family," Aaron suddenly says, breaking the silence.

"Me neither," I sigh. "Do you think they'd accept me? You know, without the whole reconciling-with-my-dad thing?" The waves crash in the distance, and there's an eerie calmness to the air. Perhaps a storm is brewing.

"I doubt it." My heart hurts. "But who cares?" he quickly counters before I can get upset. "I told you from the beginning, Ivy, that I'm with you either way. Always. Forever." He grabs my sand-filled hand, and gives it a reassuring squeeze. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Forever's don't exist, smarty pants." I joke to lighten the mood. Of course it's scary to think I might never truly be a part of his family, but maybe that's life. Maybe everything can't be a fairytale.

"Yeah, I know, but what small version of a forever I have," he looks at me now. "I'd like to spend it with you." And I die a little inside. Without thinking, I kiss him square on the mouth. Once. Twice. Three times. We grin at each other, and I realise we're fucked. We're so wonderfully fucked, and I'm thrilled by it.