The Summer Of Love

Chapter 24

I took off my jacket, placing it on one of the lounge chairs. I could see Reed sitting at the entrance of the pool, smoking a cigar. When since he's smoking?

I dived into the pool, desperately needing to feel the water. The colour of the blue water during this time was breath taking. I came back up for air, smelling the burning cigar.

I turned to look at him, he wasn't smoking anymore but the smell was still in the air.

I lifted myself up, feeling the water run off my body as I sat up on the exposed part of the pool.

"Do you do this often?" He asked

"No but I needed it" he nodded, getting into the pool. I looked at him attentively. He came in between my legs, resting his arms on either side of me. Something's wrong with him

"Are you gonna tell me what's wrong with you?" I asked. He shook his head, smiling.

"Sage"

"Hm?" I answered

"I love you" he loves me. He said it. He finally fucking said it

"I love you too" I smiled, bending down to place a kiss on his lips.

"You taste like cigarettes" I chuckled, feeling him pull me down into the pool. It's the little moments like this that makes me feel like it could last for a lifetime.

***

"Reed." my dad said

"Mr. Kingsley" he smiled.

"Goodmorning, we're going to the mall" I decided to go see Faye today. I haven't seen him in so long. I felt as though I needed to. He nodded, sipping on his coffee.

I could tell he was still bothered by this.

The ride to the mall wasn't long. I somehow convinced Reed to tag along with me. I was so excited to tell Faye about everything.

"Wait, I know this place" he said as we approached it hand in hand. Of course, it'd be weird if he didn't. We entered the store seeing Faye at the register as usual. He's gotten more workers.

"Faye" I smiled at him

"Aurora, I haven't seen you in so long" he fake kissed me. I sat down with him, catching him up on everything some time ago Reed told me he was gonna be at the food court and I didn't mind.

"So, are you official?" I nodded

"I called it" he smirked. I looked at new New designs on his rack, they were absolutely marvelous. Faye's designs were always out of this world.

"Faye, can I give you something to design for me?" I asked nervously. He looked at me completely shocked.

"Let me see" he smiled. I took out the piece of paper out of my bag. It was a dress, a wedding dress to be exact along with two other non wedding dresses.

"Aurora, I knew you were into fashion designs but this is out of this world" I blushed. I hadn't really shown anyone my designs until now.

"Thanks, I gotta get going, I'll see you around Faye"

"It always a pleasure to have you" he joked as I exited the store. We talked for what felt like hours and I didn't know why Reed wasn't back yet. This mall was undeniably big yet still the food court managed to be even bigger.

I decided to buy a few clothing while I was here. Just a few outfits that caught my eye. I held my bags tightly to me as I entered the food court, looking for Reed. Where is he? I couldn't even reach my phone, my hands were full.

Today I decided to wear a short pink skirt with a slit, my black crop top and my black boots along with my usual accessories. I've been embracing my feminine side more and I love it.

"Need help?" I looked around seeing a familiar face. Rain. How is it that he manages to be everywhere all at once.

"Yes actually, have you seen Reed?" I asked.

"He's over by the pizza place with Kira" Kira?

"Thanks" I said while looking back at him. Who was this Kira person. I stopped by the pizza place seeing Reed chatting with some brunette. They were laughing and hitting it off as though he didn't have a Fucking girlfriend.

I took in a deep breath trying to calm down my nerves. That was the same girl I saw him with that day at Starbucks.

I walked towards them, my arms in agony from holding the bags. I was jealous sure but I wasn't gonna make a scene out of it.

"Reed" I looked up at him, interrupting their conversation. I could feel the other girl looking at me weirdly.

"Right, shit, sorry I lost track of time" he apologised but that's not what I wanted.

"Aurora, this is kira, an old friend and kira this is Aurora, my girlfriend" I smiled at her, she laughed.

"Wait are you serious?" she was in disbelief. Neither him nor I were laughing

"I'm sorry but seeing you go from all those hot emo girls to a malibu barbie is hard for me to digest" she sneered. Malibu barbie?

"Kira." he said in a warning tone but she didn't stop. I sighed, I didn't come all the way over here to be embarrassed. Call me whatever you want of course my feeling were hurt and I wanted to cry but I wasn't gonna do it in front of them, at least not her. With one last look at him I left, why would I stay? I was hungry and now depressed.

"Aurora!" I could hear him yelling behind me but I didn't dare look back. I needed a break and my feet were killing me. After walking around, I found a bench by a fountain. I sat there seeing all the couples occupying the others. I bit into my corn dog, I couldn't even enjoy it.

These boots were killing my toes.

I could feel someone's prescene beside me but I didn't dare look. They smelt like a shit ton of perfume and lavender. Well that surely isn't Reed or Rain.

"You Okay?" I shook my head, staying in silence, looking at the blue crystal clear water as it endlessly shoots water out from the top, leaving it to fall to the bottom so it never stops.

"You wanna talk about it?" he asked, his voice was masculine and deep but I still didn't look at him.

"It wouldn't make a difference" I said, crossing my legs one over the other. He just stared at me, I could feel it.

"How so?"

"Because its - that's life" it really was. Nothing ever really mattered. I could see him nodding at the corner of my eyes.

"For the record, you're not some Malibu Barbie" that. That made me look at him. He had a chiseled jawline with big blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. His eyes were a very light blue, possibly lighter than the ocean.

They were for sure dreamy. He probably thought I was weird for just staring at him but I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to say anything.

"I'm Maximus but it's Max for short" he smiled.

"Aurora" I said softly, I could see his eyes diverting between my eyes and lips every now and then. He took one of the napkins beside me.

"You got a little something, right here" he wiped it off with the napkin. Such a weird dude. I thanked him.

"Do you always go around talking to strangers?" I asked letting curiosity take the most of me.

"Only the pretty ones" how is it that I always attract the flirtatious guys.