Hayes's POV
The thing that scared me the most when I woke up was the coldness I felt. The space that Juliet filled on the couch was empty.
I sat up quickly, searching the room for her, but she wasn't there. She couldn't have left again.
"Juliet?" I called.
A door shut, and someone's small feet were running down the staircase. Juliet's appeared at the bottom, her hair was wet and clinging to her fresh clothes. She was wearing shorts since the weather was starting to get hot.
"Hey." She smiled, going into the kitchen. I followed her.
"I thought you left." I laughed lightly.
"Well, I didn't." She sighed, getting out milk and pouring it into a bowl of cereal.
We stood in silence, with the occasional chewing of her cereal.
"What do you want to do today?" I asked, trying to make this silence less awkward.
"Whatever you want to do, Hayes." She said, finishing her cereal and putting the bowl in the sink.
"Well, I have a few things in mind." I said, as she brushed a piece of her hair.
The way she does these things, like brush her hair and only does small talk, makes me feel guilty. She's slowly slipping from my fingertips, and the only way to get her back was to start from the beginning.
"We could have a picnic?" I said. "There's this place in the woods that's amazing. Would you like to go?"
"Of course!" Her eyes lit up in excitement. "When are we going?"
"We can go as soon as you're done getting ready." I said, and she nodded, going back upstairs to get ready.
•••
Juliet's POV
I had to be gentle with this boy.
This picnic would be fun, for the both of us. I was willing to forgive him, but some part of me wondered why he got drunk in the first place. He still hasn't told me.
Things have been different since Aaron died. I know Hayes's changed because whenever I'd stare at him, something different appears. Like his eyes will change from happy to sadness to anger in under a minute.
I like staring at his eyes, though. The way that they change. It's like a mood ring except the crazy colors. When he's happy it's a light blue, like the sky, but when he's angry, it turns into a darker blue, like the ocean during a storm.
What makes me happy is that he's trying to make things better, even though we both know something's missing.
Maybe it's us. Maybe it's me. There's probably something wrong with me. There's something not right with us, and I felt like I needed to fix it.
I put on a simple dress and walked back downstairs. Hayes was scrolling through his phone, with a picnic basket on his side.
I coughed awkwardly, and he looked up, looking at me for a long time.
"Uh, hey. Do I look fine? Am I dressed up too much?" I asked, and he shook his head.
"No. You look...very beautiful." He smiled at the end, and I realized he was looking at me with awe. My heart fluttered, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks.
"Let's go." He said, as he grabbed my hand and we walked to the park with the entrance to the woods.
The sun was still up, and barley setting. Hayes was helping me towards the lake, until he stopped.
"What?" I asked. "We're not lost, are we?"
"No." He answered. "We're here." He said, but all I saw were branches covering my view.
"Hayes? I can't see anything." I said, and he moved a few branches and helped me through.
There was the lake, sparkling with the sunlight. There was no movement, and Hayes set a blanket down on the dirt.
We ate the lunch he packed in silence, only talking occasionally.
"Hey, do you remember that playlist I made you?" He asked, and I smiled at the memory.
"Of course. I still have it- it's on my phone. Which one?" I said.
"The one that reminds me of you. Play Nine in the Afternoon." He said, and I smiled. That was my favorite song.
I played it, and it helped fill the silence, which was good. We laid down on our backs for a while and watched the clouds.
"That one...it's shaped like a flower." He said, pointing up at one cloud.
"That one looks like an ice cream cone." I noticed, and I pointed up.
The sun was slowly disappearing, and Hayes stood up. He reached out his hand for me to grab, so that's what I did.
"What are we doing?" I asked.
"Come on." He said, as we walked with our hands intertwined to the dock.
We sat on the edge, our toes touching the cold water, and we looked up. It was night time, and the stars were out.
"Look at us. It's like when I first started liking you." He said, and I laughed.
"We're just awkward, Hayes." I laughed, and he moved my chin so I could look at him.
We both leaned in, and I smelt his cologne and the chocolate we had for desert. His lips brushed against mine, and then we were kissing.
I was craving his touch, I wanted more of him. His hands were on my waist, but I wanted more. His lips were on mine, but I wanted them all over me.
Curse you, hormones.
His tongue brushed my bottom lip, making me shiver. He kissed my jaw before he moved to my neck.
"I missed you, Juliet." He said, confusing me.
"What?"
"I missed us. I missed this. You were so distant." He said, in between kissing me. He sucked on some skin, making me let out a shaky breath.
"Do you miss us too?" He asked. And I nodded.
"No, say it." He said.
"Yes, Hayes. I missed you." I said, and his thumbs were rubbing small circles on my skin.
At this moment, I knew what I was thinking earlier was wrong. I needed Hayes, and even the stars in the sky knew that we needed each other.
~.~
A/N: guys I tried to make this chapter long and hopefully it worked out.
HEY GUYS HOW ARE YOU TODAY? It's really hot over here and idk I like weather like fall and winter better.
I heard about Aaron's step brother's death. It was so sad. (And weirdly coincidental to my story????)
SSOTD: Permanent Vacation by 5SOS
LOVE YOU GUYS. THANKS FOR READING!
