Addiction (Jim x Tilly - The Basketball Diaries fic)

Chapter 24. Date night 🍓🕯️🥂

Jim
I led Tilly by the hand to the outsides of the city. My palm in hers was always something I loved. The feeling of soft skin against each other. I could quite literally feel the rage radiating off her. That girl was a firecracker. I loved that about her though. You know, whenever she's angry about something, her eyebrows crease together and she gets this look in her eyes. Thinks she looks threatening, but goddamn, that look gets me every time. Right now she is looking exactly like that. Her grip on my hand is firm, almost bone crushing, but I don't mind.

I wanted to do something for her. Something special. Something that said I was sorry about everything that's happened between us, and also just to show her how much she means to me. She is the angel of my dreams and I'm more than lucky to have her.

The other day whilst she was in the shower, I took a peak at her diary. I noticed she was writing in it again, which wasn't something she had done for years. I noticed how she wrote about this re-occurring dream she had for a week after we broke up. For her, I wanted that dream to become reality. I had spent the time preparing it. I wanted everything to be just right for her.

Tilly
The loudness and smog of the city subsided as I was pulled towards some long grass. Following Jim, I walked through it, running my fingers along the stems. They felt weirdly rougher than I had expected. Jim and I didn't speak on our way here and I was getting suspicious. Why was he taking me to some random fields outside of the city? It was odd.

We walked on for 10 more minutes, the lightness of the sky beginning to dull before Jim turned around to face me and spoke.
"Okay close your eyes" he whispered, his face steadily moving towards mine. I did as I was told and shut my eyelids. I felt him slip his hand into mine like a puzzle piece and pull me along. I hated the unknowingness of where we were. He removed his hand from mine and I planted my feet into the floor securely.
"All right, now open them" his voice murmured in my ear softly. His voice felt like a comfortingly warm and long hug from a teddy bear. In silence, I opened my eyes, letting out a gasp. Arranged before my eyes was a picnic. I studied the area. A small enclosed circle cut out in the lengthy grass, like a woodland clearing. Colourful flowers sprung out from here and there, small butterflies danced around and birds chattered noisily in the oak trees above us.
Right in the centre was a red striped blanket laid neatly down. Arranged on it was a wicker basket, half open to reveal a bottle of champagne, a box of slightly squashed cake (which I giggled at), two glasses on their side, a few fake candles flickering in the dullness of the evening and a few savoury snacks next to the basket.
My eyes took in the sight. They began to well up. This was just fairytale stuff! I didn't think it would ever become a reality for me. I'd dreamt and dreamt of something like this, never knowing it could come true.

"For you, my lady" Jim placed a hand picked lavender in my hair before twirling me around on the spot like a ballerina.
"Beautiful" his eyes glimmered with love. Mine projecting the same emotion. A lone tear slipped out of my eye as my brain processed all of this. Jim's hand immediately swept up to my face, wiping the tear away with his thumb. I placed my hand on top of his and held it there as silent tears began to fall. I closed my eyes and smiled happily. I felt more than ecstatic. I felt loved. I hadn't felt like that in a very long time.

I opened my eyes again to see Jim still watching me.
"Oh baby, this is..." I was simply lost for words. He raised his eyebrows at me.
"Shall we?" he backed away from me, bowing down and holding out his hand. I laughed at how cliché it was. But I didn't care. I gladly placed my hand in his as he led me to the blanket.
"So" he began in a deep voice, apparently trying to mimic a posh waiter.
"Shall we start with the champagne, followed by some cake?"
"Sounds wonderful" I gleamed.
"...then perhaps a make out session?" he added on, smiling cheekily. I slapped him gently in the arm, laughing.
"We... shall... see" I smirked, picking up a glass for him to fill my champagne.