• Rose In The Dark • (GxG)

Chapter Twenty-Six

~ Eighteen Years Ago ~

Noah

'I could go the rest of my life loving you, and be the happiest girl alive just because of that alone..."

Words of such sacred treasure, whispered before the break of dawn after a long night of passion. Words, holding so much promise, so much unpredictability, so much desire, and so much hope. Words that had made me blush, and smile, and nuzzle my face into the warmth of her neck. Hoping that it was true, and that we would never let each other go.

Hoping that the enchantment of our embrace would never end...

I thought of them as I woke this morning. And as I got dressed and kissed her goodbye, and as I sat in my first class.

Blair was like the discovery of something new and exhilarating. Something unfamiliar, full of surprises and questions that I hadn't even thought to ask. She had helped me unlock a part of myself that I didn't even realize was accessible, or loveable. For years now, she's been my constant in this world full of changes. And I honestly don't know who or where I'd be without her.

Class today ended with me spending hours upon hours in the library with Bas, so much so that when we left the sun was on its way back down.

I hadn't seen my girlfriend around anywhere, but I assumed she was probably studying with Jason.

The two of them are closer than I would like, but he knew her before I did and she claims he's like a brother to her. Which I guess still doesn't stop him from eyeing her at times, when he thinks no one else is watching.

I missed her though, especially after our long night and quick morning. I could use a good nap in her arms right about now.

Last night, we had fought, and then made up. Arguments between us lately had been quick and stemmed from nowhere, then dissolved right away. She gets irritable when she can't get her way and I get irritable by having to put up with her nonsense, especially when the both of us knew the real reason behind it.

"Where you headed?" Sebastian asked me on our walk down the concrete stairs of the library.

"Dorms," I answered. "You?"

"Calvin's," Bas replied as we passed by fellow students, a shadow cast on all of us from the low sitting glow of the sun. "He and Ian are throwing a party tonight, are you guys coming?"

"You know me Bas, probably not. But then again if Blair is I'll possibly be there against my will anyway."

He chuckled. "No more studying tonight Jackson, you'll burnout."

"I'd never," one of my arms unwrapped around my heavy books to playfully punch his shoulder, causing him to stumble with laughter. "I'll see you later," I then called as we parted ways within our walk, earning a wave in response.

A smiling sigh escaped my lips as I shivered a bit upon the chilled blow of mid autumn winds. Trees of colored leaves stood tall as its accent pieces descended to the ground in a slowed snowfall; smelling of maple, sandalwood, and the coming of winter.

One of the reasons fall was my favorite season.

The ache of my arms from the books within them were nearly screaming for some sort of relief by the time I arrived on the fourth floor of the girls' 2L building.

Blair and I shared a dorm, just as we did last year as well, for we had graduated college together. First, she had been my closest friend since being roomed right next to each other our freshman year. All up until we kissed our junior year, for she had been in the middle of comforting me at my lowest, during the time Nadia had died.