MIRRORBALL ; QUINN HUGHES

Fifteen

only like myself when im with you
nobody gets me, you do

nobody gets me ; sza

TATE

"ARE YOU sure this a good idea?" I glanced at Quinn, staring at his side profile as he drove.

He nodded, his hand resting on the top of my knee. "Positive. I told you, you have nothing to worry about."

When Quinn had asked me to accompany him on an actual date, I couldn't help but snicker. I never thought he'd be serious about actually leaving the house together. But he was.

"Where are we even going?" I asked, cocking a brow as the sunset painted the sky an array of orange and red.

"It wouldn't be a surprise then, would it?" Quinn snickered, tapping his fingertips along my bare knee. He knew my lack of patience, and my hatred for surprises.

Quinn made a sharp left turn, taking us down a secluded road I didn't recognize.

"Here we are." Quinn stopped the car, making a makeshift parking spot on a pile of grass. We exited the car as I stared at the absurd amount of different sized rocks around us.

"Where are we?" I questioned, turning over my shoulder as he held a blanket and a basket. "And what is that?"

Quinn rolled his eyes with a chuckle, popping open the bed of us truck as he laid out the thick cotton blanket. "How are you always so full of questions?"

I stepped up to the bed of the truck, holding my hands out as Quinn helped me on. The two of us sat, across from one another as he handed me a plate.

"Is this supposed to be like a picnic?" I raised my brows as he shuffled through the basket.

"I guess so." Quinn shrugged, placing two skewers on my plate. "I know you're not a flashy kinda girl. Plus, I'd rather be alone."

I smiled softly at the food. "You're right. And, are these caprese skewers?"

"They are your favorite, aren't they?" Quinn said in a duh tone, already beginning to eat his. "I made all of these a few hours ago."

"You're the best." I scrunched my nose slightly as I began to eat. "You never answered my question. What is this place?"

The water was a low tide, only coming onto the rock covered shore slightly. It was off road, no one for miles seemingly.

"It's a rock wish garden." Quinn rolled his lip into his mouth. "I love coming here to clear my mind. It's quiet and no one is ever here."

Quinn seemed vulnerable, embarrassed even.

"It's definitely a good place to clear your mind." I gazed off into the distance. "What makes it a wish garden?"

"You see those stacked rocks?" Quinn hummed, gesturing towards the manmade towers. I nodded. "People believe that if you stack a bunch of rocks and make a wish, it comes true."

I pulled my brows together. "Do you believe that?"

"Maybe." He sighed. "I've never done it before."

I grinned at him, sliding off the truck as I held my palm out for him. "Come on, Q. Let's go!"

Quinn groaned, coming down with me as I dragged him to the sand. "What are we doing, Tate?"

"We're making a wish, duh." I shoved him slightly before scurrying down and crouching. "Are you going to help me?"

Quinn gathered two rocks helping me stack them onto my own collection. The wind blowing didn't help with the steadiness of them, keeping my fingertips pressing them down until the wind subsided.

"There we go." I cheered, admiring our stack. "Now we have to make a wish."

"What's our wish?" Quinn asked, his eyes darting between me and the rocks.

I pressed my finger to my lips, urging him to be quiet. "We can't say it out loud, Q. Everyone knows wishes can't come true once they are said."

"Mhm." Quinn clicked his tongue, slinging his arm around my shoulders. "Let's just hope we both wish for the same thing then."

I wish to be with you for a lifetime, Quinn. In every lifetime, actually.

I closed my eyes, saying my wish in my head. Peeling my eyes open to look at Quinn, he was already staring at me.

"All done." I stood, dusting my hands off. Quinn came to stand behind me, drawing me back into his chest as he held me close.

"This is nice." Quinn muttered, kissing my shoulder. "Being with you is nice."

I flushed a light pink, no matter what Quinn did or said, he still had this effect on me. I knew it would never go anyway.

"I guess I was right." I bit my bottom lip, peering up to look at him. "Chasing after you for all these years was totally worth it."

Quinn smiled, shaking his head. "I'm really glad that you didn't stop pursuing me. Hey, I'm sorry."

I piled my brows together in confusion. "Sorry for what?"

"For being a dick to you at the start of summer." Quinn blinked, guilt traveling across his features. "It wasn't fair to you. I shouldn't have treated you like that."

I shrugged, understanding his side. "I get it, Quinn. I'm not mad at you for it."

Quinn pressed a kiss to the side of my head, squeezing me.

"Can I ask you a question?" I swallowed, covering his hand with mine as if rested on my stomach.

"Anything." Quinn nodded, resting the side of his cheek against mine. His scent consumed me and it felt like I couldn't escape it.

I darted my tongue out to sweep across my lips. "Do you think we're gonna get married."

Quinn froze, a laugh leaving his lips seconds later. "Wow, Tate. Are you planning our wedding already?" He paused, smiling. "To answer your question, I don't know. But I hope we do."

"Tate Hughes." I pondered, snickering. "It has a ring to it, don't you think?"

Quinn hummed with a nod. "It sounds even better than Tate Bridgers."

I nuzzled into him, my heart yearning for our future. "What if we don't? Will you think about me on your wedding day?"

He flipped me so we were chest to chest, his hands cradling my cheeks. "Tate. If something happens between us, I won't ever stop loving you. And if the day comes where I marry someone else, I promise you, I will be thinking of you. I will be wishing that it was you I was saying my vows to."

I beamed, kissing him softly. "It dosent matter. You're marrying me anyways, Q."

Put a ring on it.