Between The Lines

Chapter 136: I Am Not Young-

Lane's POV (1st Person):

I'd planned this for weeks.

Well tried to.

Graduation was over, the ceremony a blur of boring speeches, awkward glances, and my racing thoughts. But now... now we were free. Free to be together, without the pressure of secrecy weighing us down. And tonight was going to be perfect.

We drove up to the hill just as the sky was painted with the last shades of dusk, the sun sinking below the horizon, casting everything in a warm orange glow. I could see her out of the corner of my eye, still buzzing with excitement, her lips turned up in a soft smile. She had no idea what I had in store for her.

I pulled the car to a stop and stepped out, grabbing the picnic basket I'd packed earlier. She was already looking around curiously, wondering what I was up to.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, tilting her head in that cute way that made my heart flip.

"You'll see." I smirked, taking her hand and leading her up the hill. The night was setting in, the stars beginning to peek out one by one, and a soft breeze played with her hair. I couldn't help but stare at her — the way the moonlight kissed her skin, the excitement and curiosity in her eyes.

When we reached the top of the hill, I spread out the blanket under the big oak tree, the view of the city lights twinkling below us like stars. She stood there, her lips parting slightly as she took it all in.

"A picnic?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.

"Not just any picnic," I replied, pulling out a small speaker and turning on some soft music. "I wanted to do something special. Something just for us."

Her eyes softened as she sat down on the blanket, watching me with that look, the one that made me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

We unpacked the food, laughing as she immediately dove into the snacks, eating with a kind of joy that always made me smile. But as we ate, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful everything felt. The world was quiet, the chaos of graduation behind us, and for the first time in forever, it was just us.

After a while, she leaned back against the tree, looking up at the stars. "This is... perfect," she whispered, her voice almost lost in the gentle breeze.

I shifted closer, my arm wrapping around her waist as I pulled her against me. "You deserve perfect," I murmured into her ear, pressing a kiss to her temple.

She smiled, but I could see a flicker of something in her eyes — hesitation, nerves. "It feels... like a dream," she said softly. "Like any moment, I'm going to wake up, and this will all be gone."

I turned her face toward mine, brushing her hair behind her ear. "It's not a dream," I whispered. "It's real. And we're here now. Together."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine for something — reassurance, maybe. And I gave it to her in the form of a soft, lingering kiss. It was slow, sweet, full of everything I'd been holding back for so long. When I pulled away, her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted slightly.

"I can't believe we're finally here," she breathed.

"We're just getting started," I whispered back, my fingers tracing lazy circles on her back. "There's more to come."

She smiled, but her eyes twinkled with mischief. "What else have you planned, Mr. Montgomery?"

I chuckled, leaning back and pulling her with me so we were lying on the blanket, the stars above us. "Let's just say tonight isn't over yet."