erik menendez // if you love me..don't let go

chapter thirty

Erik's POV

The weight of her head on my chest. The vibrations of her sobs. The cracks in her throats. It was all an experience I didn't want to have to go through once more. Her body felt so frail and broken as I held her. I held onto her so tightly. It didn't matter my feelings or what I was going to do next. All that mattered was that I knew I had to be there for her. And I knew that I always would. Through rain and snow, I'll be there. Through hell and back, I'll be there. Always.

Bringing her ever so closer to me, I whispered into her hair. "I'm so sorry, Scarlett."

She raised her head off my chest and looked me in the eyes. It was so painful seeing them puffy and red. Water glassed over her euphoric eyes, and I felt entranced.

"What does that mean?" Her cries were now softer. "Sorry for what? You're going to leave?" Her voice was so quiet and pained, as if she didn't want to say those words out loud. And personally, I didn't ever want to think those words.

I brought her forehead to mine and cupped her cheeks. "I'm sorry for causing you so much pain." I admitted.

Her eyes searched mine desperately, taking in each word. I might've been delusional, but it looked like her eyes even changed emotions. At one point they were full of dread and fear, but now they were full of what looked like hope.

"I love you." She whispered, her lips brushing against mine.

I never imagined three words could mean so much to me. But those words coming from her made me feel some type of way. Like I was floating in heaven and all that mattered to life was her. My heart was so hurt and cut up, but those three words just healed it. It was pounding, but not in distress, in love. 

"Really?" I had to make sure. What if she only said it because she didn't want me to run?

"Really." She said, a big smile now plastered on her face. "I love you."

I let out a breathy laugh, feeling so on top of the world. She actually loved me. Someone loved me. I never imagined I was capable of being lovable.

Scarlett's POV

I said it. I can't believe I just said that. Those words were stuck in my head, in my heart, for so long and I finally let them out. It felt so good, too. Who knew just simply saying your true feelings could give you such a high?

One moment, Erik and I were staring into each other's eyes, love surrounding us, and the next he was grabbing my face and pressing his lips on mine.

It wasn't like our usual kisses. It wasn't soft or full of lust. It was so much more. It was a kiss of promise and hope. It was a whisper of i love yous. It was an open door to a new world. A new world full of happiness and love. It was a new start. We were a new start.

The rain was pouring down on us, but it never came between us. Every inch of our body was soaked, but we never separated. We stayed there with our lips locked together and our tongues fighting over each other. I was grasping onto his shirt so hard I thought I was going to rip it. His hands were rough yet so gentle on my face. It was a reflection of how we loved. There were sweet, fluffy moments, but there were also moments full of passion and true emotion. True love. Moments that never made me doubt he was the right person. It was like I always knew he was, but this kiss just proved it all. It proved that I was always right. Because in the back of my head, there was this voice telling me to keep him close, but I tried not to focus on it. And now, that voice was being loud and clear in the center of my mind.

Erik's POV

I've never watched or read fairytales, but I knew about them. I knew how it started off with a man and woman and then ended off with them in love and happy.

Scarlett and I had a fairytale, but it didn't follow the same story line. We never jumped into anything. We took slow and steady steps to test the water. And then when it got rocky, we jumped back. But that was the whole point. To get to the end, you have to get through the rough points. Scarlett and I would have no fairytale if we never had a rough spot. And that's why they're called fairytales. Because they're tales, lies in other world. They're fibs to make young children believe what love is not. Because love is never easy. Love is actually really complicated. Although I've only just realized that today, It's like I've always secretly known about it with Scarlett. It's impossible to be in love and just end there. Happy endings don't exist because even if you're happy in the moment, something can always come in between that.

When that time comes, what matters most is the people who are in that situation. To get through those times, you need tough, mature people. And that's how Scarlett and I got through our rough patch. Although we were both incredibly hurting, we also both held so much internal strength we didn't know we could hold.

After a bit of hesitation, I pulled away from Scarlett, needing to see her face. Her lips were swollen. I couldn't tell if it was from crying or from me, but they look perfect no matter what. Her face wasn't streaked with tears anymore, but now with rain. I looked up to the sky and immediately regretted it. Water was crashing down on me all over my face and in my eye.

Scarlett let out a laugh that sounded like her true self. Soft yet not fake. It was music to my ears.

I looked over at her to see a beautiful grin on her face. I smiled even wider at the sight.

"Have I ever told you I loved you?" I joked. "Because I do. Love you, that is. I love you a lot."

She bit down on her lip in attempt to cover up her flustered face, but it crept up anyways.

"I know." She said. "And I do too. Love you. I do love you, Erik."