The Galaxy Meetings

seventeen

"Hunter," Leila greets me, hopping up and hugging me. I instantly accept her embrace. "Beauty," I chirp back, grinning like a love-struck idiot. What a throwback. To think we met almost two months ago and how our relationship has grown in such a whirlwind leaves me so bewildered. I kiss Leila tenderly, my fingers wandering her hair. She parts from me, smiling. We sit down and without word just position ourselves so we were comfortable beside each other.

"Chase?" Leila begins, taking a big breath that although spoke nothing held so much negative emotions. "there's a week of summer left."

I look up to the sky. "I know, baby. We'll be okay."                                                                                                   "Chase – how will we see each other? We go to different schools and you're father is really strict. Like you can sneak out; you'll be forced to spend your nights reciting Latin verbs."

I drop my face into my palms. "I'm aware of that, Lei. There's always the weekends, though."

"Weekends?" Leila almost shouts, sitting up. "Weekends? Chase... we both know this won't work and it hurts so much. I love you Chase; a lot stronger than I thought I could ever remotely feel about someone. I don't know how I could possibly live without you."

"You don't think I haven't laid in bed at night for hours trying hard not to think that I'll ever have to live without you? It's all I think about Leila. You're all I think about."

"I'm just- just confused."

"Confused?"

"We haven't been together for long – at all – and yet in this whole sweep of time I love you so damn much. It isn't even like a honeymoon phase because – damn, Chase – I can see your flaws. But flaws are just perfections that need a little work. Each time you smile with your goofy grin and the dimples that almost reach your eyes my heart... It just shouts out that I love you – so God only knows that when I won't be able to see you much is going to kill me."

"I know. But we can push." I urge, holding Leila's hand. She brings our hands to her mouth and kisses it before dropping them. "There's only so much pushing you can do before you get weak." Leila whisper, a lone tear rolling down her cheek.

"Well then- maybe we should just... part. I don't want to hurt you, Lei. If you forget me you can find a boy you like- in your school. He can cherish you and love you like me. He better."

"What?" Leila splutters in disgust. "You're willing to just let me go? Just call me a summer romance and then part ways like this never happened? I don't want another boy. I- I want you." Leila chokes on her tears in the last sentence, unable to string it together.

"No- Lei, I didn't mean it like that at all and you know I didn't. But all that will come out of this is fights and tears. Like you said, if we did push for this to work – there's only so much pushing you can do." I sigh, looking down to me lap.

"I didn't think you'd agree." she mutters. "Chase – maybe people don't use you for your money. Maybe you just push them away so much they can't help but leave you."

"You were the one who said that you couldn't fight for this!" I shout, instantly looking up at Leila as my hand flies out to the air in gesture.

"Yeah – and I also said that if I had to lose you I'd lose every good aspect in my life! You know what, Chase? Maybe summer ending is a great thing." Leila spits before walking down the hill in anger.

"Maybe it is!" I holler back, leaving.

But maybe it is the ending to everything positive.