Athalia's POV:
The next morning we woke up tumbled on the couch. "I'm bored," I told Shawn, after watching Disney channel.
"Okay well we could go climb a tree."
"I can't do that, Shawn; im exhausted."
"Screw that. I've got a better idea."
"What's that?"
"Pack some clothes and a toothbrush."
"What?"
"Pack what you need."
"Why?"
"I'm taking you on a road trip."
"Where?"
"Along the coast. It s just a little drive for a few days."
"Okay."
"Okay? You're not gonna fight it?"
"Nope. It sounds amazing. Just me and you. Alone."
"Then let's go. Right now."
Shawn carried me again, cradling my frail form back up both flights of stairs to my bedroom. Setting me tenderly on my bed, he knelt before me, his eyes aligned with my belly button.
His hands moved up my thighs, circling my hips.
"What do you want to pack?" Shawn asked. "Just the basics," I answered. He started looking around my room for a bag. Spying the closet, he rummaged around til he found a backpack. Good enough. Then he started grabbing shirts, his favorite ones. And a couple pairs of jeans. He stuffed them in the bottom. Then he went over to my dresser and pulled open the drawer. "Let me at least to that," I blurted out to stop him. "Fine," he submitted, not too keen on picking out which underclothing I would need. Why is it boys want to see you in it but they won't go near the stuff if it's not on your body?
I sifted through my things and tossed a couple in the bag while Shawn held it open. Zipping up the big pocket, he walked into the bathroom. The next thing I heard was a scramble and lots of tumbles, as what I can only assume was my toothbrush and other bathroom supplies being dropped in my bag. He came back out to me and tossed me my deodorant, saying, "You wanna use that before we set out?" I rubbed it on easily under my button up. Shawn looked through my closet again and picked out a shirt, throwing it at me as well. The deodorant was tossed in the backpack and that pocket was zipped as well. As I changed my shirt, Shawn crumbled up my blanket that I slept under every night. He picked up my pillow and stuffed the blanket as far as possible inside. It looked pretty funny the way it plumed out of the top.
Suddenly Shawn stopped, his eyes were washed over wth sentimentality, "You kept it.... Under your pillow."
"Of course Shawn. They're your words to me, to the world. How could I get rid of it?" Then he picked it up, glancing fondly through the old, once-familiar pages. The letters he had written to me as my angel were tucked in there. They slid into his palm and he opened the first one, "And you still have these too?"
"Those letters saved my life. You saved my life."
"I just couldn't lose you. It would have killed me. I need you."
I crawled across the bed, taking the book and letters out of his hands and clutching them to my chest. "I need you, Shawn," I argued, "not the other way around."
"I need you because you do help me. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted someone to fall in love with someone and for them to love me in return. That 'someone' is you. You loving me is what has driven me. Without you I'd be gone."
"I'll never stop loving you."
"I never stopped loving you. I don't know how not to."
"Don't try," I whispered as I pressed my lips to his.
"Baby girl, you inspire me. You have no idea how much," he started, smiled, and went in, "The sooner we go the more we can see."
Emmalie jumped into our car.
I nodded and we got in. When we arrived at his house, he let go of my hand and told me, "Stay here. I'm going to go in an get my stuff, then I'll be right back out. And I've gotta tell my parents. And I'll take Emmalie in. Aaliyah would love to take care of her."
"Okay," I smiled.
Seemingly energized, he practically bounded into the house. Ten minutes later, he was back with just as much energy. "You did bring a swimsuit right?" He asked, kinda worried, remembering he hadn't packed that. I nodded my head with a witty grin on my face. I had grabbed one when I was going through my dresser. "Okay great," he was relieved, "let's go down to the beach for starters."
We drive for about 40 minutes on a more scenic route to the beach. Normally it would have only taken a little less than 30 minutes to get there, but Shawn was set on making this trip picturesquely unforgettable. He parked the car and we grabbed our swim suits. After changing, he snatched me up, swinging me over his shoulder and ran into the water.
When he set me down I started splashing him in revenge. Once he and I were completely soaked, we stopped splashing and I needed a break. He took me into his arms, "Sorry, that was mean."
"Uncalled for, maybe," I smirked, "but not mean. It was fun." Then I caught his glance. My scars showed awfully in the half-shirt, tankini top and the swim shorts. Maybe some of my hip scars didn't show but Shawn couldn't resist looking at them. Ashamed, I turned a bit away, trying to escape his eyes. "What's wrong?" he sounded hurt. "Me. My body is only scars. I look like a mistake."
"That's not what I see when I look at you."
"I know, but what do you see?"
"My wife, well, someday."
My eyes teared up and I whimpered, "How?"
"Because I love all of you, not just the best parts. The worst parts don't make you a mistake. You are beautiful."
Tears fell from my eyes, mixing with the water drops lingering on my cheeks. After a few movements of silence in which I didn't know what to say, Shawn wiped one of my tears. "I can't tell if your crying or if it's just the water," he choked on his laugh, then corrected himself, "it's warm. Why are you crying?"
"Because I didn't know anyone could be capable of loving me as much as you do."
"No one ever will be able to."
"I love you so much Shawn," I nuzzled into him, "so very very much."
"Lets catch the last minutes of sun."
So he and I laid out on the nearby dock. When we were dry, the sun had faded somewhat and a slight breeze was picking up. We changed into some clothes and sat in the sand until the sunset, talking about life and sometimes not talking at all. Just his presence is enough to fill me.
By the time the sun finally said goodbye and the sky's hazy smear faded entirely into darkness, Shawn and I were starving but nearly asleep.
I craned my neck so my eyes could see his face. The darkness wasn't overpowering, actually it didn't even seem to be black. Everything was silver from the moon and it's reflection off the water. His eyes were sort of sparkling and his lips looked enticing. I grabbed his button up tightly and pushed his chest to the ground slowly. Climbing partway on top of him, I sank my face nearer and he closed the last few inches. The kiss deepened right away and his hands slid down my shoulder to my waist. He pulled me closer, his hands firmly holding my tiny hips. I straddled him and his hands cupped around my thighs, fingers slipping under the hem of my shorts. I gasped. The excitement between our lips increased and with it the pounding of our hearts.
