never let me go

forrest

"why do you like coffee?" he asked in a warm, autumn morning where a cluster of auburn, copper and orange hued leaves were scattered outside. he sat in a ripped leather booth, taking a sip from his mug of coffee with Faye in front of him.

she looked thoughtful for a second, tracing a finger over the rim of the chipped coffee mug before sighing deeply. "i don't know. i guess i like the bitter taste of it. the warmth of it. i used to come here all the time after ballet class..." she trailed off, and held a glazed look in her eye before she looked down.

a tear slipped down her face, and he could feel his heart twisting in uncomfortable folds before wiping the bitter tears away. their eyes met, and she smiled at him with her broken heart and chapped lips and he returned the gesture with his broken mind and scarred heart by leaning forward to kiss her softly.

"why are you so sad when you think of ballet class?" he whispered, wanting to know the core of her unhappiness. she didn't respond; instead she swallowed hard and clenched her jaw before looking away. the light hit her face, illuminating her vivid copper red hair that matched the shade of the leaves on the pavement.

there was a moment of silence, and Forrest realized he had asked a very personal question. but he didn't want to say sorry. he wanted to know. know why she was unhappy. because when she was unhappy, he was unhappy. and when he was unhappy, Forrest tended to break things.

"my teacher...she called me useless, pathetic, stupid, fat, ungraceful, not worth her time, not good enough, not flexible enough, not-" she stopped, her breath hitched on her throat as a small, strangled sob escaped from her lips that made Forrest want to track down her teacher and kill her.

"all those things for three years. i finally had enough of it, called her a bitch and stormed out of the ballet academy" Faye whispered. he reached for her hand, their coffee mugs forgotten as they stood up and gathered their things.

stepping outside the balmy autumn day, a crisp breeze flew past as Faye clutched her green duffle jacket that contrasted beautifully with her hair. Forrest walked beside her, his hand intertwined with hers as they walked down the path towards the forest.

the forest was their escape. a safe haven. nobody went there anymore, so they had claimed the forest as theirs by engraving their names in hearts around the tree trunks. stepping inside the fringes of the forest, Faye felt a heavy chain that draped around her heart being released. it dropped to the floor with a heavy, grave thud that she left as she walked inside the forest.

"we should build a treehouse in here" Forrest mused. she smiled through her burgundy knitted scarf that was draped across her slender neck, and sat down on a fallen tree with Forrest sitting in front of her.

he rubbed her neck in a way that made her relax, and occasionally leaned in to give her a tender kiss on the forehead. she felt a smile creep beneath her scarf, and clutched his large hand tighter-feeling warmth running up and down her body.

"your not useless, ungraceful and stupid. your beautiful, charming, graceful and smart. that old hag didn't know what she was saying" Forrest said. he leaned down to kiss her bare knee, and she felt a tingle run up her spine as his warm lips brushed against her skin.

their eyes met, glazed with human compassion and a mixture of emotions. Forrest got up, fingers trailing up before he stroked her face and leaned in to kiss her on her lips. she let out a heavy breath, and ran her fingers through his hair before she leaned her head against his hard chest.

"i love you so much" he whispered. she smiled, looking up with her hands in her lap. Faye could never understand how she came from a depressed, aspiring ballerina to a girl who was in love with a boy who painted trees and had messy hair.

"i love you too" she replied, her fingers clutching his hand as a tear rolled down her cheek. Forrest wiped it away, and gathered her soft, weightless body in his arms before walking down the path and heading to the river.

Faye idly swung her arm midair, staring at the canopy of trees that only let small light inside. she had discovered that Forrest had a fond and strange habit of carrying her. not that she minded anyway. in his arms, Faye felt like nothing could touch her. Together they stopped time. Together they were invincible.

he placed her beside the river, and she lay down beside it with her long tulle skirt, grey knitted jumper and her jacket loosely round her shoulders. she untangled the scarf from her neck, and placed it beside her before rolling on her stomach. beneath her, leaves let out a crisp moan.

she trailed a finger over the river, causing it to go in ripples. Forrest sat beside her, gently sliding off her coat and throwing it over her body like a blanket. he snuggled beside her, radiating body warmth as she rested her head on his shoulder.

they shared a peaceful silence, fingers intertwined beneath her coat and his body close to hers. Faye wondered how she could deserve a person like Forrest-broken, scarred mentally but so beautiful physically it made her heart wrench. boys weren't supposed to be beautiful, but Forrest wasn't just any boy.

"can we go to your art studio later?" she mumbled. Forrest nodded, draping an arm around her torso before kissing her breifly on the forehead.

"why do you think the sky is blue?" Forrest asked. another habit of his-asking questions during silences.

"because blue is beautiful. and i guess God thought so too" she replied, as if it was the most simplest logic ever.

"no it's not" a frown.

then: "do you believe in God?" he asked, whispering in her ear. his breath fanned her neck, sending shivers up her spine as she snuggled closer to him. he smelt of apples and paint and of autumn and crispy, orange hued leaves.

"i belive in anything that gives me hope" she replied.

"then do you believe in us?" he asked, shyness etched in his voice.

"i do, more then anything else in the world"

silence.

"i love you Faye"

"i love you too Forrest"