Love On Mars

Fireworks

(Please read this, but if you don't want to, the chapter is below.
So apparently some account called thefanfictionawards is having a competition. And if you were to nominate me, it wouldn't have to be for this book. I mean, if you guys want to nominate me, go ahead- but otherwise, I'm cool with just writing fanfiction for fun with no award at all. Literally. I'm not being sarcastic. I swear- even though that sounds really sarcastic)

The day had begun like any normal day- you doing your biology tasks; Beck doing his doctor stuff; Beth playing Super Mario Bros on her laptop; Lewis triple checking all of her work; Martinez balancing his checkbook- incredibly normal.

But, by midday, something unfathomable had revealed itself to the crew via Mitch Henderson.

"Guys, we got a video message! And it's for the whole crew," Beth said.

Chris said something which you didn't pay attention to as you walked to where Beth was behind the screen. The crew gathered around.

Mitch began to speak. "There's no easy way to put this, but Mark Watney is alive," he said. Your figure stiffened.

"Shit. Shit! He's alive!" Chris beamed, smiling from ear to ear. Martinez smiled as well, along with the rest of the crew.

"Yes!" You yelled, high-fiving everyone who was around you, but when you went to high-five Lewis, she gave you a solemn look.

"I left him there," she muttered. Your face dropped and your hands did as well.

"Commander," Chris began, "you didn't leave him there. We all left him there."

"But it was under my orders," she said darkly. "It's all my fault."

**

You were smiling from ear to ear, lying down on your bunk. Mark is alive, you thought. He's alive.

Just then you heard footsteps coming near and you sat up. Chris emerged from the doorway, smiling cheekily at you. "Isn't this fucking amazing? How could he have....I would've never been able to do that!" Chris beamed.

You smiled back, patting the space next to you for him to sit down. He obliged, and you said, "I know right? I would have....he's a fucking miracle worker."

Chris smiled at you, his eyes averting to your lips before going back to your eyes. "Damn, I would've never pegged him as the Bill Nye the Science Guy type, but I probably should have, given that he's the botanist." He laughed, as did you.

Your face got serious. You said in a light tone, "Yeah, he's a real smart guy. And really brave. I'm glad he's ok." You looked down to your hands which were in your lap, twiddling your thumbs together.

He directed your chin up so your eyes could meet his, his face only a few inches away. "And NASA is gonna get him home safe. Believe me," he murmured.

Your lips parted. "I do," you whispered. Now, you will admit that this was one hundred percent a cliche moment; one thousand percent from some Nicholas Sparks book. He began leaning in, his thumb and fore finger still barely holding your chin. You began leaning in as well, your heart pounding, begging to be released from your body.

The breath in your throat had hitched, your eyes still connected to his electric blue ones. "Are we doing what I think we're doing?" Beck murmured, still leaning in.

"Yes," you sighed, grabbing his face with both hands and connecting your lips. If this was a Nicholas Sparks movie, fireworks would be going off in the background.