In Autumns Air

*Chapter Two*

Sand bore itself between my toes as my feet carried me across the deserted beach. The moons light  vaguely lighting my path, nearly forcing me to guess where my next step would take me.

His laugh collided together with my fits of giggles, causing our voices to echo easily through the starlit sky. "I'ma get you Naomi!" He continued to chant throughout his endless laughing, his heavy foot steps closing in behind my own.

"Is that so?" I retorted, feeling my cheeks turn sore from my ceaseless grinning. My body turning colder as the night wore on, but for once I didn't care. I was content for the first time in what seemed like years. 

"That it is." He was right behind me at this point, his arms wrapping around my waist as he lifted me off  of the ground. His body heat graciously greeting me as I pressed myself against him.  "Told you I'd get you."

"You just hush Thomas. . ." I felt his chuckle before it had left him, compelling me to follow suit. In which I did. 

Our infectious laughter had come to an end with time, leaving the faint sound of crashing waves and our own breathing to replace it. Enabling the chilled air to at last take hold of our bodies, allowing the midnight heavens to make us vulnerable humans once again. . .and I began to long for the moment to return to us. 

The breeze had turned into massive gusts, my thoughts following alongside it. As I began to beg nonexistent creatures to let the moment ring on, begging for them to even let something better happen. And perhaps it was just my ever increasing imagination, or perhaps the creatures themselves, but either way my urging had been seen by someone. For Thomas Elliot had kissed me in the heat of chilled starlight. 

His velvety lips had pressed themselves for a millisecond, retreating ever so quickly. "I'm sorry. . ." He had told me after it had happened.

I replied with softest sort of giggle. A bright blush filling my once sore cheeks"It's alright, no harm done." 

He had let out a sigh of relief, followed by a chuckle. Our amusement returning to us as we erupted with noise. And I swore that the heavens could hear our happiness just as clear as we did.

*                                                                                                                                                                                                             *

The memory had invaded my thoughts within seconds, and I desperately wished that it hadn't. As I felt the wetness return to my eyes before I could even excuse myself, but luck had sided with me for once and I was able to leave the room with ease before another outburst. 

This had happened a countless number of times this week alone. I was almost used to it. . .but it also bothered me tremendously. He had hardly been here for a week and a half, and even seeing him sparked the most basic of memories. 

My reflection had shown my aggravation of the situation. For my once copper hair was turning into a sort of faint ash. Bags had formed under my eyes, emphasized by the flecks of blue resting within hazel. My formerly fair skin had become paler, and make up could hardly conceal the breakouts due to stress.

I wanted to blame him for all of this, but couldn't bring myself to blame him for the stress I had put upon myself. It was I who was holding myself back from accepting his sudden return.  

As the final rung throughout the building, I found myself hurrying out of the restroom to find him. However luck had left me with ease, and I instead found myself no longer able to welcome him back, or forgive him.