When It Mattered ✔️

S E V E N T E E N

S E V E N T E E N
~*~*~*~
"I need you like a heart needs a beat, but it's nothin' new,
I loved you with a fire red, now it's turning blue. And you say,
"Sorry," like the angel heaven let me think was you.
But I'm afraid it's too late to apologize."
— OneRepublic, Apologize
~*~*~*~

"Gracie... Come outside?" His voice was soft and at once made everything better.

He came back.

"I'll be there," I agreed before tossing Raven her phone and running out of the dorm as I grabbed a pair of sandals.

No more secrets. I ordered myself. I would just talk to him. We wouldn't fight. We would not fight. No matter what. No secrets. No fighting.

My feet hit the pavement finally as I caught my ragged breath. My eyes swept over the parking-lot, stopping at the big red truck. I quickly jogged over, holding my hands on the opened window. Ethan had his head back, starring up at the heart burned permanently to the ceiling. He was completely lost in thought. I wondered if he was thinking about the night he put the heart there.

"Boo," I whispered loudly, causing him to jump alert.

His lips tipped up into a smile as he saw me. "Hey."

"Have room for a hitchhiker in there, sir?" I smiled before running my hand lovingly across the truck as I walked to the passenger side.

"I think she's missed you," Ethan gave the top of the dash a pat, "She wouldn't start all day until I decided to come here."

"That's my baby," I chuckled, "She knows who loves her best."

"Don't even start." His blue blue blue eyes twinkled with happiness and I could breathe breathe breathe once more. "Jesus. Get in already." He teased, pretending to be annoyed.

I quickly pulled the heavy door open and hopped into the leather seat. "Where are we going?" I asked, feeling suddenly nervous. My stomach actually fluttered.

"I think we should talk," his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he pulled out of the parking lot. "It's long over due." He mumbled, a shadow crossing his face that turned my insides into acid.

"We're not going to fight again, are we?" My voice was small, "I don't want to fight. Not again."

He smiled sadly, "I know, love. I don't either. But I need to tell you, Gracie." His jaw clenched as he turned onto the main road.

"Do something fun with me first." I grabbed his arm, feeling desperate. "I just want to feel okay for a little while longer."

He sighed, looking over at me with those clear blue eyes that showed everything. He looked scared. "Alright." He whispered, looking at me like he was mentally capturing the moment to save it for later. "Where to?" He smiled encouragingly.

I shook my head, "I don't care. I could do nothing and still have fun if you're there with me."

"Gracie..." He said in a warning voice, his eyes flickering over at me.

Too much? I didn't care. I promised myself I'd tell the truth. My eyes met his blue ones as I chewed my bottom lip nervously.

He looked up at that heart and swore under his breath. That heart represented our whole relationship right then. That was the night I knew I would want Ethan Bennett for as long as I lived. It was after he made love to me for the very first time --my very first time... He was so much more experienced than I and I was so scared I was just another girl to him. He took out a lighter and burned a heart right over his seat, then he turned to me and said, "Gracie, as long as that heart is there, you will never be just another girl to me. You will be the girl. I only want you and if you think otherwise after tonight, the next night and all of the nights after it I will continuously show you time after time you are mine. You will believe me one of these days, Gracie Allen. You and me... We've been written in the truck."