March passed into April with no hurry, the way I wanted it to be, but I still found the days disintegrating like dust. Danielle had signed up for a Grade 10 Final Exams course so that she would achieve a good note to show her teachers once she got back in Ottawa, and she spent a lot of the hours studying for her tests. Alexander turned twenty. I drew and practiced the song we'd written--Sunset Memories.
May came, full of glorious sun and warmth.
Two months left.
I kept saying the words over and over in my head, each repetition burning sharply. Two months. I only have two months left with her. It was killing me.
The days melted in my hands like water.
Then Sunday, May twelfth, I woke up with a positive attitude for the first time in a while. Sun was glistening through the curtains like diamonds. On the bed, the blankets shuffled around.
''Happy birthday,'' I told Danielle.
She appeared with a smile on her face. She looked alive and excited and sixteen. Her eyes were bright.
''Thanks,'' she said. ''I can't believe I'm eligible for driving now.''
I frowned. ''What's the driving age in Canada?''
''Sixteen,'' she replied. ''Why, is it different here in Germany?''
''Hell, yeah,'' I said, standing. ''We don't get to drive until we're eighteen. Well, Curt can do it with Mom's supervision, but he'll be stealing the car when his birthday comes.''
''Oh. That's interesting.''
I went over to the bed, wearing only a pair of sweatshorts because it had been so hot out last night. I crawled over Danielle to lie beside her. She turned to face me, a smile on her lips.
''You're older than me,'' I said quietly.
''By how much?''
''About two months.''
She grinned at me. ''I don't feel that much older. Guess you're more mature than me, that's why.''
I frowned. ''Neither of us is more mature than the other,'' I told her.
She giggled. ''You're right. We're both crazy.''
We laughed. I liked the way the sound came out of her mouth, the way her lips formed them and shaped them. Her lips were a pale pink. They looked baby soft, perfectly shaped, full . . . they must've been wonderful to kiss.
''I got you a present,'' I said, getting off the bed and reaching under my pillow.
Danielle pushed off the covers and sat up. ''You didn't have to.''
''No, I wanted to. It's your birthday, after all.'' I took the parcels out. They were wrapped in purple paper.
She sat on the edge of the bed and I followed her, watching as she tore the paper and opened the first item.
Her fingers picked up the 4B pencil. ''These look amazing.''
''German hand-crafted. Better than American ones.''
''No kidding.'' She took the 6B pencil and drew a little smiley face on my hand. ''Thanks.''
I gave a little smile. She opened up the next gift.
YOU ARE READING
Sunset Memories
Romansa[Book no. 1] In which Luca meets Danielle for the first time, and love dribbles through German promises, protection from the bad boy, and lullabies whispered as the sun dips into the horizon.
