Black as Night (Completed)

Chapter 24

Matthew

I see someone that looks like Julie run out from behind a house. She's sobbing. I run over to her and grab her in my arms. She sobs into my chest.

“Matthew, it's me Julie,” She says. “I know, I know,” I say. “The old gypsy woman gave me a potion to look prettier,” Julie says then sobs. “Why would you want to look prettier? You're already so beautiful,” I reassure her. She shakes her head. “It was a test to see if Ryan loved me for who I am and not....this,” Julie replies. “I guess I got my answer.” I hug her tighter. “It's gonna' be okay,” I whisper softly in her ear. She mumbles into my chest, “How did you know it was me?” I ponder this for a moment. I kind of just knew. “Well, I...I'm not sure. In my eyes, when I see you, you look the same not matter what. And in my eyes you look amazing,” I whisper slowly. Why am I whispering? I guess it's because she's like a little baby rabbit and I don't want to scare her away...again. How many times have I scared her away? 

She sobs harder into my chest. I hold her close. “I want...I want to,” She doesn't finish her sentence before sob escapes her. “What do you want sweetheart?” I ask quietly. “I want to be with you.” I should be thrilled, but I'm not. I know she's just saying this because she's upset. “No, no. No, you don't,” I say, my voice rising a little bit. “Yes, I do,” She says stubbornly. I sigh. Fine. If this is what she wants, I'll give it to her. 

I push her forward a bit so she's not against my chest anymore. I lean down and kiss her. Not forcefully enough to scare her, but enough to make her interested. 

She actually kisses me back. I thought she was going to pull away because she would realize Ryan is her partner, not me. 

I kiss her more forcefully now. A fire burns between us. I nibble on her bottom lip as our tongues explore each others' mouths. Julie weaves her fingers into my hair. I pull her close to me. The fire burns brighter and hotter. I hands are on waist and they slide up slowly. “Wait,” Julie whispers breathlessly. She pulls away. “Not here.” She grabs my wrist and starts pulling me along. I look behind me. A few curious eyes look at us, none of them familiar though. I turn my head back around and watch Julie's hair bounce against her back.

We reach the gates and push them open. We slide through. The young man at the gates stares at me enviously. We push through the trees until we come to a clearing. She pulls me to her and begins kissing me again. 

Ryan

I push Lorelei away. Was that Julie?!? I grab my shirt out of the wheelbarrow and pull it over my head. I sprint out of the backyard. I search the crowd. I call out, “Julie!” I search the crowd again, and again. Over and over. I finally spot her. Her hand is around Matthew's wrist. I should've guessed he would be here. They walk out the gates. I sprint after them. “Julie!” I yell towards them. I sprint out the gates right as they're closing. 

Julie and Matthew stroll in the woods for a few minutes until they come to a clearing. Julie leans upward and kisses him on the lips. NO! I run forward and tackle him out of her arms. Julie seems shocked for a moment then begins to process what is happening. I punch Matthew in the nose. He yells out in pain then kicks me in the stomach. I roll off of him and he stands up. Matt holds his nose as blood drips out of it. I hear him snap it back in place. He yells again, less loudly this time. Julie looks shocked at both of us. She finally says something. “You broke his nose!” She screams at me. I moan in pain and stand up. I've taken a lot worse. “Because he was kissing you!” I say angrily. “You can kiss other girls, but I can't kiss other guys?! That doesn't make any sense!” “She kissed me! And you chose Matthew! I didn't think you would come looking for me!” She freezes in place. What I said must have hurt her somehow. “I tried to think you still loved me, I tried. But I realized you didn't ask me to stay. You let me leave,” I say quietly with a hurt  and angry tone to my voice. “So I let you go.”  Tears form in her eyes. I walk to her and wipe them away as they fall. “I did love you and I still do, but I knew that if you didn't love me...then I wouldn't force you to.” I kiss her on the cheek softly. “I'm letting you go.”