Runaway Cleo

Ch. 13: 4 Months Later

The 4 months we spent in London were grand. We mainly stayed in Great Britain but did travel a little ways off into Europe. It was magical- unforgettable.

We stayed in a fancy hotel and everyday just got better and even more unreal. We never kissed. We never did anything physical really. But we did talk, we did romantic things. I love her so much. And I honestly believe Cleo when she says she loves me.

I know that I only have 2 weeks left with Cleo but I can't help but want her more than ever. She told me on the flight back home that she is leaving a week early so that I wouldn't see her suffer. I think that it's fair but I don't want her to go.

I watched her as she grew paler over our months together. I watched as her headaches got worse. I watched as she began to slowly lose her drive.

She kept telling me that she was okay. I know she's not okay. Cleo is almost dead. Cleo.

I look beside me on our bed. She's beautiful. I still haven't even kissed her yet.

I was so lonely and depressed those 5 and a half months ago that I couldn't even imagine myself here. What the hell am I going to do when she dies?  What the hell am I going to do when she leaves me forever?

I snuggle into her side more and softly press my lips into her forehead. She cuddles in closer, resting her head on my chest and hugging my waist. Gosh, do I love her. No one can love somebody this much- it should be illegal.

"Cleo, I will love you until the day I die..." I whisper it into our dark, moonlit bedroom. No one heard it but it's a promise I swear to keep. I will always love Cleopatra Lynn.

•••

"Cleo!!" I wake up gasping for air. I quickly look around my room and notice Cleo waking up beside me. Immediately, I put my head into my knees and hug my body close. I didn't want Cleo to know about my dreams.

"Chris. What's up?" She sounds so concerned and the hand she rubs on my back feels so comforting. I lift my head and show her my vulnerability, my tears and my fears.

"I've been having nightmares, it's nothing though. We can go back to sleep." She stares into me and I can tell she knows I'm fibbing.
"Chris, just tell me. It's okay. It's just me."

I shake my head all of a sudden angry. "That's it though. It's JUST you. Cleo all I have is you. My dad is dead. My mom never comes home. I have no friends because no one wants me and now I have you and I have to let you go. CLEO. I can't let you go. I wake up every night shaking from the fear of waking up to find you dead. I cry myself to sleep at the thought of having you leave me. Cleo. No matter what I will always love you. I will alWAYS LOVE YOU!!!" I'm so mad and I'm so sad and I'm so upset.

She cries and I try to hold her but she just pulls away. I grab her arms and try again but she places her hands on my chest, "No." And then she gets up and runs out of the room.

I immediately get up and follow her. She runs down the hall, past the kitchen, threw the lounge, and out the front door. I follow her down the pavement until I notice her slow down. She grabs at her knees until she falls to the ground.

I stop to catch my breath and then slowly walk up behind her. "Stop running away from me. Stop-"
"NO! I will not stop. You have given me the best fricking year of my whole life and now I have to die. You are not the only one hurting here Chris. Get a grip. I will always run because that's who I am. What was that name they gave me the year after I left? Cleo the runaway? They called me weak, aimless, destroyed. No. I was strong, but God, I am so tired of being strong. Take a good look at me Chris. I am NOT strong. So go the hell back home before I say something I'll regret." She is so pretty when she's mad.

"I'm not leaving. I love you. I will always love you. Now come home. We can talk about this." She shakes her head and just lays out on the sidewalk, releasing all her body weight to the ground. I run up to her and pick her up bridal style, and start heading back to the house.

"Chris, I'm sorry. I know it's not fair. Nothing is fair." She finally says, when I lay her on our bed at home.
"Not even this?" I ask with a smirk.

"What are you ev-" and then I kissed her. I didn't know I was going to until I did and man am I so happy that I did.

It lasts about 5 seconds before we pull away, gasping for air.

"Chris, what was that?"  She says in complete shock.
"That- that right there- that's not fair. It's not fair that I stopped myself from doing that all these months. It's not fair that we've danced around doing it for so long. It's not fair that I can only do it a few more times. And it's not fair that we need oxygen instead of keeping it going. Now if you don't mind I'd like to do it again?" I have no clue where my confidence comes from but I like it.

I lean in and kiss her again and again. Sometimes short pecks, other times long and drawn out. I could kiss her all night.

I raise my arms and she takes my shirt off and I feel the adrenaline growing between us. She slowly lifts her own shirt off and I see how beautiful she is again.

This night was so wonderful and although nothing will happen, I'm so glad that I nearly gave up my virginity to the Cleopatra Lynn.