Together

Chapter 24

I finally reach the shore with Camila still clinging to me. I pull myself up onto the land, gently tossing Camila to the side. She rolls onto her back, taking a deep breath. Harry and Louis climb out beside me, both of them panting like dogs. I sit criss-cross, taking deep, long breaths. After a moment or so of just us relaxing, the sound of sirens hits my ears.

"Do you guys hear that?" I whisper urgently to my friends, my eyes glancing back and forth from their faces to the road. Harry squints his eyes in concentration, then he nods vigorously.

"Yes," he hisses, keeping his voice low. He gets to his knees and hands, crawling down the small strip of land that we are on that separates the water from the road. He peers over the rail that keeps cars from swerving into the harbor. His eyes widen into saucers. "No way.."

"What?" Louis demands, stumbling to get up in the same position as Harry. He barely knocks over his boyfriend in his eagerness to see what Harry sees. "Oh.." He exhales once his eyes widen as well.

I cast a glance to Camila, making sure she is alright. She is curled up in a tight ball, shivering in the wind of Seattle. I crawl over to her, planting a soft kiss on her temple. She smiles faintly, the sight enough to make my heart swell with warmth. I eventually make my way to join Harry and Louis near the rail, pulling myself up onto my numb knees. The sight my eyes behold is enough to make me jump with joy.

Austin and Shawn are being pushed into the back of a cop car, both growling and spitting at the men pushing them in. Tristan is being held against the wall, a police man snapping hand cuffs on his wrists. Brad is already in hand cuffs, thrashing around like a fish out of water, and being pushed to a separate car. Two more police cars line the sidewalk, followed by a fire truck and an ambulance. The lights on the vehicles flicker in the dark street.

"It's like all my hopes have been answered." Louis mumbles aloud, the words sounding like they came from his thoughts. His eyes glow with what reminds me of pure happiness. I notice his arm move abruptly, making me look down. He had intertwined his fingers with Harry's.

"When I say three, duck down." Harry tells us, a key of fear in his tone. "Alright?"

"Okay." Louis and I say. The loss of Camila's voice makes me look over to her, frowning. She is trembling like a puppy lost in the forest. I peel off my shirt, revealing my black tank top. I wring out the water from it, thrashing it around afterwards in the air. I then wrap it around Camila, trying to give her the most heat I can. She doesn't respond, she just grips the shirt as if it's her lifeline.

"One," Harry starts, his eyes narrowing. His free hand disappears into his pocket. "Two," he slowly moves his hand out, his fingers clutching something shiny. "Three!" We duck down below the rail, pushing ourselves against the grass. He chucks the object out into the road, ducking down afterwards. I spot the shiny object gleaming on the sidewalk, and I recognize it as the diamond.

"Now they have nothing against us." Harry announces, his voice trembling like Camila. I crawl over my love, laying down and nuzzling against her. I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her against my chest.

"I'm so in love with you." I whisper into her ear, resting my head in her neck. I feel her smile, her eyes glowing with happiness and youth.

"I've always been so in love with you." Camila hums, curling up against me. I allow my body to melt against her's for the first time in a while.

"Guys," Harry snaps, startling me and making my body jolt.

"Yeah?" I croak, my voice suddenly a lot deeper and raspier than normal. Camila casts me a strange glance, causing a smile to beak out onto my lips. She laughs softly, snuggling into me.