Green Eyes

CHAPTER 27

On July 4th, My Dad set up a spot where we could easily watch the firework show from the beach. 

We'd been going to the same camping spot for years, and when I was eight I had found the perfect place to watch the show from. As my parents set up I grabbed Grace's hand and led her off on a hiking trail that lead up the hill. 

"James..." She looked at me. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see" I smirked. We hiked for several minutes up the steep slope until we finally reached a clearing in the trees. "Follow me" I whispered. I led her through the trees to a small hut right on the edge of the cliff. There was a large drop-off and none of the trees reached nearly as high as the the hut.

"What's this" She smiled at me.

"This is an old bathroom house. They were going to build another campsite here until they realized the hill was to steep for a road. They only got as far as a bathroom house overlooking the ocean." I pulled her close to my chest. 

We climbed slowly on to the roof of the small hut. It was flat and stretched out just over the edge of the drop off. You could see for miles, even in the distance I spotted my parents and Katie on the beach in their chairs.

"Okay neighbor boy. You were right. This is pretty amazing" She sighed. I sat down and pulled her with me.

"The fireworks come up right there" I pointed to a floating barge filled with explosives. "It should go off in about, what 30 minutes" I shrugged.

"So we just... wait"

"Or..." I smiled and kissed her gently. She slowly laid down on the roof, my leaning next to her. She giggled and fiddled with a piece of my hair. 

When the fireworks started, it was almost lame to watch. I'd much rather watch the colors explode in the reflection of Grace's eyes. When it was over, I saw the people on the beach retreat back to their tents. I laid down on the roof, staring at the stars. 

"Shooting star" Grace whispered as a flash of light whisked by. "Make a wish" I smiled. I wish I didn't have to leave for college in September, I wish I could be here on this roof, holding hands forever.

"Essays suck" I smiled.

"What?"

I quickly sat up "If I become a writer, I want to write about real things and real people. I want to take people places with my writing, Grace."

"You will" She smiled, sitting up too. "....Give it time" She leaned in for one more quick kiss. 

"I love you" I whispered.

"I love you too" She smiled, her thumb grazing my cheek.

We hiked back down to the campsite in the dark, holding hands. The moon was far overhead as we passed crackling fires and low voices chatting in whispers. It felt so right...