Fourteen (A Willow Falls Story)

Present 3

A/N: Sorry, it's been a while. I've been so busy with everything going on. Enjoy this next part. All characters are owned by Wendy Mass!

Leo's POV

       As the girls run to the bathroom, the guys and I clean up a bit. We wind up the hoses and place them back where we found them.

   David says, "How about you give her that purple box over there next?" He nods over to the box, and I pick it up off the pile. Placing it down over by the table, I think more about Amanda and I.

   I sit down to think some more. Is our relationship really going to last forever? Does Amanda really love me, or is she just joking when she says that? Will she be able to put up with all the crazy things I do? Would she risk her life for me the same way I'd risk my life for her? Is her loving me just a misunderstanding? Is... I'm just about to drift off into my uncertain thoughts when I feel something warm on my shoulder.

    I look to find a source for the warmth and am immediately blinded by golden locks of hair in my face. Lips press on mine and I smile as they drift away.

   "You're back," I say as I open my eyes. "Yep," Amands says. "The other girls are still finishing getting ready." I stare up at her beautiful eyes, and then around the Apple Grove ramada.    

   "Looks like Connor and David left to go to the bathroom or something, so we have a bit of along time." She smirks at me as I pull her hand and she slides closer. "What are you up t..," she asks but is cut off as I pull her into a passionate kiss.

   She sits in my lap as the kiss becomes more passionate. All my past worries about the future melt away as she places her hands on my shoulders to steady herself while I run my hands through her hair.

   It's almost as if her lips melt into mine. They fit perfectly together as we move in sync. I've been picking up kissing tips, so I decide to allow my tongue to enter her mouth. Amanda gives a slight giggle, but allows anyways. That's why kissing Amanda is one of the best things I can do. It calms us both down, and I feel a burning love emanating off of the both of us.

   We both smile as we break away. She asks quietly," Where did you learn to do that?" I tell her," I don't know, it just felt right. Kissing you is amazing." She nods in agreement and stands back up as the rest of the gang enters.

    I stand up too as Connor comes over and slightly elbows me and winks before joining everyone else. I must look starstruck because David has to clap his hands to get my attention.

    He clears his throat and motions to the purple box at the table. I hurry and grab it and hand it to Amanda. She tears open the packaging to reveal a set of brightly colored paints.

  Everone oohs and ahhs as I reach under the tablecloth of the table and grab a roll of long paper and paintbrushes. "Since we just planted some more trees, I think it's only fair that we make a sign." Everyone nods in agreement as we huddle around the paper and begin to create.

   Most of Team Grace are pretty good artists, so the sign turns out wonderful. The border is made up of various colored apples, and the two ends have massive apple trees on them. In gorgeous handwriting by Amanda are the words Newly Renovated Apple Grove.

    We all silently admire for a bit as it dries. Once it's dry, Grace interrupts everyone by saying," Where are we hanging it up?" I grab some twine and scissors and motion for everyone to follow me.

   Near the front of the grove are two perfectly positioned apple trees. I cut off two long strands of twine and thread one through the hole on one side of the poster. I motion for Amanda to do the same. She repeats what I did and we both find a low branch to hang it from on both trees.

   We tie it and step back to admire our work. Rory says," Now everyone will know how amazing Apple Grove is!" We all laugh and run back to the ramada.