Meant to Be

Chapter Twelve

Collin? U there?

No reply.

We need 2 work on our project asap.

Still no reply.

We should get started on it, like now.

Nothing. Why isn't Collin answering? I turn my phone off and immediately it turns back on and signals that I have a new text message. 

Sry I can't right now. I'm sick. :(

Feel better soon!

We're running out of time, I realize. I turn on my laptop and pull up the Internet. With a sigh, I begin to research cancer.

                                                                        * * *

After a few hours, I think I have acquired enough information. I text Collin with the good news.

Hey, got the research done! :)  U feeling better?

Please let him be better, I silently pray. I can't do this project on my own.

Kind of... I think some fresh air would help. ;)

Meet in 5 min?

Sure.

                                                                        * * *

"Hey," I greet Collin as he walks up to me.

"Hey," he replies. "Let's go for a walk."

"To the park?" I ask. 

"No, I want to show you something," he says. Show me what? I wonder, but don't say anything. I have a feeling he wants to surprise me.

The December air is chilly, and the sun starts to lower as we walk.

"Collin?" 

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

Silence.

I start to ask him again, thinking he didn't hear me, but he speaks.

"Hang on, we're almost there," he says, ignoring the question. I say nothing. 

We reach the top of a grassy hill overlooking a large field. In the distance, the sun dangles over the mountains, almost touching them, but not quite.

We sit down on the grass and gaze out at the sky.

"Rylee, there's something I want to tell you," Collin says.

Please don't let him be moving.

"What is it?" I ask expecting the worse. I turn to him, and see that he has already shifted so that he is looking at me.

Collin leans closer, and kisses me, unsure at first, but then tenderly. I kiss him back, and wrap my arms around him and inch closer to him. When he pulls back, we are still embracing. I lean against him as we once again turn to look at the lowering sun.

"Wow," he says.

"Wow," I agree.

"Was that - was that okay?" he asks. His voice is wavering, and I can tell he is nervous.

"That was perfect," I answer. Did those words really just come out of my mouth? Even as I think it, I know that what I said was true. I didn't realize my feelings for Collin until now.

As the sun ducks behind the mountains, Collin doesn't mention what he wanted to tell me. But that's okay, I think. It can wait, whatever it is.