Miles Away (A Squad Fanfiction)

Chapter 18

I set the mug and plate on the bedside table carefully before sitting down, legs crossed, on the bed. My MacBook lay opened in front of me, discarded.

The door handle of the washroom clicked. I turned to look as Ariel walked out of the shower room, looking worn and just tired in general.

His hair was messy and there were eye bags under his eyes. I patted the spot next to me, the corners of my lips quirked upwards slightly.

"You good?" I asked him quietly as he lowered himself down gently, picking the plate up tenderly. "I could sleep for a month straight." He muttered.

I chuckled. "You can always." I replied. "But you should get some rest today. Look at you! You look like you're more dead than usual!" I exclaimed

"That's probably cause I am more dead than usual." Ariel responded, draining the cocoa in one go. I glanced at him, sideways. "Maybe I'll leave you here to sleep." I told him, shutting my MacBook and clamping it firmly under my arm.

"Mmm, ok. Thanks." He murmured. I chuckled softly, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek before retreating. "Alright, bye." I rolled my eyes.

- - ❁ - -

"Wanna go for a drive? I could do with some air." Ariel said when he entered through the door. I rolled over, glancing at him. "I'm lazy." I told him.

"We'll take my car and I'll drive." Ariel proposed. I smiled, getting up. "I don't have to drive?"

"No." He laughed. "We're having Chick Fil A tonight. I'll just tell George we'll meet them there." Ariel continued.

I snatched up his car keys from the desk and grabbed my bag and a sketch book. "Can we head to the beach?"

- - ❁ - -

I was wearing a black, low-cut crop top with a pair of denim shorts. My caramel brown hair whipped me in my face but I ignored it, smiling when I felt the wind against my face and neck.

I began to walk along the coastline, printing a set of footprints on the sand only to have it washed away by the waves.

The sun was setting in a swirl of pink and orange, dipping into the ocean in the horizon. I pushed my hair back and stopped, smiling as I admired the mesmerising view.

I looked back at Ariel who was holding up a camera.

Is that my camera?

"Hey!" I began, laughing with Ariel gave me an amused expression. "Get over here! What was that?" I laughed when I heard the click. He smiled, eyes glittering, and walked briskly over to my side, handing me the camera. I went through the camera roll, feeling my eyes grow wide.

There were tons of photos. Of me running off into the sunset, walking along the coast, standing with my back against the camera when I was staring at the sunset. The last photo was me, looking back with a bright smile on my face.

My heart skipped a beat and I looked down, letting my hair fall across my face as I smiled while blushing.

I looked up, about to ask him why did he take so many photos of me when I realised I was nose to nose with Ariel.

My breath hitched, I could feel his breath on me and could smell his cologne. Electricity seemed to crackle in the air.

"My memory card doesn't have a lot of storage." I managed to breath out. After a moment or so, Ariel pulled away, breaking the tension, and laughed shakily. "No, Little Wolf, that's not your card." He chuckled.

Confused, I opened the compartment and took the card out, holding it gingerly.

It was a regular black 32 GB memory card, but on it, was a label with neat handwriting scribbled on it.

Alpha | Little Wolf

I looked up. "Is this for me?" I asked in wonder. "It's a collection of photos and videos from since you were here. And this camera isn't yours, Lexi." Ariel laughed. "It's mines."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Huh."

Then, I let my grin spread across my face slowly. I tucked the card back in and handed Ariel the camera.

"I'll give you the card when it's full of your photos." Ariel promised. I smiled, then grabbed his wrist gently. "Come on."

- - ❁ - -

I was perched on a boulder with Ariel beside me. My sketch book was opened and I had a piece of charcoal in my hand, sketching the sunset.

"Ariel-" I broke off, looking up.

Why is he always standing so close?

Our faces were inches apart. We were so close, our noses were brushing. We held in the position for a couple seconds. I wanted to pull away but I felt a tug on me, like I couldn't move.

His breathing was hot and heavy. I felt myself inhale sharply and exhale. My heart pounded against my chest. My heartbeat was so loud I was almost certain he could hear it.

I found myself staring into the abyss of his dark brown eyes. He held my gaze. Seconds ticked by. Who knew how long we sat there like that.

Then, he leaned in, just a little, and before I knew it, his lips were on mines.

Then, he backed away before I had came to my senses. Cold wind blew against my face. My eyes were wide with surprise but I wasn't one to complain.

Ariel kissed me!

My insides began to to yell. Shut up! I ordered.

He looked away, unwilling to meet my gaze. "Uh, I... Uh..." He stuttered, but I was smiling like a dork.

"You what?" I asked, but I couldn't hear his answer over the roaring of blood in my ears. My insides had turned to jelly, my heart was racing a million miles an hour and a hazy mist filled my mind.

For a moment, I couldn't comprehend what had happened. Even after spending all this time apart from James, the trauma from him threatening me for leaving him never subsided. All those nightmares that scared me awake, only to wake up to a dark, empty room. Alone. With cold sweat trickling down my back, I'd creep down to the kitchen to brew up a cup of chamomile tea, then tiptoe back up to my room. I would curl up under my blankets and watch movies until the sun rose again, unable to fall asleep.

I thought I'd never move on, I thought that the experience would haunt me forever. But seeing Ariel here before me, feeling his lips on mines, even for that brief moment, gave me the courage to try again. It made me realise, if there was anyone worth me throwing myself into all this mess again for, it'd be Ariel.

A slither of fear from my past relationship still remained, lurking in the shadows of my thoughts, but for the most part, I'm willing to try again.

It's been 3 years since; it's time I moved on.

All thoughts of any past relationships and any doubts about new ones were washed away. I wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling him closer to me and with a soft smile, I pressed my lips to his.