"i could pull the stars down from the sky and give them to you, and you would still find a reason to say no, wouldn't you, gemma? you would still fucking go choose him."
i felt like the world was crashing down on me. the one person i was completely...
⏯ chapter playlist • lost in japan - shawn mendes • love somebody like you - joan • perfect for me - ron pope
——— about two weeks later shawn mendes >>>
gemmaclark
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gemmaclark i adore you venice & i never plan on leaving (shout out to brad and edith for picking a fab wedding destination) • • • p.s. i know this pic is cringey but everyone needs to cringe sometimes load more comments edithjoness yeah you're welcome shawnmendes second half of the caption was a quote from yours truly, give me credit please
———
"Have you ever been somewhere so beautiful?"
Gemma leaned over the balcony, almost too far, looking down at the streets and the water and the people walking. The sun was just setting, and the sky was a perfect mixture of pink and orange and purple. I felt as if I had to take a picture, because such a flawless moment would never come again in my life.
I shook my head, eyes still on her. "Nope. I think this is it," I replied. "But the way you're leaning over that is making me really nervous."
She fell from her tiptoes back to her feet, giving me a smile, then sat in the chair next to me. She leaned her head on my shoulder, and things felt really good in that moment. It didn't feel like "hiding." It felt right. Like it's supposed to feel.
It's been about a month since this whole thing between us started, but it's all kind of the same. We're still nothing official. We're still "just friends." I don't necessarily mind it, but it'd be nice to walk down the street and hold her hand. Or, I don't know, take her out on a real date? You know, like normal couples do? But I can't really do that. I mean, there's only so many things two people can do together as "just friends" and nothing more.
But it's fine. Because when we're alone, we don't have to pretend. Like right now...it's real.
And I like it; I like the safe haven of nobody else's opinion. I like that it's just the two of us. I think it's better, especially for her, with the whole Jake thing and the Alex thing...she's had a tough go at it for a while now, and it's probably good just to not add fuel to the fire. She doesn't need one more thing to worry about. She just needs me, and here I am.
"I feel like..." she started, then stopped. "I feel like this is the perfect place to fall in love. Or just a good place to be in love."
I smiled a little to myself. "Wait, are you trying to tell me that drinking champagne on a balcony while watching the sunset in Italy is more romantic than laying on your couch and watching Netflix documentaries at eleven o'clock at night?" I joked. "Because that's simply insulting."
She laughed and so did I. Honestly, either scenario was enough for me. Anywhere with her is pretty good.
"I mean, that's good, too," she said, wrapping her arms around my arm and getting a little closer to me. "Anywhere with you is...pretty spectacular, if you ask me."
