No one asks a star
to shine brighter
to shape up it's five corners
and become
Crayola yellow.
No, we just
Lie on our backs
Surrendered to it's sky.
Perhaps we are its stars
and it lies there
on the sky's cozy
big black blanket n
not asking us
to be anything else
but exactly who we are-
beautiful sparks
of human life.
By Jessica Chilton
~ Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It feels as if we have been driving for hours, and yet I enjoy it. I get to really think about everything that's happened, everything that might happen, and about the present. Dylan is slouched a little with one hand out the window, and his other, hanging loosely on the wheel. The last light of the day is imminent and that spikes the eagerness inside me to finally have the courage to ask him where we're going.
"Where are you taking me?" A smirk appears on his face, his eyes glistening with excitement before the car jerks to a halt, and he then looks at me. I'm not sure how to feel under his playful gaze, but I can't fight the smile engraving itself on my lips and his grin only increases.
"We're here."
And before I could speak, he was out of the car and jogging to the passenger door, opening it for me.
And I thought chivalry was dead.
He held his hand out, staring at me with that stupid toothy smile of his and then, I knew i could trust him. Just something told me that I was safe- that he was safe to be with. That he wouldn't hurt me, and so I grabbed his hand. A spark went through me, but it wasn't that same as at the party. It was new- something unknown and mysterious. He lifted me to my feet and gently kissed the top of my hand, not taking one eye off me.
He started to pull me.
"Hold on, I need to grab my jacket." We detached and I walked a few steps to the car, as we didn't go to far yet. I opened the door, bent inside to grab my jacket and as I was backing out, I clumsily hit my head on the hood of the car. A giggle escaped my mouth after I had made a weird sound of pain, Dylan on the other hand coudlnd't keep his laughter to himself. But that made me laugh even harder.
"Stop laughing at me!" I yelled in mock hurt, "It's not funny!" I ran to where he was hunched over from how much he was laughing to hard.
"Come on goofball, it's not like I hit my head and fell over." I chuckled. I have no idea whats so funny, but all the butterflies in my stomach are let free by the un-seriousness of this trip.
"Tag, you're It!" I hit his back and took off toward the top of the hill, hearing a groan come from Dylan. I don't dare to look back, knowing he'll be by my side any second. And what do you know?
"Not so fast, princess." he stuck his foot in front of my steady jog and made me fall flat on my face. Ouch.
"Why'd you do that? It hurt." I lifted my face, spitting dirt and grass from my mouth, finding he was already almost half way to the top.
"Payback's a bitch."
He was right about that one.
I hoped back to my feet and started running as fast as I can.
"Payback's a bitch, huh?" I asked as I breezed past him.
He looked straight in my eyes, his lips in a tight line and his eyebrows knitted together in agitation, with a splotch of crimson added to his cheeks. Could that be accurate? Dylan, blushing?
I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. It all jumped out and toppled me, as if I were a door mat. My eyes pinched together and tears pouring down my cheeks, tickling me and adding to my fit. I wiped away the access tears and when I opened my eyes, Dylan was above me, each arm on one side of my head. I feel a light blush creep onto my skin, and I could've sworn I thought I heard Dylan sigh "Beautiful," under his breathe but I must be hearing things.
His eyes sparkle in the moonlight and that's when I get a good look at all his features. This little piece of short, dark brown hair curls around this velvet shadow that is swirling with different patterns.
I tucked the stray piece behind his ear absently. As I pulled my hand away, Dylan quickly grabbed it. Leading it back up to his face. His skin is twinkling as if there are tiny crystals hidden inside, but return dull - I can't do this. I can't like Dylan. I don't want to like him. I'm supposed to not be able to stand his guts.
With that said, I quickly remove my hand out of his grasp and slip out from under his body heat in a matter of seconds, then I'm back in business. The wind whistles through my hair, my eyes water a little, and my legs are starting to get tired, I didn't think this hill was that huge. My lungs are losing some oxygen every step I take. As I look back, Dylan is tail gating and it's nerve wrecking. I strive harder to get to the top of the hill.
My feet are swept out from underneath my body and I'm floating in midair. Dylan's somehow scooped me up in the middle of his run and we're both flying towards the top of the hill. The peak races toward us too, becoming palpable with every step. Three steps, two steps, one step-
Some imaginary rock tugged on Dylan's shoe, sending us flying towards the grassy terrain. His arms wrapped around my body, forming a protective cage as we rolled to the finish line. We were both panting like dogs as we lay here on our backs. Neither one of us speaking as we stare up at the stars. Then my heart sped up as I realized his arms were still wrapped around me.
I followed his gaze towards the sky, where thousands of stars were twinkling upon us.
"It's beautiful," I whispered.
He turned his head towards me. "So are you."
Our foreheads touched, then our noses, then our lips.
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Next chapter's beast.
~ M. Claire + AK
