Photograph

CHAPTER TWO

"I want to get lost to try and find myself. Cause sometimes, it seems like I don't know myself anymore."

I was curled up like a ball under the tree at the local park. Tears were flowing down my cheeks and I whimpered silently. It was dark out and I've been here for hours. It seems like the tears won't stop and I just had to let it all go somehow. There were a few cars passing by and I ignored them. I looked up at the night sky, there are no stars. It's going to rain.

As if I had triggered a command button, it started pouring. I smiled sadly at the sky. This is how I felt. I could feel myself getting soaked. It was cold. The wet cool material of my clothes clung to my body like second skin and the wind that caresses my body made it even cooler like I'm bathing on ice. And soon enough, I felt numb.

Hours had passed and I was still under the rain. I could feel my temperature riding up and I know that I'm going to have a fever soon, if not now. Soon enough, a flash of light began moving around and I knew it had to do with my parents. The light was pointed at me and suddenly I felt my eyes getting droopy and darkness had once again overpowered my limp body.

**

I stood anxiously in the front porch as I played with the necklace wrapped around my neck. This was the first time I'm returning home from my three month vacation from Japan. Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and went inside with my bags on tow.

"Hello?" I called out but only received silence.

I hung my jacket on the racks and kicked my shoes. The hallway was dark and felt empty. I looked around but saw no one. What caught my attention was the dimly lit living room.

I stared in awe as I stood dumbfoundedly at the entrance. Candles rounded the table with a boquet laying at the middle surrounded by small pieces of paper folded neatly with a ribbon.

I walked slowly still admiring the beauty before me. I felt the tears threatening to fall. Never have I had someone do this for me. I couldn't hold it. I let the tears flow.

"Why are you crying?" I turned around in alarm as I heard a voice from behind.

"L-Luke..I..uh.." I stuttered but didn't even get to finish the sentence as he strode quickly and pulled me into his arms.

"I missed you" he whipered as he burried his face at the crook of my neck. My arms snaked around his torso and I hugged him back with the same amount of eagerness.

"I missed you too." I closed my eyes as I savoured this perfect moment. We hugged for a few minutes in the middle of the room with only the candles giving light.

"Why are you crying?" he asked again.

"This is just too perfect. I've never had someone do this for me."

"You deserve everything that's best." he kissed my tears away. I chuckled.

"Enough with this drama. Where's mom and dad?"

"Oh they wanted us to have some private time alone for awhile before they return from their dinner." He scratched his neck.

"Tell me the truth." he sighed.

"Fine. I had Mark and James stall them by saying that they're going to pick you up from the airport when in reality, you took a cab back here." I rolled my eyes.

"Typical." I took my phone out of my pocket and texted my parents informing them that I'm back home.

"Hey I--" I looked up and saw that I was alone in the room. Where did he go now?

"Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Where are you?"

"Find me" and that's how the search for the most immature guy I've ever met had begun.

I went to the hallway and found arrows pointing up to my room. I went in and that's where Luke stood in all his glory holding a piece of paper in hand with his boyish grin.

I walked up to him confused and grabbed the paper--or should I say picture. It was a polaroid photo of us hugging each other in the living room a while ago.

"How?"

"Oh you know. I've got my ways" he smirked.

"Ways like having James hide behind the plant and took a photo of us?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. For me to know, you to find out."

All night long we did nothing but catch up. We layed down on my bed and talked about how my vacation was, how life was back home when I was gone.

We just stayed there all cuddled up in each others arms and it was the epitome of my relationship goals. He would play with my fingers delicately as I tell him all about Japan and he would nod and chuckle at the most embarassing parts I told him. I couldn't thank the heavens more than I could thank them now. I'm so lucky to have him. Oh how I wish this would never end.

"Oh Lara..you're back! Hey Luke!" I heard my mom enter with that as they greeted me.

"Hey mom" I stood up and hugged my mom, "dad" same as to my father.

"How's the trip?" mom asked.

"Fun." I smiled.

"Well it's been a long night so..I'm heading off to bed now. Goodnight princess. Luke." dad acknowledged us.

"Goodnight dad!" I called out.

"So Luke you staying tonight?"

"If that's alright? I could maybe crash for tonight in the guest room."

"Oh sure. I'll have Fiona fix the room"

"Thanks" she left after that leaving me and Luke.

"So you staying for the night huh?" I asked thoughtfully.

"Yep, in the next room I mean."

"Why not here?" I asked but regretted it soon after I realized how desperate I must have sounded.

He chuckled lowly and pulled me into his arms. "I just don't want to get on your parents bad side you know?"

"They already love you though."

"Yeah but I want to make it surely..That way, it'll be easier for me to make a compromisation." I stared at him in confusion.

"For what?"

He smiled thoughtfully at me and murmured "nothing" before nestling his head at the crook of my neck.

"Don't you wish that we could stay this way forever?"

"Always."

"Til the end?"

"Til my last breath"

"Don't want to sound cliché but--" he cut me off.

"Love's cliché. And I love you. Now, time to go to bed." he stood up and gave me a peck before leaving my room.

I sunk back at my bed and stared at my ceiling. Life couldn't get any more perfect.