A love to die for.

Chapter 10: What a time.

It was the summer holiday, before my last year of elementary school. I had just turned 9 years old.

My previous neighbors were an elderly couple and had moved to a care home. My neighborhood was pretty popular, so I knew that it was only a matter of time before I got new neighbors. After only 3 weeks a family moved in next to our home, including a boy my age.

Jackson.

There weren't a lot of children our age in the neighborhood, so we quickly became friends. Friends became, of course -how predictable-, lovers and that's where our love story began. Of course, since we were only nine years old when we became friends, it took a few years before we started our relationship.

As the summer ended and school was about to start, Jackson and I got closer. It had been the summer before we both went to our Freshman year. We had our 2 month anniversary that summer, 3 days before school started.

I had told Jackson not to plan anything fancy since we were only dating for 2 months and luckily he obeyed.

*
We had a picnic and laid down shoulder by shoulder on the blanket, in an open space in the forest. Watching the stars, Jackson pointed out some of them.

"Look, that is libra." I look at him admiring. "I never heard you talking about astrology, before." I tell him curious. He laughs loud. "Oh, I know nothing about it. I only know the Libra because it's my Zodiac sign, but that's it. Nothing more." I laugh about his answer and he joins me.

"I'm glad you didn't lie about that. Pretending to know everything about something while you don't. I admire that, your honesty." I smile. "I know you do. You always tell me so."

From within the corner of my eye, I watch him turning his head towards me. He shifts to his side and leans on his elbow.

"I know I tell you this every time I see you and that you hate it when I do, but I really do think you are beautiful and I'm so lucky to have you by my side." He's right. He always tells me this. Every. Damn. Time. And deep down, I actually love it. But he doesn't need to know that.

I roll my eyes. He continues, but this time he tells me something I haven't heard yet. "If you think about it, we're pretty lucky to be alive in the very same years that this world exists. The world exists for thousands and thousands of years. Yet, I'm alive at the exact same time as you and I tell you honestly that I absolutely love it. I've never been luckier than I am now." While my eyes tear up, I lift myself up a bit and lean on my elbows and he still continues talking, "And, no, I'm not going to propose to you or anything..." we both laugh. "I just want to make sure that we will stay together no matter what will happen at school. That we will survive. Because, I... I love you, Sybil."

I blink. It's all I can do at the moment. I love you. The words barely sink in and I am frozen.

"Everything okay, Sybil? You don't have to say it back yet. You know I won't get mad if you don't say it back right now, right?"

"I love you too, Jackson." I blur out. The words haven't even left my mouth, or a smile appears on Jackson's face and I can't help but join him.

"Really? You're not just saying this, because I said this?" Jackson asks hopeful. I shake my head. "I love you with the whole of my heart, Jackson. Every moment that I have spent with you this summer has been nothing but perfect. Every moment we spent being friends when we were younger. The moment that you first kissed me in the tree house, the moment you sneaked me out the house for a romantic walk to the park. Just every damn moment. And I can't possibly wait for any more perfect moments to come. Moments like these..."

We share smiles and, even though the sun has faded a long time ago and it starts to cool down, I feel only warmth inside me. He leans closer to me, his hand reaching out to my waist and grabbing me closer.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" I ask him in a whisper tone. "I want to capture this moment for a second. Let it all sink in, this beautiful night with you." His eyes stare at me with love.

Our foreheads are touching, and I lean in a bit more so that also our lips are touching now.

The kiss feels like every other kiss we shared; passionate, full of fire and love. We both smile while kissing each other longingly.

Lady Gaga's Poker Face beginning tunes tumble out of my phone, making me aware of the time. Jackson groans and pulls himself away from me. "Hey, don't groan at the Gaga. I have to go; I have to be home at 9.30. Can you drop me off?" He nods, clearly disappointed, but smiles nonetheless and grabs my hand and pulls me off the floor.

We clean everything up and with his arm wrapped around my shoulders, we walked back towards our houses.

"Sybil?" I turn around to face him, my finger still wrapped around my key that was stuck in the front door. "I want this to be forever." "You said you wouldn't propose to me." I answered, laughing nervously. A smile appeared on his face. "I'm not." He says thoughtfully. "I just wanted to let you know that I like having you in my life. No matter how cliché that sounds." "Jackson..." I whispered, unable not to smile. "I love you." I told him and turned around, turned the key within the hole and opened the front door.

"I love you, Sybil." Jackson whispered with a laugh. I turned around in the door frame and waved goodbye with a smile on my face. Jackson waved back and I closed the door behind me.

It took a while, but I promise to try to post more frequently! My senior year just started and I really want to graduate, so I need to work a ton on school. But, since this book is a huge school project that I have to hand in before January, I can at least guarantee that it will be finished and that will be finished before next year!

I hope you enjoyed this little memory of how Jackson and Sybil met. Little hint; next chapter will be from the murderer's POV😉.

-Xoxo.