A love to die for.

Chapter 17: Pictures of us.

It was that last summer. A few days before I would leave for the summer with my parents.

Jackson and I had a date to the citys summer fair. Ooh! A photo booth! Lets shoot some pics. He grins and grabs my hand in his. Before I can react, he has started to run with my hand in his, which caused for me to run too. I almost stumble over my own foot as I try to keep up with him.

Weve finally reached the photo booth and were in luck, because theres no line. Seems like were first. Jackson smiles. He pulls me in the booth and a laugh slips from my mouth. Alright then. I guess we can take a few pictures before I need to get home. Thats the spirit! he agrees. Jackson throws in some coins and we wait for the counter to expire.

Crazy faces! Jackson exclaims happily. I follow his example and stuck out my tongue and look cross-eyed. We both laugh as we try to think of the next shot. 00s vibes! I yell excited. What? You know, peace fingers and duck face. I explain. Youre absolutely nuts. And thats why you love me. I smile. We pose for the 2nd and 3rd photo.

And for the last one? I ask. A smile graces his face as his hand cups my cheek and pulls me closer. His lips touch mine at the exact moment that the camera clicks. We keep kissing for a while. Jackson. I laugh when his hand creeps underneath my shirt. Were in a photo booth at the fair. So? So? Not here. Plus, I need to get home. Alright then. Lets get the photos and then we can leave. He grumbles. He takes my hand in his and helps me stand up.

He opens the red curtain for us, and we stand outside the booth to wait for the pictures.

Why arent the pictures done? I ask confused. Maybe it takes a long time. We have been kissing in there for minutes. They should be done by now. I try to feel with my fingers if the pictures have been stuck in the machine. And? Jackson asks. Nothing. Theres nothing there. Lets just go. We dont need photos, right? Well remember this anyway. He promises. Fine. If you say so. I smile and give him a peck on the lips. Thats my girl. He grins.

His arm hangs over my shoulders and when we continue walking towards his car, he pulls me closer to him to kiss me on the head. Im going to miss you so much. Its only 4 weeks. Its not like Ill be gone the entire summer. I laugh. I know, but I havent been one summer without you ever since we met. And this summer you still wont be without me, because I will come back after 4 weeks and we will still have weeks left to do great things together. I argue.

Jackson stops walking and with a sigh I follow his example. So, you dont think its a bummer that we wont be seeing each other for weeks? Excuse me? Did I just say that? Im sorry Jackson, but even though were dating its not like my entire life revolves around you. Its not. He crosses his arms in front of his chest. Why are you even going away with your parents? Last year we all went together with our families. Jackson, enough! I wont let you boss me around just because Im your girlfriend. Thats not how this relationship works. Thats not how any relationship works. Im going away with my parents, because usually I dont see them that often, so its nice when I can.

Come on, Sybil. Youre being unreasonable. His hand reaches for my arm, but I take a step back. No. Im not. Youre not my puppet master, Jackson. Where is all this even coming from? You know I would be gone those 4 weeks like for months now. I frown. He sighs. Id been meaning to talk to you about it, but you always seem so Seem what? I raise my eyebrows, daring him to finish his sentence. Like you dont even care about this relation. He yells. I take another step back, surprised by him shouting at me. Well, if you think I dont even care about this relationship, why dont we just end it altogether? I ask him.

Wait, Sybil. Thats not what I meant. Dont walk away. Sybil! Let me drive you home. Ill take a cab, thank you very much. I yell back at him when were already a few feet apart. I keep walking, and I know Jackson wont follow me. He knows he shouldnt.

When I finally got home from the fair; the cab took an hour to drive me home. The driver took advantage of me crying uncontrollably and not really paying attention about which way he drove. And when I finally do, I run up to my room with my parents totally confused about why I was crying. I dont answer their questions, I just finish running the stairs and enter my room. With a hard slam, my door closes and I let myself fall on the bed.

With my entire body shaking, I try to cover myself with the bedsheets. My phone keeps ringing in my ears, and I imagine its Jackson trying to reach out to me. I dont answer his calls, though. I cant even talk right now, let alone fight with him again.

I turn off my phone, place it on my bedside table and turn off the lights. Eventually, I get too tired to let any more tears make their way down my cheek and with a head pounding like a music box in a club, I fall asleep.

*

If I knew back then that would be one of my last nights with Jackson, I would have handled totally different. But thats life isnt it? Realizing things about a situation that already happened, at a moment where you cant change anything about it anymore.

Jackson wasnt being fair with me that night, I still stand by my side of the argument. But I wouldnt have walked away. Instead, I would hold him and tell him that we should cherish the moments we do have together and not use those moments to fight about the moments were not together.

But life sucks, and so I cant change anything about that night anymore.

Jackson and I reconciled the morning after when he came by my house with my favourite breakfast; fresh baked waffles with chocolate sauce, strawberries and whipped cream. Okay, so its not a real breakfast but who cares?

It was summer, so then it doesnt matter. We talked for hours, until we came to the point that we agreed on the most important thing; we loved one another. We realized that fighting about such a thing was childish and that we shouldnt be breaking up. So we didnt.

He took me out for a walk in the park, where we ate ice cream and lay down on the grass enjoying the sun. Until it was time to get ready for that dreadful party.

I love you. I love you too. Lets never fight again. We cant promise that, Jackson.

Yes, we can. He smiles taking my hands in his. Alright, then. Lets never fight again. I smile back.

*

We didnt break that promise, obviously. And if I must be honest, that day was one of the best of my life. Im glad that Jackson and I had a memorable last day, before he died. And

Im relieved that our last encounter wasnt that fight. I would never forgive myself if it was.

Hi guys, please make sure to read this chapter. I have added this one after I had posted chapter 18 and 19, so please check if you have read this before you continue.

-Xoxo.