Crashing Into You

Chapter 21 - Our Second First Date

Chris

“Oh, its you.” Amy said as she opened the door.

“So are all of you mad at me?” I asked her.

“Everyone except Lisa and apparently Lauren.” She said. “Come in, I’ll go get Lauren for you.”

“Ok,” I said, stepping inside and waiting around by the front door. A minute later Lauren came walking down and smiled at me once she saw me.

“Hey,” She said, hugging me.

“Hey beautiful.” I said, seeing a glint of gold from around her neck. “You’re wearing it.” I said with a smile, sliding my hand under the locket.

“Yeah,” She said, smiling.

“So where do you want to go?” I asked her, holding the front door open for her.

“I don’t know, think of something romantic.” She said playfully.

“Moonlit walk on the beach?” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist.

“Perfect.” She said, “But a good boyfriend would carry me?”

“Come here” I said, sighing and scooping her up and carrying her bridal style the short distance it was from her house to the beach.

“When do you leave?” She asked me.

“Well, thats one way to ruin a perfect moment.” I said, putting her down in the sand.

“Chris, I need to know so I can at least say goodbye.” She said, obviously struggling with the thought.

“January 3rd, I ship out that morning.” I said slowly.

“Can you stop by the house before you leave so I can go with you?” She asked.

“Lauren, you can’t go with me…”

“Not over there, just to the airport so I can say goodbye.” She said.

“Ok,” I said.

“Thank you. Chris, um can I ask you something?” She said nervously.

“Anything.”

“Whats it like, being over there?” She asked me.

“Lauren, it is like hell. I’ve seen things, I’ve done things that nobody should have to do.”

“Oh,” She said, not knowing what to say.

“Lauren, for as bad as it is, it does have it’s own beauty. Some of the places I’ve been to, some of the people I”ve met, it’s things like that that help me cope with all the bad.”

“You said the same thing…”

“About you? Yeah I know. Hey you know I almost died once?” I said, wrapping my arm around her.

“Only once?” She asked.

“Once is enough.”

“Can I know the story?” She asked me curiously, a little nervous.

“Lauren, you need to know I don’t like talking about this stuff, and that you’re the only person I’ll ever talk to this about.”

“Why me? What makes me the exception?”

“Lauren, I know we agree to take this slow, but I swear to God, that if I make it back home, I never want to lose you. Lauren, I know we might still be a long while from this, but I do want you to be the last person I ever date.”