Happily never after {FINISHED}

Chapter 22

Stephs P.O.V:

I never thought that 3 little words would make me so shocked. I've always dreamt about going out with Jai. I've always wanted to call him mine, but when he told me he loved me... I don't know, I was scared. Scared of losing everything.

When we got back to the side, I jumped out of the canoe and ran back to camp. Hitting all the branches in the woods, that got in my way.

When I got back to camp, I dived into the tent, tucking myself into my sleeping bag. I didn't know how I felt at this moment, but tears streamed down my face. I think running away is one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. I feel like such a reject. I cried and cried, until I cried myself to sleep.

Jai's P.O.V:

I didn't think telling someone you love them was such a crime. But by the look on Stephanie's face, it must be. I paddled her back to the side of the lake and she ran. Just like that, she was gone. I got so angry. Why did I risk our friendship? Urgh! It's all beaus fault. If he didn't tell me, to tell her how I felt... We wouldn't be in this situation!

When she ran, I threw my head in my hands. I ran my hands through my hair and I slowly crawled out of the canoe, sitting on the ground. I could feel tears coming, I just gotta keep them in.

"Didn't it go too well?" beau asked, paddling back to the side where I was.

"no! I told her I loved her, and she... She looked disappointed." I said, trying my best not to cry. Stephanie is my world. I wouldn't know what to do if she left me after this, "she doesn't feel the same way"

"thats not what she told me" beau said, half smiling. I looked at him and stared. He stopped smiling and stared back. I know when beau is lying because dimples form on his chin, but they weren't there... He was telling the truth. Which meant, steph felt the same way. Why did she run off then? I don't know.. But every single emotion was running through my body and I didnt know how to let it all put so I just layed down, staring at the sky,

"do I go after her?" I asked anyone who was listening,

"NO!! That makes it look like your desperate" Luke said.

"no Luke... It makes it look like he loves her! Jai, in a moment like this... Don't go after her. Let her think things through" beau said. I took a deep breath and hoped for the best.

Stephs P.O.V:

I woke up to the smell of burning. It was dark in the tent so that means it must be night already. I climbed out of my sleeping bag and unzipped the tent. All the boys were sat round the fire. As soon as I opened the tent door, I could feel the heat from the fire. It was nice on my face. I stood up out of the tent and went over to where the boys were.

"here she is! How you feeling?" skip said, standing up to hug me.

"I'm.. Alright" I said. I really wasn't though. I hugged skip and took a deep breath. I felt bad for what I did to jai.. I just left him hanging.

Beau stood up and took my hand. He headed for the woods, he had a torch so he could see where we were going. We walked down to the bench by the river.

"what happened?" beau asked, "why did you run"

"I dont know beau! I-I-I freaked. No ones ever told me they loved me before... Well, not like that! And I haven't been in the situation where I've felt the same way! I feel like an idiot!" I cried.

"shhhhhh" beau said, bringing me into a hug, I cried on beaus shoulder, "do you want to talk to jai?"

"yes, please" I breathed. Beau nodded his head and handed me the torch. He walked back up the little slope. I waited for jai to come down, but he was taking a while. He probably doesnt want to come down cause he'll think I might run away again. I waited a little longer and just when I was about to leave, jai walked down the hill.

Beaus P.O.V:

"how is she?" skip asked.

"shocked" I giggled, "bless her"

Jai had just walked over to talk to steph.

"do we follow?" Luke asked.

"yes, c'mon, let's tooo" I said, tip toeing where jai had just walked so we could hear the convosation.

Stephs P.O.V:

"Jai, I'm so sorry" I said, looking into Jai's eyes.

"nah, dont be sorry. But steph, if you didn't feel the same way... You could have just said so. Instead of run off" jai laughed.

"I know. It's just, I was shocked. Plus, I've had really bad experience with boyfriends. I just don't want you turning out to be like them" I said, looking down at the floor. Jai put his hand under my chin and raised my head so I was looking at him again.

"steph, I would never try to hurt you in anyway! You Exes did the breaking, and I'm here to do the fixing. You might have had bad experience with boys, but that doesn't mean you can't open you heart up to someone" jai said. I nodded.

"but that's the thing. I opened my heart to you a long while ago" I said, half smiling and shrugging one shoulder. Jai smiled and bit his lip.

I looked into Jai's eyes and then down at his mouth. I took a steph forward so I was just centimetres away from him. I placed my hand on his cheek and pulled him closer to me. I leant in and our lips met for the very first time.

It was magical. I could hear fireworks going off in my head. I was so happy, I could just explode there and then. I pulled away and giggled. Jai bit his lip and we both leant in again. This time, the kiss was abit more passionate. Our lips moved in sync and our tongues explored eachothers mouths.

"aaaawwwwww" is all I heard. I pulled away and looked up the little hill to see everyone looking at us. I laughed into Jai's chest.

"jai?" I whispered.

"yes steph" he whispered back.

"I love you too" I smiled.