Utopia

Chapter 15: "I'll Follow My Heart"

I open my drawers and pick out a royal blue crop top and a pair of white cotton shorts before putting them on. I slip on my shoes, then grab my bag filled with blankets, snacks and my camera to take a few shots if the opportunity presents itself. Quickly, I head into the bathroom and fluff up my hair before turning all the lights off and heading out the door, making sure to lock it behind me.

The night air is cool, the breeze leaving goosebumps on my exposed skin. I adjust the strap on my shoulder, and hold it tight in my grasp as I make my way through the tall grass. The night sky is clear, the moons shining brightly above me and illuminating my path. I can see the outline of Relac butterflies dancing through the night sky, and I can see paths in the grass made by animals earlier in the day. The dew on the grass leaves cool droplets where the blades touch my skin, and the air smells of fresh grass. I reach the clearing, and from the edge I can make out Jaron's figure in the distance.

His hair is down and blowing freely in the breeze, and he's wearing a pair of white sweatpants and a black tank top. He has already set up blankets and lanterns on the floor and he is just standing there, looking at his work, unaware that I have already arrived. I walk quietly, so as to make sure he doesn't hear me, and once I'm behind him, I wrap my arms around his waist. He jumps in surprise, then relaxes as he looks over his shoulder and realizes that it's me.

"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise?" he greets me, turning around and wrapping his arms around me. He places a light kiss on my head and I bury my head deeper in his chest, taking in the smell of fresh pine that always seems to cling to him.

"How are you feeling?" I ask him, looking up at him. His hair falls into his face as he looks down at me and he goes to push it behind his ear and over his shoulder.

"Clean bill of health from Doctor Althia," he tells me, and I sigh in relief, no matter how small of a fall it was. "I'm tougher than I look, Curly Fry."

"Oh really?" I joke, and he nods his head. "I should've known, seeing as everyone says you've got a thick skull. But as for how tough you are... I think I'll be the judge of that." I pull away from him and get into a fighting stance, and he just laughs at me as I pretend to punch him in the stomach. I throw one final punch, and he grabs my hand as he pretends to fall to the ground, taking me with him. "Not so tough now, huh?"

"Oh, that's how you're going to play now?" I nod, unable to say anything between each breath. Jaron quickly turns us over, pinning me underneath him. Before I know it, he begins to tickle me and I can barely breathe from all the laughing.

"Stop... Jaron, stop," I manage to make out. "I'm gonna piss myself..." He finally stops and we both look at each other and laugh. My breathing is heavy, my chest rising fast as my breathing evens out. Jaron and I finally stop laughing and his eyes stare intensely into mine. "You gotta let a girl breathe, Red."

"Why are you so gorgeous?" he asks me, and I raise an eyebrow at his question. "You want me to let you breathe, but since the moment I met you, all you've done is take my breath away. Kind of unfair, isn't it? When are you going to let me breathe, Alejandra?" It was odd to hear him say my name. His gaze is intense as it shifts from my lips back to my eyes. I subconsciously bite my lower lip and I hear him take in a breath. His face starts to lower, his lips inches from mine. My heart begins to beat out of my chest, but before he kisses me, he stops himself and rolls off of me. I close my eyes and take in a deep breath to steady myself before sitting up and turning to face Jaron. He's laying on the blanket, his arm covering his face.

"I...um," I start, but nothing comes out. I grab my bag from where it fell on the floor and take out its contents - a blanket, my camera, and some fruit that I packed earlier.