Last To Know *COMPLETED*

Last to Know Chapter 24

 Chapter 24-

                Yes, with that statement all conversation pretty much ceased. "I... didn't mean to..."

                "You didn't hurt my feelings." Jill said, assuming the worst, but obviously she was wrong. "It's just...I still feel like I'm to blame."

                "Why the hell do you keep saying that? It's not your fault." Aaron said sternly. His voice rose on the last word, and he instantly felt guilty for it. Jill was perfect to him, and the idea that she'd caused him the loneliness of prison, the agony of being without her for fifteen years, was excruciating. "You didn't do that to me. You didn't do that to your brother. I did."

                Jill actually had that hint of humor in her eyes again when she spoke. "I know; I'm just hoping that I can ease your pain." It almost seemed as though she were teasing him.

                After they had finished their desert, Aaron led Jill back out to the car. It was getting late; he was sure Jill had to work tomorrow. He planned on being a gentlemen and escorting her back earlier than he normally would have.   

                Again, silence filled the car, and Aaron was sure he'd have a better chance when they both weren't facing the past. When all things were done and said, he'd be better off to start fresh the next time they met, when they weren't concerned about looks, attitude, or simply seeing each other again. It would be much simpler that way.

                Only, when he stepped out of the car and opened the passenger door for Jill, he had another idea in mind... one that could 'make or break' their relationship.

                Jill sighed quietly and walked slowly back to her car, ready to leave the night behind and go back to her home. As she turned to face Aaron, smiling as she remembered the details of the evening, she caught a glimpse of something in his eye.

                It was if nothing had changed in those fifteen years. Jill knew she'd definitely be seeing him again... soon. "Umm... how about a date at my place, next week?"

                "Sure. That would actually be wonderful." Aaron said quietly. He thought about other sweet but cliché things he could say, but they all came across as corny, overused, or just... not the right words to say in this moment.

                Jill hesitantly leaned forward to hug Aaron, a gesture that seemed so obviously strained and awkward for the both of them. It was as if a kiss was too much for a 'first date', but a hug (when you'd loved the person before) seemed so... boring.

                Aaron turned away, depressed at the thought of not taking his opportunity. He walked back up the driveway, feeling guilty.  He could have...It wasn't too late.

                "I need to do something... Before you go." Aaron finally said loudly, totally winging it. He didn't turn around, for fear of seeing the confused look on her face.

                "What is it?" Jill asked. Aaron turned around and strode toward where she was standing, the pride and excitement flowing in his every step. He took her face in his hands, assessing her reaction.

                She said nothing.  A smile crossed her lips, though she made no move. Aaron leaned forward until her lips were just inches from his. He saw her eyes close, and finally he kissed her with as much force as he ever had.

                She could feel him smiling within the kiss, and she reached up to grab his hair in her hands, rubbing softly. He pulled back, and then kissed her again, seeming to never be satisfied with the length of their parting.

                Aaron said nothing after the kiss, simply reminiscing in the love that they shared. He knew that nothing had really changed, but that their love had grown stronger. He was sure of this: He would never meet anyone who appealed to him (both physically and emotionally) like Jill did.

                The following Friday evening, Aaron drove down the unfamiliar road to Jill's house. Not only had he never been there before, but he sensed that the home had been simply hers... as in; she'd never been polite enough to invite friends over. So, with that thought, it seemed that he was intruding by going there.

                Even if he was invited.

                But he pulled into the nice cement driveway, smiling slightly as he saw how the outside of the apartment reflected Jill perfectly. It had a porch at the back, a small patio at the front; very elegant, for an apartment. It looked like a place that Jill have put herself in, and this made him feel as though he knew her well.

                In that respect, he couldn't understand how they'd made it together, because Jill knew virtually nothing about him, and of course, because of the whole jail thing. Or maybe, he thought, there time was about to end.  

               

James walked along the beach, smiling; thinking. He'd taken up residence here, in Wilmington, ever since he'd let go of Jill. There was nothing he wanted more than to lose himself in the views of the ocean. In fact, sometimes he wished its waves would just sweep him away forever.

                It was almost sunset, and the skies were clear. It was very warm for a late summer day, but James felt as though it would be getting cold soon. The beachgoers that had been out all afternoon had finally begun to pack up their things. Yet, there were others, like him that enjoyed the view and the chill more than the heat. 

                James picked it up to a steady jog, hoping to get some exercise. He'd been coming out this late for the past week to jog, and only now did his body adjust to the process. His legs had been sore for a while, but now he found he could jog faster and longer.

                He'd guessed he'd been about a mile down the beach before he decided to turn and go back to his car. Only then did he actually look upon the beauty of the sunset, taking in nature and wondering why and how God had made such an elegant world.

                His gaze then veered off to his left to see the view, and soon he was in no mind of where he was going.  He heard the footsteps of other joggers, the rustling of the breeze and the ocean waves crashing slowly on the sand.

                He felt the water, every few minutes, brush against his bare feet and wished he could stay on the beach forever...

                Suddenly he ran into someone. Both of them toppled to the ground, and James immediately started apologizing. "I'm so, so, so sorry. I should have been paying attention..." It seemed that she was apologizing too. 

He had taken no notice to which person he'd bumped into, and only when he turned around did he know that something special had happened.