Two Pieces of a Puzzle ✔

Chapter Twenty-Three

ELIOTT

"What are we doing here?" I questioned as he got off his bike and let it fall onto the dry grass below us. I did just the same. 

"We're going to be stargazing," he stated simply before laying down onto the grass, staring up at the sky. 

He looked like an angel. An angel that had been sent to Earth to make me better. 

That made me sound so selfish. 

I stood, transfixed for a moment as his dark eyes reflected the pale light of the moon along with the cluster of stars scattered across the sky, almost as if he held the universe in those eyes of his. Those eyes of his that I almost always found myself getting lost in. 

"What are you doing, silly? Lay down," he instructed - and I obliged.

I laid down opposite to him, my body pointing toward the direction opposite to the one his was pointing. Neither of us bothered to look at each other. I didn't mainly because I knew I'd lose myself the second I did - and also because we were so close to each other. 

"So pretty," I said with a quiet sigh. 

"The sky's always pretty," he responded silently. 

You fool, I was talking about you.

The sky would never be prettier than you.

"Are you sure we won't get in trouble for being here?" I questioned amidst my paranoia. 

"Don't be silly," he chuckled. "This place is free for visitors. I always come here when I have a lot to think about."

"You said you had something to say to me?" I recollected. 

"I do," he responded, taking in a deep breath before exhaling softly. 

I turned to face him and he did the same. 

Our faces were so close, every breath we let out exuded a pale puff of air from both our lips which mixed between us before disintegrating completely. 

"What is it?"

"I think I like you," he blurted out, not hesitating for a moment. "No, I don't think. I know. I like you, Eliott."

"I like you too?" I responded, confused. 

"Not that kind of like."

"Then what-" I began before realization finally hit me like a volcano that had been waiting years and years to erupt. "Oh."

"Oh indeed," he responded before looking back up at the sky with a pained expression on his face. "I know you don't feel the same way."

He liked me. 

His confession made my heart feel all kinds of things - but I'm sure you know by now. 

Only question was; did he like me as much as I liked him?

This was my chance. This was to make up for the moment when I hadn't bothered to bid him farewell ten years ago. I was finally being presented with the opportunity to piece everything back together, one by one or all at once.

And guess what I chose?

All at once. 

I swallowed what little doubt I had in that moment and went straight for it. I raised myself onto my elbow, took a hold of his chin and made him face me - and just after our eyes met, I swooped down like a predator in pursuit of prey and captured his lips in mine. 

It was different this time. 

It didn't take me back to the time where he had jumped onto me and kissed me in the middle of the road. 

I was no longer thinking about the past. 

I had learned to let go.

He smiled into the kiss and leaned closer to deepen the kiss, placing his hand on the back of my head to keep me in place whilst my unoccupied hand rested on the top of his head, dormant.

I could have never described the way that kiss made me feel. The rush of emotion surging through my body at finally having the opportunity to feel this way once again after so long. 

I had fallen in love with his smile, and I had finally been presented with the opportunity to feel his smile against my lips. 

I had fallen in love with his eyes, and I had finally been presented with the opportunity to have him look at me with his eyes withholding so much adoration.

I had fallen in love with those dimples of his, and I had finally been presented with the opportunity to see them up-close.

I had fallen in love with him, and I had finally been presented with the opportunity to hold him in my arms.

And that was all I had wanted for ten entire years.

It was then that realization hit me once more, but with much more force. I wasn't laying in bed making up romantic scenarios in my head. I wasn't staring out the bedroom window, looking at the moon and wishing I could be by his side one more time. I wasn't crying to myself in the middle of the living room, wishing things had turned out differently. 

I wasn't dreaming. Unlike every other night prior to this day, I was no longer dreaming. This was real.

He was no longer a memory.

He was reality again.

And it happened all at once.

I could no longer keep it to myself. The urge to whisper his name against his lips was so overwhelming, I struggled to fight against it - to the point where I decided to drop my weapons and surrender. 

"I've missed you so much, Eric."