"Celia, wait" he shouted, falling behind.
She turned her tear-soaked face towards him and replied, "Why, there's no point…"
He sprinted across the grass as fast as his legs could carry him and grasped her hand and caressed it. He savored the moment for he feared it would be their last.
"Jack, let go! I have to leave," Celia said, choking back a sob and turning away.
"Why! Celia tell me, why do you have to leave to suddenly? Did I do something wrong? Just talk to me! Is it because you don't love me anymore?" he asked not bothering to maintain his usual stoic expression.
"Never" Celia whispered. "Jack I promise that I will never stop loving you, I guarantee that with my life."
Surprise, relief, love, sadness, and anger flashed through his eyes almost simultaneously. Sadness the most dominant.
"Then why are you leaving me without any valid reason Celia?" he said, the hurt in his voice audible.
Celia slowly raised her head to look into Jack's fierce, yet loving eyes.
"Because" she stated slowly, "you would not understand."
"Try me Celia" he said with a ghost of his usual smirk.
Celia gradually drew a breath to calm her nerves. She exhaled slowly to stall so she could find words to describe her predicament.
"I-I-I'm just… just… an average girl" she began to say while his dark eyes urged her to continue.
"Jack, I love you. You need to understand how you make me feel. Every time I look at you I can't help but smile. When you come near me, you are all that I see. Your laugh is like sweet music and is contagious. You always know when I'm feeling down and how to cheer me up. You know my flaws and yet you never leave my side."
She glanced up to see his stoic expression unwavering.
"But" she continued, "I am not a good fit for you. You are such an amazing and incredible person and I'm just… Miss Plain Jane. I don't want to hold you back from your dreams anymore!"
Celia began to turn away in shame but was prevented by a warm, soft hand enclosing around her own.
"Celia" Jack whispered huskily, full of emotion.
He turned her around to face him directly. He gently stroked her cheek and wiped away her stay tears with his thumb. Jack looked deep into her hazel eyes and saw that they mirrored the adoration in his own.
"Celia" he repeated, "You're absolutely right. You are keeping me from my dreams."
She once again attempted to pull away from his embrace but found it impossible.
"But" he continued, "that is only because you are trying to leave me."
"Whaaa?" she questioned, but stopped once she realized how close their faces were to each other.
"Celia" he whispered hoarsely, his warm and sweet breath gently hitting her face, "You are my dream."
And with that said, he claimed her lips with his own.