It was the last day before the endless summer began, and Cath was curled up against a warm, familiar scent enveloped the boy sleeping in front of her. His tree top room was almost too much today, this was most likely the last time she would ever feel a breeze floating through those tiny windows, the last time she would be wrapped in Levi's long, strong arms, held against a coffee scented, soft, living chest on that bed. Last night had been amazing. Not because they had gone further than normal, but because Levi had made her feel, made her know that he was completely and utterly in love with her. She had visited his Starbucks, (that was what she called it now) to grab a gingerbread latte.
"Cather"
Cath could see and hear Levi's exuberant smile growing as he whispered her name.
"Levi", she smiled too
Levi walked around the counter, "you know what day it is, sweetheart?"
Cath felt Levi's arms wrap around her waist, "Sunday.." she answered
His smile grew, "this is our day"
"our day for what?" she asked
"you'll have to wait and see, Cather"
Levi led her through his labyrinth and up to the aerie once again, reaching back to grab her hand.
"Levi?" she whispered
"hmm?"
"I'm going to miss you…...a lot"
"Cather…." Levi stopped on the top step before his door, pulling Cath up to his height. "Look at me" Cath pulled her eyes up to meet his. "I will always be there, I don't care how far we are from each other, I'll always be there. I don't care if I have to drive through a storm to get to you…...hell, I would run miles just to see you. Cather, I love you."
Cath felt a tear slide down her cheek, "Levi," Cath smiled, "say it again"
Levi plopped down in the center of his bed, pulling Cath into his lap. She immediately jumped off. Levi looked confused, "Cath, what is it?"
"I want to see you….., I want to see you this time" she whispered. Levi's eyes crinkled as his smile emerged, and Cath felt dizzy.
"Levi."
"yes, sweetheart?"
"Never stop smiling"
And with that, Levi laid back on his pile of pillows, swooping Cath on top of him. She felt his warm fingers tracing circles across her back, and shivered.
"Okay?" Levi asked
Cath nodded, reaching for Levi's silky hair. She took her time, running her fingers through each soft strand, until his hair stood up in every possible direction.
"I find it extremely hard to believe people think your sister is the hot twin." Levi laughed
Cath smiled, "I save all that for you, Levi."
Cath felt Levi's arms slide up her back, carrying her shirt with them.
Levi had seen the worried look play across Cath's face, and he immediately stopped.
"No." Cath said quickly. She sat up and ripped off her shirt. Levi inhaled sharply.
"Cath...you don't have to…"
"I want to" she whispered
Levi ripped off his faded black T-shirt, concentration filling every line of his face. He laid Cath carefully next to him. She smiled, letting him know it was okay, and Levi brought his hands to meet her exposed skin. As his fingers skimmed her stomach, cath closed her eyes. Levi noticed and rolled over so that he was holding his chest above Cath's. Before she knew what was happening, her lips were engulfed by Levi's, and there was this.
So now here they were, wrapped in each other's embrace. Cath could forget everything, Abel, Nick, Professor Piper, even the fast approaching summer, while wrapped in Levi's arms. She almost laughed out loud, thinking that just last year, she had thought that whatever she felt between her and Abel….that strange, awkward relationship, had been love. Levi was everything now. He was her rock, her hope. He was him, and he was here with her, and that was all that mattered.