Chapter 2- Another Fond Memory

We walked to the lake and sat under a tree. This was the very same spot my mom and I used to sit under long ago. We chose here because it gave the best view of the water. Lightning sat beside me, looking almost as if she were hypnotized by the view.

"Your mom's right, beautiful view here,"
"This was our favorite spot for a reason,"
"Ice cream here!"

I turned to see one of the vendors walking around. I raised a hand.

"Want one?"
"Sure,"

I paid him for two, Lightning grabbing strawberry while I took chocolate. I had never seen her so at ease before. She was usually so serious but for some reason, I didn't feel that vibe at all from her today.

"Can I taste that?"

I looked at her and she had her eyes on my cone.

"Sure,"

She leaned over and took an excrutiatingly slow lick. I was thoroughly convinced she was teasing me on purpose but I managed to hide my anxiety. She moved away and smirked.

"My turn,"

I stole a lick from hers and she pouted.

"You know strawberry is my favorite,"
"Equivalent exchange,"

She narrowed her eyes in an unamused fashion and I laughed at her. She started laughing too. We finished our cones and she shifted closer to me. I opened my arms, hoping that she would accept. She looked at me and smiled before she scooted into my lap and I locked my arms around her stomach in a warm embrace. She smelt amazing.

"You're so warm Hope,"
"Why, are you cold?"
"Well, it is winter..."

I chuckled at her; Palumpolum was way colder than where she lived in Bodhum. There were only three weaknesses I could see in her: her insatiable love for anything strawberry flavored, her inability to take cold temperatures and her funny but sometimes mean jokes. She leaned more into me and leaned her head back to face me.

"So are you having a good birthday so far?"
"Yeah...this is probably the best one I've ever had,"

She smiled.

"I'm glad,"

Suddenly, she appeared in much greater detail, like a TV switching from normal to Blu-Ray quality. She seemed much more beautiful than before and I felt my heart rate increasing. I knew I liked her ever since I turned 18.

"Hey Light, long time no see,"
"How've you been Hope?"

I hugged her and she happily returned the gesture.

"College, its been hard,"
"But you're acing everything right?"

She knew me all too well and I smirked.

"You know it,"

She made a sound between a laugh and a scoff. I for some reason could not take my eyes off of her. I have no idea why my heart suddenly sped up and my body felt so much warmer. Was I beginning to...like her? I always thought she would be like a mother or a big sister to me, but my mind really began to tell me otherwise as I struggled to maintain my composure in front of her as she spoke about her work.

There was definitely not much to dislike about her. She was a strong woman and the kind of person who would kill to make sure that everything was alright just for you. She was in her own unique way, nice. Sure she could be harsh and mean at times, but in the end she really means well. She was beautiful, with her flawless face, athletic figure and a look that was just so...Lightning and nothing else could come even remotely close to matching her. Even her lips looked perfect...

"Hope? Are you alright? You look a little lost there,"

I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Oh sorry Light, I was thinking about something,"

She nodded.

I held her closer to me when I remembered how much she meant to me.

"Hope? Is everything ok?"

My hair blocked my face as my head leaned over her shoulder.

"I'm just really glad you're here with me,"

She smiled and held my hands.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise,"
"Same,"