Hi guys! Sorry for the awful, never ending hiatus, my lappytop broke and my stupid smartphone turned out not to be so smart. Wouldn't let me post anything ): Anyway, point is, I have a new, awesome up-to-date laptop, and I'm ready to get back in business! So buckle up, tighten your safety goggles, and prepare your feels. The story goes on. It's been a while since I've written in this style, so I apologize if I don't get back to my old self immediately. But it will come back. I will come back.

Chapter 4

The Notebook played quietly in the background as Donald and I sat facing each other on the floor, an empty bottle of wine and a game of King's Corners resting on the blanket between us. About halfway through the movie, we had decided to spontaneously build a pillow fort, which we now sat in, a white blanket barely spanning the space between our heads with cotton pillars holding it up. Now the starcrossed lovers on the partially obscured television were the least of our concerns.

"I still think about that night," I said softly, sipping my wine as I scan the cards in my hand.

His face grew cold and hardened. "Don't. It's not worth it." His voice had an edge to it as he spoke, and it cut through me like a knife.

"Donald..." the hurt was clear on my face. "It's not something I can just ignore, I can't just pretend it didn't happen." I felt pressure begin to build up behind my eyes and desperately hoped the tears would go back to whatever dark part of my mind they seeped from.

His face grew tense and the next thing I knew he was on top of me, hugging me tightly as we lost our balance and fell back against the pillows, the fort in ruins around us. My cards went flying and fluttered down around us, but somehow I managed to hold on to my wine glass, only a bit of its innards sloshing out of the side. I looked up at him in shock. His eyes watered, his gaze full of pain. "I hate myself for not getting there sooner. I am so, so sorry, Stacey. I should've been there. I should've helped you." He choked on the last part, his eyes closing and scrunching up, tears squeezing out from underneath them.

Gently, oh so gently, I pulled him close to me once again, leading his head to my chest. "Shhh, hey, it's okay. It's okay. You did help me. You saved me. If you hadn't appeared, I don't know what would've happened. In more ways than one. Yes, you saved me from that stupid, drunk jock... But you also saved me from myself." I couldn't stop the tears from sliding down my face, testimonies to my own weakness.

He raised his head again, his eyes wide and red, containing emotions in their depths I couldn't begin to comprehend. But I wanted to. I wanted to see him, every bit of him, the dark, the light, even the parts of him he had yet to discover. I wanted to explore the impossible universe that was the soul of Donald. And I wanted to let explore me. With this realization, I softly placed one hand on his jaw and brought his face to mine, cherishing the feel of his stubble on my fingertips.

And I kissed him.

And time stopped.

I gently brushed my lips against his, as one would skim their fingers along the surface of a still forest pond; the effects rippled through both of us as his arms once again found their way around me, and I dipped my fingers deeper into the water which was him. I slipped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as he sat up, carrying me with him. The blanket once again flew up and fluttered around us, settling itself atop our heads and smothering us. I wrapped my legs around him and kissed him with more fervor, allowing my passion for him to take over. His now abandoned tears mixed with mine as my lips melded with his, our kiss a silent dance that fit us perfectly.

I had kissed people before. Well, a lot of people. Not one had been like this. I felt completely self assured, and I knew in my heart that no matter what I did, Donald would respond with exact understanding. Yin and yang. I had been kissed before. By, well, a lot of people. But never had I been kissed like this. Somehow, he managed to make my heart flutter with every little movement, every time his skin brushed against mine, every time I felt his damp lashes on my cheek.

I felt the reluctance of his movements as he pulled away, opening his deep, brown eyes to gaze into mine. "I don't want to move too fast."

I nodded enthusiastically. "No, I mean, I totally agree. That was... That was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I want it to last." I smiled hesitantly, not sure if I had said the right thing.

A small grin curved those perfect lips which, even if only for one eternal minute, had been mine. "Stacey..."

"Yeah, tuna flavor?" My smile widened, all previous thoughts about the night of the Riff-Off gone.

"Stay with me."

My eyes widened at the solemnity of his tone, then my face softened once more. "I couldn't imagine anything else."

A kiss was his only response.