I think I'll just mention the end of the evening in the next chapter, otherwise there would be no end to that chapter. Enjoy this happy time between the two of them because next chapter Michael is leaving and there are not that happy anymore. And please tell me what you think of the story so far! I feel as if everyone has deserted the Smash fandom...
I think we have been walking for hours, or at least that's what my feet are telling me because the rest of my body has totally lost track of time. We have been walking and talking since we got out of the Chinese restaurant and you still won't tell me where we are going. But I don't really care because I could talk with you for hours without feeling any other need.
Still, my body isn't used to walking that much - I blame my lack of enthusiasm for sports - so, when you tell me that we are almost there, I am incredibly relieved. Or at least I am for a few seconds because soon I realize where you brought us. We are at one end of the High Line. Which means that there is no resting time ahead of us but more walking time.
"The high line, really? You think you haven't made me walk enough already?"
But you know that I'm only teasing you. I have always been curious about that park above the streets of Manhattan. People have always told me how peaceful the path on that old railway is and I have never really tried it. I am happy that you thought of it for today. I don't even recall telling you that I wanted to go there someday. Maybe I didn't, maybe it's just a coïncidence, even if I would prefer to think of it as a sign of you knowing me really well.
"We can just sit on a bench if you are tired of walking."
I nod and you put your arm around my waist while we start walking on that high line, looking for a bench. We find one pretty quickly and once we're seated, I finally take the time to admire the beauty of this place. You can still see the old rail line but it's almost completely covered by grass, trees and flowers. We have the place almost entirely to ourselves. The grey and cold weather might not be ideal but at least it gives us some kind of intimacy, because I'm sure that on a bright and sunny day the crowd would invade this little oasis of peace in the middle of the city and it wouldn't be that peaceful anymore.
We stop talking for a while. I just lay my head on your shoulder and you wrap your arms around me, pulling me close. We just enjoy the moment, knowing all too well that it's not that easy for us to take the time to just be together. I am really glad that you asked me to spend the whole day with you, and I hope that you know it. I wouldn't have thought of asking and I really would have been missing out.
I close my eyes and try to capture the way the warm of your body feels next to mine. I will need it for when you will be gone. I still can't believe that you are leaving tomorrow. I grab your hand and hold on to it, as if it was going to make you stay. But I know it won't and I also know that you going to Seattle is a good thing. You are going to see your son and I should really just be happy for you.
After a while you force me to open my eyes and you make a move to go. "Don't fall asleep on me, there are still some places I want to take you and we haven't even finished walking on that trail."
"Is there still a lot of walking?"
"Kind of, yes."
"Then you're going to be much more convincing in order to get me up."
You grin and then you kiss me. I widen my eyes. "Is that your way of convincing me that I should get up and walk miles with you?"
Once again you don't say anything and you kiss me. A little bit longer this time.
"Well, that's not going to work."
And another kiss. I could really get used to that, you know. But I comply and get up, not without letting go of a big sigh.
"I think I will never tell you again that I would like to take the time to walk in the streets of Manhattan. You are taking me way too seriously."
We both laugh and you take my hand again, leading me towards Central Park and rambling about Broadway. But at one point the conversation suddenly takes a more serious tone. I don't know why but you suddenly feel like pouring your heart out.
"I should never have let you push me away."
"What are you talking about?"
"Five years ago, when you understood it was serious between us and chickened out of it. When you told me I should go out with that nice interested lady instead of you. When you told me that she would make me happy and that you wouldn't. When you told me that Frank was making you happy and that we could never be for real. I shouldn't have listened to you. I shouldn't have let you push me away. I know that Monica has not and will never make me happier than you. And I know that you are not that happy with Frank. I know happiness when I see it and it's never bigger than when we are just the two of us. I should have fought for you."
"It was a long time ago, it doesn't matter now." I smile and meet your eyes. "No day but today." But you know that it matters. Me telling you otherwise doesn't change anything. We can both hear in each other voices how much our past is hurting us. But there is no point in talking about it, we can't change it, can we?
"I love you, Jules."
And just like that tears start welling up in my eyes and my vision is all blurry. You don't know how much these words mean to me. There is nothing that can compare to the joy I'm feeling right now. Why am I being so emotive? I'm sure that you've already told me that you loved me lots of times.
It's just that this time the reality of it dawns on me. You love me.
I know I should say it back to you but there is something in my throat and I can't utter any word. Thankfully I'm saved by one of your fan.
She squeals when she sees you and I can see that she is trying not to run towards you, but her pace is so fast that she could have been running and it wouldn't have been any different. "Oh my god! Michael Swift! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! I love everything that you do. I'm one of your biggest fans. I'm so sorry to interrupt but can I please take a picture with you?"
She is talking really fast and we both laugh. I quickly wipe off the tears that had begun to invade my eyes. She just saved me from one particularly awkward situation. I certainly didn't want to respond to your declaration of love by rivers of tears. I take the phone she is giving me and take the picture. I have always loved your fans. You can see that this one is beyond excited of finally meeting you and she can't even form sentences anymore. It's really cute. She is finally letting go of you when she turns towards me.
"Aren't you Julia Houston?"
I offer her my biggest smile and quickly corrects her. "No, I'm not. But people often tell me that I look a bit like her."
She sounds a little bit put off but it quickly goes away. "She is amazing, I really love her. But she barely does any filmed interview. I could walk past her in the street and not even recognize her, that's such a shame."
"Yeah... Writers like to hide. Not like those actors parading everywhere." I give you a little nudge before laughing.
She laughs with us before finally letting us go back to what we were doing. You slip your arm under mine and start walking. After a few minutes you look in my direction. "That was close."
But I don't even hear you. I have completely forgotten the young woman. I suddenly stop in my tracks and look right into your eyes. "I love you too."
You don't say anything and I jump when you grab my arm and pull me in a corner where nobody can see us. I don't even have the time to protest that our mouths collide and you pull me into a passionate kiss. You're pressing your body against mine and I wish we weren't in a public space. But we are. I put both my hands on your chest and softly push you away.
"I thought we were supposed to go to Central Park."
You smile and take a step back. You hold out your hand to me and I take it. Neither one of us can get rid of that naïve smile that graces our lips.
One hour later we have bought a huge pizza and we are both laying in the grass of Central Park, watching the early evening sky. My hand is on my stomach and you are playing with it. You intertwine your fingers with mine and it seems like one of the sweetest things in the world. I could stay like that forever. But I'm also curious about what are the other parts of your plan for the day.
"Do you have something in mind for the evening?"
You don't say anything but you take your hand away. I'm about to protest at the sudden lost of contact but I feel something in my hand. I sit up to look at it. In my hand there are two Broadway tickets.
Two Broadway tickets for Peter and the Starcatcher.
"Oh my god, you didn't! I was planning on seeing that play. I've always loved Peter Pan since I'm a little girl. And everyone told me that I shouldn't miss that Black Stache character. They say that he looks a lot like Tom. Oh my god, I can't believe you have tickets for it! I don't know what to say..."
"Well, you can just thank me for being so awesome."
I would gladly roll my eyes but I'm too happy for that. I feel like the young woman from earlier who couldn't believe she had met you. "Thank you for being so awesome." I lean over you to kiss you and this time neither one of us pushes the other away. This truly is the most perfect day.