Chapter Nine

The One I'm Waiting For

*****

"That's what you get when you let your heart win

I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating…"

-Paramore, "That's What You Get"

*****

Fat, heavy rain drops fell steadily and swiftly from sky to earth. They plopped to the ground with an audible noise, and whenever I looked up, I got pelted in the face with them. I was drenched form head-to-toe in warm water, but I didn't honestly care. I was just a bit too blissed-out to have any worries right now.

Jess' hand was linked with mine, and, though we didn't say much, we were both very content right now. Well, not content. Happy. So unbelievably happy. If someone began singing "If You're Happy And You Know It" I would be clapping louder than anyone. Well, clapping and stomping and jumping around like the idiot I am.

I look up at the sky, and see a little patch of sunlight that has escaped the thick clouds. For some reason this gives me hope; even in the darkest of times there is light coming at the end of the tunnel.

"I love you," I whisper into Jess' ear, and he grins. As we near an alleyway, he pulls me into it, and pushes me up against the wall with his body. His lips find mine carefully, and I can't help but smile as we kiss. I'm not sure what's happened to Jess lately—he went from being in the lowest of lows because of his father to just being… happy. All the time. No matter what. And it's not like I'm complaining (Hell yes, I love this!) but it's so weird. Weird in a good way.

Love is just really a weird thing. You burn bridges and ruin things all for one person but you can't bring yourself to fully regret it. Love makes you alive, makes you happy in a way that you never thought possible. You don't see the world the same way. All of a sudden you're seeing life and poetry and grace in things you wouldn't have thought before: thunderstorms, in a cactus, in sports. Things are happier, lighter. The little things don't get you down anymore. Whereas a lost set of keys had the tendency to ruin your day before, now it's like water of a duck's back.

My mind has been stuck on Jess lately. Like, I feel like I can barely think straight anymore. As though Jess and Jess alone can really keep my attention for longer than a five minutes. Which is good… Unless I'm at work and I find myself unable to write or read anything. I find myself reading the same line over and over again… Writing the same thought just in different words many times.

But, well, I guess that's the price of love.


A/N: AHHH! I can barely wait to post Chapter Ten… I cannot possibly wait another week. Ugh, I'm dying of anticipation to see your reactions. Though it's inevitable, and possibly very, very predictable, to me it's still exciting. Let it begin! Let it begin!! LET IT BEGIN!!! (That's a line from "Bolt" in case you were wondering.)

Review this chapter and try to contain your excitement for Chapter Ten.