LAST CHAPTER! *sniff, sniff*
THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR READING! I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE BEST!
Please read and enjoy the last chapter of Moments Like These…
I awoke wondering where I was. The darkness seemed warmer than it should be. My ankle…like an icy-cold pain. My pillow…smelled like cologne and seemed to be heated.
An arm lay around my waist.
My eyes popped open, and I sat up so fast, my head was spinning.
Oh. I got it now. It was Chad's arm. I'd been sleeping on his chest, and he'd had his arm wrapped around me, like he'd never let go.
Chad stirred.
NO! NO! NO! I wanted him to go back to sleep, so I could lie back down.
But he only mumbled something, stretched, and went back to sleep.
Phew.
I rested my head against his chest once more.
But unlike a couple hours ago, I didn't fall asleep.
"Sonny…" Chad whispered next to my ear. I wasn't sure if he was awake, or he was talking in his sleep, judging by the groggy tone.
My eyes darted around in the darkness. Should I answer back? Should I pretend to be sleeping?
I waited. How long had it been since I was awake? The band of my watch sat against my wrist, but I didn't lift it. Chad would know I was awake if I moved.
Closing my eyes, I pretended to be asleep. My heart raced. My breathing was uneven.
He would know I was faking.
But I didn't want to give up the night. I didn't want to give up my pillow, or cold cement floor for my own bed tonight. I didn't want to give it up to see the sunrise.
No. They're can't be a sunrise. That means its morning, and this night would be over.
"Yeah?" I finally murmured back.
He didn't answer.
I opened my eyes again, making up my mind I wouldn't fall back asleep. That I'd just savor everything I had right now, because I knew sooner or later, this night would have to end.
Maybe if I wished hard enough, it wouldn't.
"Sonny."
Chad's breath tingled at my ear, and warmed my face to the roots of my hair. He was awake. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing, or if that would make the night go faster.
"How's your ankle?"
Was it possible to forget how to breathe?
For a few moments, I decided it was. Then I found my breath once again.
"Fine," I mumbled against his shirt.
"Are you lying to me?"
"Yeah."
He chuckled softly.
I moved my cheek slowly across the fabric of his shirt, back and forth. It was so warm.
"Sonny," he said again.
"Why do you keep saying my name?" I inquired. Not that I didn't love it, I just had to ask.
No! Why did I ask? What if he stopped saying it?
"I'm thinking of how to say…" his voice trailed off.
"How to say what?"
My mind buzzed through possibilities. "What are you doing sleeping on me?"… "You smell like a horse"… "The door was never locked in the first place"…
He sat up so suddenly, and before I could know what was going on, Chad's face was hovering just inches from mine. His body was right against my side, nearly on top of mine.
And I couldn't remember how to breathe, just like before.
"I love you, Sonny Monroe."
He pressed his burning palm into mine, so his arm was lying across my stomach. "And I'm sorry about yesterday. I couldn't be more sorry, actually. I'm going to make up for it though. I'm telling the world how beautiful and funny, and how"—Chad swallowed, and leaned closer to me, as if he wasn't already close enough. His blue eyes were hypnotizing, and our noses touched. I felt his lips moving against mine as he spoke. "You're the greatest actor of our generation."
I couldn't speak.
No, honestly.
I. Could. Not. Fricken. Speak!
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I only felt his lips, just barely skimming along mine.
Not that I knew what to say. Everything I wanted to say sounded so stupid.
Because I was so confused. Should I hate him, or love him? Was he being honest when he said he'd make up for what he did to me?
I stared into his eyes, wanting to tell him everything. "I don't know what to say," I replied honestly.
"Say you forgive me."
As I took a deep breath, my chest swelled up against his body, then came slowly back down again. "I forgive you Chad. I forgive you, and I love you too."
I became breathless, and my face flushed a hot red. I'd said it. Finally. After all this time, he finally knew how I felt.
"Sonny…" he whispered.
Not again with the name thing. Although, I did love it…
"I know—I know I'm not good enough for you," he choked.
Tears welled in my eyes. I could tell he was crying, by the break in his voice, and one of his own tears that fell on my face. I wish he'd stop. I couldn't stand it when he was sad.
His fingers combed through my hair, taking it off my forehead, twisting it, then letting it fall again.
"I'll change, Sonny. I'll do whatever it takes."
I looked at him straight in the eyes (okay, I already had that covered since I'd been staring at him for like five minutes at a time), and said firmly, "I don't want you to change. At all. One bit. You promise me."
Chad chuckled. "Will that lower your list?"
"You read my list?"
"Relax. It was only the first 100 points."
Chad grinned, and if he didn't have me pinned down against the cement, I would've punched him.
"There were only 100 points on the list, you idiot," I laughed. "How did you get a hold of it?"
"It fell out of your pocket when you ran at the door."
"Oh," I sighed. How could I have let that happen?
"I supposed…I should kiss you now."
"You suppose?" I mocked him.
"Okay. I will."
"Well, fine," I said.
"Fine!"
"Good!" I giggled.
"Good!"
He leaned his whole body into me, and pressed his lips, against mine once more. Mmmm…finally. I could taste my favorite ice cream flavor once again. Accept this time it had more than just a taste; it had a touch. Fingers in my hair, other hand sliding down my side…oh, God, I loved it.
But we had to stop…before we went too far.
I shimmied out from under him—my hair in knots, and my face looking like I was drunk.
Thunder shook the walls of the tack room, and tumbled though the barn. But I couldn't find the fear inside me to be afraid right now.
I was fearless.
"Sonny…" Chad began, holding my name out as if it were a note on a music scale. And his voice was like an instrument, lightly playing the melody. "Have you ever wondered what it was like to dance in a storm?"
No, I hadn't. Why would I if I was terrified of them? I didn't tell Chad that, though.
"I can't," I told him. "My ankle is still broken." Disappointment coursed through me, and I was surprised.
Surprised because I was disappointed to stay safe and dry inside, rather than dodging thunder and lightning in the lawn outside of the barn.
But I wanted to be in that lawn. So badly. Why was I so stupid when I climbed on the chair to reach the top of the shelf?
I remember wanting to leave yesterday; wanting to be anywhere but stuck with Chad. But now…
"I'll hold you," Chad answered. His voice sounded so sincere and hopeful, and almost felt the same inside. There was only one problem.
"But we're still locked in here," I sighed.
Chad's shoulders slumped as he realized I was right.
I looked at my watch—5:30 in the morning. In four hours, we'd be on a bus, heading back home. I'd be hanging out with my So Random friends, not telling them anything about last night. Chad would be back with his Mac Falls peeps, remaining silent about everything. We'd be segregated between our shows, just like before.
It would no longer be home-sweet-home. Because more than anything, I didn't want to go home.
Chad looked so happy. I didn't want to spoil his good mood. So I didn't say anything.
"I'll dance with you," I said, trying my best to lift the corners of my mouth to smile. "If you give me my list."
Chad grinned. "What list?"
I swallowed. "The list of 100 reasons why I love you."
"I know," he laughed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the folded piece of paper. "I just wanted to hear you say it."
The song Sonny and Chad are dancing to is: The Way I Loved You, by Selena Gomez. If you want to look it up on You-tube and listen 2 it while you're reading this scene, it makes it more authentic.
With the wind mingling through the trees, the rain purring as it fell steadily on us, we danced.
One ear bud was in my ear, one was in Chad's, and the ipod safe and sound in his pocket. We listened to The Way I Loved You.
And Chad held me, just like he said he would. I leaned into him, head on his shoulder, tears in my eyes, and heart swelling like a balloon.
Because I him already. Because I knew once we got back home (only 3 hours, 21 minutes, and 5 seconds, but who's counting?), this would all be over. This night…this feeling…
This love.
It'd all be crushed, because Chad and I both knew our friends would never accept us being together.
My tears soaked into the shoulder of his shirt, but I hope he mistake them as rain.
My thoughts wandered back to the tack room. Why did I ever agree to leave? Why did I ever agree to pick the lock, and come outside? I'd never see the inside of the tack room again. And last night wouldn't be reality anymore, only a nightmare.
A perfect nightmare.
I reached in my pocket, pulled out the list, and closed my eyes against the rain. The last time I'd ever hold it…I thought, before reaching out, and carefully slipping it into Chad's pocket.
We danced until the first signs of dawn showed: light breaking out against the stormy sky, making the lawn glow like crystal.
One hour left.
Packing time.
But I couldn't find the strength to pull away from him.
No, actually, I'm serious. I couldn't walk on my ankle, so I was stuck against his body.
Lucky me.
I guess I started crying on his shirt again, because Chad spoke. For the first time in two hours.
"Babe," he breathed, against my cheek. "What's wrong?"
He pressed his face lightly against mine, so my head was clamped between his cheek, and his shoulder.
I swallowed my whimper. "Nothing," I answered.
'Everything…' I said in my mind.
But I decided against saying it out loud. I just wanted to live in this moment, and only this moment. You see, it's moments like these that last only a heartbeat (or three hours…cough, cough), but are so incredible.
This was one of these moments.
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