Title: All The Stars
Summary: A series of unrelated one-shots based on the Lunar Chronicles.
Disclaimer: I am not Marissa Meyer and make no profit from any of what I am posting.
There are scenes and ideas in this Chapter taken from the movie Sound of Music, just as with TLC, I make no profit from using these and all credit goes to the creative team behind the movie.
21. Jacinter: All That the Rain Promises
She loses track of what Cinder is saying the moment she hears the familiar three rings of his cycle bell, cutting through their conversation and beckoning Winter out without Cinder realising.
He's here, her mind whispers, heart already thundering against Winter's chest, and once she's left Cinder, she can barely keep herself from running down the stairs and out through the small back door, into the large gardens of their family home.
He's by the conservatory, as always, hands buried in his pockets and cycle propped up against a nearby tree. Winter stops, on seeing him, letting herself stare at him and take in the way his hair sits on his shoulders or the exact way in which he stands.
He looks up, as though feeling her gaze, and for a moment, the world stops.
Then Winter steps forward, and Jacin moves too, and all at once they're standing inches apart.
He reaches up, gently twirling a loose lock of hair between his fingers and tucks it behind her ear. Then he breathes in sharply, drops his hand and steps back. "I wasn't sure you'd come."
"I wasn't sure you'd come."
"I wasn't sure you'd wait."
"I'll always wait for you." He says it like it's nothing, and yet, the words leave Winter blushing. "Promise?" she whispers, tilting her head sideways and stepping forward just as Jacin takes a step back.
He strings his hand through his hair, pinching his lips together. "Only if you promise to always be on time." There's an odd look on his face and Winter realises he's making fun of her a moment after he speaks.
"But then you'd never have to wait!"
"Exactly."
She crosses her arms over her chest and spins around. "Very well, Master Clay, it was nice seeing you but I'm afraid I have to leave now."
A warm hand grabs her and before she knows it, she's been spun around, her back pressed against his chest. "Do you really?" His breath tickles her ear and Winter struggles not to beam at him.
"I'm afraid so."
"And what if I promise?"
She blinks, innocently, and makes to walk away again. This time, it isn't Jacin that stops her but the flash of lightning followed by a sudden downpour.
All at once they're running, hand in hand, till they reach the glass doors of the large conservatory, and Jacin's pulling the door open and Winter's dragging him in behind her. The doors close, muffling the patter of the rain.
The sky lights up again, followed by a roll of thunder, and she tugs at Jacin's hand.
"If you promise to wait, I promise to be on time."
He lifts their entwined hands and presses his lips to her knuckles. "I promise."
She can feel her heart pounding against her chest and, if Winter listens, she can hear it too. It's nothing, she tells herself. She's sixteen and he's seventeen and they're too young to be making promises that'll last a lifetime anyway, but, despite it all, his words feel like a binding.
She steps forward, drawn towards him without realising it, just as Jacin's hand slips out of hers. Their lips meet halfway, his hands on her cheeks and hers around his neck. It's warm, Winter thinks, closing her eyes and pushing herself up on her toes. Warm and safe and right.
And then, all too quickly, he steps away, hands lingering on her face for a moment, before he turns and disappears into the rain.
Winter can only hope he doesn't see her squeal of joy or see the happy jig that follows.
Fun Fact: All That the Rain Promises is actually a mushroom identification guide
Obviously, when I found out I just had to name this chapter just that... Despite the lack of mushrooms.
I've more or less taken this right out of Sound of Music but changed the dialogue and (obviously) had to remove the dancing that leads to the kiss (despite that being the best part of the song)
Once again, thank you for reading this, massive thanks to everyone who reviewed my previous chapter (80 reviews!) and, lastly, feel free to request any ships or scenes you'd like to see in future chapters...!