Stay Young Forever
Chapter 36
Note: Look at me, uploading the next day! I'm going to try to get as many chapters done as I can this weekend (if not finish) because I have huge tests coming up. Yes, those 6 days of extreme testing have arrived. So I'm going to try to get these chapters done quickly, and hopefully it will work out!
Beck stopped walking when there was about 15 feet between us, most likely because he wanted to make sure I was completely calm first. And I was, since all the anger had been replaced with depression. I noticed that he did have a slight bruise on his cheek, which made me feel even worse. I hung my head and felt the tears ready to come.
"Penelope will be fine." He said at last, and I popped my head back up. Wait, what..?
"Really?" Gabriella said, who sounded relieved. I was too stunned to even reply fast enough.
"..W-what?" I asked, squinting as if it would help it make more sense.
"Penelope is going to be okay. I took her to a really great vet, and they knew just what to do. She's going to be sore for about 3 weeks but she should be just fine eventually."
I would have been furious if it was any cat. I would of slapped him again for scaring me like that, and for not taking me with him. But it wasn't any cat, it was Penelope. So instead I ran up and hugged him, wrapping my arms around her neck and my legs around his waist. Then I buried my face in his shoulder, and cried a few tears of joy.
Sniffling, I pulled back and looked at him, suddenly filled with so much guilt. "Do you hate me now? For hurting you?" I wasn't sure what I'd do if Beck hated me.
"I could never hate you. Besides, I got kinda used to it back in the day." He said, and he was smiling some. I smiled too and giggled a little, feeling like I was going to cry for the 25th time today. But before I could Beck wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer and pressing his warm lips against mine.
The first time we kissed it felt a little forced. It wasn't natural and after it was over I was filled with complete shock. But maybe it was because he saved Penelope that this time it filled me with happiness. I smiled while I kissed him and when we let go I felt warm and tingly.
"I didn't know you two were dating." Gabriella said, and I turned around, now surprised. Dating?
"Were not-" I started, but Beck cut me off.
"Yea." He said, wrapping his arms across my back and around my shoulders. "It's kinda of a new thing." My face flushed red instantly. What was he saying..?
"Wait, but-" I started again, yet when I turned around and looked at him I couldn't go on. As I looked at him in that moment he wasn't the immature spoiled actor anymore. He wasn't the conceited jerk who hated me in High School, or so I thought. He was my neighbor and best friend since Junior High, and he was the guy I had the biggest crush on.
So instead of continuing that sentence I just smiled, turning to Gabriella and nodding. "Yea. Weird, huh?"
Later that day we were back at the house, Beck laying down on his bed and me tending his bruised cheek. I had no idea I could get so worked up like this. I was ashamed of myself, but every time I apologized Beck would cut me off by saying, "It's what I love about you." That always got me to shut up because I was too busy blushing to speak.
After I got the ice pack on him and the hot towel I gave him instructions to leave the ice pack on for 3 minutes, then the hot towel for 3 minutes, and keep switching back and forth. I also left him a bucket of hot water so he could reheat his towel. Then I told him I would be back later as I started to leave.
After I opened the door and was about to leave he called out to me. "Why are you leaving?"
I didn't want to say what the real reason was. I didn't want to admit that I was too embarrassed about what happened earlier to stay near him, and by being so close to him my heart felt like it would explode. I didn't want to admit that to him, so I made something up. "I'm kinda tired. It's been a long day after all. I think I might take a nap."
Then he patted the space beside him, replying, "Plenty of room over here."
I rolled my eyes and chuckled, figuring it was a joke. But by the look on his face I could tell he was serious.
"Beck, I can't." I said softly, but he didn't back down. "Please, don't leave me." He said.
I told myself later that the reason I obeyed was because I felt really bad, and that I wanted to make it up to him. But my heart had a different story. Either way, I slowly closed the door and walked over, sitting down next to him on the bed. I touched his temple softly, rubbing soft circles like I did earlier to Penelope. He closed his eyes and started breathing softly.
I'm not sure how long we stayed like that for, and I'm not sure why I was even doing it. But after awhile I figured he had gone to sleep, so I stopped and was ready to leave.
"Don't go." He said softly once more, and I knew he was still awake, so I started rubbing his temple once again. But in the meantime, I figured I might as well ask him a few questions.
"Why did you kiss me?" I asked him, and noticed how he opened his eyes briefly to look at me before closing them again.
"Isn't that what a boyfriend does to his girlfriend?" He asked simply, and I felt my face grow hot once again.
"But.. were not dating." I said, and then felt a pain in my heart. Did I really believe that?
"That's not what you said earlier." He said, and I nodded, shifting my gaze to the window.
"But.. did you really mean it?"
This time he opened his eyes to look up at me, and he even sat up, taking his ice pack off. I started to correct him but he cut me off.
"Cat. I have been madly in love with you ever since Junior High. I've never stopped thinking about you, and I have waited years for the day you'd tell me you loved me too."
I stared into his eyes, though this time I didn't blush. I wasn't really sure what to do, since this was such a shock. "Junior High? But, Jade.."
"Jade was a mistake. I went out with her because I figured you didn't see me like I saw you, and I didn't want to waste my High School life dreaming about you. But I regret that now."
I wasn't sure what to think or say. So instead I just wrapped my fingers in the back of his head, running them through his hair and pulling him closer. Then I crashed my lips against his, which he happily responded to. I didn't want to let him go, and with every second I just wanted him more and more. I leaned in closer to him and he wrapped his arms around my waist. When we finally let go I was gasping for air.
"Do you.. really wanna be my boyfriend?" I asked him, gazing into his eyes. He smiled as he responded.
"I've wanted nothing more for almost my entire life." He said, and I nodded, still holding his gaze. "So, what do you say?"
I looked straight at him, lost in his deep brown eyes and nodded, smiling as I replied. "Yea. I'd like that."