The days seemed to slow down as they countdown for graduation approached to
a few days. The 'senioritis' at Montmatre High spread like wildfire, while
teachers got irritated at everyone's anxiousness.
But Satine and Christian. . . they had different reasons to be anxious. Since Satine had found out Harold had spies looking out for her, she kept her distance from Christian, with nothing but a smile or a wink in the hallways.
But after school on Wednesday, the day before graduation, Satine caught his eye and led him behind the school.
The air was turning warmer after the pathetic California winter, and the sun was high above the branching trees. Behind the school, there was a small woods with a path made up of a dried up stream where the elementary schoolers used to explore nature, the middle schoolers used as their trash can, and high schoolers used to escape.
The lovers found a space away from the path, surrounded by trees. The space was clear save for some pine needles and leaves around the edges, where someone had pushed them away.
Christian sat with his back against a tree trunk and Satine sat in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he kissed her neck.
"I love you," he whispered.
She snuggled into his chest and caressed his cheek. "Do you know how much I love you?"
"I think I have an idea," he said, catching her hand and kissing it.
She looked into his eyes for a long time, searching what was behind them. "No you don't," she said, smiling. "You and I both don't even know half of it."
"Try me."
"It's not. . . lust, or an infatuation. . . but love. If I've ever tried to imagine what love would feel like. . . I would never know how great it really is. All my dreams I had before don't measure up to what I'm feeling when I'm around you."
He leaned in and kissed her softly. "You're scared, aren't you?" he whispered.
She traced her finger along his jaw. "Yes," she said quietly. "You're willing to give up all you've ever known. . . your happiness, your freedom, your friends and your family just to be with me and I have. . . nothing. I can give you nothing."
He didn't say anything for a moment, just staring at her as the wind played with her hair. He pressed his forehead to hers. "You have given me freedom," he said, lifting his head. "You have given me happiness. All I've ever wanted."
He smiled. "While I close my eyes and think of you. . . I feel like I belong. When I first saw you in Calculus a couple months ago. . . I knew. There was something about you. . . and I couldn't breathe, and I said to myself, 'It's you'. And I knew I saw you before and loved you then as much as I do now. We met in another life a long time ago, saying beautiful words and stealing kisses. Our love had begun in another life and carried over in the next." He softly kissed her cheek. "I know we're all far from perfect. I know everyone wants to tear us apart, so I swear to love you here and now with every ounce of my soul, and loving you is my greatest dream. So rest, my love, within my arms, and know that my words are true." He smiled again, running his fingers through her hair. "I loved you before, I love you now, and all I want is you."
Satine's gaze never strayed from his face as he spoke until a tears began to form and she blinked them away. She forced a laugh as she let them fall down her cheek.
Christian rubbed the back of her neck with his thumb as he kissed her salty tears away.
"I love you," she whispered, smiling at him.
He touched her cheeks lightly with his fingertips. "Ditto," he whispered, kissing her full on the lips.
The day of graduation, the students had a half-day. As Satine drove home to get ready for the 5:00 ceremony, she couldn't help but think of her life. Nothing was ever going right. . . everything was always a mess.
It was funny how love, the thing she always ran from, could change everything.
She flicked on the radio and smiled at the song that was on. "Listen baby, if you need me, call me," she sang along, grooving in the drivers seat. "No matter where you are, no matter how far. Just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry. You don't have to worry. 'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough to keep me from gettin' to you."
She turned into the parking lot and sang the chorus even after she turned off the car. "Ain't no mountain high enough," she sang to herself, shutting the car door with a bump of her hip and danced up the stairs. Her hand on the railing, she paused for a bit and turned around to look at the wind blowing in the trees. Yes, today was a magical day. . . nothing could go wrong as long as this day existed.
"There you are!" Marie said, grabbing Satine's elbow and starling her. "I've been waiting for you. . . we need to get you ready for tonight!"
Marie dragged her into their apartment and sat her on a stool in the bathroom as she curled Satine's hair.
"You know, today is a big day for you," Marie said softly. "You're not only graduation from high school. . . you're getting married."
Satine smiled slightly. "Yeah, I know."
"I know that this marriage is under strange circumstances. . ."
Satine thought for a moment. She could never in a million years be happy with Robert. But she whispered, "I know," thinking of all the bruises he gave her all ready, all the bruises he would have given her. Christian, on the other hand, would never lift a finger to her. He was the only one that could ever make her happy.
"You know, you find someone you love. . . and you stay with them forever, no matter what anyone says," she said, looking at Satine in the mirror. "You don't live for anyone but yourself. . ."
Satine thought for a moment. Did she know her and Christian's plan? "I know," she whispered.
Marie wrapped another strand of hair around the curling iron. "Dreams can be fulfilled in other ways, you know. Money is not everything."
Satine stared at her, her jaw quivering. "Marie. . ."
She put the curling iron down by the sink and turned Satine around. "I read the letter. . . the one from Robert," she said. "Harold should have been the one to bite me. I'm so sorry. . ."
"You knew I was lying?"
Marie kissed her cheek. "Darling, in the past few months I've never seen you so happy. Harold and I have been so unkind to you, locking you up and forcing you to do things you don't want. . ." She hugged her. "You deserve happiness after so long."
"Oh, Marie. . ." Satine said, crying.
The older woman dug out of her pocket an envelope. "Here."
Satine took it apprehensively. "What is it?"
"Some money," she said. "And my best wishes. It's not much. . ."
Satine didn't let her finish, because she jumped up and hugged her tightly. "Oh, thank you. . . thank you. Thank you so much."
"Now. . . now stop it," Marie said, laughing. "You're going to make us both cry!" She pulled away, tears in her eyes. "Now, that boy better be good to you."
"I know he will," she whispered.
"I'm so glad." She smiled, wiping her eyes. "Now, I'm not done yet," she laughed. "Sit down."
As Marie continued to curl her hair Satine closed her eyes. They both knew this was probably the last time they would ever see each other again, and she held the envelope close to her body.
Yes, nothing could go wrong on this perfect day. . .
Satine hauled her luggage and wedding dress into her car because she couldn't come back. . . Robert would be 'waiting' at the church. Marie gave her a wink as she promised that they'd be there at graduation.
When she reached the High School, seniors milled around the inside of the building, waiting for the ceremony to start. Satine saw Christian right away, standing next to his friend Henry. Christian's hair was slicked back and he had on a suit under his red gown.
They didn't have time to speak before they trooped in alphabetical order to the football stadium, where the ceremony took place.
Satine was anxious, going over a checklist in her head as numerous students made speeches. She looked over her shoulder slowly at Christian, whose eyes were fixed on hers. His face showed the same expression as hers - anxious, impatient, but no fear kissed his face.
"Why fear what's meant to be?" asked the student speaker. "All these questions we've been wondering all our lives. . . we still don't know the answer. But through the years and the many roads ahead, we will have the knowledge to know that they don't have answers, and they don't have to. So my friends, I ask you to learn to smile with no reason, learn to be happy for just another day, learn to love without knowing why. In all your paths ahead of you, I wish you good luck. Audience, I present to you the graduating class of 2002."
The students jumped up from their seats as the sky was showered by a down pour of red caps.
"Love you," Satine mouthed to Christian as she went to go meet Harold and Marie for the last time. Harold told her how proud he was of her, how beautiful she looked. . . she accepted his comments with a slight nod.
"I. . ." she started, looking at them both. "I should go. . . don't want to keep Robert waiting."
She hugged them both, and with tears in her eyes over her only family she had ever had, she went to go meet Christian.
He smiled at her warmly as she came to her side. "Mom, Dad," he said. "This is Satine Desmer."
"Hello," she said, smiling.
Christian's dad and his brother, Jacek, were staring at Satine with folded arms.
His mother held out her hand and said, "You MUST be the girl our little boy keeps going on and on about." She winked at her son. "She IS beautiful, Chritian."
Satine blushed. "Thank you."
Some one tugged at Christian's robes and he picked up a little girl with light brown hair. She sucked on her thumb and tugged on her ear as she leaned against Christian's chest.
"And who is this?" Satine asked.
"This is my little sister Nicole," he said, kissing his sister's cheek. "Can you say hello to her, Nikki?"
She removed her thumb from her mouth for a moment and mumbled something.
"She's shy," he said, kissing her head and giving her back to his mother.
His mother nudged his father. "Aren't you going to say anything to your son's girlfriend?" she whispered to him.
"Hello," he said coldly.
Satine shivered. His father reminded her so much of Robert it was frightening.
"Uh, mother," Christian started, "me and Satine are going to go out for a little."
His mother smiled. "Ok, that sounds good."
He leaned over and kissed his mother and Nikki.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Everything," he whispered in her ear, hugging them. He nodded to his father and brother. "Goodbye."
"It was a pleasure meeting you," Satine said, shaking hands with his father and brother and hugging his mother and sister.
"Oh, the pleasure was all mine," his mother said, hugging her back. "You're welcome to come over any time."
"Thank you."
"Well. . . goodbye." Christian said, taking Satine's hand and smiling, for the last time, at his family.
When they reached the parking lot, Satine jumped into his arms. He spun her around and kissed her, and before he let her down they were both dizzy.
She let out a squeal as she unlocked her car and he followed her to the used car store. They cashed in Satine's blue car and Christian's truck, and after inspecting the lot, they picked out a small white car and bought it for a good price.
After all their luggage was in the trunk and back seat, they settled into their new car.
"This is it," he whispered, his hands falling to his sides.
"This is it," she said, smiling.
"There'll be no ties of time and space to bind us," he whispered, touching the side of her face.
"And no horizon we could not pursue," she said.
"We'll leave the world's misfortunes far behind us," they said together. "And I will put my faith and trust. . . in you."
They leaned in for a long kiss, and drove out of the used car lot, toward their new future.
----------------------------------------- Disclaimer: All characters belong to me and my good friend Baz. And, um. Robert Duken is not the real son of a producer, I just made him up.
A/N: I just love that love poem stuff I rewrote at the beginning. . . aww, it made me wish I had someone to say it to me!!! Ok, I have ONE MORE left, so don't think this is the end.
Songs used: 'Ain't no Mountain High Enough' by the Supremes, 'Enchantment Passing Through (Reprise)' from Aida.
But Satine and Christian. . . they had different reasons to be anxious. Since Satine had found out Harold had spies looking out for her, she kept her distance from Christian, with nothing but a smile or a wink in the hallways.
But after school on Wednesday, the day before graduation, Satine caught his eye and led him behind the school.
The air was turning warmer after the pathetic California winter, and the sun was high above the branching trees. Behind the school, there was a small woods with a path made up of a dried up stream where the elementary schoolers used to explore nature, the middle schoolers used as their trash can, and high schoolers used to escape.
The lovers found a space away from the path, surrounded by trees. The space was clear save for some pine needles and leaves around the edges, where someone had pushed them away.
Christian sat with his back against a tree trunk and Satine sat in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he kissed her neck.
"I love you," he whispered.
She snuggled into his chest and caressed his cheek. "Do you know how much I love you?"
"I think I have an idea," he said, catching her hand and kissing it.
She looked into his eyes for a long time, searching what was behind them. "No you don't," she said, smiling. "You and I both don't even know half of it."
"Try me."
"It's not. . . lust, or an infatuation. . . but love. If I've ever tried to imagine what love would feel like. . . I would never know how great it really is. All my dreams I had before don't measure up to what I'm feeling when I'm around you."
He leaned in and kissed her softly. "You're scared, aren't you?" he whispered.
She traced her finger along his jaw. "Yes," she said quietly. "You're willing to give up all you've ever known. . . your happiness, your freedom, your friends and your family just to be with me and I have. . . nothing. I can give you nothing."
He didn't say anything for a moment, just staring at her as the wind played with her hair. He pressed his forehead to hers. "You have given me freedom," he said, lifting his head. "You have given me happiness. All I've ever wanted."
He smiled. "While I close my eyes and think of you. . . I feel like I belong. When I first saw you in Calculus a couple months ago. . . I knew. There was something about you. . . and I couldn't breathe, and I said to myself, 'It's you'. And I knew I saw you before and loved you then as much as I do now. We met in another life a long time ago, saying beautiful words and stealing kisses. Our love had begun in another life and carried over in the next." He softly kissed her cheek. "I know we're all far from perfect. I know everyone wants to tear us apart, so I swear to love you here and now with every ounce of my soul, and loving you is my greatest dream. So rest, my love, within my arms, and know that my words are true." He smiled again, running his fingers through her hair. "I loved you before, I love you now, and all I want is you."
Satine's gaze never strayed from his face as he spoke until a tears began to form and she blinked them away. She forced a laugh as she let them fall down her cheek.
Christian rubbed the back of her neck with his thumb as he kissed her salty tears away.
"I love you," she whispered, smiling at him.
He touched her cheeks lightly with his fingertips. "Ditto," he whispered, kissing her full on the lips.
The day of graduation, the students had a half-day. As Satine drove home to get ready for the 5:00 ceremony, she couldn't help but think of her life. Nothing was ever going right. . . everything was always a mess.
It was funny how love, the thing she always ran from, could change everything.
She flicked on the radio and smiled at the song that was on. "Listen baby, if you need me, call me," she sang along, grooving in the drivers seat. "No matter where you are, no matter how far. Just call my name, I'll be there in a hurry. You don't have to worry. 'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough to keep me from gettin' to you."
She turned into the parking lot and sang the chorus even after she turned off the car. "Ain't no mountain high enough," she sang to herself, shutting the car door with a bump of her hip and danced up the stairs. Her hand on the railing, she paused for a bit and turned around to look at the wind blowing in the trees. Yes, today was a magical day. . . nothing could go wrong as long as this day existed.
"There you are!" Marie said, grabbing Satine's elbow and starling her. "I've been waiting for you. . . we need to get you ready for tonight!"
Marie dragged her into their apartment and sat her on a stool in the bathroom as she curled Satine's hair.
"You know, today is a big day for you," Marie said softly. "You're not only graduation from high school. . . you're getting married."
Satine smiled slightly. "Yeah, I know."
"I know that this marriage is under strange circumstances. . ."
Satine thought for a moment. She could never in a million years be happy with Robert. But she whispered, "I know," thinking of all the bruises he gave her all ready, all the bruises he would have given her. Christian, on the other hand, would never lift a finger to her. He was the only one that could ever make her happy.
"You know, you find someone you love. . . and you stay with them forever, no matter what anyone says," she said, looking at Satine in the mirror. "You don't live for anyone but yourself. . ."
Satine thought for a moment. Did she know her and Christian's plan? "I know," she whispered.
Marie wrapped another strand of hair around the curling iron. "Dreams can be fulfilled in other ways, you know. Money is not everything."
Satine stared at her, her jaw quivering. "Marie. . ."
She put the curling iron down by the sink and turned Satine around. "I read the letter. . . the one from Robert," she said. "Harold should have been the one to bite me. I'm so sorry. . ."
"You knew I was lying?"
Marie kissed her cheek. "Darling, in the past few months I've never seen you so happy. Harold and I have been so unkind to you, locking you up and forcing you to do things you don't want. . ." She hugged her. "You deserve happiness after so long."
"Oh, Marie. . ." Satine said, crying.
The older woman dug out of her pocket an envelope. "Here."
Satine took it apprehensively. "What is it?"
"Some money," she said. "And my best wishes. It's not much. . ."
Satine didn't let her finish, because she jumped up and hugged her tightly. "Oh, thank you. . . thank you. Thank you so much."
"Now. . . now stop it," Marie said, laughing. "You're going to make us both cry!" She pulled away, tears in her eyes. "Now, that boy better be good to you."
"I know he will," she whispered.
"I'm so glad." She smiled, wiping her eyes. "Now, I'm not done yet," she laughed. "Sit down."
As Marie continued to curl her hair Satine closed her eyes. They both knew this was probably the last time they would ever see each other again, and she held the envelope close to her body.
Yes, nothing could go wrong on this perfect day. . .
Satine hauled her luggage and wedding dress into her car because she couldn't come back. . . Robert would be 'waiting' at the church. Marie gave her a wink as she promised that they'd be there at graduation.
When she reached the High School, seniors milled around the inside of the building, waiting for the ceremony to start. Satine saw Christian right away, standing next to his friend Henry. Christian's hair was slicked back and he had on a suit under his red gown.
They didn't have time to speak before they trooped in alphabetical order to the football stadium, where the ceremony took place.
Satine was anxious, going over a checklist in her head as numerous students made speeches. She looked over her shoulder slowly at Christian, whose eyes were fixed on hers. His face showed the same expression as hers - anxious, impatient, but no fear kissed his face.
"Why fear what's meant to be?" asked the student speaker. "All these questions we've been wondering all our lives. . . we still don't know the answer. But through the years and the many roads ahead, we will have the knowledge to know that they don't have answers, and they don't have to. So my friends, I ask you to learn to smile with no reason, learn to be happy for just another day, learn to love without knowing why. In all your paths ahead of you, I wish you good luck. Audience, I present to you the graduating class of 2002."
The students jumped up from their seats as the sky was showered by a down pour of red caps.
"Love you," Satine mouthed to Christian as she went to go meet Harold and Marie for the last time. Harold told her how proud he was of her, how beautiful she looked. . . she accepted his comments with a slight nod.
"I. . ." she started, looking at them both. "I should go. . . don't want to keep Robert waiting."
She hugged them both, and with tears in her eyes over her only family she had ever had, she went to go meet Christian.
He smiled at her warmly as she came to her side. "Mom, Dad," he said. "This is Satine Desmer."
"Hello," she said, smiling.
Christian's dad and his brother, Jacek, were staring at Satine with folded arms.
His mother held out her hand and said, "You MUST be the girl our little boy keeps going on and on about." She winked at her son. "She IS beautiful, Chritian."
Satine blushed. "Thank you."
Some one tugged at Christian's robes and he picked up a little girl with light brown hair. She sucked on her thumb and tugged on her ear as she leaned against Christian's chest.
"And who is this?" Satine asked.
"This is my little sister Nicole," he said, kissing his sister's cheek. "Can you say hello to her, Nikki?"
She removed her thumb from her mouth for a moment and mumbled something.
"She's shy," he said, kissing her head and giving her back to his mother.
His mother nudged his father. "Aren't you going to say anything to your son's girlfriend?" she whispered to him.
"Hello," he said coldly.
Satine shivered. His father reminded her so much of Robert it was frightening.
"Uh, mother," Christian started, "me and Satine are going to go out for a little."
His mother smiled. "Ok, that sounds good."
He leaned over and kissed his mother and Nikki.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Everything," he whispered in her ear, hugging them. He nodded to his father and brother. "Goodbye."
"It was a pleasure meeting you," Satine said, shaking hands with his father and brother and hugging his mother and sister.
"Oh, the pleasure was all mine," his mother said, hugging her back. "You're welcome to come over any time."
"Thank you."
"Well. . . goodbye." Christian said, taking Satine's hand and smiling, for the last time, at his family.
When they reached the parking lot, Satine jumped into his arms. He spun her around and kissed her, and before he let her down they were both dizzy.
She let out a squeal as she unlocked her car and he followed her to the used car store. They cashed in Satine's blue car and Christian's truck, and after inspecting the lot, they picked out a small white car and bought it for a good price.
After all their luggage was in the trunk and back seat, they settled into their new car.
"This is it," he whispered, his hands falling to his sides.
"This is it," she said, smiling.
"There'll be no ties of time and space to bind us," he whispered, touching the side of her face.
"And no horizon we could not pursue," she said.
"We'll leave the world's misfortunes far behind us," they said together. "And I will put my faith and trust. . . in you."
They leaned in for a long kiss, and drove out of the used car lot, toward their new future.
----------------------------------------- Disclaimer: All characters belong to me and my good friend Baz. And, um. Robert Duken is not the real son of a producer, I just made him up.
A/N: I just love that love poem stuff I rewrote at the beginning. . . aww, it made me wish I had someone to say it to me!!! Ok, I have ONE MORE left, so don't think this is the end.
Songs used: 'Ain't no Mountain High Enough' by the Supremes, 'Enchantment Passing Through (Reprise)' from Aida.