Chapter Eleven: A Never Ending Ring of Promises
***Courtney's Dream/ Flashback***
Lying on the cool sand, Courtney looked up at the setting sun. It had been a beautiful spring break day in the Florida Keyes. Smiling at the rich, golden tan she had gotten that day, she slowly sat up. Wincing, she laughed to herself. What she thought was a golden tan was really light sunburn that she would be whining about the next day.
Taking a stand, she gathered her items and readied herself to walk back to the beach house. The house that Jason, Courtney, and their friends were staying in backed up to the beach, so when they walked down the porch steps, they were on the beach.
Entering the house, she inhaled deeply. Popcorn, she thought. They must be watching a movie. Shaking her head, she wondered why no one had woken her from her daytime nap. Setting her things on the nearest chair, she swung open the refrigerator hoping to get something to drink. She squealed suddenly as she felt hands go to her waist.
Jason wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her shoulder affectionately, "Hey, I was looking for you."
Courtney smiled as she heard his voice, "I was napping on the beach. It's so peaceful at sunset." She turned around so that she was facing him and smiled at his tan face. She hated that he was one to get tan instead of burnt; however, the crystal blues of his were a great contrast to his dark skin.
He looked deeply into her eyes and grinned at the slight sunburn on her cheeks. Surveying her bright blue and pink bikini, he questioned huskily, "Did I tell you how good you looked in that bikini today?"
Courtney shrugged, and turned back to the refrigerator, "Only about a trillion times, but it won't hurt to say it again." She grabbed a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. Taking a nice long swig, she liked the cool liquid quenching her thirst.
"Do you want to take a walk on the beach with me?" Jason asked, taking her hand in his.
Courtney's lips curled into a smile at his sweetness, "I'd love to, but let me go get some clothes on."
Jason groaned and only half-kidding, he said, "Do you have to?"
Courtney rolled her eyes and laughed, "Give me five minutes." Running up the stairs, she grabbed a sweatshirt and shorts from her room. Pulling them over top her bathing suit, she grabbed a hair tie and pulled her hair back into a messy bun. Quickly checking her reflection in the mirror, she raced back down the stairs.
She found Jason in the kitchen looking at his watch. Laughing, she asked, "What are doing?"
Jason looked up surprised and said, "Three minutes on the dot. That's a record, Court!" Grinning, he pulled her to him and kissed her softly. Pulling away, he caressed her face, "I love you."
Courtney smiled, "I know. Let's go for that walk you promised me." She pulled him out the back door.
They walked on the beach hand in hand, not really saying anything to one another, just enjoying one another's company. Feeling Courtney shiver slightly, Jason pulled her closer and draped an arm around her waist.
Walking for almost ten minutes in silence like that, they finally stopped. They sat on the beach watching the tide come in and out. The sound of the waves was peaceful and slowly lulling Courtney into dreamland.
Leaning her head back into his chest, Courtney asked, "Why did you bring me out here?"
Jason slowly inhaled, thinking about her question. He had brought her out there for a special reason. Exhaling, Jason shrugged, "Just to be with you."
Courtney smiled to herself about his sincerity. She loved that he could be honest and still so sweet at the same time. Playing with his hand absently, she asked, "What are you thinking right now?"
Knowing this was his perfect time, Jason started in a soft voice, "I'm thinking about how much I love you and how much my life has changed since I met you. Courtney, you are the love of my life, I don't think I'll ever love anyone like I love you."
Courtney grinned, "Do you. do you ever think about the future? About us?" Pausing, she continued, "I know I do. all the time. I know I'm only nineteen and you're about to turn twenty, but I feel that you're it for me Jason. You, Jason Morgan, are the man that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with and I just know that. I know that you're it for me."
Jason nodded, "I do think about us in the future. That's why I wanted to give you something." Pushing her off of him for a second, he reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box.
Courtney stared at it and wondered what it could be. It couldn't be a wedding ring; they were too young to marry. Her eyes filled with excitement and a grin from ear to ear, she asked anxiously, "What is it?"
Jason smiled at her anxiousness. Opening the cubed box, he revealed a plain silver band; nothing added, no inscriptions, just a plain silver band. Courtney's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the ring. It was plain, but beautiful and it seemed to fit their relationship perfectly.
Clearing his throat, Jason shakily said, "I know that we're young, but I also know that our love is the real deal; it's the real thing. You are probably the last person that I will ever love with all my heart and soul. I want to marry you; that's no secret, but I want to marry you at the right age and the right time. This is just a promise ring. A ring that says how much I love you and how much I want to be with you. forever. Will you accept this promise?" Finishing his speech, he looked into Courtney's eyes hopefully.
Her eyes shown with unshed tears of happiness. Placing a hand over her open mouth, she nodded her head not being able to find her voice. Watching with anticipation, she watched as Jason gently placed the ring on her left ring finger. Kissing her hand, he looked at her smiling.
Finally finding her voice, she managed an 'I love you' before he covered her mouth with his own.
***End of Courtney's Dream/ Flashback***
Stirring, Courtney slowly opened her eyes. Smiling to herself, she remembered her dream. Squinting her eyes from the ray of sunlight dancing across her bed, she reached into her shirt and pulled out a plain silver ring on a silver chain.
Twirling the ring in her fingers, she said quietly to herself, "And still to this day, I remember that promise, Jason. And I still keep mine. You are the last person I will ever love wholly with all my heart."
There was a soft knock on the door and Courtney quickly stuffed her chain back inside her shirt. "Come in," Courtney said softly.
Jason opened the door softly and smiled towards Courtney. Standing in the doorway, Jason said, "Sonny always makes breakfast for us on Saturdays so if you want to hurry up and get dressed, we could go in a few minutes."
Courtney nodded and got out of bed silently. Looking around on the floor for her clothes, she asked, mostly to herself, "Where are those clothes of mine?"
Jason grinned, "I washed them last night for you."
Courtney looked up at Jason and couldn't help but notice the sweetness that he had always had. Smiling genuinely, Courtney said, "Thanks."
Jason shrugged and handed Courtney her clothes and was about to turn around when he saw something around her neck catch the sunlight almost blinding him from the glint. Wondering what it was, he asked, "What's that around your neck Courtney?"
Courtney reached to her neck and smiled nervously, "Ah. nothing."
Jason rolled his eyes, "Yeah right. I saw it shine! It must be something expensive. Did AJ give it to you?"
Courtney shook her head, "No." She avoided his eyes. She didn't want to tell him that she had kept the ring all these years remembering the promise made when it was given to her.
Jason shook his head, "No, Courtney, you're not going to leave me hanging here. Just show me." He was trying keep the mood light by kidding around with her. Although, there was something he wanted to know about he necklace. Why wouldn't she show it to him?
Courtney reluctantly pulled the chain out of her shirt. She looked up as she held the silver promise ring in her fist, "There, you happy?"
Jason shook his head, "Nope. What's in your fist?" Quickly grabbing her hand, he pried her fingers apart. Stopping suddenly, he stared at what she was wearing around her neck. Looking in to her eyes, he asked, "Is that.?"
Courtney nodded, "Yeah."
Then, before she knew it, Jason captured her in a breathtaking kiss. Passion and desire filled the steamy kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers raked through his hair as she deepened the kiss. Jason's hands slid to her waist and then up to her shoulder until he held the back of her head.
Suddenly realizing what he was doing, Jason quickly pulled away. Staring into her baby-blues, he saw both desire and hurt.
Reaching for him, she asked, "Jason, what's wrong?"
He back away from her touch, "I shouldn't have done that." Quickly, he left the room. As he closed the door behind it, he rubbed his forehead in confusion. What was he getting himself into? He couldn't go back to Courtney; it was just too dangerous.
Courtney stood in her spot staring off into space. She had just kissed Jason. No, he kissed her. Oh, man! What was she getting herself into? Her eyes welling up with tears, the memories of Jason and their time together flashed before her eyes. What had just happened? It was suddenly like nothing had changed between them and they were back at their lake. Closing her eyes to will away the tears from falling, Courtney slowly un-did the chain around her neck. It was back to the jewelry box for this special piece.
***Courtney's Dream/ Flashback***
Lying on the cool sand, Courtney looked up at the setting sun. It had been a beautiful spring break day in the Florida Keyes. Smiling at the rich, golden tan she had gotten that day, she slowly sat up. Wincing, she laughed to herself. What she thought was a golden tan was really light sunburn that she would be whining about the next day.
Taking a stand, she gathered her items and readied herself to walk back to the beach house. The house that Jason, Courtney, and their friends were staying in backed up to the beach, so when they walked down the porch steps, they were on the beach.
Entering the house, she inhaled deeply. Popcorn, she thought. They must be watching a movie. Shaking her head, she wondered why no one had woken her from her daytime nap. Setting her things on the nearest chair, she swung open the refrigerator hoping to get something to drink. She squealed suddenly as she felt hands go to her waist.
Jason wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her shoulder affectionately, "Hey, I was looking for you."
Courtney smiled as she heard his voice, "I was napping on the beach. It's so peaceful at sunset." She turned around so that she was facing him and smiled at his tan face. She hated that he was one to get tan instead of burnt; however, the crystal blues of his were a great contrast to his dark skin.
He looked deeply into her eyes and grinned at the slight sunburn on her cheeks. Surveying her bright blue and pink bikini, he questioned huskily, "Did I tell you how good you looked in that bikini today?"
Courtney shrugged, and turned back to the refrigerator, "Only about a trillion times, but it won't hurt to say it again." She grabbed a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. Taking a nice long swig, she liked the cool liquid quenching her thirst.
"Do you want to take a walk on the beach with me?" Jason asked, taking her hand in his.
Courtney's lips curled into a smile at his sweetness, "I'd love to, but let me go get some clothes on."
Jason groaned and only half-kidding, he said, "Do you have to?"
Courtney rolled her eyes and laughed, "Give me five minutes." Running up the stairs, she grabbed a sweatshirt and shorts from her room. Pulling them over top her bathing suit, she grabbed a hair tie and pulled her hair back into a messy bun. Quickly checking her reflection in the mirror, she raced back down the stairs.
She found Jason in the kitchen looking at his watch. Laughing, she asked, "What are doing?"
Jason looked up surprised and said, "Three minutes on the dot. That's a record, Court!" Grinning, he pulled her to him and kissed her softly. Pulling away, he caressed her face, "I love you."
Courtney smiled, "I know. Let's go for that walk you promised me." She pulled him out the back door.
They walked on the beach hand in hand, not really saying anything to one another, just enjoying one another's company. Feeling Courtney shiver slightly, Jason pulled her closer and draped an arm around her waist.
Walking for almost ten minutes in silence like that, they finally stopped. They sat on the beach watching the tide come in and out. The sound of the waves was peaceful and slowly lulling Courtney into dreamland.
Leaning her head back into his chest, Courtney asked, "Why did you bring me out here?"
Jason slowly inhaled, thinking about her question. He had brought her out there for a special reason. Exhaling, Jason shrugged, "Just to be with you."
Courtney smiled to herself about his sincerity. She loved that he could be honest and still so sweet at the same time. Playing with his hand absently, she asked, "What are you thinking right now?"
Knowing this was his perfect time, Jason started in a soft voice, "I'm thinking about how much I love you and how much my life has changed since I met you. Courtney, you are the love of my life, I don't think I'll ever love anyone like I love you."
Courtney grinned, "Do you. do you ever think about the future? About us?" Pausing, she continued, "I know I do. all the time. I know I'm only nineteen and you're about to turn twenty, but I feel that you're it for me Jason. You, Jason Morgan, are the man that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with and I just know that. I know that you're it for me."
Jason nodded, "I do think about us in the future. That's why I wanted to give you something." Pushing her off of him for a second, he reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box.
Courtney stared at it and wondered what it could be. It couldn't be a wedding ring; they were too young to marry. Her eyes filled with excitement and a grin from ear to ear, she asked anxiously, "What is it?"
Jason smiled at her anxiousness. Opening the cubed box, he revealed a plain silver band; nothing added, no inscriptions, just a plain silver band. Courtney's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the ring. It was plain, but beautiful and it seemed to fit their relationship perfectly.
Clearing his throat, Jason shakily said, "I know that we're young, but I also know that our love is the real deal; it's the real thing. You are probably the last person that I will ever love with all my heart and soul. I want to marry you; that's no secret, but I want to marry you at the right age and the right time. This is just a promise ring. A ring that says how much I love you and how much I want to be with you. forever. Will you accept this promise?" Finishing his speech, he looked into Courtney's eyes hopefully.
Her eyes shown with unshed tears of happiness. Placing a hand over her open mouth, she nodded her head not being able to find her voice. Watching with anticipation, she watched as Jason gently placed the ring on her left ring finger. Kissing her hand, he looked at her smiling.
Finally finding her voice, she managed an 'I love you' before he covered her mouth with his own.
***End of Courtney's Dream/ Flashback***
Stirring, Courtney slowly opened her eyes. Smiling to herself, she remembered her dream. Squinting her eyes from the ray of sunlight dancing across her bed, she reached into her shirt and pulled out a plain silver ring on a silver chain.
Twirling the ring in her fingers, she said quietly to herself, "And still to this day, I remember that promise, Jason. And I still keep mine. You are the last person I will ever love wholly with all my heart."
There was a soft knock on the door and Courtney quickly stuffed her chain back inside her shirt. "Come in," Courtney said softly.
Jason opened the door softly and smiled towards Courtney. Standing in the doorway, Jason said, "Sonny always makes breakfast for us on Saturdays so if you want to hurry up and get dressed, we could go in a few minutes."
Courtney nodded and got out of bed silently. Looking around on the floor for her clothes, she asked, mostly to herself, "Where are those clothes of mine?"
Jason grinned, "I washed them last night for you."
Courtney looked up at Jason and couldn't help but notice the sweetness that he had always had. Smiling genuinely, Courtney said, "Thanks."
Jason shrugged and handed Courtney her clothes and was about to turn around when he saw something around her neck catch the sunlight almost blinding him from the glint. Wondering what it was, he asked, "What's that around your neck Courtney?"
Courtney reached to her neck and smiled nervously, "Ah. nothing."
Jason rolled his eyes, "Yeah right. I saw it shine! It must be something expensive. Did AJ give it to you?"
Courtney shook her head, "No." She avoided his eyes. She didn't want to tell him that she had kept the ring all these years remembering the promise made when it was given to her.
Jason shook his head, "No, Courtney, you're not going to leave me hanging here. Just show me." He was trying keep the mood light by kidding around with her. Although, there was something he wanted to know about he necklace. Why wouldn't she show it to him?
Courtney reluctantly pulled the chain out of her shirt. She looked up as she held the silver promise ring in her fist, "There, you happy?"
Jason shook his head, "Nope. What's in your fist?" Quickly grabbing her hand, he pried her fingers apart. Stopping suddenly, he stared at what she was wearing around her neck. Looking in to her eyes, he asked, "Is that.?"
Courtney nodded, "Yeah."
Then, before she knew it, Jason captured her in a breathtaking kiss. Passion and desire filled the steamy kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers raked through his hair as she deepened the kiss. Jason's hands slid to her waist and then up to her shoulder until he held the back of her head.
Suddenly realizing what he was doing, Jason quickly pulled away. Staring into her baby-blues, he saw both desire and hurt.
Reaching for him, she asked, "Jason, what's wrong?"
He back away from her touch, "I shouldn't have done that." Quickly, he left the room. As he closed the door behind it, he rubbed his forehead in confusion. What was he getting himself into? He couldn't go back to Courtney; it was just too dangerous.
Courtney stood in her spot staring off into space. She had just kissed Jason. No, he kissed her. Oh, man! What was she getting herself into? Her eyes welling up with tears, the memories of Jason and their time together flashed before her eyes. What had just happened? It was suddenly like nothing had changed between them and they were back at their lake. Closing her eyes to will away the tears from falling, Courtney slowly un-did the chain around her neck. It was back to the jewelry box for this special piece.