Just Friends
Disclaimer: Sadly, this all belongs to a man named Josh. Oh, and Frank Sinatra (along with Billie Holiday) sang the song Just Friends. All songs quoted are by Frank Sinatra.
Chapter 11: We Loved We Laughed We Cried
From this day forward, I promise you with all my heart
That we shall never be apart, from this day on
From this day forward, I'm yours to call your very own
I live my life for you alone, from this day on.
On and on, I'll welcome each new tomorrow
Knowing that our tomorrow is here
On and on, and even beyond forever
Heaven is mine whenever you're near
From this day forward, I give you me with all my love
From this day forward, from this day on
"From This Day Forward"
Marissa watched a couple gaze lovingly into each other's eyes. They were so in love, so happy, she and Ryan had once been that way. Why couldn't they be that way any more? She was determined to make things right with him, once and for all. But she couldn't go after him. If Ryan could find her here, then she'd know for sure; they were meant to be.
--
Pick up, Marissa, Ryan thought to himself, listening to the phone ring for the third time. Why wasn't she picking up? Why weren't her roommates picking up, either? He slammed the phone down. He'd just have to go over there.
Ryan grabbed his keys, not bothering to lock the door. He ran down the steps and out onto the lawn, sprinting across it until he reached Marissa's dorm. Once he reached her door, he knocked loudly twice.
One of Marissa's roommates, looking quite disheveled in just a men's shirt, came to the door.
"Ryan?"
"Is Marissa here?" Ryan asked hopefully. The girl disappeared back into the dorm suite and reappeared a moment later.
"No," the girl said. "Sorry." She smiled apologetically and shut the door. Ryan stood in the hall, trying to figure out where Marissa might be.
Then it hit him. He ran down the steps and out the door onto the green lawn. Disrupting a casual three-on-three soccer game, he sprinted towards his destination, hopes high at the slight shadow of a person.
Marissa was waiting under the willow tree. Ryan came closer and closer, chest heaving up and down and cheeks reddening from the physical exertion.
"Marissa," he panted heavily, stopping short at the sight of the beautiful, teary-eyed girl. "I can't deny it any more. I love you."
With gray-blue eyes Marissa looked up at Ryan. He was out of breath and…had he just said he loved her? Ryan carefully bent down and sat next to Marissa. She scooted over a little so their thighs were touching, sending sparks of pent-up electricity through both of their bodies.
"I…love you," Marissa managed to say, awestruck by Ryan's sudden proclamation.
She turned and arranged herself so she was in Ryan's lap. Ryan put his arms around Marissa and twisted her body gently so that she was facing him. He slowly lifted her chin with his hand and kissed her.
Not too forceful, or too passionate, the kiss was just that. It was the perfect kiss, the kiss of love. Both Ryan and Marissa had been waiting for it for so long, for too long. And finally, they could enjoy it.
Ryan's hands traveled to the small of Marissa's back, where she was quite sensitive. Marissa moaned as his hands slipped under her shirt and began to trace letters on her back. She pushed forward and Ryan fell back onto the grass, Marissa on top of him. She writhed as his lips left imprints on her neck, her collar bone, her shoulders. He sent shivers up and down her spine. Marissa had to bite her lips to keep from crying out; they were in a public place, after all.
"You don't know how long I've wanted to do this," Ryan murmured, kissing Marissa's ear and letting his tongue slip out and boost her already heightened senses.
Just as Ryan was beginning to forget--to care--about where they were and the fact that it was only late afternoon, Marissa giggled into his mouth.
"What?" he asked, resting his cheek against Marissa's.
"The whole year I've been trying to work up the courage to tell you how I feel," Marissa explained, "If only I had just sucked it up and told you…"
"I called you dozens of times," Ryan admitted, "But I always hung up before you answered. Or, once you answered, I'd freeze up and say nothing."
Marissa kissed Ryan's nose, laughing. "So you were the one I thought was my stalker. Every time I answered the phone, there was nothing but quiet breathing."
"So you've felt this way all year?" Ryan asked tentatively. He liked the weight of Marissa on his chest; he hadn't realized how much he missed it until now. He liked being able to feel her heart beating against his.
"Since the day we broke up," Marissa admitted, "I knew I'd made a mistake."
"But now we're together." Ryan smiled. This was quite possibly one of the best days of his life. The love of his life was in his arms. What more could he want?
Ryan closed his eyes and basked in the light filtering through the shady branches of the willow tree. Their willow tree. It was a symbol of their love. He opened his eyes only when he heard a soft sobbing coming from Marissa.
"What's wrong?" he asked instantly. Had he done something wrong?
"Nothing…" Marissa sniffed, "I'm just…so happy. But also somewhat sad because we wasted a year. A whole year."
Ryan kissed her softly on the lips. "We'll make up for lost time." He winked at Marissa.
She sniffed. "You know, I somehow believe you. I love you, Ryan."
"I love you, Marissa."
Ryan and Marissa lay there for a few more minutes, Marissa's head resting in the crook of Ryan's neck. "This tree is like, a symbol of our love. It's been our tree for…"
"Ever?" Ryan offered.
"Yeah. Forever." Marissa ran her hands through Ryan's sandy colored hair. "And it's always been there…and our love I guess has always been there."
Ryan silenced her with a deep kiss. It was filled with more passion, more heartfelt emotion, than he'd ever been able to give her. "I love you," he whispered. "We're going to last forever this time."