Just as I promised- the third chapter's up and at 'em!...ish...- Anyways. Thanks for the reviews, guys- as always, it's just that extra bit of motivation!
Well, yes, the time has come for Raoul to leave...but you all knew that. I won't give anything away in this little preamble. Hope you like. Read on!
Just as I had forseen, the day came when we had to leave our summer house on the beach, and I had to say goodbye to Christine.
It had been five wonderful weeks since that fateful day when I rescued her scarf from the sea. The entire time had been more magical than any other time in my life, and I feared forgetting it all…or forgetting her.
I remember the very day I bid her farewell; the last day (for a long time, at least) I was with her in her own little home. Her father welcomed me in when I arrived at the door, and I ran up the stairs to the attic, where we'd always sat and talked, and dreamed.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I paused before the door that led into the attic room. How to say goodbye? She had truly changed my life, whether I completely realized it then or not. I was afraid of leaving her—not only for me, but also because I wasn't sure how she would bear it. Neither of us made any secret of our feelings towards one another, and I know she felt just as strongly for me as I did for her.
I opened the door softly and crept in to find her curled up in the armchair in the far corner, her head buried in her arms. She shifted when she heard my entrance, but did not look up.
I went to her tentatively, standing just beside the chair.
"I have to leave," I said pointlessly—she already knew; I'd told her the date of my departure long ago. We'd always known that this day would come, but we'd never quite anticipated or prepared for it.
Her little shoulders went up in a seemingly careless shrug, but I noticed her whole body trembling. Finally she looked up, teary-eyed, and flung her arms around my neck. We both knew it was silly pretending we didn't care: she was the most important person to me in the world, alongside my brother—and I was the same to her, along with her father. Neither of us tried to hide our devastation.
Finally she pulled back to look me in the eye.
"You'll come back—won't you?" she asked pleadingly.
"Of course," I replied forcefully. "You're my best friend."
"I—I think I should die if I never saw you again," she stated dramatically. I looked at her and smiled.
"Then I'll have to come back, won't I?"
She returned the smile, but the tears remained. I felt the same devils prick my eyes in turn, and looked down, just a little embarrassed. I heard Christine giggle a little, and she leaned forward—and before I knew what was happening, I felt her lips, soft and warm and light as springtime, brush my cheek.
The warmth spread through my body like a flame, and I knew my face had gone red—I looked up to find Christine blushing, too, and looking away.
But even though it was awkward, it was absolutely and perfectly right. It was at that moment that I knew Christine would always be a part of my life—and I was perfectly content to have it be so.
In that moment of certainty, I leaned forward in turn and returned the kiss—on her lips this time. It only lasted a split second, and we were both flushing and turning away afterwards—but we both felt the promise of the action this time. I knew she'd acknowledged the same fate as I.
There was nothing left to say, and so after a few moments we began to make our way back downstairs. My family was already in the carriage and waiting on the street outside her front door, and we shared one final hug before I whispered a quick "Goodbye" in her ear.
"I'll…miss you," she replied. I didn't even need to speak in order to reciprocate; the words were pouring out my eyes with the final glance.
I turned to her father, too, and thanked him for his hospitality.
"Well, come back for some more of it another time," he said with a wink and a warm smile. He shook my hand, and I rushed down the front steps and into the waiting carriage.
As it rounded the corner of Christine's street, I looked out to see her one last time. Her back was to me, and her face was buried against her father's chest. He put one arm around her, and lifted the other in farewell.
Sorry to make this so short- I was going to include when Raoul arrives at the first destination of travel, but I decided it would be way too long that way (and thus take more time to get it up here), and also...well, hey, I'd say this is a pretty good chapter in itself! Review if you're reading this phic!