I'm not going to be focusing a lot on the time they spend in France, although I will spend more time on the week Mason is there.
Disclaimer: I do not own Too Young.
Day 4, Early Evening
I'm sitting on the window seat in my room, staring out the window. Earlier, I tried to come up with a melody for the song I wrote on the plane, and when I couldn't come up with anything I tried to write a new song. That didn't go very well either, so I've been staring out the window, hoping for inspiration to strike. I looked up when I heard someone enter the room. It was Tommy. "How's it going?" he asks. I sigh. "Not very well." He looks at me for a moment with a thoughtful look on his face. "Wanna go for a ride?" he asks after a minute. "In your car or on a horse?" I ask back. "On a horse." "Ok, but I'm warning you now, I haven't ridden since I was a kid." "Don't worry, we'll take it slow." he laughs. "You did not just laugh at me!" But I'm laughing too as I hit him on the head with a pillow. "Hey!" "Did I mess up your hair?" I tease. "Are we going for a ride or not?" Ooh, I think I struck a nerve. "Yes, we're going." I get up and put my journal away. Before he walks out the door he yells back, "Bring your guitar." "Yes, sir!" I giggle.
I follow him out to the pasture, where there are two horses grazing, already tacked up. "How'd you know I was going to come." I ask. He turns to me with a smile. "I didn't, I just hoped you would." Aww, that's sweet. Dang! I'm falling for him again. "Which one am I riding?" I ask looking at the two horses. The smaller is a gray and white Appaloosa, and the other is a chestnut with a lighter main and tail. "You're riding Misty." he says pointing towards the Appaloosa. "Misty, okay." I say walking over to her. "I'm riding Daisy." he says walking over to the chestnut and stroking her nose. "Daisy and Misty, cute."
He helps me mount, then he mounts his horse. He clucks to Daisy, and moves her into a trot. I do the same with Misty, and we head off. We rode in silence for a few moments, and I felt my self relaxing. We came to a straight stretch, and Tom turned to me with a gleam in his eyes. He's up to something. I watch warily as he stops Daisy and then do the same. "Want to race?" Did he not hear me when I said it's been awhile since I rode, or is he just ignoring that little fact? If he wants a race, that's just what he'll get. "Sure." I smile sweetly. This is going to be fun.
"From the log to that rock." I say, pointing to a rock about a mile away. We line up next to each other, getting ready. I look at him, to make sure he's ready. "On your mark, get set...Go!" We're off and running. He's slightly ahead of me, and he looks at me over his shoulder, a smug smile on his face. So he thinks he's going to win does he? "C'mon girl. Let's go, let's go." I quietly urge Misty to speed up, and I feel her strides lengthen in response. We're just behind Tommy now. "Come on girl, just a little more. Gimme a little more." I keep talking to her, and we pull ahead of Tommy and Daisy. A few moments later, we gallop past the rock. "Whoa, girl." I pull back on the reins to slow her down. "Yes!" I cry out, once I've slowed Daisy to a trot. I stop as Tommy rides up next to us; he's speechless and that smug look is gone. "Good race." He finally manages to speak. "You too." I smile. We continue on, and I'm silent as I take in the scenery. We head up a hill and as we crest it, I stop. Laid out below is Paris, and the background is the sunset. it is absolutely breathtaking. "Wow." I breathe, stunned by the sight before me. "Let's tie up the horses." Tommy's voice brings me back to reality. "Yeah." I say, shaking my head.
After the horses are tied up I realize for the first time that Tommy brought a bag with him. He pulls out a blanket and lays it on the ground. Next, he pulls out cheese, bread, and sparkling cider followed by plates, cups, napkin and a small pocket knife. After setting it all up on the blanket, he motions for me to sit down. We eat in silence, and when we're finished he motions for me to give him my guitar. I hand it to him a bit reluctantly. He looks out at the city as he starts to strum. He strums absently for a few moments. He looks right into my eyes as he starts to sing.
"Your mother's eyes look straight through me
Whenever we meet
Your father swears it'll never be
As long as he breathes
And how many times have they told you
That you're too young
How, how I've ached to hold you
But you're too young
If we don't buy what's right or wrong
Then we are sinners
We were never two to tag along
But we were always winners
And how many people, have told you
That you're too young
And how many jealous hands would love to hold you
Cause you're too young
Well you're too young to love me
And I'm too old for you
At least that's what they tell us
It's in their book of rules
That you're too young, too young baby you're too young
We could try it for a while
But they'd get us in the long run
They say that you're too young, baby you're too young"
"Tommy, I..." Before I can say anything else, he puts a finger to my lips. "I wrote this after your 16th birthday. I realized how much I love you and I was frustrated because I couldn't be with you. I was tired of everyone saying you were too young. I don't care how old you are, I just want to be with you. We have something special, and I'm a little afraid that we might lose it if we have to wait. It's so frustrating, not being able to be with the person I love more than life itself." I looked away so he wouldn't see the tears in his eyes, but I'm pretty sure he saw them. When I looked back at him, there were tears in is eyes.
" What we have is special, and we will never lose it. I promise. My 16th birthday was simultaneously the best and worst day of my life. It was the best because you kissed me, and I knew you feel the same way I do. But it was the worst, because you told me to forget that it ever happened." My voice quivers as fresh tears start to fall. He wipes away the tears with his finger and my skin tingles at his touch. You remember that wall I built around my heart to protect it? It's gone.
As I gently brush a stray tear from his cheek, he takes my hand in his and entwines his fingers in mine. "Jude, I never wanted to hurt you, I swear. If I could I'd take away all the pain I've ever caused you. The entire time I was gone I was miserable. I was so afraid of losing you forever. You're my everything, my world. You light up my life like the stars light up the sky. You-" I leaned over and kissed him, cutting him off. The kiss deepened as we kisssed with the pent emotions we'd felt over the last few years, the passion, the wanting, and the needing. Before it could get too deep I put a hand on his chest and pulled away. He looked at me with confusion in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Tommy, I can't."