It was half past eleven, and Skye was pacing the screen porch. She stopped every now and then to bounce on the balls of her feet or do some quick deep lunges.
She knew she would have to say a few things. She wanted to be perfectly clear with Jeffrey about what was happening. She had even considered enlisting Jane to help her write a speech. But she had shook that idea off. This wasn't a fifth-grade homework assignment. It had to come from Skye, and Jeffrey of all people would know if it didn't.
So Skye had no speech. And she hadn't rehearsed a thing. But she was excited.
Jeffrey was her best friend. She was sure of that now. Before she had thought that he could only ever be her best friend. If they tried to be something else, they would lose some crucial element. Now she understood they would always be best friends, no matter what. They had made a vow. They would never break it.
She checked her watch and nodded to herself. Quickly and quietly she inched the screen door open and hopped outside. Batty and Rosalind had both gone to sleep early, and Jane had been snoring, but Skye didn't want any sister to wake up and make her late.
She scampered down the steps and to the beach. Just as she had hoped, the full moon lit up the beach remarkably well. She could see Birches above her clearly. And as she headed towards Alec's cabin, she could see Jeffrey, standing and waiting for her.
She jogged towards him, and then slowed when they were within a few yards. Thanks to the moon, she could see his face, right down to the questioning look in his eyes and the slight dimple on his cheek.
Skye breathed in and out. She took two quick steps towards Jeffrey and placed her hands on his shoulders. Then she kissed him.
He kissed her back gently at first and then with more firmness. He kissed her with desperate passion and tenderness, and Skye matched him. She wrapped her arms around his neck while his hands found her waist and pulled her closer.
The next morning Skye would roll her eyes at her cheesiness, but it really did feel like they had levitated off the sand and were floating up into the stars.
After a long while, she pulled away. Jeffrey stared hungrily into her eyes.
"I have to tell you something and ask you something," Skye said. "I just wanted to do that first...because I really wanted to."
"Always so eloquent," Jeffrey said with a smile.
"Shut up," Skye said. "Listen."
Jeffrey squeezed her waist and looked at her.
"I love you," Skye said. Jeffrey opened his mouth but she cut him off. "Please don't interrupt me, that's only the beginning."
"Jesus, Skye, you won't even let me say it back?" Jeffrey said.
"No, let me finish."
"I love you too," Jeffrey said, quick as a whip. "Always have, always will."
Skye blushed so hard she knew he could see it, even in the dim lighting.
"Ok, great," she said. "But I also wanted to apologize for saying no so many times before. I want you to know that it didn't have anything to do with you. It was all me and my fear over the pain and loss that can happen when you really open yourself up and give yourself to someone. I wasn't ready for all that. I was scared."
"The fearless Skye Penderwick, scared?" Jeffrey leaned his forehead against her. "I forgive you."
"Ok, good, that means you're never allowed to bring it up later, down the line," Skye said. "When we're fighting or something, you can't use my reluctance when we were younger against me or bring up my issues. That's a rule."
"Are you already making rules for us?" Jeffrey said. He was beaming like he couldn't wait for another twenty rules to be added to the list.
"Yes, I am," Skye said. "And I also want you to know that I am all in. This isn't going to be a fling or a brief romance or anything like your other girlfriends. I know what it's like to only go partly in on a relationship, and I don't want that. I don't. This is do or die. Not to be dramatic, but it is."
"Do or die," Jeffrey whispered.
He closed the inches between them and began to kiss her again.
After several minutes, Jeffrey pulled away.
"You're still my best friend," he said.
The moon lit up his happy face, and Skye could have cried she was so overjoyed.
"I know," Skye said.
"You have anything left to say?"
"Nope, not right now," Skye said.
A long while later, they wandered back towards Birches, hand in hand. Every now and then, they would stop and kiss a bit more.
When they reached the bottom of the steps, Jeffrey suddenly laughed out loud.
"What?" Skey asked.
"My mother is going to flip out," Jeffrey said.
Skye groaned and shoved him.
"Why'd you have to bring that up now in the moonlight," Skye said.
"I just love that you are talking about the moonlight nowadays," Jeffrey said.
He pulled her in for one last kiss.