Chapter One-Hundred and Eleven
John smiled as they pulled up to the house after school, excited to show Claire his new project that he'd just finished. He waited for her to put her backpack in her room, choosing to dump his in his room before he grabbed her and bolted for the beach that was a few blocks from their house.
"John…" Claire gasped, as she began to slow. "I can't run as fast or long as you…"
John nodded, taking her hand again and walking toward the beach. He pulled his shoes off when they hit the sand, watching as Claire did the same, and made his way toward the rocks he'd found a few days ago.
"What are you doing?" She asked as he started climbing up the rocks, cautiously following him with unskilled hands and feet. "Ow!" She exclaimed as her foot began to bleed from a sharp piece in her foothold.
John poked his head over the top of the boulder, making a sign to communicate. "You okay?" He asked, reaching a hand down to help her up. He took her foot in his hands, pulling his sleeve over his fist as he carefully wiped the blood from her cut, before he tore the hem of his flannel and wrapped her foot in it as a makeshift bandage. "Not bad…" He whispered, telling her that it was only a scratch.
"I'm not used to climbing." She stated, letting him lead her a little higher on the formation to a little cave. "John, what are you doing?" She asked, as she crawled inside of the cave with him.
He smirked, turning around and pointing to the view of the ocean. He leaned back on one of the crappy outdoor pillows he'd stolen from their furniture beside the pool, resting his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled up to his side.
"Wow…" She breathed, watching the waves far below them as they rippled in the sea.
He gave a tired smile, resting his head against the wall behind them. "Love you more… widest ocean…" He tried to form the complete sentence but his throat prevented him from saying all he wanted to.
Claire nestled into his shoulder, breathing in his scent mixing with the salty tang of the sea. "I love you more than the deepest sea." She rubbed her hand over his chest, feeling his breath even out as he finally allowed himself to relax and sleep to rebuild his energy that had been lost to his seizure earlier that day. She listened to his heartbeat, the thunder in his chest mixing with the crashing waves outside of their hideout like the most beautiful kind of storm she'd ever heard.
She waited for him to wake up on his own, feeling him start to come out of his slumber just as the sun was starting to set and turn the sky to a wonderful painting. "How was your nap?" She asked, looking up to see the sunset reflected in his eyes.
He smiled, kissing her head with the joy of her staying by his side as he slept. "Safe…"
Claire watched as his eyes changed from the color of apple cider, to the orange of fall leaves with the sunset. "You're always safe with me." She gently touched his jaw, amazed that he let her fingers brush over his neck without flinching away.
He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch to show how much he trusted her. "My fire…" He whispered.
She kissed him, not a kiss of puppy love, but one of comfort and trust… the kind that her parents shared when they thought they were alone. "My flame."