Okay, guys. New chapter. I know it isn't Valentine's Day yet, but there's a catch.
Because you guys are such wonderful readers, I've decided to make you a little surprise. I'll be posting that on V day, and posting this chapter now will actually give me time and inspiration to write it. I'll try to get that finished by Saturday night :)
And the first two people who correctly guess what my surprise is will get a sneak peek at it (once I'm finished, of course)
Hope you enjoy!
Warning: lots of random fluff
Disclaimer: all Selection rights belong to Kiera Cass
I lazily twirled my hair in my fingers, listening to the monotone Mrs. Ramirez lecture us about the economic downfall our country was bound to take sometime in the near future. My eyes started slipping close, and I drifted off into a sleep...until a knock on the door startled me so much that I was awake.
I popped up from my seat and earned a few stares. I blushed and averted my gaze from everyone to the door.
"Who is it?" Mrs. Ramirez asked, thankfully not seeming to notice my little scene.
"Valentine roses, Miss," a cheerful voice spoke out.
Mrs. Ramirez swung the door open, and true to her words, a girl was holding a crate of flowers, to which she plopped into our teacher's hands.
"Have a good day, Miss," she said before closing the door. Through the window, I watched her pick up another box off the ground to deliver to another classroom and walk off.
Mrs. Ramirez raised her eyebrows and said, "Well…" I couldn't help but realize whenever she wasn't teaching, her monotone disappeared.
With a heavy sigh, she set the crate onto the table and cleared her throat, picking the first flower up.
"Natalie," she said.
The blonde girl in the front bounced out of her seat and grabbed the rose out of Miss's hand, immediately blabbering to her friends about how sweet this was.
Mrs. Ramirez frowned.
"All right. Umm...Kayleigh."
The girl sitting next to me got up and soon returned with a flower in her hand.
"Samantha," our teacher said, calling up the next person.
The box started to empty out as more and more girls' and occasionally a few boys' names were called out. But none of those names were mine. My hope for that life and love with Maxon started to thin out, a vacant feeling filling my stomach.
I watched each person get out of their seat happily when they were called up, leaving me with a pang of hurt every time the name wasn't mine.
"Okay, this is the last one. It's for Prin- America," Mrs. Ramirez said confusedly.
A wave of relief coursed through me. He didn't forget about me.
I walked up to the front desk and took the rose - the sweet, beautiful, delicate rose filled with hope - from Miss with a genuine smile of joy.
"Thank you," I mumbled, and turned back away.
Sitting back down at my seat, I flipped over the little paper that was attached to the stem.
From: Maxon Schreave
To: Princess (America Singer)
Front Entrance. Noon.
I ran to and waited by the main doors of the school once second period had ended, leaving Marlee behind in the process. I hoped that she wouldn't mind. I held the rose in one hand and a cheap dollar store crown in the other, hoping the small gift wasn't too stupid. I paced up and down along the wall, passing time. I stopped when I realized there was a poster up for prom. A shower of stars filled the top of the page, and at the bottom, there was a couple dancing. A Modern Day Fairytale, the intricate letters spelt out in perfect cursive. I sighed. Secretly, or not so secretly, I'd been hoping that Maxon would ask ever since the first announcement for prom had been made.
"Hope I didn't keep you for too long," Maxon's voice said.
I looked up and melted when I saw his too-adorable grin.
I shook my head. "No, not at all," I breathed out, too flustered to say anything else.
"Happy Valentine's Day," he said.
"Happy Valentine's Day," I muttered back.
We stared at each other as a warm electricity buzzed between us. How could anyone be as perfect as him? He had the blond hair and chocolate eyes that made all the girls swoon, me falling under his charm the most.
Remembering where I was, I blinked a few times.
"Umm, I wanted to give you this," I said, hesitantly extending my hand with the plastic crown in it.
He took it and inspected it before putting it in his hair, laughing.
I started blabbering. "It seems like a really stupid present, but I figured that you've done so much for me that I could at least give something to you. I don't have a lot of money so I couldn't buy anything more, but I hope you still like it. The crown's to make you like a real prince, but if it's really lame, I could ju-"
He cut me off with a kiss, putting both his hands around my face.
"It's the best present I could ask for," he said.
He smiled and I did too. "You know," he continued, "I asked them if they had tiaras, but all they had were roses. It's such a nuisance that flowers are so overrated. Personally, I'd opt for a tiara any day over some thorny plant, but circumstances being what they were, I just had to settle for a rose."
I giggled at the ridiculousness.
"Anyway, do you want to go anywhere special tonight?" he asked me.
"No. Do you?"
He shrugged. "Nowhere particular. Hmm...I'll think about it."
"Okay."
"Okay, now let's go eat lunch."
I held the black dress up in front of me. Then I took it away and put up the new blue one I had saved up for.
They were both beautiful, but for the past ten minutes, I had been muddling my mind with uncertainty.
"Ames, stop stressing out. It's only a dress," May said from the bed.
I glared at her in my mirror. She didn't know how important this was.
Ignoring her, I held the two of them up, side by side.
"You have to hurry up. Maxon's been waiting in the living room for almost five minutes and Kenna probably wants the room back for Astra. Stop being so slow," my sister instructed me.
I rolled my eyes and turned around to face her.
"Okay. Which one would you pick?" I asked her.
She immediately pointed to the blue one. "It's so pretty," she said.
"But it's Valentine's Day. Blue doesn't really fit the occasion," I said.
Impatience playing in her eyes, she stalked up to me and took the black dress out of my hands.
"Just wear the blue one," she said before turning away and leaving the room.
I sighed and followed my sister's instructions.
When I was finished changing, I looked into the mirror again. The dark blue chiffon grazed right above my knees, floating in different layers. May was right. It was fine. I smiled and opened the door a tiny crack.
"May," I hissed, calling my sister from the end of the little hallway to come to my room. She turned away from whatever she was looking at and obediently came.
I opened the door for her and closed it shut once she was on my bed. Holding a box of bobby pins in her hand, she patted the empty space next to her.
"Do you have a brush?" she asked.
I nodded and took it off my table and handed it to her.
She started to brush my hair, and I closed my eyes.
"You look beautiful, Ames," she said.
I smiled and thought for a moment before responding. "A dress doesn't determine beauty. At the end of the day, it's only fabric. It's who a person is that determines how beautiful they are. Don't get confused between pretty and beautiful."
"Well, I still think that you're beautiful," she said.
I smiled even more. "But obviously not as beautiful as you."
I opened my eyes, and in the mirror, I saw a faint blush dance across her cheeks.
Brushing the compliment away, her expert artist hands started to shape an elaborate updo, putting pins all over my hair. She pulled my hair into different types of styles, braiding and tying it up.
"Your voice is so lovely," May said all of a sudden.
"What?"
"Your voice. It's so nice."
"Why?"
"Oh, nothing. You were just humming."
"Oh, I didn't even notice."
She laughed. "Do you know that you hum a lot?"
"Occasionally. What? Do I do it all the time?"
"Yeah. You do it at home when you're doing your chores."
She sighed. "I wish my voice could be like yours."
I patted her knee. "You are a wonderful singer, but you're so talented in art that sometimes, it makes me jealous."
She laughed again and put one last pin into my hair. "All done," she said.
May walked me over to the mirror and I looked at myself. The hair was so pretty, a bun at the bottom and an elaborate braid draped across the top of it.
"Thank you," I said.
"Anytime," she beamed.
I slipped my heels on and gave her a hug.
"Okay. You have to hurry up now. He's been waiting for too long," she said. With a shove, she pushed me out of my room and into the hallway. Butterflies teased my stomach, a trickle of tickling, then fluttering all around.
She pushed me once more and I stumbled into the living room. Maxon turned around and my heart almost pounded out of my chest. He wore a simple dress shirt and pants, his blond hair neatly styled. He looked so handsome, more so than he usually did. "Wow," I mumbled.
"You look handsome," I said without even thinking.
Realizing what I said, I blushed. Trying to fight it, I walked over to him, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and breathed in the smell of his musky cologne.
"You look beautiful," he whispered in my ear.
That only further intensified my blush. He chuckled. "By the way, everyone's watching," he whispered.
Even more heat crept up my cheeks and I turned back to see all eyes on us, including Gerad's and mom and dad's. May looked like she was going to pass out from happiness.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said, looking away from everyone and back at Maxon.
We walked to the door and before we stepped out of the apartment, mom said, "Have fun, kids. And Maxon, dear, say hello to your parents for me."
"Will do," he said with a smile, shutting the door behind him.
We walked over to and stood in the elevator in silence. Maxon studied me, and as if he couldn't hold it in anymore, he said, "You look absolutely gorgeous."
We both stood blushing, looking at each other. "Don't say that," I squeaked out.
"But you really are," he said, giving me a small smile.
Oh, dear God, please help me. How am I supposed to accept compliments from someone I really like?
Waving it away, I decided to change the topic and asked him, "So have you decided where to go?"
"How about that fancy new steakhouse nearby? I mean, we're already dressed like this." He gave me a once-over.
The elevator doors opened and we stepped out into the lobby.
"Sure," I said.
We walked into the parking lot.
"I'll pay," he said suddenly, being the gentleman he was.
I frowned as we approached his car. "Maxon, you don't have to pay for everything. We can split the tab this time, but next time, I can save up, so stop wasting your money on me."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "How would I be wasting money if it's for you? I'd call it spending it wisely."
I rolled my eyes and climbed into the seat. "What I'm saying is that you don't need to spoil me so much."
He smirked. "Well, I don't care what you say. You're worth every single cent I spend."
It felt like a volcano erupted in my bloodstream, because I burnt up all of a sudden. Goosebumps covered every inch of me, and yet, I didn't mind it...because he said I was worth it.
I said, "Anyway, I wouldn't mind if we just got strawberry tarts and ate all those for dinner. We don't need anything too expensive."
Ignoring my last comment, he said, "Strawberry tarts, huh? I'll tell you what. After we go eat dinner at the steakhouse which we are still going to because I already made reservations before-"
"Wait, what?"
"Never mind that. Anyway, we'll go back to my place, gorge on some tarts, and watch a movie. How does that sound?"
I grinned happily. Although I shouldn't be taking his suggestions for granted, I couldn't help but give one more request. "Yes, please. What movie? Please say a chick flick like The Notebook. It's Valentine's Day. Please?"
He shrugged. "Don't mind them. Just don't cry too much and make a mess. I never know what to do when women cry."
I grinned. "That will be near impossible."
He shook his head with a smile and ignited the engine.
"You got your seatbelt on?" he asked, looking at me.
I nodded. "Yup."
We started driving.
I knew his car like my fifth home now; the first being my real home, second my school, third Marlee's place, and fourth, his place. I turned the knob next to the display screen, scanning for some music.
"I got the 1989 album for you. Just scroll through the folders and you'll find it."
I gasped. He knew my fondness for Taylor Swift and how I loved to listen to her songs whenever I had the opportunity to.
I finally found the first song to the album and pressed play. "Thank you, Maxon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I bounced slightly in my seat from delight.
His grin was unmistakeable.
"Oh, you're the sweetest!" I squealed, clapping my hands excitedly.
He looked at me. "Anytime, princess."
"America, darling," Mrs. Schreave's lyrical voice sung.
She pulled me into a hug and I hugged her back.
"If you want, there's some fresh strawberry tarts in the kitchen."
"Thank you, Mrs. Schreave."
"Anytime."
Maxon tugged on my hand and dragged me up the stairs, away from his mother.
I giggled. "Where are you taking me?"
"My room, of course. I mean, don't you want to change into something a little more comfortable?"
"Yeah," I laughed. This boy was making me so crazy, painting a never-ending smile on my face.
When we got to his room, I flopped onto his couch and browsed through the movies on his TV - a ritual now - while he looked for new clothes in his walk-in closet.
"You don't mind if these are a bit big, do you?" he asked.
"Nope."
After a moment's silence, he emerged from the closet and tossed me a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie.
"You can go in the bathroom," he said.
"Okay," I said as I bundled up the clothes and walked into the washroom. I removed my dress and stepped into the overly large clothes. Despite their size, it was easy to say that these were the most comfortable things I have ever worn. Realizing that the dress lay across the countertop, I looked around for a hanger, only to find out I couldn't see one. I opened the door to ask Maxon, but when I tried to say something, nothing came out. The reason was quite simple, though.
Not having his shirt put on fully, I could see the defined muscle lines of his chest, arms, and stomach. I had always known that his arms weren't bad, but had I been expecting this? No, I hadn't. His muscles weren't extremely delineated, but they were existent. He was perfect. It looked like his body could have been chiseled by a Renaissance sculptor himself.
I tried to avert my gaze, but my eyes kept on darting back to him. He pulled his shirt over himself and grinned.
Attempting to disregard my wild blush, I said, "Do you have an extra hanger for my dress?"
He laughed, strode to his closet, and pulled one out for me.
In the too-baggy-but-too-comfortable-clothes, I more or less walked to the bathroom and put hung my dress up.
"You have a really nice voice," Maxon commented all of a sudden.
Surprised, I turned around and said, "What?"
"You have a really good voice," he repeated, "You were singing before."
"Oh, I was?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Mm hm."
I sat on the couch and soon, he followed.
"Could you sing for me?" he asked.
I widened my eyes before blinking a few times. Sing for him.
Seeing me stunned to silence, he said, "Here. I'll make a proposition. If you sing for me, I'll give you a lifetime's supply of strawberry tarts."
I smiled. That was a deal I could not turn down. "Okay...What song?"
He rested his chin on his hand and said, "Any song you want, I guess."
"Okay. Come closer, though."
I motioned for him and he obliged, scooting over. I took it one step further and put my head on his lap so that I was looking up into his chocolate brown eyes. Goosebumps appeared on my arms, and not really in control of my voice, my mouth started acting on its own accord. An old, familiar tune bounced across the walls of the room as I sang.
Maxon's fingers started tracing the outline of my lips. I gulped but continued.
A beam spread across his face. More lyrics, more melodies, more memories. As the song came to an end, he nuzzled my cheek.
"That was beautiful, princess," he said.
I sat up and teasing him with an almost-kiss, I said, "Thank you, but I'm afraid my part of the deal's over. May I please have my strawberry tart now?"
He rolled his eyes.
"Fine," he groaned.
I laughed at his annoyance, but I knew that he still wanted the food. I pulled on his hand and ran out of the door, down the hallway. After a series of twists and turns, we were in the kitchen and munching on the dessert before I knew it.
I don't know how many I took, and I was sure that I was stuffing myself too much, but I couldn't care less.
"I'm going to make the popcorn," Maxon announced.
As I finished up my last tart, I walked over to the popcorn maker, where he was measuring the oil with a precise hand.
He looked at me and smiled. I leaned my head on his free shoulder and sighed. Glancing at the measurement book and back at the cup, I said, "My prince, I think you poured too much."
Noticing it, he tilted the bottle of oil up and said, "I'm such a klutz."
I laughed and he did too. I took the measuring cup away from his hand and poured the excess back into its container.
I handed the now-emptier cup back to him, and he tipped it so the oil went into the popcorn maker.
"Now that's better," he said.
I watched Maxon get everything else ready, and finally, we watched the popcorn cook.
I propped my legs up on Maxon's lap and adjusted the cushion beneath my head. We were situated comfortably in his room, lights dimmed, TV on, popcorn in the middle. This movie was one of the most sensational and inspiring I had ever watched. Each time Marlee and I watched The Notebook, our tears would come in an endless stream. Noah and Allie's love was just too strong, an unconditional bond. They needed each other like they needed air, and it was just beautiful. Somewhere in my subconscious mind, I was comparing this to what Maxon and I had. No, it wasn't like we were star-crossed lovers, or even in love for that fact, but we were still something.
I could depend on him, though. He wasn't just someone I could count on; he was someone I could trust my life on. What had created that connection between him and I? I wasn't sure. Maybe it was the countless days we'd spent being close friends, or maybe it was the infinite random facts and secrets we told each other.
I looked at him. He was flawless in every imperfect way possible. He did so much for me, saving me from Celeste, the world, myself. I remembered when he protected me from that man who was following me, protected me against the cold by giving me his jacket, protected me from doing stupid things. I honestly didn't think I could live without him.
I widened my eyes as I realized something.
Oh my god, I needed him.
I needed him to give me little kisses to make my stressful days better, I needed him to hug me close when times get hard, and most of all, I needed him to be there for me no matter what. And in return, I would be there for him.
I shifted from my position, sat up, and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
In the back of my head, there was a voice urging me to say it, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him. It would be so weird.
In that simple kiss, I hoped that he would understand what I was saying.
I need you, it said.
And I think he got it, because he kissed me back.
I seriously need help writing these chapters...
Anyway, review replies
Lasting Violet: aww thx!
morethanjustastory: Thank you!
Guest: Thanks!
SorryI'mReading: Lol, thanks, and that's ok. And what do you mean by a Kriss/Aspen story? Do you mean am I going to pair them? Anyway, thanks!
Maxerica15: OMGGGGG! I laughed and freaked out at your review! I apologize for any weirdness caused... Anyway, thx!
kkhardenstein: Yay! Thank you! And that's so cool!
canifindtheone: Thank you! That honestly made my day!
Someone the World Forgot: Lol that's funny. And yeah, he and Lucy have it rough...
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Radackl: haha thanks!
Thank you everyone for reading this story!
Hope you guys will like the next chapter!
Bye!
Yes guys, I know that it's late in the day, but I still have this chapter!
I actually only finished just today...whoops?
Anyway, I have decided that I will finish this story before updating any new chapters. I've come to so many road blocks it's not even funny (it's because I underdeveloped the plot :l) I've realized that if I post occasionally, I'll backtrack and say, 'why did I do this?', but then I can't change it, so I just have to alter the story. So, please don't be surprised if I don't post for another 3-4 months... I'll be replying to the reviews by posting another chapter with just review replies if you get what I'm saying.
Also, some of you guys have been saying you want Lucy and Aspen, and some of you want Kriss and Aspen. Just tell me who you want (in a review) and I'll take the majority!
Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: all Selection rights belong to Kiera Cass
The roses had been handed out. They came just this morning, and ever since, I couldn't sit still because it meant that America had gotten hers. Why was I so nervous? It was only a flower.
But to me, it seemed like so much more. It showed how much she meant to me, her charisma, her loveliness, her smile getting more and more on my mind each day. To add to that, she had these bright blue eyes that always lightened whenever she laughed.
Someone punched my arm lightly, breaking me free from my visions of her.
"What?" I asked.
I turned back and found Carter's eyes locking onto mine.
"Hey Maxon. Stop daydreaming about your girl. Take her out on a date later, but I really want to finish this essay first and I need your help with it."
A chair screeched against the floor and the library doors opened. So foolishly I had been hoping that one of the people in here would be America, but just because I had a spare didn't mean that she had one. I looked at the clock. Ten minutes left.
I looked back at Carter.
"Fine. But can I ask you one thing, though?" I asked, needing ideas for this evening.
He looked at me suspiciously.
"Are you taking Mar anywhere special tonight? I mean, you know, it's Valentine's Day, so I was just wondering," I said.
"Depends on what special is. I'm going to take her to a fancy restaurant, maybe do something that we don't normally do afterwards."
"So should I do the same?"
He shrugged. "Sure, I guess."
Another question popped into my mind. "Do I have to wear a suit?"
"Nah. Just wear like a dress shirt and dress pants."
I nodded.
"Should I do anything else?" I asked.
"You don't have to."
A silence passed between us as Carter tapped his fingers on his laptop's keyboard and stared at the screen.
"Dude, stop stressing out over this. It's just another date. She'll love it either way if she likes you," he said.
I rolled my eyes. He didn't understand.
She was my first crush, my first girlfriend, my first everything. Then again, though, she was the only girl I ever really looked at.
"Okay," I sighed knowing that I wasn't going to get any advice. "I'll help you with your essay now."
"Thanks so much," he said.
"No problem."
He tilted the screen towards me so I could read over the introduction.
"I need help coming up with one more argument," he said.
I gave him a few tips and suggestions along with a thought-provoking question.
"Remember who your audience is. You need to speak in a manner that will appeal to them," I said.
He typed some notes down.
"And try to make your arguments more concise. Right now, it's dragging on for too long and no offense, but it's kin...wait what time is it?" I asked.
"Uh it's twelve-o'-two."
"Shoot. I'm late," I said as I packed my things up, "I told her to meet me at noon."
He laughed at my tardiness.
"Okay, good luck man," he said.
"Thanks."
With that, I darted out of the library and down the main hall, but was immediately slowed down. Going against the current of a sea of people walking to the cafeteria was insanely difficult. Why had I asked her to go the front entrance again?
Finally, I emerged through the crowd and saw her standing there.
Looking up at a poster, America held a crown in her hand and the rose in the other. I walked closer to her so I could see the poster. Prom. Right, I had to ask her soon, but I also wanted it to be in a special kind of way, because she was a special kind of girl.
"Hope I didn't keep you for too long," I said. Seriously, Maxon? That was so lame. I covered it up with a smile.
She looked up at me and something in her eyes changed. My heart fluttered.
She shook her head and said, "No, not at all."
I looked at her. How could anyone possibly be that perfect? The quiet smile hidden in her eyes made my stomach turn into some kind of mush and yet, I didn't mind because this feeling was so fascinating. I was so tangled up in her charm that I didn't realize she had started talking.
She held out the hand that had the crown in it. I accepted it graciously and looked at it. A crown. I laughed. I was her prince, wasn't I?
I put it on, and before I could say anything, she started blathering, "It seems like a really stupid present, but I figured that you've done so much for me that I could at least give something to you. I don't have a lot of money so I couldn't buy anything more, but I hope you still like it. The crown's to make you like a real prince, but if it's really lame, I could ju-"
I cut her off with a kiss. Purely instinct based.
"It's the best present I could ask for," I said with a smile, and she returned it, "You know, I asked them if they had tiaras, but all they had were roses. It's such a nuisance that flowers are so overrated. Personally, I'd opt for a tiara any day over some thorny plant, but circumstances being what they were, I just had to settle for a rose."
She laughed adorably and I was pretty sure my heart melted into a puddle already.
"Anyway," I said, remembering where I was, "do you want to go anywhere special tonight?"
"No. Do you?"
I shrugged and said, "Nowhere particular. Hmm...I'll think about it." Should I take her to the new steakhouse or somewhere else?
"Okay," she said.
"Okay, now let's go eat lunch."
"So, Maxon, do you play?" Gerad asked. I was sitting in America's living room conversing with her brother. Turns out he's a pretty riveting kid. By the age of seven, he had already come up with a plan to embark on his scientific career dreams.
"Play what?" I asked.
"Well...play. You know, soccer."
"Oh, soccer. Yeah, I can play decently I guess. How about you?"
"Yeah, I play. In the summer, when it's warmer, do you want to play? There's a field nearby."
I smiled. "Sure, buddy."
"Do you play anything else? There's a community centre just around here. I was thinking maybe you could…oh, there she is."
I turned around and my stomach and my heart coordinated to do something funny. Her flaming red hair was exquisitely pinned up and her dark blue dress made the cool blue of her eyes pop.
She looked sublime. No.
She looked beautiful.
"You look handsome," she said, the words escaping before she could stop them.
She blushed and it made her look even more breathtaking, if that was possible. Seemingly avoiding her blush, she took dainty steps toward me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"You look beautiful," I whispered into her ear.
Her cheeks had now turned a furious red and that made me chuckle. "By the way, everyone's watching," I told her.
She turned around to see if my words were true. I felt kind of bad for having everyone see her blush so much, I asked her, "Ready to go?"
She looked back at me and said, "Yeah."
She laced her arm through mine and walked us to the door. Before we made it out of the apartment, Mrs. Singer said, "Have fun, kids. And Maxon, dear, say hello to your parents for me."
"Will do," I said.
Once the door shut close, I walked America over to the open elevator doors. I hit the lobby button and off we went.
We stood in silence and I snuck a peek at her. Captivating, alluring, perfect. That's what she was like. "You look absolutely gorgeous."
The words slipped out of me and I didn't mean for them to. Heat crept up my cheeks but my gaze still held to her.
"Don't say that," she squeaked.
With a small smile, I said, "But you really are." In this moment, I was so glad that father had taught me a thing or two about being composed.
Switching the topic, she said, "So have you decided where to go?"
"How about that fancy new steakhouse nearby? I mean, we're already dressed like this." In truth, though, I had asked her to dress semi-formally because I had already made reservations.
The elevator doors opened and I guided her through.
"Sure," she said.
In the parking lot, I said, "I'll pay."
She frowned at me as we got to my car. "Maxon, you don't have to pay for everything. We can split the tab this time, but next time, I can save up, so stop wasting your money on me."
I drew my eyebrows to her. Couldn't she tell that I wanted to do this for her? "How would I be wasting money if it's for you? I'd call it spending it wisely."
I climbed into the seat and listened as she said, "What I'm saying is that you don't need to spoil me so much."
My lips pulled into a smirk as I waved her advice away. "Well, I don't care what you say. You're worth every single cent I spend."
It was true. I would sacrifice anything else of mine if it meant that she could be happy.
"Anyway," she said, "I wouldn't mind if we just got strawberry tarts and ate all those for dinner. We don't need anything too expensive."
Strawberry tarts. She always liked the simple things in life. "Strawberry tarts, huh? I'll tell you what. After we go eat dinner at the steakhouse which we are still going to because I already made reservations before-"
"Wait, what?"
"Never mind that. Anyway, we'll go back to my place, gorge on some tarts, and watch a movie. How does that sound?"
She smiled happily. "Yes, please. What movie? Please say a chick flick like The Notebook. It's Valentine's Day. Please?"
I shrugged. "Don't mind them. Just don't cry too much and make a mess. I never know what to do when women cry." Should I give them a tissue or should I just hug them?
I really was a sucker for bending at her requests, though.
She grinned. "That will be near impossible."
With a smile, I shook my head and started the car.
"You got your seatbelt on?" I asked. Her safety was now my top priority.
She nodded. "Yup."
I started driving.
Halfway through our drive, I remembered something. "I got the 1989 album for you. Just scroll through the folders and you'll find it."
She gasped. I smiled.
A few moments of silence passed as she searched for the songs. She finally found it and pressed play. "Thank you, Maxon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She bounced in her seat. God, she was the most adorable thing on earth.
"Oh, you're the sweetest!" she beamed, clapping her hands excitedly.
I looked at her for a second. "Anytime, princess."
"America, darling," Mom beamed.
She hugged America.
"If you want, there's some fresh strawberry tarts in the kitchen." I had asked Mom to order some for us and she agreed without a second glance.
"Thank you, Mrs. Schreave," she said. I smiled. Did grown women still get flutters in their heart whenever they used their husbands' last names?
"Anytime," Mom replied.
With impatience, I tugged on America's hand and dragged her away.
"Where are you taking me?" she giggled.
"My room, of course. I mean, don't you want to change into something a little more comfortable?"
"Yeah," she said with a laugh.
When we got to my room, I dropped her off at the couch and walked to my closet. In there, I looked for some clothes for both of us to change into. I picked mine out easily, but our sizes were so different.
"You don't mind if these are a bit big, do you?" I asked.
"Nope," she responded.
I scavenged for something smaller, but all I found was an old pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. I tossed her those and said, "You can go in the bathroom."
Did that come out as too demanding? Possibly not noting it, she went in there without a care. The door separating me from her shut close and I sighed as I put on the new clothes. What was this girl doing to me? She was changing me by the second. It was a good kind of change, though. I felt the need to make her happy and worry-free. Was I doing that correctly?
A harmonious melody suddenly hummed from the bathroom. It was beautiful. Soon, I realized that it was America's voice. Another reason as to why she was flawless.
The bathroom door suddenly opened as I was halfway through putting my shirt on. She gawked at me for a few moments before I rolled the rest of my shirt down. I grinned. Her cheeks turned red.
"Do you have an extra hanger for my dress?" she asked. She looked adorable with clothes that were a few sizes too large for her.
I laughed. It seemed like she would never stop making me smile. I went over to the closet and took one out for her.
She took it from me and walked to the bathroom. She started to sing quietly again.
"You have a really nice voice," I said.
She turned around in surprise and said, "What?"
"You have a really nice voice. You were singing before."
"Oh, I was?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Mm hm."
Confusedly, she sat down on the couch. I joined her and blurted out, "Could you sing for me?"
She looked like a deer caught in headlights.
"Here," I said, "I'll make a proposition. If you sing for me, I'll give you a lifetime's supply of strawberry tarts."
She smiled. Was that a deal she could turn down?
"Okay...What song?" she asked. Apparently not.
I put my chin on my hand and said, "Any song you want, I guess."
She nodded. "Okay. Come closer, though."
She waved me over, so I did go to her. I stared at her for a moment. She lay her head down on my lap so I could see her blue eyes. She started singing, and I fell under her mellifluous charm.
She was too beautiful. She had the natural beauty, the one without makeup; the one where she could look perfect even wearing sweatpants and a hoodie.
But there was something more than just her appearance. She was beautiful on the inside, her care for others, her wildness, her spontaneous actions, all adding up to radiate a kind of glow so many people lacked these days.
Before I could stop myself, my fingers started tracing the outline of her lips. I beamed, and as she sang the last few notes, I nuzzled her cheek and said, "That was beautiful, princess."
She smiled at the compliment and sat up, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing her forehead to mine. She didn't quite give me a kiss, but she was teasing me.
"Thank you," she said, "but I'm afraid my part of the deal's over. May I please have my strawberry tart now?"
Rolling my eyes, I groaned, "Fine."
Without giving a kiss, she giggled and pulled on my hand, leading me out of my room. We went down the flight of stairs and through a small hallway, we found ourselves in the kitchen eating the tarts.
She moaned in delight and all I could do was smile.
"I'm going to make the popcorn," I said.
I walked to the popcorn machine and unscrewed the oil cap on the bottle. I poured it into the measuring cup, but when America came over and leaned her head on my shoulder, I lost track of what I was doing.
"My prince," she started. My heart did something weird whenever she said that. "I think you poured too much."
Looking at the cup, I realized that was true and tilted the bottle up. "I'm such a klutz," I commented.
She laughed and I did too. She took the cup from me and poured whatever was too much back into the container.
She gave me the emptier cup to me and I poured that into the popcorn machine.
"Now that's better," I said.
After getting everything else prepared, I stood back and put an arm around her, watching the popcorn cook.
Back in my room, we flicked on the TV and in between us was the bowl of popcorn. I sat down comfortably and let America's legs rest on my lap. I didn't pay any attention to what was going on in the movie. I was too focused on America.
I looked at her and my heart melted.
I didn't know if this was love. Maybe it was too soon to feel this way, but it felt so damn good. My heart beat loudly and my stomach churned deliriously.
I couldn't bring myself to tell her though, because I wouldn't really say, 'Hey, I know that we're really good friends and we've only been dating for like two months, but I think I'm falling in love with you already'. Besides, I don't think she would feel the same way about me. Oh, but if she did, I would be the luckiest guy on earth.
No, wait. I think this was love. To want to give anything up in order for her to be happy, to laugh along with her for every stupid thing that we do, to be willing to wait for her.
What would it be like to wake up next to the most perfect girl on earth each morning or to give and receive her kisses every day? Immaculately wonderful.
I wanted to tell her, but she obviously wouldn't be feeling the same about me, would she? Once those words were out there, it would be impossible to take them back.
To my surprise, however, she sat up and kissed me on the cheek. Had she realized something, too? I smiled and returned that kiss, but this time, on the lips.
In that small gesture, I told her, I love you.
Hope you guys enjoyed!
As I said before, I might not post for another 3-4 months...
Anyway, review replies:
Booklover122015: I'm so so so sorry that I didn't finish the chapter before, and you couldn't get a sneak peek. But to make up for that, you can request anything and I'll take it into major consideration. And thank you so much for reading my story!
kkhardenstein: Thank you!
Maxerica15: Thank you! I love your name btw. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait for the prom chapter to find out! I just don't want to ruin it by giving you spoilers ('cause if I tell you, it'll ruin the whole plot for you)... Also, I hope you liked Maxon's POV.
Kayrose57: Hahaha thank you!
morethanjustastory: lol, good guess, but no. Thanks anyway!
Lasting Violet: Thank you! I'm also still planning when America will say it, but just remember that America only said that she needed him. She didn't say she loved him just yet.
canifindtheone: Thank you! And do you want Aspen and Lucy?
Guest: Thanks!
Books4ever12: Thank you!
Guest: Thank you! I was excited about Harry Potter to! Anyway, you think Aspen and Kriss? Also, I'm sorry but I can't give you spoilers to the prom chapter. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Thank you all for reviewing and reading my story! Love ya!
Bye!