Well…it's been a while…but the votes are in and here's the next chapter!
Enjoy!
*Disclaimer: I don't own JL, only the teens in this fanfic
O~O~O
Chapter Thirty-one: Sun after the storm
Ophelia's P.O.V.
The rain…
I wish it could just wash away everything. All of this confusion, shock, and hurt…
I wish I could just wake up tomorrow with the sunlight beaming through my windows and this whole ordeal, an overwhelming dream, washed away by the soothing droplets of water. I used to love the rain, but not when it's like this; not when it seems like there's no sun at the end of the storm. I want the sun to come out, to let its warm glow radiate and cast away all of the dark shadows of the storm.
'But will there be a sun at the end of this storm?'
I shut the curtains and felt myself collapse into a wreckage of tears. The tears kept rolling down my face, unstoppable and uncontrolled. My shoulders began to shake as I pulled my knees close to me and curled up into a ball. My room suddenly felt like a prison. It was once my safe haven, but now I just wanted to get out of there.
I can't look at it the same way again…
The four walls of my room once seemed like a sanctuary from the drama I deal with everyday. As crazy as it sounds, these four walls listened to my tears and groans of frustration. My bed, along with all its contents, comforted me when I was alone and hurt. My acoustic guitar stood against the wall, right next to the French doors that led into my balcony. It was the anchor that kept me calm on my most turbulent days. But not once did I think that the very room I adored was in reality a cage to shelter me from the truth.
'I thought I was different…I never saw myself as the pretty, ignorant, sheltered rich girl. But I guess I am. Fate meant to make me the most ignorant of all the rich girls…'
I couldn't take it anymore…
With eyes still glistening with tears, I got up and began to walk towards the French doors. I stepped out into the balcony, the rain still pelting down. But I didn't care…the rain drops were washing me away. It was taking me to a place that was far away from the swirl of emotions that inhabited my being. I walked to the end of the balcony and closed my eyes. I pretended that I was standing in a garden in the middle of summer shower with the sun beginning to peak from behind the clouds.
From behind my eyelids, I noticed that there was a bright light.
'It couldn't be the sun…last time I checked; it was still the early hours of the morning.'
I opened my eyes and saw that the source of bright lights was coming from a car. I looked down into my balcony and saw that it was Maddox standing down there. He seemed to be in a trance standing there and looking at me intently. His body was soaked from the rain but he didn't seem to care. I wondered how long he was standing there…
I stared back at him and when our eyes met, it was like he was staring right into my soul. Those soft green eyes expressed a look of longing…for what, I didn't know…
I held my hand out towards him, a quiet gesture to let him come up. Maddox and I haven't been on easy ground as of lately, and we needed to make a truce.
As if he was snapped out of his trance, he quickly climbed up the vines of my balcony. I kept my hand out and helped him climb over the railing. He continued to hold my hand and didn't seem on letting go. He kept his eyes on me and when I looked up into them, I couldn't hold his intense gaze. I lowered my eyes and felt warmness spread over my cheeks.
'I can't believe it…this feeling…it can't be. Do I really ha– '
Before I could finish the thought, I felt his lips softly brush over mine. I felt my eyes suddenly widen but slowly began to close them. Suddenly a burst of warmth washed over my body as if the sun was shining brightly around me.
'His lips…they feel so soft…'
He wrapped his arms around my waist and instinctively I began to wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his lips closer to mine. His soft, timid kiss slowly became passionate as his lips continued to collide lovingly with mine. His arms pulled me closer and the proximity of his body sent another wave of warmth over me. My fingers began to comb through his slick, wet hair. He abruptly ended the kiss and I felt a sharp emptiness overwhelm me. Before I could even articulate my feelings, he picked me up bridal style and brought me back into my room.
As we entered into the room, I felt myself shivering. I wasn't sure if it was from the warmth of the room or from the warmth radiating within me. I buried my face against his chest and inhaled the comforting scent of rain. He laid me down on my bed and had his body bend protectively over me.
I was surprised by his bold actions. This wasn't the same Maddox I was used to. I placed my face over his cheek and gently stroked his face.
"Why?" It was the only question that I could muster at the moment.
He looked at me with that same intense gaze and hesitated, as if he was afraid to admit something. He dropped his gaze for a quick second and then looked at me with much more intensity than I could imagine.
"I have…" he started out cautiously, "I have always had strong feelings for you Phee. But I was always afraid to express how I felt about you. I didn't think you'd be into a guy like me, especially a guy you've known since you were in diapers. In light of all that's happened, I've realized that I can't live in fear anymore. Apparently, there are bigger things to worry about. Our lives are changing and we may face life-threatening dangers…but I can't live another day hiding my feelings. If tomorrow was my last day on Earth…I would never forgive myself if I didn't tell you how I felt all these years. I know you're going through a mix of emotions, and it's not because of my keen sense…it's because I feel like I'm the person who knows you best. You can wake up tomorrow and tell me that kissing me back was a mistake, that you did it out of impulse. I will understand…but I had to tell you…I had to show you how I felt…"
I was speechless and didn't know what to say to his confession. He sensed my hesitation and his eyes became misty. He dropped his head as a single tear came down his cheek. I tilted his chin up and looked directly into his eyes.
He was scared…not of what possible dangers lie ahead for him in the future but of what I may possibly say…
I leaned towards him and kissed him. I felt a jolt of shock come over him but it quickly disappeared as he wrapped his arms around me and returned my kiss with a fiery passion. We kissed and the world melted away from us. He slowly broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against mine.
"I love you," he whispered.
I was engulfed in warmth and realized that he was my sunshine after the storm.
"I love you too," I said lovingly.
I was no longer afraid of the storm that was brewing, no longer afraid of what tomorrow held for us…
O~O~O
Well? Does that make up for the long wait?
Thanks for reading! Review plz!