"I've returned as promised."

I drag my gaze from my book up to a smiling Chris. My heart stutters in my chest.

His hand.

I bite down on my lip.

He came back.

Despite trying to conceal it, my smile breaks through to the surface as I zero in on the thing he's holding under his arm.

"Is that...a board game?" I questioned and Chris's smile only grows as he nods.

"You bet it is, sweet cheeks."

My cheeks burn at the nickname and I glower at his audacity. Chris just seems to find it amusing. "So, you wanna play?"

I look between him, the board game, and the book resting on my lap.

He's holding out his hand.

A lump forms in my throat.

But what is he pulls back?

I swallow and take a deep breath.

Then, I'll deal with the aftermath.

I close my book.

"What board game is it?" I asked and furrow my brows when I watch him place it in a sunny patch of grass on the front lawn.

"A game I'm sure you'll enjoy." He said as he walks back toward me. I just watch in curiosity as he bends down, getting closer and closer. At one point, he's close enough to my face that I can count every eyelash he has. His minty breath runs across my skin and I;m completely entranced by his baby blues.

"What are you-" My sentence is cut off as I yelp in surprise when he lifts me in the air. My arms reach up and wrap around Chris's neck. "Chris!"

This is not what I had in mind when I took your hand.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Chris chuckles and chokes as I squeeze him tighter.

"Can't-can't breathe, Sandy. Loosen your hold." I don't listen to him for a long minute until I'm absolutely sure he won't drop me. Then, ever so slowly, I loosen my hold. Chris pulls in a much needed breathe before saying, "Don't worry, I won't drop you. I figured that sitting in the sun would be a nice change of pace."

I nod and look down at the ground. Something that's always been so close now seems a million miles away. I've never been this high up before.

I guess it's a given with how tall Chris is. My dad's nowhere near as tall as him.

I look from the ground back to Chris. My eyes meet his and he smiles down at me, warming my cheeks and calming my earlier nerves.

"So, how's the view up here?" And he ruins whatever nice moment we were having together with that cliché line. I look away from him and towards the game board he set in the grass.

"It's not all that great. Nothing fancy." I lied and he chuckles. It's a nice sound that has chills running up my spine. When he starts walking towards the grass my hold on him tightens once more.

The moment we step into the sun I have to squint since my eyes aren't used to the brightness. By the time we get ti the board game I can open them a little more, but not much. I can just barely make out the name 'Monopoly' on the cardboard box.

"Monopoly? Really? You couldn't think of a better game?" I asked as I look towards Chris. I raise a hand over top of my eyes to see better.

"What? Monopoly is a good game." There's a defensive note to Chris's voice before he pauses. A smile curls his lips up and he crosses his arms over his chest. "I get it. You're just scared of being crushed by me."

I snort.

"Yeah, no, that ain't ever going to happen. I'm a master at this game."

Chris starts pulling out all the pieces and fake money from the box.

"I guess we'll see about that."

I pick up my absolute favorite Monopoly piece, the race car, and look towards Chris as I smile.

"I guess we will."

The game goes on for about two hours before we decide to call it quits. One reason is that we're dying from sitting in the sun for so long. Another being that there doesn't seem to be any type of end in sight. Just when I think I'm about to win I;ll land on one of Chris's big cash properties and he'll be back in the game. The same thing will happen to him when I'm on the brink of losing. There's just no end.

"Alright, alright let's just figure out a different way to determine my inevitable win." Chris said and I toss down my race car, thankful to be released from the game.

"Yeah right. You were totally losing." I help Chris gather the pieces and he snorts.

"Whatever floats your boat little miss denial."

"Fine, I challenge you to a staring competition."

Chris looks at me as if I just grew a second head.

"That's not fair! You're, like, the master of never blinking!"

I lift my hand to my ear, a smile curling my lips in a victory grin.

"What's that I hear? You're admitting defeat? Well, it's not like you'd have won anyway." That breaks him and he quickly finishes putting the pieces away. Before I know it, I'm back in his arms and being carried into the cool shade, sighing in relief as soon as I'm out of the sun's reach.

"You're on, Sandy." He said as he sets me down on the cement steps. Almost instantly he plops down beside me and I'm doing everything in my power not to lose myself in a fit of laughter. I never expected Chris to be the pouty type.

I reach around and pull my hair to one side, resting it on my right shoulder as I get ready for this competition. My eyes run over my legs and I rest a hand on my right one.

Little miss denial, huh?

I recall what Chris called me earlier and chuckle under my breathe.

I guess that's who I've been for a while now.

My eyes go back to Chris and I choke back a laugh. He's giving himself a mini pep talk and it's the most adorable thing ever.

Maybe.

I start as I look around us at the beautiful day. The birds I'd been watching a couple days ago fly around the trees again. The kids next door run around, laughing and playing. Not an ounce of bitterness comes to life within me.

Maybe I don't have to be her anymore.

"Alright, I hope you're ready to lose." Chris said, pulling my attention back to him.

"Your sportsmanship is absolutely nonexistent. I really hope you don't play on any teams at school."

"As a matter of fact, I play basketball."

I roll my eyes and say with enough sarcasm to kill,

"Oh wow, I couldn't have guessed that one."

"Listen here, snarky marky, this is not a competition of sarcasm."

"Did you just call me 'snarky marky'?"

"This is a game of wits and courage." He continued as if I hadn't said anything, though his smile must be contagious because it's drawing one from me with every second that passes.

"It's a staring contest." I said.

"A game that will be remembered through the ages."

"Again, it's a staring contest."

"A game that will show who's more superior. Readysetgo!" He said the sentence as if it was a single word and I'm caught off guard as I'm thrown into our little game.

We're both silent for the longest time, the only noise between us being that of our breathing. It's pretty unsettling doing nothing but staring into someone's eyes. I've never really noticed it before now. Meeting Chris's eyes for so long without saying anything is making me embarrassed because it's like he's seeing everything. My hate and anger and envy. It's like he's seeing it all and not looking away.

My cheeks start heating up and his smile grows a notch. During the competition I notice little things about him like how he has small freckles running over the bridge of his nose or how thick his eyelashes are. I can clearly see his baby blues, but I also notice there's a little bit of brown swirled in, in some parts. His blonde locks look soft and my fingers itch to run through it.

Where is my mind running?

I questioned myself and I know it'll keep going down a dangerous road if I don't end this little competition. If it weren't for my mom making a sudden appearance I'm almost positive I would have lost to forfeit. Thankfully, she opens the door at just the right time, startling Chris into blinking. I howl and woot in victory and Chris just looks away, pouting.

"Oh, sorry, did I interrupt something?" My mom asked and I look up, shaking my head.

"Absolutely nothing. So, Chris," I start, pulling his attention back to me. I snort at the frown he wears. "What do I get for my awesome victory?"

"That was foul play. I call for a rematch."

"Yeah, whatever. You're such a sore loser." I'm so lost in my conversation with Chris that I don't even notice my mom leave. "A win is a win."

Chris just sighs, not happy with that, before giving in.

"Fine, I'll take you to get ice cream. It's hot enough for it." He said, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Ice cream? What makes you think I want ice cream? Maybe I'm lactose intolerant. Ever think of that?"

Chris just raises an eyebrow.

"Well, are you?"

"No, I was just saying."

He rolls his eyes and stands up.

"You're just being difficult. Come on." He crouches down with his back facing me. "Get on a wrap your arms around me." The heat comes back to my cheeks and works its way down my neck.

"What? I'm not getting on your back."

"Well, it's either that or I'll carry you princess style all the way, but then it'd be difficult for me to eat my ice cream."

I cross my arms over my chest and look away from Chris.

"Or, I could just get my wheelchair."

He looks back at me with a Cheshire smile as he says,

"Nah, that's not near as fun as options one or two." His smile vanishes and he gets serious. "I promise, on my life, I won't drop you, Sandy."

I stay quiet for a long moment, debating if I really want to put that promise to the test. He may have carried me earlier, but that was two feet. This is way further.

The picture of his outstretched hand comes to mind.

Everyone else always pulls away.

I pull in a deep breath.

But, I'll never know if I don't risk it.

I lean forward and wrap my arms around Chris's neck. He lifts me up a moment later and securely holds onto my legs. I look around us, adjusting to this new height. It's amazing and, as he begins walking, I can't stop the giddy smile that plants itself on my face.

Hey Chris.

Somehow, I find myself talking to Chris as if it's the most natural thing in the world. We discuss school, our friends and family, animals, and a whole array of different topics.

Don't go away.

Before I know it, he's letting me back down onto my cement steps with a newly acquired chocolate ice cream cone. My mood mellows out at being so close to the ground once more.

"Hey, if you ever want another piggyback, I'm your guy."

I look over at him and he winks.

Don't leave me alone.

"Well, thanks but it wasn't all that great." I said as I take another lick of my ice cream. Chris just chuckles.

"Hey, look here." I do and am surprised to find his face so close to mine. "Readysetgo staring contest!" He shouted, his words almost bleeding together. I'm startled into dropping my ice cream and I blink. Chris hoots and howls like I did earlier.

"Hey! I dropped my ice cream! That's completely not fair Chris! It's foul play!" I whined like I'm a child as I look at me. He's still laughing and actual tears are pouring from his eyes. It's a pretty great sight that has me smiling despite my defeat.

Please.

He looks over at me and scoops some of his vanilla ice cream onto his finger before smearing it on my nose.

Stay by my side.

"All's fair in love and war."

YESSSS!! Sandy and Chris's story is complete with this chapter!! So, what did you think? Did you enjoy it? I hope so because I loved writing it. Don't forget to hit that star button and drop a comment below with your thoughts! Next story update will be out soon so look forward to it! Until next time, Bookoholic's.