It was safe to say that I felt the best I'd felt in months. It seemed that I was able to just exist that night, with no burdens, no dead feelings hanging around in my mind. I felt as though I could just let go and enjoy the moment. That was how Matthew made me feel - at peace with myself and the world and, most importantly, Camryn.

After dinner, we walked home in the dark and, even though the cold was unbearable, I somehow felt content as long as Matthew was walking beside me. With the scent of rain in the air and Matthew's arm around me, I sighed inwardly and wondered if Camryn had stayed, would she have gotten the chance to feel bliss like this? Would she be able to live past her pain, like I was slowly but steadily doing?

The road seemed longer than it was but I didn't mind. I'd traced those steps my whole life, with Camryn, with Matthew, with my family. The road almost held a certain memory and I felt it meant something to me that no other object ever had.

Matthew pulled me closer to him in the growing wind, his scarf enveloping my face. I laughed and I knew he was smiling, then he moved the thick material away from my face so I could breathe. As his fingers brushed my nose and his other arm tightened around my waist, I wondered how on earth I was lucky enough to have him - how on earth he could love me. I was someone who had done nothing but push him away selfishly, only caring about my own problems. He was probably the most forgiving person I'd ever met.

I knew we were near my house when the wind became gentler and Matthew slowed his pace. He guided me to the left and I heard the familiar scraping of metal as he opened the gate. I felt droplets on my hair and looked up. The rain slowly started to increase, landing on my nose and running down inside my collar.

My lips smiled on their own accord as the water seeped through my coat and into my chest. I breathed in the sublime scent and tasted the drops on my lips. My skin crawled with shivers but I ignored it, taking in the complexity. To think that someone somewhere across the world could have tasted the same drop of rain, could have felt the same moisture on their cheeks and smiled in amazement at the wonder of nature.

I blinked at the drops and turned back to Matthew. We stood silently in the night, merely taking in the scene. "It's incredible," I expressed, holding out a hand to feel the beads of rain rest in my palm.

"It is," he agreed and his voice sounded muffled in the misty atmosphere. The rain fell harder and soon it was pouring but still we stood. My teeth chattered in my smile but my heart felt warm. Then Matthew placed a hand in my outstretched one, engulfing it in heat.

"We should go inside," he said but neither of us moved.

"Thank you for tonight," I contributed.

"You're welcome, friend."

He tugged me to him and wiped the moisture from my face with his scarf, but pointlessly as the rain continued to pelt down on us. Then he took both my hands in his and squeezed them. "Dance with me?"

I shook my head then answered, "If I have to."

His hands moved to my waist and I clasped my arms around his neck, only just reaching because of his height. Then we were closer than before and swaying gently to an imaginary beat, but one that seemed to resound simultaneously through our minds. I felt at home in the rain and in his arms, fascinated with the fact that he was mine and I was his to keep. For as long as we had.

We leant into each other and moved slowly from side to side. "Just warning you, I'm a terrible dancer," Matthew said into my ear.

"I know," I laughed. "But so am I."

I somewhat guided him in movement, despite being unsteady in the damp ground. I'd never felt so free while being trapped in someone's grasp as Matthew spun me around and caught me before I fell. I threw back my head with my eyes closed and laughed gently. He laughed too and we smiled together as we danced; two, but one in that moment.

I spun carelessly and the rain didn't stop for us, not for anyone because that's the way it is. Matthew gripped my hand and let me fall backwards on one foot, leaning my face towards the sky. My chest grew warm again as he brought me back to his hold. I felt overwhelmed with happiness but also sadness and memories of Camryn and I; spinning, laughing, smiling, twirling in the moonlight. And even though tonight was different, Matthew had kept his promise. It recreated what I once had with my sister and made it real again.

"This is truly a night under the crying stars," I whispered as he held me close, and even though we were both soaking and our clothes were drenched onto our skin, that didn't matter. All that mattered was us and the inexplicable feeling that everything was perfect.

"So poetic," he said, his face near mine.

"I love you." I smiled faintly and he laughed through his response. We swayed to the beat of our hearts that had become one, drawing us closer than before. I rested my head on his shoulder and tried to capture tonight in my heart, saving it and storing it away where it belonged; next to Camryn and Matthew and everything that was good.

And as Matthew whirled me around with my damp hair sailing behind me, I never wanted anything to change. I'd never experienced such bliss in all my life and I hoped that Camryn was happier where she was now. Because even though I still miss her and the pain remains, it's slowly healing and I know that if she were here, I'd still be naive. I wouldn't have appreciated this moment as much I do now.

"I never want to leave," I said breathlessly, feeling energy still bubbling inside of me.

"You'll catch a cold," Matthew replied, steadying me.

"So will you."

"You get grumpy when you're sick," he complained and I laughed, completely and utterly feeling the lasting effects of the laughter as my chest rose and fell.

"Can you blame me?" I countered and he laughed too.

The rain had reduced to a drizzle and I suddenly felt the chill of my clothes clinging to me and started to shiver violently.

"Hey, hey," he pulled me out of the rain and to the front door of my house. I reluctantly obliged.

"I guess this is it," I thought aloud.

"Until tomorrow," Matthew answered and pushed the damp hair from my face.

"Until tomorrow."

I was still gripping his hand tightly, my fingers stiff from the decreasing temperature. "Actually it's already tomorrow since it's past midnight. So...until later today."

"That late? Guess time passes quicker than we think," I said and Matthew rubbed my shoulders as I continued to shiver.

"It does." I heard the smile in his voice and I felt reluctant to go inside, away from the rain and away from him. He must've seen my expression because he answered with, "I'm not going anywhere. I'll see you again soon. But you need to get warm and go to sleep."

I nodded and he kissed my forehead. I inhaled his scent, mixed with rain and the salty air before unlocking the door with my keys. But before I entered, I turned back and hugged him tightly making sure he knew I'd miss him. He returned the gesture.

"Not so bad for a first date, huh?" he murmured into my hair.

"Could do with some work," I responded. My short hair was chilling my neck and I took it as a sign to go inside and get it dry. "But next time, I'm taking you out. And you don't have a choice."

"I guess I don't," he pushed open the door and I immediately sensed the warmth that emanated from inside.

"How are you getting home?" I asked as I heard the rain start to pour again.

"I was going to walk..."

"You're so stupid. In this rain?"

"I'm already soaked aren't I?"

I sighed in irritation.

"Don't worry; I'll just call my mom. She's probably still awake."

We waited in silence, listening to the rain, until we heard a car pull up outside. I stepped into the house and sighed then turned back to him. "Goodnight."

He let go of my hand that he had been holding for quite some time and took hold of the door for me. Then before closing it and stepping down into the rain towards his mom's car, he paused. I could hear the smile in his voice and I felt my heart swell.

"Goodnight, Kayla."