Song for chapter: Maybe IDK by Jon Bellion *This song does cuss just a lil bit but overall I think the song fits this chapter perfectly*

I shake my head at Leona, disbelieving what she's saying to me. "So that's it? Go ask Leo?"

She nods. "Gem, I would tell you if I could. But I can't."

I feel someone's hand connect to mine and I look over to see Cor in his tuxedo. His dark hair blends in with the night, and his eyes reflect every passing light.

Hot was a word I used to associate with Cor, now the only word that came to my mind was beautiful.

"Aren't you the one who said it was a good idea to kiss him?" I hiss, gripping Cor's hand tighter.

She purses her lips and gestures to the warehouse. "Yes. But not in front of the entire school! Gem. I just don't want you to get hurt."

My anger slowly fades away and I wrap Leona in a bone crushing hug. I understand her point. Her and Leo had a tough breakup. She's only looking out for me.

She sniffles and when we pull back she's fanning her face. "My eyeliner isn't waterproof." She says, managing a small laugh.

I give out a meek smile and look behind me to see Cor shuffling his feet and gazing at us.

"Well, in good notes... my ship is together. NOW DON'T SINK IT!" Leona pushes me away, still sniffling. "Go on, Gem. Have the night you deserve."

I walk to Cor and as soon as I'm in range, he wraps his arm around my shoulders and we walk to my car.

"Just because you kissed me, doesn't mean you can drive my car." I giggle, walking to the driver's side.

I had to leave it unlocked, my dress doesn't have pockets. Cor beats me to the driver's door and opens it for me. "Wouldn't even dream of it. But, I do have a surprise." He raises his eyebrows and smirks. "If I drove..." I toss him the keys from inside and his mouth gapes open. "Seriously? I can just—"

"Drive. You'll never get the chance again." I smile and walk around the passenger side, and Cor hops in, starting up my engine and nodding. "It purrs, Gem."

I nod. "I would hope so. It's a V8 engine with no problems giving 450 horsepower and 383 pounds of torque." I know my car inside and out.

He sighs. "No idea what you just said. How fast does it go?"

He turns out of the parking lot and starts driving towards the beach. I know where we're going.

"186 mph. 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds." I rub the black seats and smile. This is the only thing my parents ever thought to give me, so I treasure it.

Plus, it gets me to school and back so...

The car starts speeding up and my heart rates beats along. "Slow it down." I grip the door and sneak a view of Cor.

A wide grin spreads across his face as he speeds up. "What, Gem? You have a fast car for a reason."

"Stop! Slow down!" I yell, pulling the seatbelt as tight as I can.

He tilts his head for a second and slows down. "Woah, Gem... I was just— that's right, I'm sorry. I forgot about that night."

I stop clutching the door and nod, gulping. "Yeah." I breath out. "Fast car, for the fast life. But, my speed never goes over seventy."

He turns a sharp corner onto the highway that leads to the beach. "We were only going seventy eight," Cor says.

"Like I said. I never go over seventy." My hand taps patiently on my leg. "We were going a hundred and fifty. When we crashed."

Cor places a hand on my thigh and slowly works his hand up until it's resting on my cheek. I didn't even notice him pulling the car over.

He turns in his seat and looks at me with a look of pure lust. "You're okay, and that's what matters. I won't let anything like that happen to you ever again, I promise."

My heart rate is going crazy, but my poker face game is strong. My palms, however, betray me by sweating.

"Forget it. Forget about it, for just one night. Tomorrow isn't promised, I know that. An hour isn't even promised, and I don't care. Because I have right now, and that... that matters. You matter." He doesn't add any playful laughter to it. He doesn't smile like what he said was just something to say. He meant it. "If tomorrow was certain, I'd fill all of my tomorrows with you. But it's not. So I'll keep you close, so when the time comes that I no longer have a tomorrow, at least you'll be my yesterday."

Cor reaches over the console and grabs the back of my neck, kissing me gently at first. If the kiss at prom was a claiming kiss, then this one was an I'm-yours kiss.

Our mouths move slowly against each other. I wrap my hands in Cor's hair tugging slightly. He slowly started getting rougher with the kiss.

His hand is still on the back of my neck, pressing me against him.

And just when I think Cor couldn't get any more aggravating, he pulls away.

I'm breathless and panting for air. "Wha—"

He smirks at me. "Now for that surprise." He drives back onto the highway, leaving me glaring at him. After a moment he looks over and smiles. "What?"

"What do you mean, what? You can't just... you just... you're... agh." I strangle the air with my hands and he laughs, his beautiful song flittering through the car.

"I'm 'argh'" He imitates me, still laughing as he drives. "Gosh, Gem. You're cute when you're angry."

I scowl at him. "Am not! I am not cute."

He places his hand back on my thigh and winks. "One hundred percent adorable."
***
Cor didn't take a turn to the beach like I thought he would, instead he keeps driving.

And driving.

And driving.

"This isn't the part where you murder me, right?" I ask, eyeing him with fake suspicion.

He gives me an odd look and shakes his head. "What? No." Cor turns off the headlights and the car idles to a stop.

I hadn't been looking out the windows, my eyes were to busy watching something else. The moon wasn't up fully tonight, so it barely illuminated outside. But I did know, from the many bumps, that we were driving down a dirt road before he stopped my car.

"Where are we?" I ask.

He gives me a creepy smile. "Your burial hole. Mwahaha."

I slap his shoulder and give him a pointed look. "I'm serious, where are we?"

"Get out and you'll see." He says, opening his door and stepping out.

I follow him and as soon as my door opens, I hear the sound of rustling grass. My leg brushes tall strands and I look up.

Millions of stars shine above us, reminding me of diamonds on black velvet.

"Gem," Cor whispers, sitting on my hood. "Sit up here." He pats the spot next to him and I jump up there, refusing to ruin the moment by scolding him for sitting on my child— car. I meant car.

He lays back and I lay next to him, my head resting on his shoulder as his arm curls around me.

The grass is long enough to still raise over my hood, and I can feel it brush the top of my foot.

I take off my high heels and set them on the roof of the car.

I watch the stars and question my eyesight when suddenly some of those stars turn orange. What the—

I came here with Arius not too long ago. The grass was shorter then, but this is the same place I'm sure of it.

Only this time it's better, because I'm here with Cor.

"Fireflies." I mutter and Cor nods.

"Fireflies." He responds. "Gem, do you remember the conversation we had about your eye color?" He asks.

I nod. "Yeah. My crappy orange eyes."

He turns his head so he's looking at me. "Gem, you have beautiful eyes. Never doubt that. Do you see those fireflies? That's your eye color. Tonight, we're staying here all night, so you can see the sunrise. So you can see just how beautiful your eyes really are."

Heat works it's way up my neck and I'm glad it's dark, he doesn't need to see me blush.

"All night? We have school tomorrow." I respond.

He laughs lightly, not loud enough to scare the fireflies. "Tomorrow is Saturday. If we had school I would throw myself of the top of a skyscraper."

I slap his side. "Don't you dare." I mock. "I just got you."

I watch the blur of oranges mix in with the silver, and I swear I could hear Cor mumble, "You've always had me."

~~~~

TEARS ARE STREAMING! Aweee, my SHIP! My OTP! My LIFE! My everything!

This isn't a huge chapter but I think it's just so adorable and cute and I love it.

Picture is of the inside of Gem's car, and all the info she said about it is true (I use google)

So yeah. Hope you all have an amazing day and...

As always, stay gold, stay happy,
-Dani_Kail