James and I walked hand in hand to his mustang. He opened my door for me, then walked to his side and took his seat. His face still lit like a diamond shimmering in the sun. His smile was so infectious, I couldn't help but be just as happy as he. He loved me, and for a long time. I was just so blinded, I never stopped to take a good look. A look at the boy who has always been there, watching in the background.

The friend zone.

His hand slipped under my palm, interlocking our fingers. The hair on his arm tickled my thigh, making me shiver. The car windows were down, allowing the wind to ruffle his blond hair. His blue eyes showing a hint of amusement. He knew how he made me feel, and he was lavishing in it. I smiled rolling my eyes playfully.

This boy.

He drove us, tell we stopped at the one place I wouldn't have thought. A place holding happy and sad memories for me. We came back to Willow Lake. The place I died, the place James saved me. A lake of death, but also of love. Just to the right sat the ridge we climbed. Memories of Eros and Aeshma clouding my thoughts, until I remember James's lips caressing mine, our first kiss. 

This place held so many memories, good and bad. But most importantly, all of my good memories are of James. He opened my door taking my hand, he's so old fashioned, and I'm absolutely, positively in love with it. We started our walk, heading to one of the trails. It started out paved, like the sidewalks, but the farther we went, the path turned into the beautiful nature that surrounded it.

Willow trees line the forest, guiding the path leading up to the jumping cliff. The path we took, just before I stopped breathing.

"You ok?" James asked, squeezing my hand in his.

"Yeah," I answered him, wit a slight hesitation in my voice. "This place just has a lot of memories." I went on, describing my gut feelings.

"I know." Was all he said in a sweet soft voice. Almost filled with love, and sorrow.

This place held the same memories he had. The moment he jumped in, saving me. Seeing the dead body latched to my leg. Performing CPR on my breathless chest. But also, our first date, our first kiss.

Our first fight. My subconscious liked to add.

This lake meant the same to him as it did me. Our beginning, though it's dark, bloomed into something beautiful.

Our forever.

"You look so beautiful in the sun." James admires, biting his lip.

I hadn't noticed the closer we came to the edge, the more the sun peeked through the trees. It was a beautiful day, and he said the right thing, at the right time. I felt my cheeks, heat, causing the flush to tent my complexion. But he couldn't see, from the cake of makeup, covering damage. I wonder if he saw the ugly, how he would feel about it.

If he would run, and avoid me at all costs, like the plague. Or if he would cradle me, cupping his wide hand on the back of my head. Pressing me deep into his chest, so that I would never feel pain again. I choose the latter, James has always been the gentleman. Kind, strong, protective, even though, I'm a girl who can handle her own.

"You look pretty handsome, yourself." I added, still feeling the heat in my cheeks.

We walked to the edge, his hands cradling my hip next to his. A tight squeeze, molding me to his figure, the perfect puzzle piece. I'm not one to think, so cliché, but we were made for each other. Everything he did, made me feel special. Every second I was with him, the world stopped spinning.

The two of us looked out on to the lake, the sun, hitting the water perfectly. The shimmering ripples looked so calming. With the colors of blue and green covering its surface. This lake looked more like the ocean than the dirty moss, you would normally see. James held me tighter, distracting my thoughts.

"That day still haunts me." He admits, with a whisper.

Taking my eyes to his, he looked down at me. His handsome blue eyes, glossed. It broke my heart to know, I was the one who caused his hurt.

"Me too." I admitted. My life changed that day.

He looked out to the water once more beginning to speak. Averting his eyes, to hide, the tear, gliding down his cheek.

"I thought I lost you, before I even had the chance, to be with you." He confessed. "I watched you, take your last breath." He mumbled, still holding his eyesight to the water. Unwilling to show me his tears, to be strong like the man he thinks I need.

I turned my body, slipping my hand, to his cheek. Gently, turning his scared, sorrow-filled eyes, to look at me. I then ran my other hand to his hair, brushing my finger through his main.

Smiling.

"I'm here." I softly spoke. "Because of you." I continue, with both hands on his cheeks. Forcing him to focus on me and only me. "Because you did what others wouldn't have." I inched closer to his face. "I mean who learns CPR as a freshman?" I joked, trying to lighten his mood.

Meir inches from his lips, I stood on my tiptoes, closing the gap. I could feel the smile, on his lips, as mine, mimicked his. Good, he took my joke! I hate seeing him, filled with hurt. It breaks my heart.

When he pulled back, a smile reached his red eyes. Tears no longer, blueing his vision. He looked amused, at what he was about to say.

"I mean,......how else was I going to kiss a girl?" He playfully asked. Making me giggle.

Boys.

"So you took CPR, to kiss a girl?" I asked, arching my brow. Pursing my lips, in a playful manner.

"Well, yeah, and to lifeguard of course." He smirked.

Keeping the mood light and fun, I slid my hands from his neck to his sides. Stopping just above the crest of his hip bone. When a sly smile, graced my lips, alerting the bells in his brain.

Starting to tickle him as much as I could. His louder then life laughter, filled the air. You know you love someone when you hear that laugh. It doesn't bother you, one bit, to hear it all day. My tickles only lasted a few seconds before his strong arms, grabbed my wrists pushing them down. Halting my attack, his hands were so big, his thumb overlapped, his fingers. Firmly holding me still so he could catch his breath.

He looked at me with mischief in his eyes.

"My turn." He cooed, pulling me flush to his body, locking me in place in his arms.

His hands slowly walked to my sides, lightly pressing with each poke. The anticipation, of his tickle, was making me squirm.

"Stop!" I smiled, giggling, in wait.

He took that as the moment too start tickling me ferociously. Almost dropping me to the ground. If he hadn't been holding me, I would have gone crashing. But he held me, tickling until my laughter became breathless.

I lightly pushed from him, slapping his chest.

"Meany!" I squealed, making him chuckle.

"Come, on there's something else I want to do." He said, walking back the way we came.

I hurried up next to him checking my shoulder to his lower arm. Starting a pushing contest to erupt. He lightly shrugged his shoulder, causing me too move slightly.

He's so strong.

It was good fun until my foot stepped wrong on a rock, causing me to fall into the tree line. It wasn't his fault, just my clumsiness. But what happened a few seconds later, made my head hurt. The last thing I saw was the shock on James face, feeling guilt.

The blinding darkness pulled me into the pits of a maze.

*********************************************

Awww arnt they so cute!!???

Just love the chemistry between them!

Any who, here's an update! Sorry it seams like a filler but it has a purpose I promise!

The next chapter, is kinda crazy!

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Dedicated to: zainab_farhat1  AyeshaThompson  thank you two for all the votes! Comment and sticking with me through this journey!