떨어지는

***

I don't remember falling asleep in one of Caitlyn's sister's beds, but here I am. My eyes open slowly and blink to adjust to the harsh light. I don't know what time it is, I should probably check, but I'm too tired to do anything. So I roll over and wrap my arm around the pillow next to me. Wait...

Blonde hair. Skin. A face...

The first two things that run through my mind are Shit, this isn't a pillow and Shit, Caitlyn is going to skin me. In a panic, I try to slowly inch away from her, but her small, little hands grab onto my T-shirt and force me to stay here. I feel myself blush. Her breath is warm on my chest and her toes brush against my mid-calf. God, she's short. I smirk.

I bring my hand up to her shoulder, careful to not touch anything else, and start drawing little circles on her shoulder blade. With my right hand I brush away the strands of hair in her face and explore her delicate features. Her cheeks, pink and apple-shaped. Her dainty snub nose and the little freckle on the tip of it. Her closed eyes, which I know now are actually hazel and not brown. There's a cluster of two or three freckles, all different in size, right underneath her jawline, below her left ear.

Her mouth is what tempts me the most. Her lips are full and pink, slightly chapped at the corners. I try not to imagine the feeling of them against mine, because I know that I might not be able to control myself now if I think about it. My fingertips brush against her mouth, tracing the outline of her lips softly and longingly. I think about Thursday night when we danced. How unrealistic it seemed that I was holding her this close. And I think about how scared I was that she would pull away once I finally got the courage to kiss her. And I think about the relief I felt when she didn't. When she stayed where she was, even pulling me down closer. As if she wanted this just as much as I did. I remember how these lips tasted, like the hot chocolate she drank with no whipped cream. And I remember how they felt, which was perfect in everything they did.

I want to go back to that night, before all of this happened. Just so I could feel okay about kissing her and be on cloud nine when she kissed me back.

Colby stirs and I move my hand up from her mouth, beginning to run my fingers through her hair. Her little fists tighten on my shirt, but not uncomfortably. Her eyes blink open slowly and look up at me in a sleepy state. When I expect her to let go in embarrassment, she instead smiles up at me and unhooks her hand from my shirt, then wraps it around my shoulders. I know I'm blushing again, but this time I'm smiling as well. Three months ago I would have killed to have this opportunity, but it seems that all it took was three long months, two kisses, and one awful, horrible night. I've certainly paid the price. And even though I feel guilty about not saving her in time, I know she's going to be okay.

"Good morning, Little Miss," I softly whisper. Cole gives me a sleepy smile.

"Good morning, Wonder Boy."

"Did you sleep okay?" I ask her, sliding my arm down to wrap around her back, effectively bringing her a little closer. She doesn't protest against this, even though I'm overly scared of her feeling uncomfortable.

"Yeah," Cole says. "But my stomach hurts."

I look at her sadly. She's less pale than earlier this morning and Caitlyn took it upon herself to make sure that her cuts had completely stopped bleeding.

"I'm sorry," I conceded. "I'm sorry I couldn't get there in time. I -"

"Hey, shh," Colby hushes, putting two fingers over my lips. Goddammit. "It wasn't all your fault. I should have never gone. I knew what you were trying to do when you came up to me," She takes her hand down from my face and tucks it underneath her head. I feel my heart thump once, nervously. Does she think that I was trying to seduce her? Did she think it was just an act? Cole must've seen the look on my face because she now smiles at me and makes my heart calm down.

"Calm down, all I'm saying is I knew that you were trying to protect me," she says with a small laugh.

"Oh thank God," I breathe. Cole chuckles at me.

"You're better than the rest of them," She tells me. "I'm sorry that I said the opposite to you last night. You're not like them. You're good." I give her a small smile. "You're truly amazing, James." She finishes and she nestles up next to me, her arm still around my torso. She kisses me on the cheek, right at the corner of my mouth. In an instant, I've grabbed her hand and pulled her into me, crashing my lips into hers. She makes a surprised sound against me but then I feel her arms tangle around my neck. I bring mine around her body carefully, remembering the awful bruises that stain her, and I bring her closer to me. But I break it off too soon for both of us. Because I'm scared that I'm being a jerk. I am. God, I'm such an idiot. What the hell was I even thinking? Colby looks up at me in surprise.

"I'm so sorry," I stammer. "You must think I'm such a douche -"

"No I don't," Cole says. I look at her unsurely.

"But I -"

"You're not him," She tells me and I know she's referring to Jackson, who I hope is still on the floor, passed out. "It's different with you," she continues. "You're kind. And you're respecting. At least you had the decency to feel bad about this. Not a lot of other guys would've," She runs her hand along my jaw. "But I didn't mind it," Cole adds. "Not a bit." And this time, she's the one who kisses me.

I breathe her in, that ever-present scent of paper and fruit permeating my senses until all I can even feel, taste, smell, see, and hear is her. Just her. Only her.

I take her gently by the waist and I roll her on top of me, running my hands through her thick hair and moving my lips with hers in a sort of sync. I stop for a second and Colby's mouth tries to catch mine again, but I just smile up at her, pushing her away. She opens her eyes and knits her eyebrows.

"What?" She asks.

I shake my head. So this is what it feels like. This is what it feels like to be in love. My dad told me once before he was arrested that love is a lie. And yet, here I am. How could Jason even think about leaving her? How could people think of her as just a normal person they see everyday? How could she be taken as some stupid girl to waste time on? She is perfect. She is beautiful. She is extraordinary.

"Nothing," I answer. "You're just beautiful."

Colby's face reddens attractively and I sit up to capture her lips again. She seems to melt into me, lacing her hands through my hair as she kisses me. I roll us over, surprising even myself, and I lean above her, resting my elbows on either side of her small frame.

"You're such a tease," Colby scoffs playfully and she takes me by the shirt, bringing me down to kiss her again. I smile into her lips, feeling as if I'm skydiving. Falling, falling, falling...

I move my mouth over to her cheek, kissing the warm skin feverishly. I kiss her nose and her temple and her forehead, and then I move down do her left ear. I kiss the corner of her jawline and her earlobe, breathing her in. I move down to her adorable cluster of freckles, kissing them softly. Colby's arms wrap around my neck and she sighs blissfully. I travel down just a little bit more and I plant kisses on her neck, my right hand coming up to cup her face. I find her lips again and we resume our kissing.

But now I'm falling, falling, falling,
Falling, falling, falling...

Colby giggles from under me and I pull away, looking down at her with a smile.

"What is it?" I ask but she keeps laughing. "Shhhh," I say but I can't deny my urge to laugh as well. "Caitlyn's going to hear us." Colby rolls her eyes.

"Come on, if that's the biggest thing we should be worried about, I think we'll be fine," She says, putting her hands around my neck and playing with my hair. She kisses my lips gently, just once and I shake my head.

"Please," I tell her. "She wants to cut out my tongue and use it to wash her dishes." Colby laughs at that and I grin. I wish she'd smile like that all the time. She looks stunning when she genuinely smiles.

"Where did you get that idea?" Colby says between fits of laughter. I shake my head at her.

"No clue, but she does." Cole giggles and kisses me on the cheek. I lay down next to her, putting an arm over her shoulders and kissing her again and again and again.

She is my bliss. She ignites fires in me and the next moment can make my senses freeze over. Her scent makes my mind a cloud, floating in a blank, blue sky for miles and miles and miles. When she kisses me I feel as if I've been injected with adrenaline and I want more of her. More of her sweet taste and soft lips and smooth skin. I want to give her everything. I want to give her the sun, the moon, and even the stars. Because even though those are the most beautiful things to everyone else, she is the most beautiful to me. And I don't need them to survive. I only need her.

"Good God, Mac. I'll fucking kill you."

Oh. Splendid.

***

Author's Note

Ahhhhh!! I'm so happy!!! I've been wanting to write this for ages and ages and ages.

I hope you guys liked it and are happy! Vote and comment what you thought about this chapter. Thanks for reading!

Infires,

~ Cara