Cheryl POV

When my eyes opened, the space was as bright as every morning until my sight rested on the clock. Shoot! It's almost eleven. I slept off.

I was lying alone on the carpet in the living room, the fire had died, and the curtains had been pulled back. My clothes were meticulously folded on the couch, and on the coffee table was my breakfast, so I sat up and brought the blanket with me to cover my naked body.

Last night was beyond describing. It was the greatest night of my life.

I was alone in the living room, but I was blushing to the memories of Finn on top of me, his hands over my skin, his tongue rolling down my flesh, each bite and nibble.

His words played in my head.

"I love you more than life itself, Cheryl Mason."

If someone came in at that moment, they might bet on anything they had that I was insane, for I was laughing all myself.

His beautiful glowing eyes that flickered with emotions came in my head, the minty taste of his lips, and his soft, perfect hair that I suddenly wanted to run my fingers through again.

He was mine. I felt blessed.

Biting my lip, I scanned the tray with different food and lilies I was sure he picked around the house. But I could only sip the orange juice due to excitement while I read a small piece of paper that was sitting along with the tray. I almost choked.

"Do not drink the orange juice first. Take the coffee; it's warm."

He was so smart and cute.

When I flipped the note behind, I found some ink.

"I'm taking a swim in the lake. You can use the bathroom."

I smiled at the romantic gesture for a while until something shot in my head, some crazy idea, but I knew Finn wasn't going to refuse, so I stood up and wrapped the blanket around my naked body before I headed out.

It was like it hadn't rained the night before. The soil had dried up, and everywhere was bright and shining, with the sun pouring its merciful glow to the universe.

It was just like I predicted; there were birds and butterflies dancing around the atmosphere.

I closed my eyes and inhaled the soothing scent. When I opened my eyes, I spotted Finn swimming in the lake.

I watched him for a while until he sunk himself under the water.

It took courage, for what I did was stalk slowly and barefooted down the steps to the lake.

I dropped off the blanket and walked into the cool temperature water that I was sure was warm from the morning sun.

Just when Finn brought out his head from underwater and exhaled sharply-I hugged him from behind.

He slightly swerved from my touch before he spun to find me smiling at his startled reaction.

He laughed at himself too. "You do know I was worried about the ducks around here. They hug swimmers." He joked.

"Ohhh, the ducklings or the mother duck?" I played along.

"The mother duck comes for men, and the father fuck comes for women."

"Shoot! That means the both of them will come for us now."

"Oh no, the tradition is no more if you do have a swimming partner." He smirked.

I blushed at the sight of him. He was handsome. He was happy. I made him happy. Having me around made him happy.

"What happened to the bathroom I left for you?" His voice was low. It was raspy and holy sexy.

"I love bathing in open places." I lied.

He bit on his bottom lip as his eyes seductively watched me, his fingers slowly trials from my neck to my chest and stopping at my hardened nipple. "Tell me the truth." He released his lip from his teeth, and it was sudden reddish.

I swallowed and watched what I was dangerously craving. "Were you missing me, Cheryl?" He asked.

I was slowly panting already, and his lips were all I could see.

"If you don't tell me, we're only going to cheat nature."

Damn, he's good, or maybe my need for him was too apparent on my face.

"I wanted to bathe with you." And there it is, I said it.

The naughty smile that etched in his face only aroused me.

"Is that all you want?" He asked again.

Seriously? I was red enough, but I knew Finn too well to know I had to answer him to get what I wanted.

"Cheryl is bathing with me all you want this morning?" He pressed.

I shook my head and bit my lip. "I want more, and I want you again." I was blushing uncontrollably.

He smiled for a second and pulled my neck, colliding our lips together.

He bent a little and wrapped his hands behind my thighs, lifting me before settling me around his waist until he was fully into me.

I bit his shoulder to the pain, it wasn't as last night's, but it was indeed painful, only it began to resolve as Finn gently moved inside of me.

I steady my lips on him and my fingers in his wet hair.

Finn was life. He was everything that screamed adventure. He was peace and comfort, yet there were groups of men in uniform drinking coffee all night-obsessed about solving his logo.

At that moment, all I was praying for was for it to end, for them to give up and forget.
He was human. He deserved better.

Finn POV

We've spent that whole week in the lake house understanding each other, which meant I missed classes for the entire week. We even went shopping on Wednesday, where we finally got packages of condoms and food stocks since we fucked more than we ate.

Liam had called and told me everything was settled, Steph had called us on video call twice, and my parents were so disturbed about my sudden disappearance, mostly Sharon.

I had to walk far around the woods to talk on the phone with her. She was angry and blamed Cheryl for everything even though she knew Cheryl wasn't Nate or Helen.

I wished things were different.

"How's Arkansas looking? I've never been there." Victoria asked Cheryl.

"Actually, I can't tell you much about it because I've mostly spent my years in my small town." Cheryl was blushing, and I was enjoying watching her.

"So that means we have a lot in common. Potter wouldn't let us take trips even around Illinois." Victoria complained, and Potter rolled his eyes.

They came along with their twins and Victoria's sister, who was around Cheryl's age.

Victoria made her special porridge and some snacks, so we decided to sit on a mat and eat outside since the weather was merciful.

Ed and Gibbs were seven years old. They were never in our conversation and more in roaming around trying to catch the butterflies.

"The cities have a lot to offer, but I prefer staying around here too. You don't know how beautiful it is until you start living a big life, then you'll crave these beautiful memories." Said Josephine, Victoria's sister.

"Thank you." Potter instantly agreed, and Victoria rolled her eyes at them.

"So how will you do with your parents? You know about this whole situation? Are you just going to introduce Finn as your Boyfriend and tell them he's Finn Hayes and everything?" Josephine asked.

Cheryl swallowed and shifted uncomfortably. If Josephine were a man, I'd be punching her around the face.

"I don't know. Maybe someday I will." Cheryl murmured.

"Anyways, how do you love the environment? Don't tell me you don't like it because it's magical." Potter promptly changed the subject and fleet the toxic tension in the air. I thank him with a small smile.

"It's beautiful. I love it. I don't know how to get detached from here." Cheryl smiled-that smile that makes my heart swells.

"She doesn't want to go back to Chicago," I emphasized what she said when Liam told us everything was in place.

Laughing, Victoria began serving porridge for everyone.

We spent that day outside with Potter's family conversing until the sunset.

"Sir, Eureka Springs lifted the curfew, and Chief Charles is in town. The men had checked. It's all cleared. I thought I'd tell you." Justin informed me on the phone as I watched the group of happy people from a distance packing everything as the Potter's set to leave.

"Okay, look after the house," I told him before I hung up.

Cheryl POV

That day started well. I even thought It would end well, for everything was just as I wanted it. I was free. I was loving and been loved back. I had people who knew who I was yet accepted me as a different person, not for what my parents did.

Until it was midnight, and I was wrapped in a blanket all alone on a couch in the living room of a house situated in the middle of a huge landscape.

Until it was two in the morning, three in the morning, four in the morning, and there was no hint of Finn.

Did he leave me? Did the cops get to him?

That was when I tried the television, but of course, it was of no use. It was just an old box dropped without a purpose.

That was when I despaired and panicked and let the tears I had been smothering for hours flow while I stared through the window into the darkness, praying to God to keep my love safe for me.