"Look, Lizzie! Look!" I hype her up as she juggles her phone in her hand, trying to record another moment of passing Hershey Park tourist signs.

I'm in love with a tiny little nurse. Not any nurse, this one.

I smile, looking over at Lizzie for a second. She's holding up her phone at the tall wooden roller coaster. I don't know if she'll be able to push past the height limit, but I told her to put toilet paper in her shoes. I can't believe she did it. It's definitely not going to make a difference.

I can't wait to see her reactions today. She is actually making me more famous on my Instagram, with her reactions and silly things she does. She swears up and down it's her Pinterest that's gaining my new following but it's just Lizzie's infectious joy and whims.

If I could just have an extra day with Lizzie, it would be great.

March is tomorrow and we leave Wednesday morning. It seems very unreal but I'm hopeful that by April, I'll be giving her the confetti kiss of her dreams and getting the NCAA ring and shirt. Not only me but Uncle Steve is getting one because I'm tired of seeing his stained shirt and Aunt Lisa wants to discard it as soon as I make the last shot. 

Just thinking about the relief, freedom, and overcoming the feeling of winning the NCAA championship grows warmth across my chest as I think it was just a mere dream at sixteen years old. Shit, playing for college basketball was too but if it wasn't for the fight of people in my corner defending me, like Uncle Steve, Aunt Lisa, even coach T finding me senior year, then I would have been stuck and visionless... just like PJ.

Grandma once told me that those without vision perish. She's right because the toxic people I've been trying to cut out of my life can't find their own energy without stealing others'.

I'm not sure if Lizzie is sad about me leaving or happy.

Interestingly, she was a little too happy helping me pack Friday night after the ice skating rink. I'm not surprised she likes doing it either. The way she has everything organized and color coordinated gives me a headache but she says my disorganization does the same to her. I got her back when I told her she forgot my boxer briefs and she said I had to pack those myself. The look on her face when I tossed boxers on her head, I thought was going to either murder me herself or jump my bones.

I can't decipher her turn on looks unless I'm steering my car, opening a jar, or rubbing my jaw.

I'm already missing her and she is right here.

I smile, looking over at the eager chocolate tester while pulling into our destination at Hershey Park. Granted she was very cranky earlier having to get up at seven am but I told her don't blame me for her kissing all over my face and feeling on my abs last night

Smirking, Lizzie bouncing in her seat as she sees the waving mechanical Hershey Bars above the welcome sign.

Damn, I'm going to miss hearing her yell at me with her preschool voice for my nonsense and arrogance. Definitely going to be a little bit quieter while I'm away. No way I'm cuddling with Jordy either.

Oh, how I'll miss copping a booty grab or, since I now know last night, her conga drum. I'll tap on it any day to make that beautiful sound.

I've even gotten used to sleeping with those damn stuffed animals that she tries to suffocate me with. I'm surprised she's going to let me take Olivia. The crazy stuffed animal lady packed a suitcase for it. I tried my best not to laugh but I just went along with it.

Anything to make her happy.

I palm the wheel, pulling in the parking space and catching a glimpse at Lizzie sinking her teeth in her lower lip. I really don't understand why this turns her on. Even me putting my around her seat's headrest makes her start kissing all over the side of my face.

She is funny.

I am probably not going to miss watching Disney movies because I had the last straw on Saturday night while watching Toy Story. She was definitely in love with a damn cowboy toy on Saturday night. I turned it off after a while of her saying Woody looks good in his cowboy pants whenever he turns around.

I guess I'll have to make these moments last, especially today because her parents finalized their divorce in court. On the surface, she is wearing the biggest smile over the pain she is experiencing right now. I know deep down she is so sad but has pushed it down with lots of chocolate munchkin donuts and a large mocha iced coffee with extra mocha.

My girlfriend is going to be toothless by twenty five.

Clasping her hand, I softly rub it and she rubs the tattoo on the top of my hand. 

I hated seeing Lizzie cry. She cried while driving up here, just leaning on my shoulder with her chipmunk cheeks chewing on her donuts.  I didn't really get a chance to tease her by grabbing one because by the time I reached over, the box was empty when she fell fast asleep. 

And around nine thirty this morning, her sister said they finished the papers. I had to pull over and let her cry it out because her nightmare legally became a reality. It pained me hearing her cry, it almost reminds me of when Naya cries when she misses her parents. Even though they haven't made the best choices in life, that's why she was taken away, but she doesn't know why. 

Lizzie's light brown sugar eyes, her whimpering, and hiccups all made me cry too, honestly because where we stopped was the same location where Mom and I would stop to take a photo of Hershey's Highway landmark mark every time at tourist exit before we merge off PA-39.

Lizzie was so paralyzed after that crying session that I thought I had to turn around but she whimpered, asking if we could see the chocolate tour like I promised. I couldn't say no to that. She deserves to consume all the chocolate in the world at that moment.

The Little Honey Glaze Munchkin Bandit's eyes marvel as we pull up to the entrance of the grey metal sign reading Hershey Park with a multicolor rainbow logo. The large, circular area is... almost completely dead.

Memories of my excitement with my mom as a kid are being relived right now, with Lizzie unbuckling her seatbelt and leaning up on the dashboard. Her eyes are wide at all the signs about chocolate and candy. Her roommates are going to fucking kill me with pumping her up with sugar and bringing her back later tonight.

But she needs it.

I just can't have brown chunks on me. I brought extra clothes just in case and I really hope I don't need them but we're going on all the rides. There's a water park too but it's closed for the winter.

Probably for the best I don't see Lizzie's bikini in person right now anyways. I think I would officially drop dead seeing her honey complex-

"Jaylan, are you sure this place is real?" Lizzie blinks up at the sign, not buying the name of the amusement park. Given that the parking lot is completely dead, she might think it's closed.

"Babe, why would I drive almost two hours to trick you into believing this is where Reeses Cups chocolate are made?" I couldn't help but cackle and put my car in park.

She furrows her brows at me because I've been getting Lizzie all weekend with good ol' fashion teasing. She got me with the doe eyes when I pretended she hurt my ankle when she decided to hit it, well tap it with her nursing book, to distract her from studying. Or Saturday night, I pretended we were going to get in trouble sneaking into the cafeteria on campus to get chocolate pudding and having my buddy Tommy pretend we were in trouble but I told him we were coming.

So I can see why she might think this is a joke.

"Jaylan." Her eyebrows stay adorably scrunched up.

"Yes, Elizabeth?" I ask innocently.

"You are forgetting our sleepover is tomorrow," she warns me, but that high pitch squeak is anything but a threat.

"Oh, I'm fully aware." I grin big, leaning over to kiss her softly to get rid of every wrinkle in her eyebrow.

I don't know what Lizzie's got planned but all I know is Marcus said he'll be at their house and Hollis and Lexi are going out of town... Jordy said he was going to spend the night at Xavier's. So I don't have a clue what that overactive pinterest mind is planning but when I dropped her off last night I did see Navy Blue gift bags and a Victoria Secret bag she had against her mirror. She told me not to even think about looking in it or I might as well forget the sleepover.

Yeah, I didn't look but now I'm curious.

"Come on, we got a full day of chocolate to consume." I smirk at her and she looks down.

I wipe the corner of her mouth because she has some icing on them and her cheeks become rosy.  I lean back and get out of my car, stretching big. Even though it was just a two hour drive, sitting down low still hurts when you are six foot seven. My eyes catch a glimpse of Lizzie in the car, typing on her phone with a frown.

I need to make sure this is the best day ever for her, brown chunks or not.

I open the door and she's still typing on her phone with a deeper frown. She looks over at me and I hover over her, unbuckling her seatbelt.  I reach for her hand and she playfully grasps it, only to play along. I pull her out and right into my arms.

"Where is everyone?" She looks at the half-empty parking lot.

"Lizzie, it's a school day. Most people are working," I tease.

"How did you get out of your class?" she sasses, arching her brow and I kiss it.

"Come on, we got chocolate to get," I withdraw from the spank bank by connecting my hand right to her ass. She leaps and looks at me with her eyes warning about my misbehavior.

Silence fills between us as we walk to the entrance, which isn't far from us. My heart begins to beat thinking the last time I was here at the age of twelve, remembering the weight in my chest of not being able to ride the rides with my mom anymore.  Uncle Steve made sure I had the best time of my life that day, despite him getting super sick on the tilt-o-world  because Aunt Lisa kept spinning it around. I will never forget that day because they really made feel that I am worth something instead of what I felt for those couple of agonizing months with PJ.

But, looking down at this picky Reese's Pieces eater who only eats the yellow ones, the weight on my chest no longer feels the same. I softly kiss her forehead mid stride as she types on her phone and tucks right into my pocket, I guess she doesn't want to speak with her family right now. I don't blame her.

"Why was this your mom's favorite place?" Lizzie asks curiously.

"I think her biggest thing was creating memories, honestly," I admit quietly. Being a single mom, she didn't have enough that we went on the most expensive trips but she tried to make every one memorable.

"I like doing that too," she states the obvious.

"And that's why we are here to start new ones." My hand squeezes her side.

"You are too sappy," she teases.

I dig my fingers into her side for using my joke against me and she smirks up at me. I push some stands out of her face as we step up to the entrance's ticket office.

"Hi, welcome to Hershey Park. Did you already pre order your tickets?" The grey haired woman smiles at the both of us.

Lizzie digs through her purse happily rattling around in there. What's she got in there?

Her purse reminds me of a Mary Poppins Bag filled with wonder. Lizzie hands the printed papers to her because she was worried they may have not had our names and I let out a chuckle, causing her to side eye me.

"Perfect, I like this so I don't have to search for the names." The woman smiles behind the computer screen.

Lizzie playfully presses her lips and I shake my head as I laugh. The woman checks in the computer as Lizzie rocks on her heels to the music playing by the booth.  She hums to the unknown song, reminding me of something my mom did when we stopped at the booth.

During the slight wait, my eyes take in Lizzie's face. Her round, doe eyes are sparkling and the prettiest smile is on her lips. I don't know if she didn't wear makeup or cried it off during our roadside stop but her bare, natural face mesmerizes me, from her smooth, glowing skin to the warmth in her eyes and fullness of her soft lips. Lizzie must have seen me staring because she looks up at me, arching her brow playfully and I do it back.

"Okay, great.... Enjoy the park today!" The cashier replies and we both wave at her.

"Thank you," Lizzie chimes and nudges me.

"Thank you." I mimic her voice.

She grunts, bumping into me. When I don't move, she leans her head on my arm.

Entering the park, light hearted amusement park music echoes around us. Lizzie, being bubbly and bright, playfully dances around to it. I shake my head because she's legit real into it. It almost reminds me how Mom would make up songs to the music playing and I would cackle at how hilarious it sounded to me.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you taste chocolate in your sleep

In dreams you will float in chocolate

Whatever you wish for, you keep

I'm pretty sure that song wouldn't be a hit like the one played at Disney World. I definitely want to take Lizzie there because I know she would lose her mind. But seeing her lose her mind is worth it.

"Alright, Lizzie let's see if the toilet paper worked," I say, standing up next to the candy measurement sign. It's just a vertical sign sticking out the ground, with different Hershey candy bars for measurement.

She looks up at me and crinkles her nose. "You think I'll be able to get on any rides?"

What I would like to say is the only ride you need to get on is me but it's too early and she probably would push me into the hot chocolate fountain during the motion tour cart.

I could probably easily convince her to lick it off though.

"I'm sure. Here look, I'm a Jolly Rancher," I gloat at how I'm the tallest possible measurement and she twists her lips at me. I release a teasing smile and she pushes me, well, I move out of the way.

The way she is beaming right now, I wish the world could see. She is the true definition that joy and gladness is not based on circumstance. Lizzie remaining joyful in her biggest fear really shows me that any curveball in life truly will not shake her.

But, in me, I also want to see her sad. I want her to cuddle up and whimper with me but I think when an event finally happens in life like what happened this morning, the only option is moving forward. Lizzie knew this day was coming and she did whatever she could to prevent it affecting her.

"How tall am I?" She beams as I put my hand on top of her head.

"About at the Hershey landmark," I tease, pointing at the smallest measurement. That has to be for toddlers.

She was honestly Reese's in my opinion, minus her perfect messy ponytail she was trying to master earlier that took about twenty minutes because she said it wasn't the way Alexis did it for her. So, it was an extra ten more minutes for Alexis to stop laughing and give clear instructions over facetime. I'm going to miss that about her too.

"Is that tall enough for the rides?" she asks so sweetly, I can't tease her further.

I arrogantly grin, ruffling her hair and she grunts at me. "It sure is, Squeaker. what do you want to do first?"

Before she could answer, she darts over to the Hershey kiss mascot and points her fingers at her blue, long sleeve Hershey kiss shirt.  It was my signal to take a Pinterest photo for her. I softly chuckle, walking over to them and the Hershey bar comes over too. 

I dig in my pocket to get her phone and pull it out. It had a line of texts from her mom, dad, sister, and brother... Big Red and Alexis. I move up the camera and look through at her beaming so brightly as she sandwiched between two chocolate mascots. I hope she doesn't try to eat them. Lizzie and the Hershey cartoons stand underneath the Cocoa Ave and Chocolate Drive street signs.

"Alright ready?" My lips pull up into a smile.

I press the camera and take a photo. Its pretty memorable if you ask me but let me get in this photo because the Hershey Bar looks a little too handsie. I walk over to her and she smiles big and looks up at the Hershey bar.

"Thank you," she says kindly.

The Hershey bar wraps its arm around Lizzie's neck. Alright, I'm breaking up that operation here. Squeezing through, Lizzie giggles and holds her phone up trying to take a photo of all of us but I'm pretty headless.

"Would you like your photo taken?" The woman from the information pamphlet booth says.

"Please." Lizzie beams.

The woman comes around the booth and over to us. Lizzie hands her phone to her and we stand together underneath the street sign now.

"Umm... can you pick me up for a photo?" she asks shyly, tapping her fingers together. Her doe eyes twinkle at me and it warms my heart because she probably wanted a perfect Pinterest photo with me and that's what she is going to get.

I scoop Lizzie's legs up bridal-style, making her squeal. My hands perfectly fit on her conga drum, take that Hershey bar.

"Aww look at you two both in love. Ah, young love, I remember it," the woman coos, snapping picture after picture.

Lizzie's skin grows so hot, it burns me where her forehead presses into the side of my neck and I almost drop her at the word. How does she know?

The woman comes over with the phone and smiles at the both of us. "Take care of each other while you are young."

Lizzie's eyes soften at the old woman's hopeless romantic statement. I look down at her and smile at how her face relaxes, listening to her story about her late husband. Lizzie politely takes some pamphlets at her station and we headed off farther into the park.

"So, Squeaker now where?" I arrogantly smirk.

"I want to do the chocolate tour." She furrows her brows in a cute way.

Damn, I've got to get that out of my vocabulary. Pinterest, cute, and adorable were never in my vocabulary before Lizzie.

"Now Lizzie, you have to stay in the cart the whole time. No free samples, and you can't stick your finger out near the large chocolate machine," I warn her and she waves her hand at me to shoo me off.

"Jaylaaan." She gives me a look that makes me want to roar out laughing. "You act like I'm some kind of sugar-crazed maniac."

Who is going to tell her? I'll be surprised if we don't leave with a monthly subscription of mail-ordered chocolate.

"Alright," I say, wrapping my arm around her body pulling her close to me. "Are you okay?"

She hums and leans her head on my arm as we walk to the Chocolate World tourist attraction.

"So what are you going to do when I'm gone?" I tease and she looks at me with the biggest doe eyes yet.

"Study," she says softly, I lean down and kiss her drooping face.

"And think of how to take care of me," I tease, pulling her into me.

"If that's what you think," she roasts back but deep down we both know, or at least I do, what I want out of this by the end of July and where I want to be with her by November.

I've actually thought a lot about last night as she found a new sleeping position on me called the Monkey hug. With her mangoes smashed against my back, she hugged her elbows around my chest and wrapped her legs around me, even hooked her ankles right over my stomach.

I wish it was the other way around and not the first position I'd imagined with Lizzie's legs wrapped around me but it will work. But I really would love to, just maybe see if she would be willing to move in with me after college. I know it's a long shot from the half court line but there's no other person I'd rather live with than Lizzie. My night sleeping alone and mornings waking up without her are worse than those damn early wakeups.

Our lease is up in July and I know I'll be drafted to the NBA by that time, so housing won't be an issue for us. However, I've been having this internal battle of what if she says no or, even worse, wants to go back home. I know she told me last night she's been waiting to hear back about her green card status for the longest time. So that's another wrench we got there going on. I don't know why the US takes so long for that shit when everybody just wants to live a weird American dream. I don't believe it exists anymore or even know what that is exactly anymore.

I just know Lizzie deserves a home, I deserve a home. We deserve a loving home together, where we don't have to come to fighting or being put out on the porch, not feeling love or welcomed. The need for a home is in all of us. Everyone needs a safe place where we can go as we are and not question whether that will be yanked away.

With Lizzie, I am home already but I don't know if my emotions are valid towards her or not because I've opened up to her so quickly. After opening up to her about my life and choices I really thought she would have asked me to take her home and end things there but  she sat there and listened with empathy, compassion, and correction. When she ended with the words that she cares about me, I returned the same words even though other ones were beating hard in my heart. I didn't even think that Lizzie's reaction was possible. Some of her facial expressions did give away that she was disappointed and she has every right to be.

I meant every word I promised her, that dark part of my life is in my past and I'm moving forwards. On our way back from the skating rink, we had actually had a serious talk about my commitment and just keeping my word on letting her know if PJ is around. Or, if I ever get tempted to sell again - which I told her that's not me - so I did the old school way. We pinky swore with an added kiss I knew she would melt into a popsicle over. 

I just don't want her to worry like Aunt Lisa does whenever I offer to pay for something. Because now every time I do, like as we pick up our entrance tickets, she gives me soft, narrow eyes but I assure it's from honest money from saving from my mom's insurance money that Uncle Steve finally released to me or from Under Armor and now Powerade sponsors. I just don't want this to go backwards for us to move forward.

I lift up our hands and kiss her fingers softly as we walk right into ChocolateTown. A few feet in front of us rushes by Candymonium, the park's biggest coaster. At one point, it climbs up to over two hundred feet. Yeah, we need to ride that before Lizzie eats too much chocolate.

She has other ideas though and drags me over to the carousel, which honestly I'm not sure I'd even fit on a horse. We'd better get the tour out of the way first, so I steer her towards the ticket line. Lizzie's eyes marvel as we step inside with all the chocolate overload of shelves.

"Jaylan, look!" She gasps, pointing at the large, six foot chocolate bar that I know for a fact Ginger Demon would kick my ass if I let her take it home. Her eyes marvel as we wait in line to go on the factory's small guided tour.

I cackle because she pulls me slightly and points at the create your own candy bar, but I pull her in and kiss her cheek.

"After okay, Babe?" I hug her tightly because otherwise, she'll jump in while we're waiting in line.

She covers her face and crinkles her nose at me because she finally told me hearing that word makes her skin tingly. I'm glad to know I make her tingly... Although I also want to know if i make her we-

"How many of you will be on the guided tour?" A grey-haired woman smiles at Lizzie, who's just beaming and bouncing on her feet as the yellow cart slowly pulls up for us.

"Just two." I hold up two fingers.

"Okay, make sure your hands and feet stay inside the ride. This is a small motion ride and be sure to stop by the Hersheypark Supply Company when you are done." 

Lizzie nods, wasting no time getting into the car. She leaps into the seat closest to where she could see everything. A slight frown flashes over her face as she looks ahead, slumping her shoulders but turns to me. With a huff, she waves at me to hurry up.

I laugh, taking one stride, hopping in, and wrapping my arm around her. Just to mess with her, I extend my legs in front of her.

"Jaylan, your big body is taking the whole cart." She wiggles side to side in the seat with plenty of room. I throw my head back and laugh because she is grunting that I'm in her space but lays her head right on my chest. I place my hand on her back and the cart starts to move, making Lizzie jump.

The grey-haired lady laughs and waves. "Have a good time. Enjoy!" 

Lizzie waves politely and bounces in the seat. Hearing her soft plopping noises is making the cobra awake a bit.. fuck..  I push some strands of hair from her neck as the room becomes dark and she scoots closer. I lean down, kissing her forehead as the narration begins. Her breathing sounds a little bit off from what normally is, faster and louder.

"How are you feeling?" I ask again quietly as Lizzie turns to see the beginning stage of how Hershey began in 1894.

She answers in the tiniest whisper, "I'm okay."

"Elizabeth," I drag, a bit more firmly.

Her eyes stay forwards but she gently rubs her cheek into my chest. "I'm okay Jaylan," she stresses quietly.

I don't want to push her but I know she's still feeling sad. I mean, from what she told me last night, hell her parents have been married for twenty seven years and called it quits. "But how do you feel, Lizzie?"

She blinks a few times, her eyes glossing over. "I'm sad Jaylan, what else do you want me to say?"

"Just that." I kiss softly on her forehead.

She toys with the string of my sweatshirt and lets out a soft whimper. "Why do you want me to be sad, Jaylan?"

The words out of her mouth ached my heart and I pull her close to me. "It's not that I want you to be sad Lizzie it's just I want you to know its okay to be sad"

She whimpers again and holds me tight like I held her Thursday night. "But I don't like feeling sad because it makes me feel everything I didn't want to feel"

Her voice shatters my heart as her eyes glisten reflected by the ambient lighting.

"Lizzie, I understand but grief is a process we all have to go through," I offer quietly.

Months ago, I buried away my grief but she herself taught me that was wrong. She whimpers, wiggling closer to me. I lean down and kiss her head softly. "What I've learned, Lizzie is acknowledging grief, and all the cycles and ugliness of it is how to get not just through it but past it."

She looks at me with doe eyes but it sends warmth all over my body. I sigh deeply and tug her close to me.

"You can't numb your sadness with joy, Lizzie," I remind her gently. "Just like I can't numb away the problems in my own life."

I feel dampness on my hand and look down to see her eyes welling up in tears. "But joy is all I am, Jaylan, it makes me... me," she rasps softly.

"Lizzie, you have more than just joy in you...." The idea that she thinks that's all she is tears into me. "You are courageous, compassionate, hard working..... humble.... forgiving."

She whimpers from not being able to take in the truth but I lean down. I kiss her wet, damp soft cheeks as more tears flow down from her face.

"I don't understand why I had to go through this." She hiccups softly.

Her words are like a broken record spinning in my heart, of why we go through hard things in life. Why do the kindest and loyal people go through the hardest things in life? "Because Lizzie, life doesn't give us anything we can't handle."

"But it's too hard to handle." She hums.

"I know, baby." I thumb the side of her damp face.

The tour narration takes over our silence as Lizzie cries on my shoulder. I rub her back softly and let her let it out.  Her body softly shakes and she whispers things in Spanish. She cuddles more into me and I kiss her head as she shifts, looking at the waterfall of chocolate being molded into Hershey bars. She points lazily and I softly laugh, kissing her again.

"Remember, together we'll get through it. You will get through it."

"Together," she softly whispers, looking up at me.

"Together."

The bright exit causes us both to groan from being in the dark room and we get off the cart once it stops. Lizzie falls into my arms, stumbling over, to hug me. The warmth she transfers to my body assures me she will be okay. I know she can but she needs to feel like she can do life too.

"Let's go make you that chocolate bar." I softly kiss her cheek.

Without any hint of sadness she's good at burying, she skips over to the chocolate machine and I chuckle, shaking my head and going over to her. She taps her chin, trying to figure out this science project she's going to take hours on and I know we're going to miss half the rides. I really want to take her on the Sky Rush and Hershey Triple tower drop to see her freak out. 

Sky Rush was Mom's favorite. Her reasoning was that the feeling of going backwards gave her a thrill.

I just need to make sure this little chocolate gremlin doesn't eat what she makes.

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

I look over at Einstein's sister's hair at the last ride of the day and she grumbles with a smile. She bends down to gather her hair, giving me perfect access to smack her ass. It's perfectly shaped in her black leggings. I bite my fist and my hands radiate at the perfect angle. She must have known what I was thinking because she turns her body and leans against the wall. 

My hand is tingling, inches away too and it would have been some nice connection at that.

The sound of Lizzie's screams in my ear was absolutely the highlight of this whole trip. At one point, I'm pretty sure she was so scared she bit my arm when we went upside down. I joked we had to switch sides on every ride so my hearing came back in each ear. I'm pretty sure the whole entire city of Hershey could hear her on the Great Bear as we twist and turned. 

We did end up going on the carousel and get her little Pinterest photo on the horse while I was just standing right next to her.  We didn't haven't any vomit moments, however I was a bit worried when I might have gone overboard with tilt-o-whirl spins. She was getting really dizzy and her stomach was growling loudly.

Memories like this I live for and I wish this day would last forever but I know she probably wishes it would be over. 

I thought we would never leave the gift shop and candy bar station. She made everyone a Hershey bar she could think of. She first mad two for her and one for me that I ate so she made another one. Then she made one for Aunt Lisa and Uncle Steve, Jordy, Marcus, Hollis, her nursing school friend Jessica, then her professors, Coach T, Alexis, and Ginger Demon all to their liking. She tried to make one for her friend Spencer, yeah I ate that one too, he doesn't deserve one if he is going to treat Lizzie any old type of way.

I thought it was just the world when she wanted me to call everyone and their momma about what they would want in it. Marcus was being slightly over the top about what he wanted in his, as Maxine tried to get him off the phone so they could have quality time. Didn't need to hear that.

She mannapped him for the weekend and the two went to St. Michaels, Maryland for a little one-on-one time and they both definitely looked well fucked and prepared for March Madness. Coach T was already complaining Marcus would miss workouts but he definitely got them in with his Ginger Mistress.

Lizzie even got Jordy a matching stuffed Hersey kiss with hers so they can celebrate Hershey Kiss Day next year. I told her the only Hersey kiss he's celebrating is with my fist if he even tries anything. I definitely got a Lizzie scolding for that. Still no new stickers on my sticker chart... I'll make it up.

Damn, I'm going to miss those well-groomed, furrowed brows.

Since I refused to let Lizzie eat before we got on the coasters, I remind her, "Well, Squeaker. It's time to get some real food."

She ignores the name and turns her nose at me. I playfully grab her waist and she sinks her teeth in her lower lip.

"Elizabeth," I prompt her.

"Jaylan."

I kiss her lips softly and we walk to the Chocolate World, by the park entrance. Lizzie digs through her purse, looking for something and her chest heaves in relief. She pulls out the candle waving it at me and the titty lighter. "For dinner."

"Sap," I tease but I can't believe she carried that through the entire park all day.

No, I can believe it. It's Lizzie.

We walk up to a building with a green roof with giant letters reading '1906 Grill' on it. A few dark green picnic tables, each with a light blue umbrella in the middle, sit on either side of the entrance door.

Once inside, a blonde smiles at me, twirling her hair in her finger, "Hi, welcome to Nineteen-oh-six Grill, Sir. How many will be with your party this evening?"

No shame.

"Two." I tug Lizzie into me.

She twists her lips at Lizzie, turns, and rolls her eyes while gathering the menus. "Would you like outside or inside?" Her voice heightens in annoyance

"Jaylan, let's do outside because of the heated lamps." Lizzie beams, completely ignoring the situation.

"Outside," I say dryly, and Lizzie hits my arm, well, taps it.

We go back outside as the sun is setting. A nice orange overlay of pink and blue glows on Lizzie's honey skinned face. She sits down in a chair but being obnoxious I sit down next to her instead of across. Leaning over, I take up her space. She giggles at me being so close to her face and puts the menu up to block me from staring at her beautiful face.

"Your waiter will be out shortly," the blonde says snootily.

"Thanks." Lizzie smiles at her and she rolls her eyes at Lizzie.

What little patience I started with is now gone, so I narrow my eyes at the hostess. "Hey, you don't have to be rude."

"Jaylan," Lizzie softly says and pats my hand.

The blonde scoffs and flings her hair in the air as she walks away.

"It's not right," I look down at Lizzie.

"Sometimes people will learn about being mean when someone does it to them," Lizzie reminds and digs through her purse to take the candle out.

As much as I wanted to grumble, she side eyes me and humbly shut my mouth soaking in the deep words she said.  Lizzie flicks the lighter like she is cool and lets out a naughty lizzie giggle which I found is extra heightened and sweet.

"Aww, you're breaking the law," I tease.

"I'm not breaking anything," she says, does it again slyly smiling at me.

I think it's time to talk about the spank bank real soon.

Relaxing my smile as I rub my jaw, "Why do you have a tittie lighter?" I laugh and she furrows her eyebrows at me, for I guess my choice of words.

"For your information, this was a gift from Maxine's mom when she found out she was cancer free. She had a party for her new mangoes," she matter-of-facts me.

Damn, I totally forgot about that... Now I feel like an ass. "Right."

"We have extra if you want, I think she is still selling them." She flicks the lighter open. I reach for it to help her but she pulls it away. "Hey, I want to light because it was my idea."

I shut up after that comment because Little Doll Face is looking like she's going to catch me on fire. "Alright, alright."

"What do we say?" She giggles, holding the candle in her hands, about to light it.

We look at each other memorizing each other and a blush slowly appears on Lizzie's cheeks. She dips her chin down and I plant a soft kiss on her cheek and she lets a soft smile, not looking at me.

I beat the table like the drums and she giggles sparkling her eyes at me.

"I now pronounce today the Official Candle Ceremony Day between Jaylan and Lizzie."

She sticks her tongue through her teeth in a cute way and giggles, lighting the candle placing it in the center. She places her hand on my shoulder and I kiss her face. "One more day at time," she softly says.

"One day at a time." I reach over and squeeze her closest thigh.

The stillness in the air and of the park become serene and tranquil as we stare at the candle together, watching the single flame dance and paint shadows over the table. The way the light dances in her eyes gives me a quiet reminder that Lizzie's spirit is a flame that cannot be extinguished by life's curveballs. Even if she tries, she's quietly strong.
And, if she needs me to be, I can be stronger out loud.

Edited and spiced by still_just_me!