plain joy all around

She was waiting at the cab a bright excited smile on her face when Henry finally got into the front seat. Holly grinned and in excitement stood up a tiny bit and sat back down reminding herself not to let it show too much. 

Holly had not remembered the last time she had done something that insane. What she had just done - lead into by Henry Dijion - had to top the list of craziness she had ever done in her life, even though her list of insanities were rather short. The only other thing she had ever done even relatively insane was to go to Jeremy's party and drunk kiss many guys in one night. She'd always say that she was hammered and that night never happened. 

The slamming of the door brought her back and she smiled that huge grin and almost screamed over the music she had turned on in the cab, "Can't believe we did that! It was fucking insane!" 

Henry instantly turned back and his expression mirrored her as he told, "Me neither, Ms Pierce."

"Please, it's just Holly," she rolled her eyes with another gentler smile as she leant back into her seat. 

"Nah, I think I prefer princess," he winked at her as he turned the key in the ignition port and pressed on the gas pedal. 

The drive was a rather pleasant one, much more enjoyable and friendly this time. Laughter rang out, joy was in the air and somewhere in the middle, Holly had even abandoned her backseat and climbed over the front when Henry was still driving. 

It was brought out a lot of laughter and that bright smile of Henry. 

He asked her, smiles all around, "So, finally learning to enjoy my company, are you?" 

"Please-" she scoffed, trying to conceal her smile, "I'm here for the- the view! It's better out here on the front."

"Whatever you want to keep telling yourself, princess," he told, eyes on the road. 

And they talked and talked and talked some more. Completely ignoring the way the hours were ticking by and how they managed to even skip lunch and not notice it. It was only around four PM in the evening when they were running low on gas. 

"Oh my, I didn't notice the time at all until this very moment," he remarked. 

She got her feet off the dashboard and sat up with a confused look in her eye, "It's already four PM?"

"Yup, looks like that," Henry remarked. "And we're also running a bit low of fuel. How about we take a break at our next stop for a bit? Stretch and walk around for a while?"

She pondered it for a tiny moment until she nodded, "Yeah, I'd like that very much."

And he let out a breath of relief. He thought she would've been mad at her for forgetting all about lunch. He wasn't just her driver, he was supposed to the one in charge for her, he was being paid of that. 

Even though, no one knew that he had actually had given all the money for Isabella's treatment. 

His thoughts were cut short when his gaze felt in the gas station and he pulled over and let the cab rest. He got out and while stumbling around for his wallet, Holly gave the cash. 

He pursed his lips, "I had it handled."

"I know."

It was a nervous beat and she began walking towards the coffee stand, "Want some coffee before we get started on whatever you have in mind?"

"I'd love that," and they began walking in large strides towards the stall. 

Filling up their paper cups by the stand with coffee, they sipped on it. It tasted like shit. They looked at each other from the corner of their eyes the same thought in their minds. 

But neither voiced it out. There wasn't a need to. 

Instead, Henry asked her, "How would you like to go for a trek?" 

She thought over it for a while. She looked around, there was, they were on a lonely abandoned road that not many cars passed by and on the other side of the road was acres and acres of tree. She looked down at her outfit. She was ill-dressed, to be honest, with just her white tee and an old jean overalls she had left inside her closet for years. 

   She pondered the question for a while, and then replied, "I don't see why not."

Holly smiled at Henry as they climbed and made their way through the forest. It was almost around an hour and half later that they reached the top of the hill. It was a upon a cliff and there was a small water body on the edge of it. 

The sun was right at the horizon, orange hues painting the whole sky with a sunsetty yellow bloom. There was something oddly poetic about a scenery that serenic. Birds in the sky migrated their way back home and the kids had no where to go or call their home but it wasn't something they bothered about. 

Smiles happier than the sky, they had all they needed. Because when you're young, you need very little and she was content with everything she had. And she had herself and for that moment, it was more than enough for her. 

There was something about watching the sunset dip over and the blend of colours in the sky that ignited something deep inside her soul. She felt more alive than she had ever felt in her whole life and at the same time, she felt peace. And that smile she had on her face where the left side of her lips twitched upwards could not be wiped off from her face. 

Holly looked to her left and there was something electrifying in the air as he stared at the same horizon she had been staring at. The way the sun was reflected in his blue eyes made something flip within her. He noticed her gaze on him and he turned to face her. Almost on instinct. 

And when he looked over, she was right there. Looking at him and for a moment, a shiver ran down his spine. She looked him in the eye with an unreadable expression and a tiny part of him wondered if she was looking right through his soul as he felt that she was. 

There was something electrifying in the air and he could feel it too. 

The smiles faded from their faces and grew solemn and the distance between them faded into nothingness and they were staring at eachother's eyes as if trying to communicate without words. 

It was a dangerous tango and for Holly, it was almost as though, she didn't notice the distance between them disappearing. 

Holly only noticed that when then Henry winked at her and asked her, "Wonderful day for a swim, ain't it?" 

And before she could decipher what he meant, he leaped over the edge of the cliff and Holly was scared out of her wits. 

Holly screamed his name as she fled to look down and watched him splash into the chilling cold water down below. He screamed with joy, all his blonde hair stuck to his forehead and he yelled, "You've got to join me down here Holly!" 

She took in a deep breath as she told repeating to herself in a low tone, "You've got this, you've got this, you've got this."

She tied her hair up using the scrunchie she had in her wrist into a high ponytail. She hadn't brought her mobile with her that day and she didn't mind that at all. Of course, a picture of the sunset would've been perfect but she preferred to live in the moment. 

She took a few steps away from the edge and then, told herself that there was no going back. 

And then, she screamed and jumped right into the water. 

The fall wasn't long at all in reality for it was but for three seconds before she made impact. She dived right in and opened her eyes under the water and she had never seen water so blue. 

And when she looked around, she saw Henry under the water, him staring at her through his eyes that he was trying to keep open. He went up for air first and she came up right after and they laughed out loud. 

"I can't believe I jumped!" Henry laughed, his hands splashing about. 

"I can't believe I followed you in!" she replied, laughing just as hard. 

And they looked at each other, just to burst out laughing once more. She had never been filled with such a feeling before. The urge to laugh without even having a reason to, just plain joy all around. 

She smiled, "Now, we better get out before it turns dark."

Sure enough, the sky was already a hue of blue and stars were starting to twinkle in the sky and he agreed with her. But even as they swimmed their way to the shore and stumbled their way laughing towards their parked yellow Beetle, neither could wipe that huge smile they had given each other.