A Unique Kind of Love (22 page)

"Yeah?" He averted his eyes to me, blinking rapidly. He didn't want me to see him cry.

I did the unexpected; I placed my lips on his. He tasted like tears and hot chocolate. The kiss wasn't rough; it was just gentle, sweet and passionate. He was in such pain, I could literally feel it. An explosion of total peace and serenity overwhelmed us both. The true meaning of life, love, and utter relief of having each other, hoping this night would never end. Knowing that for both of us, this was the perfect chance to prove our melancholic love, so strong, so deep, and yet so sad to never want to let go, to the sadness of life.

He finally broke off the kiss, and bored his eyes into mine. His pupils dilated and his blue orbs were gleaming with fresh tears. 

So, I did what I had to do.

I took him in my arms and let him cry there. My shirt got wet as he sobbed, letting everything out. I tightened my grip on him, knowing that doing that always made me feel better when I was crying.

Because before my eyes, I did not see a man. There stood a broken boy who'd lost his father, mother, sister and grandmother. In the process, almost losing himself.

Was he worth it?

Was he worth saving?

Was he worth loving?

Absolutely.

 Here I was, holding the most beautiful human in the world, who was emptying his heavy heart of gold.

22

Mi Madre

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

~Abraham Lincoln~

Lena Rose Winter

Guilt was feeling like a Pac-Man, it ate up every piece of emotion inside of you until you apologized to the person you caused pain to. The longer you deny feeling bad about what you did, the longer you over think every single word you said.

“Mom?” I said, sitting beside her on the couch. We had two hours before the dinner and there was a relaxed moment in the house.

She looked up from her tea and looked at me. There was a dull look in her hazel eyes.

“I wanted to talk to you,” I said. She nodded.

I sighed, and clutched the cup of green tea in my hands tighter. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t answer, so I kept on talking. “I was being selfish and bratty.”

She rose her eyebrows at that, as if it was an understatement.

“I know you have to start seeing others now, I just never imagined you without Dad.” I paused for a second, the sound of that name on my lips making me shiver. “I want to see you happy. I over exaggerated this whole thing and I’m really sorry about it.”

“I need you to be okay with all this,” she said.

I nodded fervently. “I am. I want to see you happy and since Dad wants to see you happy too, you should really call that Roger guy again.”

She ushered for me to come closer and I put myself into a one armed embrace.

I immediately felt like a kid again. It was bizarre to feel like this, but Mom’s hugs always made me feel better about whatever was happening at the moment. She was safety for me.

“I love you, mom.”

She chuckled softly. “I know.”

I let out a small, mocking gasp.

“No,
I love you too
? What is this, a one-sided love?”

She laughed, and mumbled, “Yeah, yeah. Love you too.”

“That’s better,” I said.

“Speaking of apologies and making amends, guess who called me today?”

I furrowed my eyebrows together, “Who?”

“Stacy Hennings.”

I let out a laugh.

“What did she want?”

Mom smiled at my reaction. “She wants to come over today and apologize.”

I grimaced. “And what did you say, Mother?”

“She’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

I gasped. “Mom! I don’t want to see her!”

“Too bad, you two need to have a clean slate.” I groaned.

“You seriously want us to be friends again? After everything she did?”

“Of course not,” Mom shook her head and took a sip of her tea calmly. “I just don’t want you to have any enemies or whatever at school.”

She was right, she knew it, and she made sure I knew it too. “Fine,” I grumbled.

Mom stood up to put the empty cup into the kitchen. “I wasn’t asking for permission,” she winked.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang and I had to drag myself over to open it. Stacy stood there, dressed in simple clothes. She had a blank look on her face. I nodded.

“Stacy.”

She gave me a small, hesitant smile. “Can I come in?”

“No,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

Her smile fell, but she nodded in understanding. “I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?” I let out an unladylike snort. “Insulting me repeatedly, or spilling drinks down my back, or insulting people I care about?”

“Everything,” she said. “I’m sorry for everything.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know if I can believe you.”

“Please, do. Every second of every day these days, I keep on thinking of how horrible I was with you. I am disgusted by myself, and I swear, I am sincere.” Tears shone in her eyes, but head held high, she refused to let them fall. “Please, forgive me.”

I sighed, feeling a bit of pity for her, “Fine.” Her face lit up.

“But this doesn’t mean that we’re friends,” I said, remembering Mom’s words, “just that we have a clean slate.”

She eagerly nodded. “Thank you.” A few stray golden hairs betrayed her messy bun and she put them back in place with a leather gloved hand. She extended the same hand to me.

I shook it and gave her a semi-passable smile. A honk interrupted the moment and she widened her eyes.

“Mom’s being cranky,” she chuckled. “I better go.”

I gave her a small nod, feeling a small weight, get off my chest. “Thank you, again,” she said.  I didn’t answer.

She walked away and I closed the door.

“Mom, come out! I know you were spying!” I called out, laughing as Mom appeared from behind the couch, a look of shame on her face.

I shook my head at her. “You’re too old for spying on people, Mother!”

Her eyes got wide and she looked at me with shock and disbelief. “Did you just call me old?” I shrugged, grinning in amusement.

“Young lady, you are officially forbidden from saying the word old at home.”

It was my turn to wink at her, “I wasn’t asking for permission to say it.”

23

Princess to the Rescue

"Should you fight for someone who may not even want you to fight for them? Or may not even give you the chance to."

~Anonymous~

Liam Christopher Black

"Liam! Come on, we're going to be late! Stop checking yourself out, that's Lena's job," winked Adam, popping his head in the room. I chuckled and grabbed my favorite watch.

That boy was the best cousin in the world, even though he could easily get on my nerves. He was a prankster, but a good guy at heart. And I found out that he liked Tori but he had to deal with Kylie first. He wanted to think properly, to prevent doing any rash actions.

My thoughts drifted away a little and I hoped tonight would go well. Catherine and Mrs. Winter met this morning and instantly became the other version of SpongeBob and Patrick.

Catherine insisted on inviting everyone on a night out, at one of the most chic restaurants in town;
Rio Bello's
. Lena kissed my cheek and her mom was raging at her because she wouldn't let go of my hug.

Ah, that girl.

I raced downstairs and found Catherine stuffing a lipstick, a pair of tissues and her cell phone into her red purse. She looked great, wearing a knee length red dress. She smiled upon seeing me and cupped my face with her hands.

"Your parents would be so proud of you!" My smile slightly faltered and I nodded softly. Catherine seemed oblivious to my reaction and called Belle down. Adam was already in the car, as he was the one driving us.

Belle was stunning, wearing a white skirt, a black shirt with BAD written across it and a blue leather jacket. It was very... Belle. I ruffled her hair playfully, as she stuck her tongue out at me.

Catherine locked the door as everyone got in Adam's 2013 Ford. His family was quite rich. Actually, his dad was, but he was a forbidden subject everywhere. He abandoned Catherine upon finding out about her pregnancy. Adam and Belle despised him, but Belle has always loved him because he came to visit her when she was younger. Adam always kicked him out of the house; he hated how he hurt his mom.

The car ride was silent. Everyone had something on their mind. Adam thought about Tori, Belle was thinking about her nightmares— which she refused to talk about although Adam knew everything— Catherine's thoughts were a mystery to me, while my mind was circling around how I was lucky to have Lena. I just hoped that I'd never lose her.

Adam turned the radio on, just as
Thrift Shop
's familiar chorus was on. Catherine groaned, as all the youngsters smiled.

"I'M GONNA POP SOME TAGS ONLY GOT TWENTY DOLLARS IN MY POCKET. I-I-I'M HUNTIN', LOOKING FOR A COME UP, THIS IS FUCKING AWESOME."

"Adam Damien Black, keep your bloody eyes on the road, I don't want to die!" Her son jumped at the urgent tone of her voice and kept his gaze straight ahead. Annabelle, sitting beside me, wouldn't leave me alone.

"Lena and Liam sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love; then comes marriage, then comes a-
oomph
," I put my hand on her mouth to shut her up.

I hoped bribing was going to work, “I'll buy you dessert." Belle went into business mode and raised her eyebrow. She ushered for me to
"go on".

"Extra large double chocolate sundae with huge Oreo pieces on it." My cousin's eyes widened and she suddenly threw her arms around me to literally take all breath out of me.

"YOU ARE THE BEST COUSIN IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, LIAMPOOPOO."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Liampoopoo?" I demanded. That nickname was quite childish. Annabelle shrugged and turned back to her side, listening to music. I could hear Pierce the Veil blasting from her earphones.

After that incident, I supported my head on the window, admiring the full moon out. I had a bad feeling, though. A nagging in my chest, but I shook that away. Tonight had to be absolutely perfect, because maybe, just maybe, it would be my chance to ask Lena to be my official girlfriend.

A couple of minutes later, Adam stopped the car and said, “We're here."

I admired the restaurant, it had a homey glow to it and that makes it special, because not all restaurants can produce that. We took our places on a huge table, waiting for the Winters to arrive. I sipped on a glass of water, boredom was reigning over me. Annabelle munched on a bread roll while Adam was texting with complete concentration. Kylie, possibly.