Love Me Back to Life

by HMD

  “Huh?” I question. “Ty come here buddy!” I shout up to my brother because there's no doubt he's in his room playing video games. First thing he does when he gets out of school every day.

  “I just got off the phone with Jackie who heard from Gina that heard from Rachel that you punched a girl outside of McConnell's fifteen minutes ago.”

  Say what? How in the hell did all those people talk in the fifteen minutes it took me to get home?

  “It's fine ma. I'm handling it,” I assure her as my little brother runs down the stairs. “Here bud, I got you some ice cream,” I hand him the cup of ice cream. He shouts gleefully and runs back up the stairs.

  “Not too much before dinner, Tyler!” My mother shouts up after him. We hear him groan and shut his door. My mother turns back to me, “How exactly do you have this handled?” She questions, popping a brow.

  “Don't worry about it mom, seriously,” I wave her off as I try to ascend the stairs to go to my room.

  “No Emma. You don't get to walk away that easily. Did you stop to think about the consequences of your actions? What if this young lady presses charges? And what on God's earth would possess you to punch someone in the first place?” My mother gives me a confused look.

  “She was talking bad about Grace,” I reply quickly. My mother sighs, shaking her head.

  “No matter the case Emma, you can't go around punching people. Not if you wanna stay out of jail and in the army for the little time you have left, you understand?” I nod, because I know my mother is right. Punching Chloe was stupid and reckless. “Go get washed up, dinner will be ready soon,” She shoos me up the stairs. I nod and head up to my room.

  I sigh as I shut my door, flopping down on the bed. I hear the doorbell ring but I don't pay it any mind as I think about all the trouble I could get into if Chloe decides to press charges.

  I grab my phone out of my pocket and text Grace. 'I did something stupid.' I type and wait for her to reply. I lay back on my bed, waiting for her response.

  “You sure did,” I sit up and see Grace standing in my doorway. I scrunch my brows in confusion. “Your mom let me in,” She comes in and sits down on my bed.

  “How'd you--”

  “Chloe called me.”

  “Oh,” Is all I say.

  “I talked her out her pressing charges, Emma. What were you thinking, you can't just go around punching people.”

  “You sound like my mother,” I groan, laying back.

  “Well she's right,” Grace lies down next to me. “You could have really gotten in trouble, I'm not sure how the army works or anything like that cause my dad never really talked about that stuff, but I figure fighting is pretty frowned upon.”

  “She was talking bad about you,” I turn to look at her. “I didn't like what she was saying,” I shrug, taking my bottom lip between my teeth. A small smile appears at her lips.

  “Still, it wasn't right for--”

  “When it comes to being right and protecting you, even if that just means protecting your character... I'll be wrong every time,” I explain. The small smile she was sporting turning into a full out grin. She stares at me, not saying a word. “What?” I question my girlfriend.

  “Nothing,” She shrugs, staring at me. “I just think you're adorable.”

  “Stop it.” I drop my head onto the bed. I'm pretty sure I'm blushing. Grace pulls my head, forcing me to look at her.

  “I'm just speaking the truth,” She leans forward, kissing me sweetly. Ugh! This girl gets more perfect every second.

  “So will you be joining us for dinner, Grace?” My mother clears her throat from the door, I groan as Grace pulls back to answer her. Aw she looks a bit embarrassed we got caught.

  “Um, yes ma'am if you'll have me.”

  “Of course,” My mother smiles as she stares at us.

  “You can go now mom.” I say, getting up from the bed. I have to physically remove my mother from my room.

  “Dinner will be ready soon!” She shouts through the door. I lock it for good measure.

  “Sorry about that,” I shake my head, making my way back over to the bed.

  “I love your mother,” Grace chuckles. I cringe as I sit down next to her.

  “Could you not talk about loving my mother when I'm about to kiss you,” I tell her as she leans back on her elbows and I straddle her. “It's messed up that you told me you love my mother before you love me,” I smile down at my girlfriend before I reconnect our lips, yup I just decided, punching Chloe was definitely worth it.

  Grace looks up at me, breaking the kiss.

  “What is it?” I question, the serious look on her face making me a bit uneasy.

  She swallows thickly, the gesture causing me to roll off of her. She sits up, turning completely to look at me.

  “I think that I am.” She says softly and I stare at her confused.

  “You are what?”

  She closes her eyes briefly, looking down at her hands then back up to me. “Falling... you know,” She swallows again. “In love with you,” My eyes go wide briefly, caught off guard by the revelation. I don't know what to say. Do I tell her the truth? Tell her what's going on in my head? “It's fine if you don't feel the same,” She adds quickly. “I know that you've been through a lot these past years and it's not easy to--”

  “No,” I cut her off, placing a hand on her knee. “I do,” I nod, a small smile creeping to my lips. “I'm falling in love with you too,” She smiles brightly, obviously happy with my response.

  I pull her into a hug, she pulls her head back, kissing me a little harder than she's ever kissed me before. We fall back against the bed; lying on our sides we become lost in each other. She grips my hips and my body starts to tingle as she slips her hand under the back of my shirt. I moan and this is not how I want this to happen. Not with my family downstairs or the possibility of my brother popping in at any second. I inhale as I break away from the kiss and look into her eyes.

  “I want you,” I tell her honestly. I see her gulp and she raises her hand to pull me in for another kiss.

  I let her guide me toward her and I know that everything I want with her she wants with me. She pecks my lips and she slips her knee between my legs.

  The action is killing me so of course being the masochist that I am I start a motion. I feel her smile into the kiss as her hand becomes firmer against my lower back. I release a guttural moan and reluctantly pull away. She pouts a bit and I nibble at it softly.

  “I know, I know,” She responds, she knows I want to but we can’t. She drops her head on the mattress. I mimic her motion and look into her eyes.

  “Tell me a story,” I say as I tangle my legs with hers. She smiles softly.

  “What kind of story do you want to hear?”

  I shrug my shoulders and link our hands together. I start playing with her fingers absentmindedly.

  “Something you wrote, you never told me what you write.”

  “I write everything my mind will allow me to create. I write poetry, fiction, non-fiction, journaling…” She just shrugs. “It varies.”

  “Will you let me read some of your stuff?”

  She bites her lip and I want to kiss her again. She’s thinking of what she’d let me read. She leans closer to me to get a better reach into her back pocket. She opens her little black book to a certain page and holds it in front of me.

  An unlikely place to meet a beautiful perfect stranger. I falter over words as if they weren’t in my nature. The cacophony of emotions she’s stirred within me. A frenzy, a melody of bliss I no longer thought would be attainable for me. A story behind her eyes I want to unravel but more so become a part of it. My brokenness still a factor, but my heart refuses to linger in the darkness that’s tried to overcome me. This beauty that is she, that she brings to me, a light unexpected. A need to know her, a desire to show her that she’s a gift to me because for the first time I’ve felt my heart beat after death has consumed me.

  My eyes are
welling up and I feel a lump in my throat. I never imagined that I brought anything to the table that made her feel remotely close to what she’s written down. She closes the book, slips it back into her pocket and looks down shyly. I lift her hand up to my lips and kiss it gently. I kiss her wrists, and then make my way up her arm and start on her neck.

  “You’re amazing,” I tell her, mumbling against her neck. She holds me close and I inhale everything that she is.

  “You bring out the best in me,” She says and I need her to stop saying things that are making me fall faster.

  We’ve already admitted to falling in love with each other and time isn’t on our side. Since it’s not, I have to allow our emotions to rebel against it. I pull back and we commence in our normal display of affection. Our lips smoothly glide together. I can’t help but think to myself that I’ve found the one I was always meant to be with.

  Chapter 16 – Heart Strings

  I rub my eyes to help rid the tired from them. I'm getting up to meet with Grace. She asked me to join her and I can't ever say no to her. I don't think I ever will. It's still dark out and I tiredly get dressed, slipping on a pair of sweatpants and a light sweater for the brisk morning air. My phone goes off and it's Grace is letting me know she's on her way.

  I quickly go through my routine and quietly make my way downstairs. It's too early even for my mother to be up. Or so I thought. I reach the bottom step and see the kitchen light is on. I shake my head and walk inside the room.

  "Mom what are you doing up it's four thirty in the morning."

  "Couldn't sleep." She says quietly and I try my best to read her. She's blowing on her hot chocolate and I grab a stool at the island. I scratch my forehead and run my hand down my face.

  “I love you mom."

  She smiles as she holds the cup up to her mouth. She mumbles an "I know." I'm brought back to several weeks prior and my discussion with my little brother.

  I remember how he told me she cries herself to sleep sometimes. How she lingers in my room, praying for my safety, for my return. I sigh and look at the woman who's given me everything and I realize that my theory of 'at arm’s length' can't and won't work.

  "Where you headed off to so early in the morning?"

  "Grace is picking me up to watch the sunrise." I answer easily and I think the fact that I don't put up a fight catches her off guard. I further the conversation and discuss the gift I recently bought for Grace. My mother smiles as I give her a full on description of the small gesture in response to Grace's insurmountable affection.

  She leans on the counter and giggles at the small jokes that I'm making. I raise my brows as she stifles a yawn and I stand up, walking to the other side of the counter. I take the cup from her hands and slide it away from her. Nodding my head in the direction of the stairs, I gently order my mother to go to bed.

  I pull her in for a hug and her grip tightens. Usually I'd make a joke about how she's squeezing the air of me but I relent; squeezing just as tight. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and I watch her leave the kitchen. The timing is perfect as I feel my phone buzz and see that Grace is waiting outside for me. I turn the light off as I leave the kitchen and blindly make my way towards the front door. I grab the small gift bag before I head out of the house, quietly closing the door behind me.

  I turn my face away from the bright headlights that beam up the driveway. She turns them off and I briskly jog down the driveway. Some may think I'm skipping but get this straight...Emma Daniels does not and will not ever skip. I get inside the car and I'm greeted with a pair of soft lips puckered up for a kiss. Giggling, I lean forward and peck them softly. She notices the bag in my hand and points down to it.

  "What's that?" Curiosity written all over her face and I just blush slightly because I'm a little shy about it. I never really bought a gift for a girlfriend before and wasn't entirely sure just how she would like it.

  "It's a gift for you but I'll give it you later."

  She doesn't whine about it and I'm appreciative of it because I want the moment I give it to her to be special, not just a hand off in a car. She starts the car back up and backs her way out of the driveway.

  Our conversation to the beach is light. We aren't talking about anything too serious, just particular things that interest us. It feels good to establish some form of monotony, life has been filled with revelations, emotional breakthroughs and confessions. I don't mind the talk about the commercial that she's obsessed with that she flips through channels to find it just so she can laugh at it. I'm even pleasantly surprised that I can talk about all the trips that I've taken during previous leaves without feeling the guilt of not coming home.

  Those stories easily turn into future plans with the girl to my left. Most people having discussions like this would freak out at the prospect of doing something like traveling with their significant other so early on in the relationship, but I look forward to it. It's nice to not be afraid of something that other people are terrified of and for once I'm glad I'm not normal.

  We reach the beach and take a quiet walk down to Grace and James's spot. She has a basket and a blanket and I come to the conclusion that it's a good idea to definitely give her the gift during this time. No other time would be as perfect. We set up and get cozy, listening to the ocean; digging our feet into the sand while we rest against the blanket Grace laid out. I feel her reach for my hand I instantly link mine with hers. She starts to talk but it's not to me and I know having been in my own spot that she's talking to her brother. I just sit quietly much like she has whenever she's accompanied me through my own discussions with my friends.

  "Hey James, as you can see I'm not alone this time. I know you wouldn't mind seeing as you'd want to meet the girl that stole my heart."

  My eyes are closed but I can hear her smiling as she talks. I'm not sure if her eyes are closed as well but I know that they aren't on me. I feel when they are.

  "She's pretty great and don't worry Tamara took care of the talk that you would have given her. She handled herself quite well if you ask me. It was a bit sexy honestly."

  She starts laughing and I'm sure it's because she's imaging the grossed out response he would have given her, if he had still been here. I chuckle quietly not wanting to ruin her moment. I feel her gently squeeze my hand.

  "Okay, okay I'm sorry geez. Here I thought I can tell you anything but apparently there are limits, she is hot though right?"

  I can't laugh quietly anymore because the comment alone catches me off guard. She's laughing as well. I feel her move closer to me and I welcome the warmth. I'm not sure if it's just her body heat or her but everything about her radiates warmth.

  "I know I got myself a looker don't be jealous. Anyway she's just here and she's leaving soon so I brought her by so she could talk to you."

  My eyes shoot open. This is a complete surprise to me and I don't look at my girlfriend but I do feel her eyes on me. I clear my throat knowing that me talking to him is important. If I didn't have to do this with McKenzie and George I'd be terrified of what to say but I've had some practice. I close my eyes again and imagine his face. There are a lot of pictures of he and Grace in the Cassidy residence so it's not hard for me to picture what he looks like.

  "Hey James, thanks for being so understanding about letting me in on you and Grace's secret spot. She's been teaching me to surf and even though I didn't get to know you I feel a tiny bit closer to understanding who you were and who you were to Grace. She's amazing and I care about her so much, she's helped me a lot and the way she talks about you I feel like I know you a bit. I'm sorry we didn't get to meet, but I know one day we will. Until then I'll just get to know you through your sister."

  I turn to her in hopes that my talk was decent enough. She's tearing up a bit and I reach my hand over and brush it away with my thumb. I cup her face and she lays her hand on top of mine and I smile softly at her.

  "Thank you." She says in a whisper. I just shake my head.

  "No, t
hank you."

  I feel her cheeks heat up a bit and I know she's blushing. The sun is starting to peek in the horizon and the small bit of orange, purple and blue is breathtaking. I drop my hands from her face and watch the natural beauty unravel before me. We're both too captivated by the sunset to talk right now. The colors flood our eyes and we melt into the scene as if we were permanent fixtures of it. Not paying any mind to anything else but each other. She leans her head against my shoulder and I drop my head on top of hers.

  She lets go of my hand to loop our arms together and we sit quietly. I'm so in love with her and where we are right now. It's like the perfect place in all degrees. She inhales deeply, sighing contently.

  "I'm so happy" she admits and I grin.

  "Me too."

  I'm not sure how long we sat there in silence, but honestly I don't care. I don't want time to ruin this moment so I just act as though time doesn't exist.

  Much to my dismay she pulls away and grabs the basket that sat beside her. She opens the one side and hands me a bottle of orange juice. She starts digging around and pulls out a plate, utensils, napkins and I start to giggle.

  "If you pull a table outta there I'm gonna start calling you Hermoine."

  She smirks as she turns to me slowly.

  "Didn't take you for a Harry Potter fan."

  I look away from her a bit embarrassed. "I skimmed the books." I answer noncommittally.

  I brave a look at her and she staring at me knowingly. She caught me. The detail of Hermoine's charmed handbag that I referenced is too minute to be remembered by someone that barely paid attention. I scoff and release an obnoxious growl.

  "Fine I read them all the way through...three times."

  She erupts in laughter and I pout. She coos me leaning forward to give me a quick kiss. I grab the hem of her short so she can't escape too quickly because I need more than a peck after that reveal. She doesn't fight me on it as she deepens the kiss forgetting the breakfast that she packed. We break apart to catch our breaths.

  "Let's eat yeah?" I just nod licking the taste of Grace from my swollen lips.