Chapter 64 Chapter 64

Chapter 64 Chapter 64
Paris

I pulled out of Reagan High for maybe the last time, saying goodbye to the closed doors and hello to new opening ones.
Fabian remained quiet as we drove, probably thinking about where I was taking him. I nibbled on my lip as I held his hand over the console. It didn’t take too long for us to reach our first destination, and his confused expression became more evident when I pulled into Jessy’s roller skating rink.
“Paris, what are we doing here?” he asked as I parked in the exact spot I parked months ago when I came here to stalk him. It took a lot of persuading to get Jessy to reserve the spot for me, but I got it done.
Clearing my throat, I spun in my seat to face him, avoiding his question as I grabbed my phone. I wrote down all the things I’d say to him at each destination, but now being with him, I didn’t need the phone. I could speak from my heart. And so, I did.
“Fabian,” I mumbled as I held his hand, and a wave of nostalgia knocked me over. “This is where it all began.” I smiled at the memory, and his features softened as if he realised what I was up to. “It was a rainy night here at the rink, and I was heartbroken and embarrassed when I dashed for the doors.” I chuckled as the image of night replayed in my mind. “I still had those stupid neon pink skates on my feet, and I was heading for the exit at full speed.”
“I remember,” he chuckled as he rested his head against the seat.
“You called after me when you thought I was stealing the skates. I almost fell, but you caught me instead. I still remember how I felt when I first saw you. Brooding eyes filled with amusement and confusion, soft pink lips smirking down at me; I was trapped from that moment without even noticing. This place, right here, is where you and I fulfilled destiny.”
I smiled as I ended, loving how better that was from what I had written down on my phone. Fabian loved it too. The way he kissed me after I stopped talking proved it.
As a part of my plan, I spent an hour at the rink with him, skating in those awful pink skates that I also had to ask Jessy to save for me. Fabian never made me fall once, and he made snarky jokes whenever he spun me around, calling me that ridiculous nickname that I had come to love. It was fun, as I imagined and hoped, but soon we left for our second destination.
It was quite a drive to Hamilton and Hills High School, and I knew he would have recognised the route. Still, he remained quiet, even though his curiosity was once again piqued. I parked close to the school side since what I had planned was far too risky.
Hamilton High had already closed for summer, so security personnel and groundsmen were the only people who remained on campus. Again, I switched off the car and turned in my seat to face him.
“This is where I first started to know you. I remember when you took me here, and I met the rebellious side of you that I both liked and feared. This is where I started to care for you, and it was on that same day that I knew I wanted to be your friend.” I blushed at the confession, but I remembered clearly how interested I was in him that day. I knew he was special then.
“Are you trying to make me cry, Paris?” he asked as he caressed the exposed area on my thigh. I chuckled before shaking my head. “No, not yet, at least.”
Dodging his next question, I hopped from the car and called after him, where he followed me to the pool, where we shared our first real conversation. We didn’t actually go into the water. We sat at the edge, feet immersed in the crystal-like liquid as we talked about every topic that came to mind. Before I knew it, it was six in the evening, pushing me far back from schedule, but I didn’t mind.
We stopped at a diner for food before heading to my third stop. Fabian actually guessed it this time, and I wasn’t even surprised.
It was, after all, one of his favourite places. I laced my fingers in his once we alighted my car, and I was happy to see that he was actually enjoying the day. His smile had never dropped throughout the five hours we’ve been together. That was my goal.
“Can I do it this time?” he asked as we sauntered down the familiar path that led to the pond. I nodded with a simper of my own, appreciating the warmth of the evening sun on his face. “Sure.”
It was his day, after all. And after the day we’ve had, he must’ve already known what I’d say about this place.
“This was where I realised that someone else actually cared for me,” he said, looking straight ahead. “I remember coming here the night when Derick ruined our time at the pool. Then, imagine my surprise a few days later when a tiny brunette showed up at my door.”
I chuckled at how he said it, but I remembered pretty well. “At first, I was confused—scared even. Why would she seek me out? What’s so special about me? But believe it or not, that was the day when I knew I liked you.”
“Me too,” I admitted. It was in the house that I shared my first kiss with him. He had stirred feelings in my heart that I didn’t understand then, but looking back was bliss. We stayed in comfortable silence as we arrived at the pond.
As usual, the small fishes wiggled around in the blue pond, and the water lilies floated above it in leisurely roams. I wanted to stay there all night and never leave until morning, but I knew I had to end the evening with my final destination.
And so, I took him to the spot where he made me his, where I shared the most intimate and beautiful experience of my life, and where I first called him my boyfriend. As I last remembered, the old park was still deserted, but its beauty remained. We arrived on time, just as the sun was saying goodbye behind the horizon.
We had no blanket, but we still sat in the grass at the same spot where we shared our first date months ago. I still remembered it like it was yesterday, and again, I turned to Fabian with a million and one things that I wanted to say to him, yet it all seemed so jumbled in my mind.
I could see behind his eyes, too, how much he wanted to say, but just staring at each other seemed like enough.
Right there under the beams of London’s sunset, I made an eternal promise to myself and him. That I’d always be his, and he’ll always be mine.
“This is where we shared our first date,” I whispered as we stared at each other intensely.
“Where the real journey began,” he added, and just like always, I felt my tears threatening to break through. I rested my forehead against his, and our eyes fluttered closed as we read each other’s hearts.
“This is where I gave you my all.”
“And this is where I promised myself to you.” I sniffled, trying desperately to keep my tears at bay.
“And I know—”
“We know,” he corrected.
“—that we will always love each other, no matter what. Happy birthday, Fabian. I love you.”
My last words came out as a hushed whisper as Fabian finally closed the small space between us and initiated yet another blissful kiss.
“Thank you for accepting me, Fabian,” I mumbled against his lips. I’d never know such happiness today if it wasn’t for him.

END of Part 1