Life and Death: Part 1

The velvet blue sky that enveloped us twinkled with the dim, fresh stars strewn across it, illuminating our outside table. I shyly looked across the table set for two to glance at my “friend,” Abbie. She smiled, and I swear the evening around us brightened tenfold. Whenever she graced me with one of her beautiful, flawless smiles, which was mercifully often, my heart would begin to race and I would be forced to ard off a deep blush.

   “Shawn, thank you so much for all of this! You were right, I did need the break from work. Who knew that writing was such a life-consuming job…” she laughed merrily. Her laugh was just as gorgeous as her smile, if not even more so… I felt an ominous, giveaway blush threatening at my cheeks.

    “Oh, you’re welcome, Abbie. I’m just glad you accepted. I’d hate for you to be overworked…Plus, I think I needed this as much as you did.”

    She reached across the table to rest her hand on mine, sending blissful shivers down my spine. Curse my stupid persistent blush! “Shawn, I swear you’re the greatest friend I could ask for. You’ve always got my back, and I want to thank you for that.”

   Her cheeks dimpled perfectly when she smiled, showing off her adorable freckles. I suddenly became incredibly interested in staring down the potatoes on my plate.

Here’s your chance! Tell her how you feel! She can’t refuse you, not after all of this.

Oh, how I wished I could believe my own thoughts. The truth was, I feared nothing more than to be turned down by the beautiful woman who had stolen my heart.

Maybe I won’t say anything…I don’t want to ruin our friendship. She might freak out and refuse to talk to me anymore or something. Oh my gosh, what do I do?

“Shawn? Are you okay? You’re…kind of turning red.”

  Shoot.

 Gathering my courage and doing my best to resist the crimson flush overcoming my face, I looked into her topaz eyes. “Um, Abbie, there’s something I need to tell you.”

 She tilted her head in slight puzzlement. Absolutely adorable.

 “Um, what you said earlier, about being friends…I kind of don’t want that.”

 She looked as though I’d slapped her in the face, carefully retracting her hand. “Oh…Um, if that’s how you feel…”

 Stupid stupid stupid! You made it sound like you hate her!

Averting my widening eyes from her hurt expression, I tried to amend myself. “No, no, I didn’t mean that…I just, I mean…I love you, Abigail.”

 The silence was deafening. Terror gripped my heart in angry claws as I imagined her horrified expression, but I refused to look at her face. I couldn’t.

 With my rapidly rising pulse came my horrible, habitual nervous ramble. “Oh my gosh, I freaked you out, didn’t I? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to sound awkward, but ever since I met you I haven’t been able to keep my mind off of your beautiful face and your amazing golden hair, and I know that I’m not much to look at but I really hoped I would have a tiny chance at being with you, and I’m sorry that I ruined our friendship and–”

 Suddenly, I was interrupted by a soft touch on my hand. Risking a glance across the table, I saw that Abbie had rested her hand over mine again. I nervously glanced up to her face, and the smile that resided there nearly made my heart stop.

 Abbie looked stunned, astounded and shocked in the most beautiful, wonderful way I’d seen. Her glimmering emerald eyes were wide with surprise and…happiness?

 “Oh gosh, Shawn, I’ve wanted to hear you say that for so long,” she murmured, her voice a soothing remedy for my panic. “I didn’t think you felt the same way…”

 What? She didn’t…What?

 Abbie must have seen my bewilderment, because she laughed, her melodic voice like silver bells echoing over hills of snow. “Shawn, I love you too. I love you so much, and I always have, ever since I met you. When you asked me to come eat dinner with you tonight, I prayed so hard that there was a sliver of a chance that you cared about me too…”

 My breath began to come in rasps. Pulse racing, I managed to shift my hand so that mine was on top of hers, hoping that the gesture would express what words failed to say: I love you so much. Much, much more than you know. I would give my own life for you. Thank you for being you.

Okay, this is part 1 of 4(?) of this story. The next part is where the drama/tragedy kicks in…prepare yourself.

Also, I found that I could not write a tribute for Rosie, but writing in general seems to be okay so far, so I'll try to get back on a regular schedule of writing. Gwynn, if you're reading this, yes, I am also continuing your story now. :)