It always ends

thirty-one

Ace

In order for my father to go down, I had to as well.

And unfortunately, I could tell something bad was about to happen. I didn't know what, I didn't know how. But it was soon, too soon. She told me we'd deal with the consequences together and I hoped she was right. And I hoped she wouldn't hate me after it.

With that fragile yet fierce heart of hers, I didn't think she could hate me. Her love for me grew everyday, blossoming like a field of flowers. It's beautiful.

I could feel it because my love for her got stronger as the days went by. And it was enough, for the both of us. She loved me and I'd selfishly keep it that way. I used to think loving her would ruin her, she's proven me wrong. Countless times. Pushing those feelings away was what hurt her.

I thought I was selfish for keeping her with me but I was a fucking idiot for letting her go. Lucky for me, she still loved me and I finally let it happen. Because at the end of the world. It was just her and I.

She looked up at me and tilted her head slightly, "Do you want anything?"

She was talking about the snack bar but I just looked at her, "Yeah."

Obviously blinded by the love she had for food, she dragged me over and ordered two iced teas and a bag of caramel popcorn. When I fell in love with her, we were stupid kids. Now, we were older and her love for everything sweet had only grown.

I paid before she could and accepted the glare, amused, carrying the drinks and popcorn for her, while she dug through her purse for our tickets and handed them to the guy behind the ticket booth.

We walked inside the auditorium and spotted our seats in the back row. She caught me smirking and nudged me with her arm, knowing what I was thinking about. "Don't."

God, I wanted to fucking kiss her. And I knew she wanted me to. I stared at her lips, making my intentions clear. In response, she mouthed the word, "Later." She walked ahead of me, swaying her hips, full aware of what she was doing to me. I groaned quietly and followed her. Narrowing my eyes at the people who stared at her. We found our seats as the performance was about to start.

The lights dimmed, chatter ceased. Even though the spotlight was on the front stage, all I saw was her.

I was beyond... happy? That she planned this for us. Inside, I was smiling like an idiot because this was a date. She asked me on a fucking date. It was a small thing but to me, it was everything. I would've never thought that she'd actually forgive me, let alone take me out on dates. And yet, there we were. Three years after and things were finally falling back into place.

She looked at me expectantly, to which I rolled my eyes, handing the bag of popcorn to her. She held it on her lap, placing one in her mouth.

It amused me how we were so different from each other. She loved everything sweet, I despised it. It had always been this way, even since we were kids. I used to get her favourite foods to make her hang out with me.

I remembered her telling me that in one of the romance novels she had read, the couple was at the movie theatre. The girl enjoyed the popcorn and the love interest reached for it at the same time she did. Harper told me it was insanely corny. I remember thinking it was a smart move to make. If one wanted to take the initiative to hold their hand. This was what I had to do.

I felt like that idiot all over again, falling deeper and deeper in love with her. I loved her more than I thought possible.

So while I watched her reach for another one, I took my chance. I pretended like I wanted the popcorn and accidentally brushed my hand against hers. She tore her attention away from the stage, and gave me a confused look. I didn't miss that smile one her face though, it made my heart soar out of my chest and right into the palm of her hand.