Reputation's Bloom

Chapter 64. A Beautiful Tragedy

Chapter 64

Lily

Lily and Gabriel walked side by side, the air crisp and fresh against their skin as they made their way up the narrow path that wound toward the cliff's edge. The quiet of the afternoon seemed to stretch around them, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Lily's sneakers crunched softly on the gravel as she followed Gabriel, her thoughts distracted by the beauty of the landscape unfolding before her.

As they crested the top of the path, the view took her breath away. The cliff dropped sharply below, offering a panoramic view of the beach far beneath them, where the waves crashed rhythmically against the rocks. The water was an endless stretch of turquoise, sparkling under the golden light of the setting sun. The horizon seemed to melt into the sky, creating a vast expanse of blue that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Lily stood for a moment, her eyes wide, taking in the magnificence of the view. She hadn't expected something like this to exist so close to campus.

"Wow," she breathed, stepping closer to the edge of the cliff to get a better look at the waves below. "This is... unbelievable."

Gabriel, standing beside her, watched her reaction with a soft smile. "I'm surprised you haven't seen Heaven's Gates yet," he said, his voice low but laced with a hint of amusement. "That's what they call this spot."

"Heaven's Gates?" Lily repeated, glancing at him with a raised eyebrow. "I can see why."

Gabriel chuckled, a quiet sound that seemed to blend with the natural beauty around them. "Yeah, it's pretty nice up here. People come for the view... and the peace." He sat down on a large, smooth rock nearby, patting the spot next to him. "Sit. You have to see it from here."

Lily hesitated for a moment, then followed him, sitting down next to him. She leaned back slightly, her gaze moving over the vast expanse of the ocean. The wind tugged at her hair, and the faint scent of saltwater filled the air.

After a moment of silence, Gabriel's voice broke through again. "My dad proposed to my mom here," he said quietly, his eyes focused on the horizon.

Lily turned her head to look at him, surprised by the unexpected tenderness in his voice. "Really?" she asked softly. "On this very spot?"

Gabriel nodded, his expression softening.

Lily peered at him before bursting into sudden laughter.

"Oh my god!" She pushed herself up from the rock. "Was that your move? Did you think you were going to bring me here, tell me about the special place where mom and dad got engaged and I would fall for you?"

Gabriel's eyes widened for a moment, then a slow grin spread across his face. He leaned back on his hands, his voice light but with that familiar playfulness. "Did it not work?"

Lily, still standing, crossed her arms, and shook her head. "You think I'm that easy?" she shot back.

"Not easy, no," Gabriel said, sitting up straighter and raising an eyebrow. "But you've got to admit, a beautiful view, a story about my parents, it's a pretty solid setup for romance."

Lily scoffed, hands on her hips. "What's next? You're going to serenade me with 'Your Song' by Elton John?"

Gabriel burst out laughing, shaking his head. "That might be a bit much. Maybe if we were on a boat." He paused, his eyes flickering with amusement. "But seriously, I'm not trying to flirt with you."

Lily raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

"Sure you're not," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm serious," Gabriel said.