𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝙻𝚊𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎

𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝙻𝚊𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ; 𝟹𝟸 ; 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝚃𝚊𝚝𝚎

𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝙻𝚊𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ; 𝟹𝟸 ; 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝚃𝚊𝚝𝚎

𝙸𝙸𝙸𝙸𝙸

     Dear, Tate

     Yes, what an unusual start huh? I've decided to follow in your footsteps Tate. I write this from the back of Mr. Fitz's room, my hands smudged with the black ink that you will somehow lick off.
     I only write with the plan for you to see this later and know. I know you already do know, know what i'm trying to say. I know you have the feeling in your gut that makes your cheeks go red and your left hand cramp.
     Don't be scared, Tate.

     I've made my choice, and if you're smart, you'll run down to the train station.

Love,
     Your Lavender

𝙸𝙸𝙸𝙸𝙸

     I recalled my setup, as I sit outside his door.
     I had done what he had done for me all over again, I gave him a redo. I lit candles and set up a picnic at the station a little further down. I made him thumbprint raspberry cookies and brought a flask of the alcohol I always saw him sip. I never drink, but I loved watching him do it.
     I had added even more pillows to our den, in addition to igniting the oil lamps sitting in each corner.
     I smile down at the letter in my hands, wax sealed with my signature purple and teal imprint.
     I knew I had to slip it under the door soon, I knew he would notice me once his work became less interesting. However, the quicker the better honestly.

     His house was abnormally empty recently, but I knew he was behind his office door. I saw his shadow, I heard the scratching of his pen. I knew he would be able to see me, and as soon as I push that letter under the door he will be on watch.
     So I take my nerves and my anxiety, and I use their power to catapult the letter under the wooden and glass curtained door. I watch his shadow's head perk up...

     and I run.

     I run out the door quickly, giggling down the steps and watching him look at me through the window and jump up after the letter.
     I grab the sides of my dress, knowing he would soon follow me, and rush to the field.

     I soon watch him appear behind me, about a 100 feet from me. He followed my trail, the open letter in his hands.
     His cheeks were red and his hand rubbed against the side of his pants but he ran. Boy... did he run.

     I make it there only a few moments before him, giggling excitedly as I feel his arms wrap around my body. He spins us in a circle, my body pressed against his and his laughter combining with my own.

"Lawrence-" He begins, out of breath when he puts me down and spins me around.
"No. Not yet." I start.

I lift my hands up to stroke his cheek, playing with his dark curly hair. "Tate I love you. It was always you. I wish none of this happened and I wish I didn't have to say it but it's true, there wasn't a real competition. You're all I think about and all I've ever wanted. I love you Tate. I love your hands and the way they stroke my hair, how you tried to talk to me even when I hated you, how you stare at me across rooms and write me letters!" I let out a cry, smiling at him. "I'm never going to stop loving you. Ever since I was a little girl, Tate."

He lets tears slip down his now stubbled cheeks, his eyes growing red. "Lawrence-"

I interrupt him again, "And I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry about your dad, about how I acted, about how obsessed I was with you as a kid..." I let out a laugh, coinciding with his.
"Lawrence let me talk!" He laughs, hoisting me up and holding on to me with such strength, as if I weighed nothing. I wrapped my legs around his torso, kissing his lips softly. He smiles against my teeth, pushing our foreheads together.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. I thought I was helping you! I just wanted you to be happy, I had to say those things to get you to hate me but... I can't live without you. I couldn't do it... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left and I'm sorry I didn't choose you when we were younger and I just can't say it enough... I love you. I love you more than anything I've ever loved. I think about you daily, I sit by my door at night waiting for you to scream for me. I was so obsessed with you I wrote you letters all year. Lawrence, I love you. I would've been there even if you didn't choose me, I would have weaseled my way into your life and been in a loveless marriage but now I don't have to worry about that. You chose me... God you chose me!" He kisses my lips passionately.
"It was never any competition, Tate. It was you or the guise of responsibility. I could never give you up. I should be the one celebrating, that none of my fears were real. That you love me."
He smiles, biting his lip and putting me back down. "I don't just love you, Lawrence."

His eyes look at me with this indescribable look. His face giddy, his smile large and his cheeks... red?
He slowly switches our perspective, allowing me to watch him shrink before me as he gets down on his knee.
I gasp, my stomach dropping and my heart pounding.

"Lawrence will you marry me?"

:;

I stare down at my marquise, amethyst, silver ring that decorated my left hand. It was splattered against a book page, the sun reflecting against the crystal in small beams of white light.
His fingers gently caressed my thigh, staring up at me as I sat and his body lay flat on the earthy ground.
"Tomorrow..." he mumbles, closing his eyes and letting a smile envelop his face. "Tomorrow you will be mine forever."

My gaze shifts over to his, pressing my lips together and shutting my book. I lift my legs to my chest.
"My dad is more excited about the intertwining of our families." I laugh, looking through the window of my house to see him standing next to my mother.
She picked out white ruffles fabrics and twigs of evergreen and lavender, while my dad stood absently next to her, his shoulders slouched. I laugh at his reluctant love.
I look once more to Tate, "I guess just one upside of many."
He laughs, I wonder what your dowry is. "What do you think? One chicken? One goat?-"
I interrupt him with a slap on the knee, holding in my laughter.
"I'm worth at least three cows!"
He smiles at me, biting his lip and once again rubbing the skin on my leg. He just stared at me, as if I ran the world with the body he touched.
"I still think about that day, Lawrence..." He grabs my hand, watching as our fingers intertwined, "the day we met. You catapulted yourself into the tree like a bird."
I laugh, "You looked at me like I was a bug!"
He shakes his head, "I never said I didn't think you were annoying. Your beauty made up for half of it, but the other half I couldn't stand!"
I growl, "Get to the point!"
"I just... I think about you a lot. About how far we've come, about how little hate-filled Tate would be screaming in a fit right about now."
I roll my eyes.
"But I know my mom would be happy, Lavender." He smiles, lifting himself up as the clouds cover the sun, staring at my pale skin and dark braided hair, my round face I always hated, my arms that laid chubbily against the side of my chest.
"I'm marrying a beautiful, loving girl. Who has loved me through everything."
"I think about how you hated me a lot. About how if you're annoying enough a man will eventually like you-"
He shuts me up by pressing his lips to mine.

We're tuned out of our trance by my brother and parents walking out the front door.
"Lawrence!" My mom begins, rushing down the front steps to come sit in front of us. The tired men follow in pursuit.
"The boys have something they wanted to say." She says, motioning to them.
I sit up straight, preparing myself as Tates hand rested on my lower back.
"I'm sorry, Lawrence." They say in unison, like children. My eyebrows furrow.
"We just- I just- the family thought we should apologize for how we treated you! You were... you were going through something and I slapped you and... we were all mean-"
My dad interrupts, pleading to his innocence, "I wasn't! I loved my daughter!"
My mom growls, "shush!" turning back towards me, "The point is, all of us should've never treated you the way we did, even before that. You baking was amazing, and you shouldn't have to change that. If you don't want to go to school, then don't. I loved you baking, and I love you. We love you."
I smile, as if my life has come together within the last few days. Presley wasn't here to spark my insecurity (although I had nothing to worry about), my family loved me, my soon-to-be husband adored me... I was happy.
"I think i'm gonna stay. I like the idea of being successful. Once you start, you can't really stop, huh?" I laugh.
My mom smiles, "Well safe to say I am glad-"
Avery stops her by slapping her shoulder, breaking her talking streak. He stands, walking around me and to Tate. He gives out a hand, waiting for Tate to grab it.
Within seconds, they've unlocked their secret code once more and Tate begins running down the driveway after him.
I smile, my mom talking to me about the wedding.
And it all started with,

Dear, Lawrence