Lost and Found

Chapter 12

"The tuna fish, get it?"

I laughed out loud at the joke Colleen made, clutching my stomach which was hurting from laughing so much. We sitting in the back off the car on the mattress and we had lifted the roof so we could stargaze. We sat in comfortable silence for a minute or so when Colleen quickly grabbed my arm causing the butterflies in my stomach to erupt again.

"Josh, Josh look! It's a shooting star, make a wish quickly." Usually I didn't believe in these things but she makes me do crazy things.

I wish to be with Colleen. I wish that I can be with her and not see Charlotte's face all the time. I wish to let go of the past and focus on the present.

When I had opened my eyes I immediately asked Colleen, "What did you wish for?" She looked at me with the sweetest smile and said, "If I tell you, it won't come true." Gosh, I really was a fool for her. I could feel myself falling more and more each and everyday.

Maybe it was her contagious laugh.
Or those beautiful brown eyes.
Maybe her voice.
Her bright smile that makes me feel sparks.
Or her personality.

Whatever it was, it was making me fall pretty damn hard.

"Ouch."

I suddenly heard Colleen say which pulled me out of my trance. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" I ask her. Colleen reassures me and touches my shoulder, "Don't worry, my legs just hurt that's all." I gave a worried glance but left it.

We continued pointing out stars, making shapes with them for a while, until I heard Colleen snoring on my chest. I wasn't sure whether to leave or to stay, I didn't want to disturb her slumber. In the end I decided to stay with her. I thoughtlessly played with her brown hair between my fingers as I could feel myself drifting off to sleep too.

But then Colleen shot up screaming and gasping profusely. "Colleen! Colleen, are you okay?" I tried to comfort her. She just looked at me for a second and I could see the fear in her eyes. Whatever scared her must've been bad because she then broke down into tears.

"Did you have a nightmare?" I ask as I bring her into my chest. She automatically wraps her arms around me and I rub small circles on her back. She nods shakily and says, "It can't happen Josh, I-I don't want to. I'm finally happy, I can't let go."

A sob escaped Colleen and I felt my heart shatter. "Colleen, can you tell me what's going on?" I ask her gently. She looked at me with her tear stained face and said, "Unfortunately, I can't Josh. I can't, I can't, I can't."

She didn't seem in the right state so I didn't question her. "Do you want me to stay with you for tonight?" She nodded and pulled the blankets over us. Like there was a magnet pulling us together, her head laid on my chest and I could hear her heart racing.

"Goodnight Joshua," Colleen whispered before kissing my cheek.