Shattered

New year, new beginnings?

"My baby." Mom says as she embraces me. She and Dad drove to the Blacks to surprise me.

"Hey Gem." My dad hugs me.

They say alot of thank you's about the gifts and throw alot of hugs around. Today it's new years eve.

And we're just minutes away from counting down.

I took a time out, I told my mom that I was sick, so they're here to check on me before they head out to a lot just down the road with the rest of the neighborhood for fireworks.

"Its ten right now. How are you feeling?" Mom asks. Her hand pushes the hair on my forehead away.

"I feel very weak. If you wanted to ask if I'm sure about staying behind. You know the answer. Just go and enjoy yourself. You deserve it." I tell them.

Dad keeps a straight face, but I know behind it is a gallon of overthinking. He does that alot. Over thinks everything.

"Okay honey. Sleep tight." She says. I nod , dad gives me a kiss on the forehead,  as I tuck myself back into the sheets.

"I'll see you tomorrow. " I tell them , mom flicks the lights off as she leaves last.

I tip toe down the bed and lock the door .

With a slight giggle - because of how funny it is of course - I fish for my phone. Finally pulling it out,  I search for his name.

Peter Pan.

I still think it's a dumb name, I just dont have the strength to change it. I press the dial button and the phone barely rings.

"Hey." He says. His voice sounds so distraught.  There is a loud argue happening in the background and even though I can barely hear what it's about,  it sure sounds heated.

"Hi." I breathe into the phone. It seems I had forgotten the places his voice alone takes me.

"I'm on my way." He tells me.

I dont even have to ask anymore questions.  I just know he is on his way. I trust that.

And true to his word.  He knocks on the door. I sneak out, in fear that maybe someone had already come back. Locking the bedroom door under fits of giggles, I tip toe down stairs and out the door.

The moment I smash my body onto his in an embrace, I feel myself melt into him. His body feels tense at first, but the hug lasts longer. He relaxes into me.

When I pull back, the smile on his face is evident. His eyes are filled with so much emotion.

"You ready?" He asks. He's dressed in a black Jean, boots, a hoodie or two and a thick coat.

"Yep." I tell him . In my extra , blanket thick, sweatpants. And three hoodies and gloves.

He opens the door, and kissed my temple before letting me into his car. I have no idea where he's taking me, but I jumped at the opportunity to be with him.

"So, where are we going?" I ask him, five minutes into our drive and good music.

"First we're going to get you some snacks. And then I'm going to take you to one of my favourite spots in the world." He tells me.

I smile to myself. Now isn't he cute. We stop at the gas station store. When we walk into the shop, the child in me  comes out.

I run straight to the gummy bears, take some of that. A pack or three of crisps and some chocolate.

With as much sugar as I've taken, or so saus Jeremy, I need to buy water too.

When we get to the register, we find a young lady. A little bit older than me from the look of it.

She stares straight into Jeremy's eyes. I'm not sure what she said to him, but his face twists into anger.

"So you're trying to tell me that you dont see her?" He almost yells.

"I thought she was your sister." She defends. He scoffs loudly. The look on his face is extremely chilling.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me, listen here you whore..." he tries. When I put my hand on his forearm, he turns to me and his once stone face turns soft.

"Its not worth it." I whisper. But it seems she heard me because her face that once was painted with fear relaxes.

He pulls out his wallet and pays for the snacks.  I take the bag.

"Thank you." I say softly to her.

"You're too kind." Jeremy tells me, he kisses my temple as we exit the store . I blush, it's either my face is heating up in resistance of of the cold or I'm really head over heals blushing.

He drives again, the night is beautiful. The skies are not exactly clear, but there are a few spots where stars are visible.

Jeremy's hand lands on my thigh and he caresses it,  butterflies erupt in my belly.

Soon enough, I'm half asleep and he is still driving. I check the time, its twenty to twelve. And on cue, the car halts.

Through my half sleeping blurry vision, I see an open lot of grass. Where the sky meets the ground further forward is water. The deck is long and wooden.

A bit closer to the lake like water feature,  the is a tree. Shaped almost like a heart.

I turn to look at Jeremy.  He doesn't seem to be fazed by this place. Yet again he's must've been here a couple of time. Maybe with other special people.

Am I a special person?

"You're the first person I've ever brought here. This place reminds me constantly that love still exists.

For the past three years I've been coming here to think, and here and there I'd been asking myself if my soulmate is also watching the stars and thinking about me.

You are really special for me to have brought you here." He says, answering my thoughts.

We walk to the tree in a slow pace, hand in hand. He looks down at me with a smile constantly.

He lands a kiss on my cheek. But I'm quick to redirect it to my lips for a more well deserved kiss on the lips.

He kissed me passionately,  his warm hands move down to my waist and one scoops my butt. I feel the warmth through three layers of clothes.

My heart beats rapidly in my chest against my rib cage. Threatening to break free and leap into Jeremy's hands.

The longer the kiss goes on the further my knees buckle. They feel weak and my feet feel stuck to the ground.

A loud explosion sounds. But that doesnt stop us. His has trail down to the waist band of the sweatpants. And he cups my waist. He causes a dull ache at my core. I try hard to ignore it.

When he pulls away. His eyes pour into mine an emotion I havent seen in a while.

"Happy new year." He tells me.