It was July and Leo and Eva have already announced to the world that they were in love. Eva's family already had the feeling that this day would come. Leo was able to convince Kiersten and Lisa that Eva has come back to her senses. And they all apologized to each other about everything. Eva finally got her life back; and with a change that filled her heart with joy an excitement. She was now always jumping out of bed in the morning, not being able to wait to meet up with Leo. The old gang was back together again, hanging out everyday somewhere new.
Leo, Eva, Lisa and Kiersten were at the beach on July 4th; waiting for the fireworks to start. It was twilight and there was a gentle breeze that was quite welcoming. "Would you look at those two?" Kiersten said smiling as she took a bite out of her sandwich. Leo was chasing Eva in the ocean waves and lifting her up high into the sky when he caught her. "I always knew they would end up together." Lisa said sipping on some soda. "I just wonder what took them so long!" Kiersten laughed. Leo and Eva left the ocean to join Kiersten and Lisa; and they partook in the picnic that was prepared and spread out on a blanket.
"I'm so glad we're together again!" Eva said as she munched on some chips. "Yeah, we missed you." Lisa said. "We just thought an intervention would do you some good." Kiersten laughed. "This was a good idea for your three-week anniversary!" Lisa said excitedly. "I know! This is the best holiday ever!" Eva said leaning against Leo. "And our first holiday together." Leo added as he smiled.
Soon it was dark and the stars began to shine brightly. The fireworks started to explode and there was a colorful show in the night sky. As the fireworks went off, Eva was leaning against Leo's chest and he was holding her. "Are you-happy with me?" Leo asked. "Yes." Eva said as she blushed. "Do you want to stay with me, forever?" "Of course I do." "Then-it's a promise." Leo said as he looked at her. "What is?" "We will be together, forever." Eva smiled. "I know we will." She said as she slowly closed her eyes. "What a beautiful notion." Eva thought. "To be happy like this; forever." Leo smiled happily.
The next day, Leo joined the Salvadores' to a dinner at, "The Cake Place." It was a fancy restaurant that prided itself in its most scrumptious desserts. Everyone finished dinner and were enjoying their cake and coffee. "Everyone, I have asked all of you here for dinner tonight to discuss the wedding next month." Craig announced as he stirred his coffee. "I can't believe it, Miguel married!"Eva said laughing. "Heh, I wouldn't laugh too hard. You're next!" Miguel said smiling. Eva just blushed. "Since it will also be Eva's birthday next month, I was thinking of throwing one big, grand celebration!" Craig said. "Oh, a party for my birthday and their wedding on the same day?" Eva asked. "Exactly." "I think that's a great idea!" Annabelle said with much enthusiasm. "Part of the reason I would like to celebrate this way is because my job will only give me a week off for vacation. So, we won't get to spend as much time there as I'd hoped." "That's alright, dear. We'll make the most of it." Bertha smiled as she held Craig's hand. "Thank you for inviting me to come with you all." Leo said. "It's our pleasure! You're family now." Bertha said. "I can't believe you're coming with us!" Eva said. "Will it be as awkward as the last time I sat next to you on a plane?" "Leo!" Eva said shoving him. "You gotta admit that the odds of us meeting at a big airport and then sitting next to each other on the same plane were pretty slim!" Eva said smirking. "Maybe God was trying to tell us something." Leo said. "You mean, that we would end up as soul mates?" Eva asked. "Maybe." Leo said leaning in for a kiss." "Uh-Leo." Eva blushed. "What is it?" Leo hesitated. "Maybe not in front of people." "Are you ashamed of me?" Leo asked gently as he caressed her face. "N-no; it's just, I-uh." Leo smiled. "I understand. You're new to love." "Well, you are my first kiss. And my first love." Eva said. Leo laughed a little. "As if I would share you with anyone else." Leo said wrapping his arm around her.
As everyone went on about the wedding, Eva pondered Leo's words. "Wait, that was an odd thing to say. It's not as if he could have prevented me from having a boyfriend in the past. Or maybe-he was just kidding." Eva thought to herself. "It's too bad that we couldn't have our weddings on the same day, Eva!" Annabelle laughed. "Oh, I probably won't get married." Eva said casually. Everyone looked at her. "I mean-uh, not anytime soon, that is." "That's right, she's way too young." Bertha added as she took a bite out of her cake. "When she does, hopefully it'll be with me." Leo smiled. "I-uh. May, I be excused?" "What is it, Eva?" Bertha asked. "I think I just ate a little too much. Some fresh air should do the trick!" Eva said as she got up and walked away.
She stepped outside the busy sidewalk and stood in front of an old oak tree. It was dusk, and the wind was blowing. "Eva, what is it?" Leo asked as he joined her. "Oh, it's nothing." Eva said smiling dismissively. "Really? I find it rather strange that you didn't ask me to come with you." "I just wanna be alone right now is all." Eva said. Leo stood silently. "Leo, do you think we're rushing into things?" Eva asked. "Why would you think that?" "It's just, I-I still feel like a kid! It feels a little unnatural for me to kiss someone." "Well, you're my first kiss and my first love as well. It's just something that we need to get used to." Leo said. "I just don't feel ready." "Eva. Love isn't something you're supposed to ever get used to. Love; is magic at every moment." Eva turned her glance to the floor. "I love you, but, I'm afraid." "Of me?" "No, of love." Eva said sadly. "I've been hurt my whole life. Maybe, I feel like if I gave all of myself to you that I would be vulnerable. That—it would just be that much more painful if you left me or if something were to happen to you." "Well, I won't pressure you into something you're not ready for. What would you like, then?" "Well." Eva said thoughtfully. "Maybe we could just be friends." Leo frowned. "I mean, the best of friends! The kind that I don't push away or act like that's invisible." Eva said trying to remedy her words. "I think that's a good start." Leo said as he suddenly took hold of her and held her. "Just so long as this mere friendship doesn't last for all eternity." Eva looked shocked, but then smiled. "I don't think it'll take 'that' long for me to grow up." As Eva and Leo went back inside and sat back down at the table, they discovered that the family already decided the details for the wedding. "Oh, feeling better, Eva?" Bertha asked. Eva looked at Leo and said, "Yeah, much better."
It was late as they drove home. "Hey Mom, can Leo spend the night?" Eva asked. Bertha hesitated. "Well-I, uh. I mean, you're a couple now, aren't you?" "No need to worry, Bertha. You have my word that nothing will happen." Leo said like a gentleman. "I believe you; it's just-I don't know. What do you think, Craig?" Craig just laughed. "If you're so worried about it dear then make them leave the door open." Bertha sighed. "Very well, you may stay the night, Leo." Bertha said. "Thank you, Bertha." Leo said. "Thanks Mom!" Eva smiled.
As they made it home, Eva and Leo went to her room. And they left the door open just as they promised. Spud and Tater sat happily on their laps. Eva began to pet them. "Sorry that I wasn't ready to be a romantic yet." Eva laughed. "That's alright. I'm sure that one day you'll open up to me a little more." Leo said, putting his hand on hers. Eva blushed. "Heh, well; we do got the rest of our lives ahead of us." Eva said. "And then some." Leo added. Eva smiled. "Do you really believe we'll live forever, Leo?" "I know we will." "But how?" Eva was perplexed. "I already proved to you that I was psychic, didn't I?" Leo laughed. "Could've been just dumb luck." Eva stated bluntly. Leo looked intrigued. "Well, I suppose I could share with you a good reason I believe in God." "Really? Okay!" Eva said enthusiastically. "First off, do you believe that life itself is a miracle?" Leo asked. "Well, I'm not sure. I was beginning to after the accident. But now, I've come to accept that what I thought I saw was-just a hallucination. One that nearly ruined my life." "It could have been." Leo said smiling, then asked, "So, does that mean you don't believe in God then?" "Heh, which God? There's like a million of them." Eva replied. "Not any of them in particular? Just, a divine being that sort of started it all?" Leo asked. "I mean, I suppose I do. I just dunno why I do, though." "I'll tell you why. Because logically, we're not supposed to exist at all." "Huh? What do you mean?" Eva asked curiously. Leo smirked. "Let's find out how much you paid attention in school." "Eh…." Eva mumbled nervously.
"Do you know about 'Cause and Effect'? "Well, yeah." Eva said. "Every effect has a cause. The cause of a tree is a seed. What causes the seed to grow is water, soil and sunlight. Go back far enough into the causes and you end up at the, 'Big Bang.' The first supposed cause of life. So then, what caused the 'Big Bang?'" Leo asked. "Well." Eva began. "There was a particle the size of a pea, and-" "I mean, what happened before that?" Leo challenged. "Well, I-uh, you know. The-" Leo just laughed. "Huh. You know, I guess I never really thought about it." Eva admitted. "You're at a good start." Leo continued. "That particle that exploded was made out of energy. Do you know what exactly energy is?" Leo asked. "Electricity?" "Sort of." Leo said, continuing to stroke Tater who was gladly letting Leo rub his belly. "Electricity is made of energy, and yet, so is everything. Even matter is just energy that's frozen in place." "Frozen energy? Kinda like how water freezes?" "Yeah. Now, 'The First Law of Thermodynamics,' states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed-" "Oh great, I'm in science class." Eva thought. "Which indicates that energy is eternal." Leo continued. "But, is it really? Because, 'The Second Law of Thermodynamics,' states that energy becomes unusable over time. So, even though it doesn't actually disappear, it can't be used anymore after a while. Kind of like how a battery can only be used until it runs out; so to speak." "So, how does this prove that God exists?" Eva asked. "Well, think about it. Time is eternal. If energy is also eternal, then according to, 'The Second Law of Thermodynamics,' wouldn't all energy be unusable by now? The universe should be pitch dark and devoid of life." "Yeah, you're right!" Eva marveled. "I guess you may be wondering if energy just sort of came into existence on its own-" "There he goes again." "Well, the problem is that something can't come from nothing. Kind of like how you can't really pull a rabbit out of a magician's hat." "Well, yeah. That would be magic." "They teach that it's possible in school, though." "Huh?" Eva was flabbergasted. " They teach that particles, known as virtual particles, just pop in and out of existence out of nowhere." "They—teach magic in school?" "The only problem is that since, even according to their own, 'First Law of Thermodynamics,' and a little bit of common sense, this is absurd. It's impossible. Therefore, one can only conclude, logically, that the universe is not a total vacuum, and thus meaning that these sparks of light are actually being caused by already existing energy." "Wait a minute. So, if energy is not eternal, and it didn't come into existence out of nothing, then, how did it get here?" "By something that defies the laws of physics; which is by definition a miracle." "So, therefore God?" Eva asked a bit sarcastically. "Therefore God." Leo smiled. Eva smirked. "Then, who created God boy-genius?" Leo laughed. "God always existed. Something, or someone always had to have existed or else nothing would be here right now." "So, therefore miracles?" Eva smiled crossing her arms. "Yes." "Oh." Eva suddenly grew quiet. She was never confronted with proof like this before. "How did you figure this all out? I mean, you should win the Nobel Peace Prize!" Eva insisted. "Just a bit of research, I suppose."
"So, what's God like? Is he good or bad?" Leo began to stroke Eva's hair. "That's another question for another day." Eva blushed. "You know, ever since I met you, you've spoken a lot about God. Why is that?" Eva asked. "Everyone should seek after God, don't you think? After all, this life is so short." "Yeah, I guess." Eva said.
Leo and Eva stayed up playing board games and watching movies; and next thing they knew it was 2am. "Well, I'm getting sleepy." Eva yawned. "And you?" Leo smiled. "I never feel tired when I'm with you." He said dreamily. "But, I suppose it's time to go to bed." Leo said. "I agree. Goodnight Le-" Just as she said this, Leo stole a kiss from her. "Goodnight, my love." Leo said. "L-Leo, I thought-" "That we were just friends?" Leo asked. Eva felt a twinge of irritation. "Leo, listen. I may have feelings for you now; but that could very well change. Please stop acting like I belong to you." "It seems like you're changing your mind about me." Leo said sadly. "Is this your idea of love?" He added. Eva paused, then said, "I don't even know what love is. I'm just-confused. Maybe we should have stayed 'just friends'. Maybe when you rescued me I was a bit star-struck and I confessed things that weren't exactly true." "So, you lied?" "No, I just didn't know what I was saying and I made the wrong choice." Leo smiled. "You're a bit proud, Eva. Maybe that's what's standing in the way between us. But that's alright. Like I said, I know the future." Eva playfully threw a pillow at Leo. "Just go to sleep!" Eva laughed. "Heh, goodnight." Leo said.