It's been a few weeks since the funeral and everything has been going well. Emma, Rachel, and Manny have been spending their summer wisely. Going on trips, beaches, pools, etc. All good things come to an end though.
"Hey, Rachel can you come over please?" She smiled and texted back.
"Of course". She closed her phone and got ready to see Manny. They have hung out every day for the past month and she couldn't even get tired of him. He was perfect for her, she was perfect to him and they were quite the most perfect couple.
"Pack up your things" She looked back down at her phone, smiled but didn't respond. She put on a pair of black leggings and a hoodie and began to pack up some things. Rachel got her clothes into a pile and folded them to put them into her suitcase. She had no idea where they were going, no idea how long they were going for but they were going somewhere and that was all she knew. As she packed up her clothes for the assumed road trip, she heard her phone begin to ring. She stood up, brushed her pants off, and walked over to her phone to answer it.
"Heyyy," She said into the phone. She heard the laugh of Manny from the other side of the phone.
"Hey plans changed I'm just gonna pick you up," He said.
"Okay Manny," She said with a smile. He said his I love you's and then hung up the phone before she could even respond. She rolled her eyes with a smile and continued to finish getting her things into her suitcase. She had no idea what he had in store for her but she was really excited regardless because she got to spend time with him.
She waited for him to come and get her. She was already packed and ready to go. After minutes of just sitting on her bed, watching videos on Instagram she could hear Manny's car park outside her house. Rachel jumped up from her bed and ran downstairs to get the door for him. She almost tripped from running down the steps but she didn't care. She unlocked the door and opened it to see Manny standing there in swimming trunks.
"Hey gorgeous," He said as he pulled her into his arms. She could feel his abs pressing onto her stomach. She kissed his lips quickly and brought him inside.
"Where are we going?" Rachel asked with a smile as she sat down on the couch.
"Miami," He said. She stood up and looked at him with a look of confusion.
"We're going to Miami?" She asked. He nodded his head and went upstairs to get her suitcase for her. She jumped with excitement. Rachel has never been to Miami, she has never even left her state before. Rachel gave Andrea a hug as she walked out of the house. Manny unlocked his car and placed her suitcase in the trunk for her.
"Why are we going to Miami?" She asked with a smile.
"I just wanted to spend some quality time with you Rachel," He said as he grabbed her hand. She could feel herself begin to blush as he rubbed her hand with his thumb, one of her favorite feelings.
"Are we going on a plane?" Rachel asked. She had never been on a plane before, they had always scared her. Everything about the experience was scary to her, the idea of being on a plane for hours upon hours with people you don't know, the idea of the plane just crashing down and the idea of dying while in the air doesn't sound pleasant to her.
"Yes," He responded. She freaked out a bit. She looked at him with fear shown in her eyes. Her pupils dilated and she could feel herself freeze from the anxiety.
"I'm scared of planes," She said to him. He looked at her, grinning.
"It's okay. I have your back" He said with a smile. She didn't feel better at all. Manny drove to the airport while Rachel sat in the passenger seat afraid. She was overthinking the situation entirely.
"I don't wanna," She says to him as she takes a deep breath. He parked the car and opened the door but stopped to look at her,
"I know Rachel but please, you won't regret this," He said as he closed the car door. She rolled her eyes and got out of the car. He had all of their belongings and they entered the airport to sit down and wait for their plane to arrive. Rachel made small talk with Manny. She wasn't happy with him at all.
"I can tell you're mad at me but please just try and relax. I wouldn't do this to you for no reason" He said in response to her taking every attempt to ignore him.
"Okay," She said back. Rachel waited, she tried to stay calm but her nerves were killing her. She has never been so scared for something in her entire life. They called for the flight and her heart sank. He took her hand and practically dragged her to the gates. Manny handed Rachel her ticket as he gave the lady his ticket. Rachel did the same but she was very shaky and anxious, everyone could tell. Manny grabbed her hand and gripped it as hard as he ever held her hand. They walked to the airplane and were able to get their seats. She had the window seat, which made her feel a bit calm. Manny figured that.
Rachel stared out the window, waiting for their flight to take off.
"Give me your hand" He demanded as he opened his hand out. Rachel looked down at his hand and opened hers to complete it. She stared into his eyes, wondering why he was bringing her to Miami. She never even mentioned the fact that she wanted to go there, although she always did. He looked at her and leaned into the side of her face.
"I love you," He said with a smile.
"I love you too" She responded.
The plane set into the air and began the journey. Rachel was a bit calmer by the time it was in the air. Manny fell asleep on her shoulder, leaving her no choice but to try and do the same. The flight was around 5 hours so she really had nothing better to do if he was sleeping.
Hours later, she gets woken up to the feeling of nauseousness. She felt so sick and cramped up.
"Manny?" She shook his shoulder to make sure he was awake. He picked his head up and sighed.
"We're here?" He asked. Rachel nodded her head.
She was excited because she was off the plane now and ready to have some actual fun.
"I booked a hotel," He said with a smile.
"You did?" She asked happily.
He nodded his head and walked out of the airport with her. She was excited to be in a different state with the love of her life.
Manny pulled out his phone and called for a taxi. Rachel just watched him do his thing and she was mesmerized by the fact that he knew what he was doing.
After a little bit of waiting and conversing, the taxi arrived and Manny put all of their belongings into the trunk. They both sat in the back, looking at each other happily. Rachel always loved the way he looked at her, he looked at her like she was the only girl in the world. She loved the attention he always gave her.
"Are you happy now?" He asked her with a smile. She looked at him and placed her hand on his knee.
"Of course I am," She said with a smile. She watched the cars go by, the sunshine on the sidewalks, and the pedestrians riding their bikes. It was thrilling for her.
After a bit of talking more, the cab parked outside of their hotel, and Manny and Rachel brought their things into the hotel lobby. Manny got his keys and walked with Rachel to their room. She was excited to see what the room would look like, she knows Manny has good taste so she was in good hands. He stopped in front of the room.
"Room 18" She was excited and was waiting for him to open the door. He teased her a bit, pretending like he was going to open the door. Once he finally opened the door he sat down on the bed. He took off his shoes and laid out on the bed, taking up all of the space.
"Go get dressed we're going to the beach" Rachel smiled. She walked towards her suitcase and looked around for her swimsuit. Manny watched her, smiling at her attempts to find her swimsuit. After she finally found it, she went to the bathroom and got changed. Manny sat on the bed, planning out this so-called perfect day. Rachel walked out of the bathroom and sat down beside him, turning her back to him.
"Can you tie it for me?" Rachel asked. Manny smiled and began tying it. She thanked him and brushed out the knots in her hair as Manny started to get ready. Once they were both done they left the hotel and called the taxi.
"Sunscreen" Rachel whispered as she looked around her bag. She knew if she didn't wear sunscreen she would burn ever so badly.
"I got it already," Manny said with a smile as he put his hand on her thigh. She chuckled a bit and got comfortable in the back of the taxi cab. She didn't like being in cabs, they worried her. She couldn't explain it though. Manny was right next to her, making sure she was as comfortable as possible.
"Water?" Manny asked as he grabbed a water bottle from his bag. Rachel nodded and grabbed the water bottle, opening the cap, and taking a long sip. The water felt so smooth and cooled her entire body. Water only tastes good if you are desperate for it. Rachel closed the cap and handed Manny back the bottle, she drank about 75% of it. Manny rolled his eyes with a smile, he was glad she was staying hydrated though on this hot day in Miami. They both watched the cars go by, looking at the beautiful sky and analyzing every little difference in the roads. The roads were different in Miami, a good kind of different. Rachel loved the different scenery, it was nice seeing something other than the basic gray roads of her hometown.
"We're almost there," Manny said with a smile. He cupped her cheek, looking at her beautiful blue eyes. Rachel could feel the connection, a connection stronger than she has ever felt. The taxi stopped and pulled into a parking spot, Manny looked out of the window, gazing at the sparkling water and golden sand. Manny paid the driver and opened his car door, running to the other side and opening Rachel's side door as well. She thanked him and began walking to the entrance of the beach. Manny grabbed her bag for her and walked with her down the wood to the entrance of the beach.
Rachel always hated the feeling of sand, the heat from it burning her feet was always dissatisfying for her. Meanwhile, Manny loved the feeling.
"Hold my hand," Rachel said as she began digging her feet in the warm sand. Manny locked his fingers into hers and rubbed her palm with his thumb. They both walked down the sand, Rachel struggling to not complain about the heat bothering her feet. They set out their towels right next to each other and put down their bags. All Rachel wanted to do was go in the water, get her hair wet, and just relax. Manny set up everything they needed to have set up on the sand and then grabbed her hand, taking her down the warm sand to the cool water. Rachel let her feet get wet, feeling the coolness of the water splash against her body. Manny was excited to get all of the way in the water and with no hesitation, he went fully in, not even looking back at Rachel.
"Manny!" She yelled. She figured he wouldn't be able to hear her. Rachel didn't want to go all the way in but then she changed her mind and followed Manny out into the depths of the ocean. He was jumping waves and really enjoying his time, Rachel jumped onto his back, clinging onto his shoulders. Her hands often slipped down his back because she didn't have the best grip. Manny gasped and held onto her legs. The waves were strong, knocking them both down several times. Rachel had enough and was ready to get out of the water.
"Come on," Manny said as he let her jump onto his back. He knew she was tired out and her legs were hurting from the number of times she fell onto the sand. She jumped onto his back and let him carry her up to where their towels were. He laid her down on her towel as gently as possible, making sure she was comfortable. She thanked him and pulled her shoulders down so he could kiss her.
"I love you" She whispered into his ear and could hear his laugh.
"I love you too" He responded. He got up and went over to his towel and laid face down on the towel. Rachel felt the warm sun on her body, heating her up quickly. She could feel herself begin to burn.
"Manny, can we go?" She asked. Manny got up and looked at her, nodding his head. She smiled and thanked him as they packed their things up. Rachel and Manny folded up the sandy towels and placed them into Manny's beach bag. Manny and Rachel walked back to the street, water dripping down their legs and sand everywhere on their bodies. Rachel hated the feeling of it, she never liked the sand.
"You know what, let's just rent a car," Manny said as he looked around to see a car dealership across the street.
"Alright," Rachel said as she grabbed his arm to walk across the street with him. He made sure she was as safe as possible. Rachel could feel the pain of her sandals starting to indent into her foot. She tried to not let the pain get to her but it was really bothersome. All she wanted to do was go back to the hotel and take a long nap with the love of her life. Manny knew exactly what he was doing, and once he chose a car he made a payment and opened the car door for her.
"Thank you," She said with a smile. He nodded his head and walked to his car side and got comfortable.
"Want me to put the air on?" He asked.
"Yes," She responded. Manny played around with the car, checking out its features while Rachel put her head on the car door. She was exhausted, it was already such a long day and she was ready for it to be over. Manny drove back to the hotel, she enjoyed watching him drive, it always made him seem so sophisticated, or at least that's what she thought.
It took about 20 minutes before they arrived back at the hotel. Rachel was ready to take a long nap, the waves really tired her out.
"Someone looks tired," Manny said with a smile as he grabbed their things from the trunk. She nodded her head and walked with him up to the room. As Manny opened the door, Rachel threw her things to the side and jumped onto the bed. Manny did the same, cuddling into her arms. She laid her head onto his chest with a smile. He comforted her and played with her hair as she soon drifted into a light sleep.
Hours later, it was dark already and time just ran away it seemed like.
"Babe it's 7 pm" Manny kissed her forehead lightly and tickled her a little bit to get her to wake up. She loved waking up next to him, it was like waking up in paradise. Which she was.
"You're cute when you first wake up. Especially on me" He said as he moved her hair to the back of her ear. She smiled and could feel the light pink appear on her cheeks. She kissed his cheek and got up from the bed to go to the bathroom.
"We're going out to eat so get dressed," Manny said as he looked through his suitcase to find something nice to wear. Rachel walked out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel and looked through her suitcase for one of the dresses she had packed.
"Floral?" She asked him as she held up a beautiful blue floral dress.
"That's so gorgeous, it would look so nice on you" He responded. She smiled and took it to the bathroom with her. He watched her as she walked back into the bathroom, he was nothing but happy. Manny got changed into a nice dress suit with black dress shoes. Rachel wore her dress and paired it with these white sandals that complemented her every feature. Rachel wore her ring along with Manny and both of them finished getting ready.
"Where are we going to eat?" Rachel asked as she fixed her earrings. Manny walked next to her.
"It's a surprise," He responded. Rachel loved surprises, something about them filled her soul with pure excitement. She smiled and put her phone to charge, not wanting to take it with her. For the first time in her life, she felt like she didn't need her phone. Manny opened the door for her and closed it behind him. They walked down the hotel hallway hand in hand.
"Is it far?" Rachel asked. She was so curious about everything.
"Shhh you're asking so many questions" He responded as he buckled in his seatbelt. Rachel sighed and did the same. It was dark outside, but all of the lights made the streets look so pretty. Rachel felt like she was once again living in a movie. Her life felt so unreal, but she couldn't complain. Manny drove around the town, making all sorts of different turns. She took the time to really think about how everything in her life led her up to this exact moment, pure bliss.
"We're here," Manny said with a smile as he turned off the car. Rachel opened her door and walked over to his side and opened his car door for a change. He looked at her and laughed.
"Thank you" He responded. She closed his door and walked with him inside the restaurant. It was so beautiful, she has never been somewhere so elegant and fancy before.
"You booked this? Rachel asked with a smile.
"Yes," He was so proud of himself. For once he felt so accomplished. Rachel was in pure shock as she looked around the restaurant. The waitress led them to their table and handed them their menus. Rachel looked through it, noticing how everything was so expensive. She didn't want to get anything, she felt so guilty.
"Why are we even here Manny? Everything is so expensive" She expressed her concerns to him. He grabbed her hand.
"You deserve this," He said with a smile. Everything about him was so precious to her, when she was with him she felt nothing but happiness. They ordered and ate, talking about life and their future together. The future always worried Rachel because obviously anything can happen but for once she felt positive about something and that something was the wonderful relationship that she held so close to her heart. Manny paid for the meal while Rachel thanked him relentlessly. He reassured her that she didn't even have to thank him, but that's all she could say. They went back to the hotel room, both of them tired but wide awake at the same time.
"I had so much fun with you today," Rachel said as she played with a piece of her hair.
"I had fun with you today to baby," He said. Everything he said to her made her heart melt. The feeling of happiness was new to her, but she loved it.
Rachel and Manny held hands as they headed back up to their room. Manny unlocked the door, letting Rachel go in first then shutting it behind her. They both got undressed into comfortable clothes, not even worried about each other being near. Manny sat down on the bed.
"I have something to tell you" He motioned for her to sit down next to him. She looked at him with confusion.
"Okay spill," She said with a smile.
"I have cancer" and right then her smile that was once so bright and big faded into a frown that was bigger than her smile ever was.