The two talked on the walk through campus, Kai being the most excited to hold her hand as they moved from hall to hall, finally getting to the parking lot. They walked along the sidewalk of the campus, talking about most things, starting with their favorite food. They discussed T.V. shows, music, and even movies that they happen to enjoy. The entire conversation was open, allowing both of them to communicate and joke without the awkwardness overcrowding their opportunity freely. The two of them created little faces when they realized they both liked the same thing before quickly listing the next.
As their journey up the hill began, the two of them laughed and giggled as they trudged closer to her place. She quickly began to find herself becoming more and more comfortable around him as they talked. She felt like they had been friends at one point, maybe even soulmates in another life. She looked bashful when the thought crossed her mind, making Kai smile as she tried to hide it. The infectious charm she had cast her own spell on him, and he found himself staring at her. He quickly realized her personality, being secluded and shy from the beginning, and how much she had opened herself up. His heart had finally answered what he was wondering about her. He no longer needed to know.
The two walked down the street closest to her home, and they spotted a few markets on the strip. She would usually ignore them, never having a reason to stop for any of the items they offered. He, on the other hand, watched as she smelled the air around her, her face softening when she smelled the scent she enjoyed the most. He looked around, noticing the sweet potatoes that were being cooked, and walked over to the vendor. He smiled as he approached the woman waiting to take his order before soon handing the soft food to him. The foil protected it, but he could feel it was perfectly cooked. He smiled as he turned to see her. He held them in the air like they were trophies, making Jennie smile as he walked towards her, one arm stuck out with a potato.
She smiled at the thought, taking the potato in her hand, absorbing its warmth as she thought to herself. He peeled it open, pulling back the skin to expose the steaming top of the potato as he took a bite. He smiled, showing with his eyes how much he was enjoying the simple food. He reached over to her, unwrapping hers as he waited for her to eat. She stared at him as he continued to chew on the food, and she was smitten by all his expressions. His hand reached out to hers, moving the potato to her lips, encouraging Jennie to eat as the two walked. She leaned down, parting her lips enough to take a small bite. The moment that she swallowed the food, she sighed with contentment at how delicious it was.
He let a smirk escape as his eyes continuously flashed to her and how she enjoyed the taste of the potato. As the two walked, bumping into one another softly as they continued to eat, slowly approaching their destination. She held off on finishing hers. Seeing that he was enjoying the potato, she smiled and handed it to him to finish eating.
"I'm full." She remarked, placing her hand on her stomach as she made her face match. She stuck her other hand out, handing him the eaten potato, and he took it.
"Are you sure?" He asked, holding on to it as he searched her expression. She nodded, folding her arms in and continuing to hold her expression. He smiled at her exaggeration, peeling the remainder of the potato before eating it.
Jennie continued to walk, him following close behind her as she walked in front of him. He could not hold back his thoughts, her walking in front of him and thinking about just her. Jennie could feel his eyes staring at her, thinking about their interactions and how sweet his words were. His words had been enough to fill her up, holding on to them like butterflies that could whisp away at any moment. She could not help but peer behind her, looking at the guy who stood over her, holding his deep expression. She shied away, turning her head to face forward. It was not much longer before she was home. She looked towards the gate of her home, seeing it sneak up on them as they continued up the hill. She followed the crosswalk, hearing his steps behind her as their small talk slowly stopped, intensifying the other sounds surrounding them. He sighed loudly, coming to her side and taking her hand tightly into his. Her eyes went up to meet his, and he held their hands in front of her face.
"This is our Day 1." He forced her to stop, looking at their hands that began to intertwine together as he kissed the tip of her knuckles. "I won't let you go that easy." He smiled, spreading to her lips as she let her head fall. She moved slowly, going down the walkway and now holding hands with him. Her thoughts raced over and over again as she thought of his words. She knew what they meant, and she knew that this was what she intended. Her eyes screamed as he opened the gate for her, allowing her to go in. As she led him to the house, she began to talk, her expression faltering.
"I don't have much, so I'm sorry." Her voice was soft as she opened the door to the house, and they walked in. "I can make us some water." Her hand dropped from his as she walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge.
"I think it's fine." He smiled, capturing her attention as he began to walk around the room. He had been secluded to the floor the night that Jennie raced home. He thought about how he didn't want to leave her side, the whimpering cries that he heard still shattering his heart. He reached out to the shelf in front of him, noticing the books that she had piled up. He could not tell if they were in any particular order, picking one out.
"I don't usually watch T.V. I like to read a little." She was shy with her response, making his heart ache for her as she watched her feet navigate to him. She held out one of the class cups filled with water, taking notice of the book that was in his hand.
"Read?" He looked intrigued, rolling the book on the back. He began to drink from the cup as he read the back of the book. She watched him silently, thoughts tracking her mind before she was pulled from her thoughts.
"What book are you reading now?" He asked, placing the book back and waiting eagerly for her answer. She smiled, putting the water down on the shelf before retreating to her bedroom. On her bedside table, she picked up a chapter book, pulling it close to her chest as she walked back out. Her arm outstretched as she handed the book to him, walking away as she waited for his reaction.
"Into the Wild." Her response was low, sitting on the bean bag as she waited for his reaction. "I sometimes find it nice when I can escape using the words of others." She took a long sigh, patting her legs as she tried to think of what else she could say. "Sometimes their words can take you away from a bad place, make you laugh, or even cry." She smiled to herself, her hands traveling to push her hair from her face. He stood there for a moment, stunned, before making a move to the bean bag. He sighed as he reached for her hand and pulled her up. He took a seat on the bag, pulling her into his lap as he wrapped his arms around her.
"How about I do it instead?" He smiled and held on to her as she sat with her back to him, and her hands fumbled with her fingers as he continued. "Let me be the one who takes you away. I'll make you laugh and smile, and if you need to cry, I'll offer myself to you."
She turned to see him patting his shoulder. He smiled as he started to turn her in his lap, making her face him. He looked deep into her eyes, searching for an ounce of hope in what she might say or think as he confessed.
"You've been living so afraid of everything. Now, I want you to run to me and only me." He held her body in his arms as he stared, searching for an answer. He waited for what seemed like an eternity, his heart open to any words she would say.
Unlike him, she was digesting his words. They were dancing inside of her brain, every sound each letter made. She had felt like her heart was tugging to leave her body, running to him instead. She could not think; his words had completely taken over her entire brain. His confession played like a song that was never-ending. The moment that their eyes met, she could hear his voice echoing louder. She could not tell if it was her brain, her heart, or her mind playing tricks on her. This moment definitely did not feel real, and she hoped this wouldn't be something else for her to wake up from. His hand touched the side of her face, warming her cold cheeks as she was brought back. She finally acknowledged his presence, and it was real. He was really there, and she could feel his hand pressed against her face. His eyes were staring into her soul. It took a moment, but it was like he breathed air into her body as her chest rose. She stumbled on her breathing, taking a moment to collect her thoughts before letting her face fall into his hand.
"Okay." Jennie's words were silent, her eyes swelling with tears. She looked up, trying to prevent them from falling until his arm crashed around her body.
"Remember to run to me." He said as she slipped into his hold. He held on to her softly at first, then pulled her in tighter as he could hear her soft cries.
She held on to his jacket, hoping that the tears would stop. She found herself repeating the same thing that she had been telling herself for years. 'Don't be'. The words fell from her brain, flooding her eyes as her heart began to ache. 'Run to me'. Those words made her heart and body tremble. Her body sank against his as his hand rubbed her back. She soon found new words that bounced in her brain.
'Let me be the one who takes you away.' The words were spreading, and she was starting to fall in love with them. She sat up, looking at his face, which was filled with admiration for the person in front of him. She looked into his eyes, seeing a reflection of herself. The words soon filled her body, taking over every nerve, blood vessel, and cell that was inside of her. His words pulled and absorbed every inch of her body. She could feel herself molding into a new person, the energy she had been carrying around lifting itself. The energy was lifted, replaced by his soft words. His pretty words. Jennie felt her body tingle with joy; she felt like smiling and laughing. Her body could not help itself, leaning in until their lips met.
Their lips met with an intense spark, their feelings and energy combining into the moment. She let her arms wrap around him, moving her body closer. He held on to her tightly, his heart feeling her hands wrap around it as well. He could feel her creeping into his heart, the warm embrace wrapped inside of him. He pulled her back, getting a better look at her. He smiled as her red eyes looked at him, wiping the stranded tears that ruined her face. He looked at her smile that stretched, confirming his thoughts.
"I belong to you now." He put his hand into hers, pulling her closer to his body. She could feel his warmth engulf her body as he held her in a tight embrace. Their bodies sank into the bean bag as they clutched onto one another. He stroked her hair, pulling it from her face as he started to let the warmth overtake his own body. The two sat like statues with their bodies twisted together like a rope. Every inch of their bodies kept the other warm as they drifted off, neither of their grasps loosening as their breathing slowed.