Chapter Text
“Let’s start small.”
I say nothing as I stare at Wade’s hand. This is a moment that could either make or break things between us, with it more likely to be the latter.
It’s not like I’ve never thought about touching him. In fact, there have been times where I let my imagination drift into a fantasy world. One where we can actually be a normal couple; hold hands anywhere, be wrapped in each other’s arms in the good times and the bad times, kiss whenever we want…
But my mind always pulls me back to the consequences. At best, I’ll be forced to jump away at a quick, sharp pain. At worst, well, you’ve read Romeo and Juliet.
But somehow, death isn’t my biggest fear. My biggest fear is being forced to say goodbye to Wade.
However, in this moment, I realize Wade’s giving me an ultimatum. That’s probably not what he’s intending, but it’s what’s happening.
If this is a disaster, I lose him for good. If I walk away now, the results are probably the same.
If it’s not a disaster…
I face the facts. This could kill me, but it would also kill me if I didn’t take the chance.
I shove down every fear, doubt, and logical thought as my hand meets with his.
For a split second they seem to repel each other.
Then the next second, flames, bubbles, steam. I can feel all of me and all of him at the same time before I’m snapped back to where I was like when your dreams jump scare you awake. Except I don’t have to catch my breath. I feel… calm.
I let my hand linger for a brief second before slowly pulling it away from Wade’s. I inspect it, though somehow, I already know I’ll find nothing wrong. Wade looks at his own hand and finds the same outcome.
We just stare at each other, both of us silently asking if that actually happened. Silently agreeing to test it again.
This time, I offer my hand first. He quickly follows, looking a bit more enthusiastic. We move a bit faster this time. When our fingertips touch the feeling and resulting steam surprises us both a bit, but we ignore it and finally take the plunge. Our hands are palm to palm. I push his hand a bit, looking for the disaster I had expected. He pushes mine back. Nothing happens.
We’re touching. We can touch.
In this moment, it’s like the weight of the world just lifted off my chest. I feel lighter than the cloud elements.
He doesn’t extinguish me.
I don’t vaporize him.
I don’t…
I don’t have to fight this anymore.
Ever so slowly, I begin to lace my fingers with his. I tear my eyes away from the miracle in front of me to look at Wade.
I take it back. He’s the miracle in front of me. All of him.
For a moment I just stare at him. He’s still watching our hands as if waiting for a delayed reaction, but the smile slowly forming on his face shows the truth is dawning on him. Then his head turns to me.
He looks me in the eyes. I hope my face is showing him how much this moment means to me, because for once I’m not allowing myself to think. I fear if I do, I’ll worry what my paren— no. Don’t think of them.
I force my brain to focus on Wade’s eyes, which turns out to be easy.
I mean… wow. It’s like I’m looking into a clear sky and a vast ocean at the same time. Were they always that beautiful?
Our hands lock together before we quickly let the other two meet. The only music we have are the distant sounds of Element City, much lower than in the day time but still there, but he pulls me toward him and leads me into a slow, graceful dance.
I’ve caught Wade staring at me multiple times since we met (he always tried to hide it, but I knew he was) but it’s nothing compared to the look in his eyes now. I feel the electricity of his gaze from the top of my flame to my feet. He’s not breaking it this time; he wants me to see what he’s feeling. Oh, Wade, how can I not?
I heard somewhere that if you rest your head on a guy’s chest, you’re basically telling him he’s yours. I have no idea if that’s true, but I do it just in case. He’s comfier than any pillow could hope to be. My heart jumps when I feel him rest his head on top of mine. I really hope he’s as comfortable as I am. I hope he’s implying I’m his too.
I’ve always been taught that water can and will kill me, yet I’ve never felt so safe in my life. As we spin, I know Wade would never let anything hurt me.
“I’m so lucky,” he whispers.
Part of me wants to tell him that he’s wrong. I’m the lucky one. But it’s like I’ve forgotten how to speak. So, I don’t. I simply nuzzle his chest letting out a deep breath so he knows what I’m feeling.
On and on we dance to the silent night around us. This perfect night. This perfect feeling. This perfect boy. I could stay like this forever.
My eyes flutter open as I realize Wade’s stopped dancing. I simultaneously do the same. Slowly, I lift my head up from his chest, even though every fiber of my being is screaming at me to keep it there. Our eyes meet and I’m about to ask him why he stopped, but just by the look on his face I know why.
I give him a gentle smile and a nod, silently telling him not to be afraid. That I want this as much as he does.
I feel one of his hands gently cup the back of my head, his fingers threading through my flame. I hold my breath so I don’t start shaking with pleasure. A small part of me still feels too embarrassed to do that, though I don’t know if I’ll be able to fight back much longer. I’m completely lost in the water guy in front of me.
As he pulls me toward him, I close my eyes, letting him be in control for once. He’s leaning in so slowly I almost want to scream just kiss me already!
But before I burst, he finally does.
He’s so gentle, but it’s like all of the fireworks ever made are going off in my mind. He wraps an arm around my waist while the hand cradling my head grips it just a little bit tighter. My arms wrap around his neck.
I remember this morning when I brought him our Vivisteria orb, fully intending to end things but still wanting him to have a part of me.
Who was kidding? How did I ever think I could end this? I need this. I need him.
Even if I have to sacrifice my life to run the shop, I can’t ever give him up.
I won’t.
Eventually I have to break the kiss to breathe, but I keep myself as close as I can to him, resting my forehead against his. My eyes remain shut as if opening them will kill whatever magic is making this moment possible. I can feel his water bubbling against my flame. It kind of tickles, but I love it. I hear him let out a deep, shaky sigh in happiness. It makes me smile.
And just when I think this moment is perfect, three little words are whispered into my ear.
“I love you.”
Ok, now it’s perfect.
Remember how I had managed to keep myself from shaking earlier? Yeah, that’s a lost cause now.
I pull away slightly so I can look him straight in the eye. I feel tears brimming in my own. I’ve gone my whole life without crying, but Wade – beautiful, loving Wade – has made me cry three times in the past two days. I’m just glad it’s out of joy this time.
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
I kind of expect him to burst into tears like he has so many times before, but he just keeps smiling as he uses his thumb to wipe the tears from my eyes. Nobody has ever looked at me the way he’s been looking at me this whole night. It makes me feel like the most special girl in the world.
And suddenly I can’t hold back.
I leap on him, smashing my lips into his once more.
I hear him let out a sound of surprise and feel him try to regain his footing so he doesn’t fall backwards. However, his shock only lasts two seconds before he’s kissing me back with the same amount of passion, gripping me like he thought I’d died in a war.
I feel like I’m flying, though that could be because Wade never put me on the ground after I practically attacked him. He’s such a good kisser. He’s the first guy I’ve ever kissed so I don’t know if I’m as good as he is, but I do my best to pour every bit of love I have for him into my actions. He puts in the same amount of affection. This is kiss is much wilder than our first, to the point where it turns into a make out session, but he’s not trying to push things further like so many other guys would. There’s nothing but pure love in his behavior and it makes my heart burn for him all the more.
I can’t help but remember that we never got the results of my mother’s reading last night.
I don’t need it. I know what she found. This is love. True love.
“EMBER!”
I feel terror force every pleasant emotion I just had out of body as I pull my face away from Wade’s. It’s like my flame goes cold in fear.
No. Not now. Not like this.
I slowly turn my head, dreading what I know I’ll see when I do.
My dad’s barreling toward us like a train. My mother is running after him, looking like she’s trying to catch him before he does something he’ll regret.
How could he have found us?