staring into the night sky, i felt this fire that was burning in my chest along with one in my mind. it felt like i was doing something wrong, or was planning to do something wrong in a matter of moments. i knew i wasn't though, i had been planning this one singular moment for months, years even. yet i can't wrap my head around the fact that the time is actually here. "audrey," i whisper out, digging into my jacket pocket. she turned to me with a bright smile. opening the little black box, her eyes sparkled as she looked down to the ring. "will you be my girlfriend?" i know that you shouldn't pop that question out on the first date, let alone a promise ring, but i feel like we've been together for so long, yet we haven't at the same time.

"of course." her voice was shaky and she leaned over to give me a quick kiss. "you bought a ring?" she gasped as she looked down to the little box. "you didn't have to..." i took out the little silver band and push it down her ring finger, letting it be a forever reminder that i was here for her. no matter the circumstances. it wasn't anything fancy at all, in fact it was literally just a silver band with nothing else on it. "you are literally perfect, cameron." she was so easy to pleasure. raising my hand, i show her my hand, displaying the same silver band. "it has your name on the inside..." slipping mine off, i look at her name that was engraved into mine. it was a simple reminder. leaning over the chairs again, she pulled me closer, kissing me just as passionately as she did the first time.

it wasn't like that time when we were baked out of our minds, no this time it was full of a pure emotion both us couldn't explain. and for me it was special. it felt so powerful to the point that i never wanted it to leave. as we separate, she placed her hand onto my shoulder in a way to balance herself. "mason told me what you said down at the beach." i pant out. her eyes widen and she falls back into her chair. embarrassed, she placed her hands over her face that was most likely covered in a rose red.

"i-i-i i don't know.... was it too soon?" peering up to me, she was greeted with a warm smirk, showing her i wasn't confused by her past actions. "i didn't think i could get this far again." i place my hand on her thigh in a way of reassurance. "i didn't think my heart was able to feel such deep emotions again. because i remember the day my heart broke and the way it felt, i had promised myself i would never let that shit happen again. so trust me, i was just as shocked as you probably were when you heard it."

i remember the night audrey finally broke it off with matt. it was when me and her finally were becoming friends and when matt was becoming more distant that any other time. audrey, matt, and i were walking home from a party that his friends had thrown. they were arguing with each other over how matt didn't introduce audrey to any of his friends and basically treated me like i was some god. they had broken up there a then. matt couldn't believe his ears when he heard her say that she doesn't love him. even from my point of view it was heart breaking. frankly, i don't blame her for wanting to get away from australia after that.

"i was very shocked," i admit. "when he told me i thought you hated me." she chuckled softly and placed her hand over mine. "i mean, we were going through a pretty rough time then but i guess that kinda shit brings people closer but can also drive them away." i wasn't making too much sense, but i knew audrey understood what i meant.

"it's crazy how long i stayed with matt after i realized he wasn't the one for me. it was three months before the breakup. which, i guess isn't as long as i make it out to be-"

"-you allowed yourself to be unhappy for that long?" her head bobbed, saying yes without words. "why did you stay with him for so long, audrey?" her eyes met mine as water began to pool in them.

"i burned so many bridges when i was with him, cameron. and i felt too guilty to return to my parents because of a single breakup. i stayed with him because i craved happiness so much that i thought maybe, just maybe, he would change. but he never did. he never even tried to." i watched as her fingernails began to dig into her knees, creating red marks as they went past her first layer of skin.

"audrey, stop." my eyebrows narrow as i take her hand away and hold it in my hand.

"i'm sorry-i'm sorry. when i get strong emotions i can't help it—its a habit." i kiss her knuckles and wait until her hand relaxes to let it go. "can we stay here a bit longer. just us." her head tilted back and she stared into the sky that was filled with the warm stars.

"of course."

-

i awoke the next morning to the bright morning sun burning into my eyelids. "oh shit," i curse, stretching out until i felt my feet hit the dewy grass below me. are we still at the playground? "babe, wake up." i lightly shake her shoulder and head a soft moan escape her lips. "we are still at the park." her eyelids peel apart as she stares at the scene in front of her. "i need to get you home."

"hey," she called after me as i began my journey back to the car. "thank you." blinking countless times, i tried to figure out what she meant. what had i done that was worth thanking? "last night." she tried to hint at what i was missing.

"oh don't thank me. you are the one who made it happen, audrey." the corners of her mouth curved upward as she jogged to be beside me. "i never had my chance to tell you something last night."

"what's that?" her arms wrapped around my right arm as we walked back to the car.

"i love you too."