Your Smile is My Reason
BASED OFF A TRUE STORY
Short legs were sprinting across the field, and long, light brown hair was flowing behind her back as she ran as fast as she could. Her smile was wide and her bright green eyes were full of love; she didn’t know she had the feeling though. Her heart was racing, but she thought it was just because she was running. How long would it take her to realise that her heart was racing for another reason?
On the other side, sweat was rolling down the side of his brow, and he swiped it off with his large hand. He turned his head to take a quick glance at the beautiful girl running to the side of him, but being the klutz he is, his foot stepped over the other.
The next thing he knows, he’s lying down in grass as the girl sits before him, keeping the loving green eyes in his dark brown eyes. Her light brown hair flowed slightly as a small breeze was playing.
“Ahhghhh,” the boy grunted, trying to say something else.
Riley, you look beautiful with the sun hitting you like that, he thought, but his throat was choked up.
Her pink lips looked soft, maybe even like velvet. He wanted to sit up, and kiss her lips to really see how soft and what they tasted like, but what would happen? Their friendship, how would it go? Would they turn into girlfriend/boyfriend, or strangers again?
He didn’t risk it. Instead he let the girl, Riley, sit there and inspect his bruised, cut body. She had clearly applied bandages to his face and arms, but he still felt dirty.
“Jesse?” She asked, the curiosity and concern slowly growing bigger in her passionate emerald eyes.
The boy, Jesse, managed a quick, small smile, but no words. His throat was like a desert reaching new high temperature records. He got up, slowly but surely, and scanned the scenery for a water.
“Water?” Riley pondered aloud, as if she read the boy’s wondering mind.
Jesse took the bottle gladly, chugging down a lot of water.
The dark-haired, tan-skinned boy, checked the time. He frowned. It was passed 6:00pm, the time he was suppose to get home.
“How long was I out!?” He freaked, feeling cold sweat build up.
Riley answered, “About an hour, actually.”
Jesse paused, suddenly feeling his heart swell as he questioned her, “So you stayed by my side this whole time?”
The question caused Riley to obtain rosy cheeks and a warm feeling; the butterflies were dancing in her stomach again. She smiled at the boy who caused her pupils to be so big.
The girl with light brown hair nodded, “Of course. I’m y-your.. best friend.”
The word ‘friend’ caused both the young, oblivious lovers to cringe. They both knew they wanted to be more than friends with each other, but each didn’t know how the other felt. The pain, and anxiety ate them both alive.
Jesse poured his eyes into the green eyes across from him. Barely a foot away, those lips were.
He stated blandly, “Got to go. Bye.”
As the boy’s heart swelled and punctured his head with feelings, the girl sat clueless.
“Goodbye,” the word was barely audible as Riley got up, walking back to her house.
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~Three Months Later~
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Riley & Jesse always texted & called, and now it was the day of Christmas Eve. They were texting as the slim girl got ready for her family’s Christmas party they hosted on the Eve.
Riley received a cute message from her best friend. It read: you always look nice.. im sayin as ur guy FRIEND, as ur bro, of course ha..
Riley’s face turned pink as she put on a strapless bra, and underwear; she’d just gotten out of a good shower.
With her hair in a towel still she stood in her underwear, she texted back her boy bestie. thx jesse. wht r u doing tonight? The message said.
Riley pulled red leggings over her legs she called fat. The same legs Jesse called skinny and tiny. The red leggings were very Christmas-like, with mistletoes printed on them. She smiled, laughing.
“Hipster legs!” She joked to herself, checking her phone.
One new message from Jesse that said, nothin much! just with da fam, yaknoo ha! I can text though!:)
Riley texted back quickly, good! it said.
Riley then put the green & white striped, strapless dress over her head and adjusted it on her body. She went into her room, tossing the towel in the dirty pile, blow drying & straightening her wild brown hair. Jesse called it beautiful, but she called it ugly.
send me a pic of ur xmas outfit!! i can be ur gay, yet not gay franddd k? That was the message from Jesse, and it caused an eruption of giggles from Riley.
Riley applied the rest of her Christmas outfit, took a picture, sent it, then headed off to the Christmas party. It was fun, loving, great.
When she & her family got home, she kicked off the flats, thick jacket, hair pieces, and glasses off.
She pulled out her phone, turning down the brightness and continuing the conversation with Jesse.
dammit jesse! I TELL U EVERYTHING. WHY CAN’T U TELL ME SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THE GURL YOU LIKE!? Riley clicked the buttons hard with knitted eyebrows, and hit send harder than usual.
Riley was steaming up red as she was under the sheets with her phone. Her mom clicked the lights off in her room, and left, closing the door. It was about 1 in the morning.
Jesse replied: Fuck you! UR MY BEST FRIEND. I WANT TO STAY BEST FRIENDS WITH YOU. YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON WHO CARES SO DEEPLY ABOUT ME. BUT. .. Riley read the text with a red, hot face. She couldn’t even smile at the text. Hot tears added to the temperature of her 100 degree cheeks.
Just tell me. I’m sorry. Just please. What’s wrong!? I care a lot. I don’t like arguing. I won’t be mad or anything. We’ll always stay friends. Riley sent the message with shaky fingers.
Her heart was beating harder and harder, swelling so big; the butterflies were scratching the sides of her stomach and almost felt like they were trying to help her heart escape.
The emotions and feelings took a sudden halt, as she read the new message from Jesse. It was: You. I don’t have a crush. I am IN LOVE WITH U. ok. K. I just. I can’t help it.
So much water built up in Riley’s eyes, her hair was all over her face and she tried not to sob out in tears. The pain was stabbing her over & over. How does she reply to this!? Her heart couldn’t beat anymore, it was killed. The physical pain that bring pain to her body; it was horrid.
She replied slowly, and clicked send unsurely as she replied: idk either. I’ll text u later k? merry Xmas. bye.
Both of them rested their heads back into the pillow, staring at the ceiling, thinking hard. They let their hearts rest for now, not knowing they beat for each other in union.
Their eyelids closed, and the pain was stopped. For now.
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~Back To School
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It was a cold day afterschool, Riley was in a beanie, warm sweater, jeans and uggs. When she exhaled, she saw it. It was just that cold in Seattle, and caused the tip of her pointed nose to be pink.
She was waiting for her boy best friend to make his way to their regular spot. Behind the dumpster. It wasn’t romantic, no, but it was sentimental.
Riley and Jesse had not spoke since Christmas. It depressed the both of them.
“Ries,” The nickname only Jesse called her was said. She responded by quickly spinning around on her heel and immediately, her green eyes was refilled with love and stuck to the boy. Her knees were shot from behind and everything in her head went blank. Everything that mattered, was right in front of her.
Dark hair, hoodie, snapback, sweats and vans. The boy she loved; she now knew she loved him. It took her so long—too long. His eyes grew with great love too. He didn’t care if they were supposedly ‘too young.’ He was in love!
“So,” He smiled stupidly, trying to not to show his love-struck emotion. The attempt had not worked.
“I love you too,” The whisper was almost unheard by Jesse, but once he comprehended it.. It was like loud ringing bells right inside his head. And for his heart? It was bursting out fireworks, the wounds were quickly healed and everything seemed complete.
The next thing to do was to finally plant his lips against her’s, and he did.
To feel such love between them was, indescribable. It was like everything in the world you wanted at your feet, but you wouldn’t take it because you have the love of your life. It was like, being young & happy and careless again, but so much better. It couldn’t really compare to anything.
Love is love.
The first kiss of the young new couple was blossoming like the most beautiful flower in the whole universe, and it was a magnificent & perfect start to their relationship.
Who knew they’d be telling each other “I do” many years later?
