[14] 

Life Has To Go On

Rory

Even though two weeks have passed, I could tell that the weirdoes were still finding it hard to move on. Jack, the once friendly and lively chap I knew was now stoic and hardened. Toni, the normally bubbly orange-haired weirdo was now intensely quiet, an equally quiet Silver always by her side. Viviane was like a flickering light bulb – here one day, gone the next. It was like she didn't remember how to settle.

I was worried about them and that was why I'd asked Adam if we could invite them over to our place as a distraction.

Adam looked at me like I was the most precious thing in the world, making me blush and shift uncomfortably as he said huskily, "You're like our bonding glue."

"That's so cheesy," I said, but I was blushing. "I just want them to know they're not alone, and life goes on."

I was rewarded with a passionate kiss for that.

Turns out my suggestion was great because the weirdoes came to life when they came to our place. I made them play board games. I brought out the monopoly, twister, and chess, and they'd initially groaned in dismay but soon, the sitting room was filled with wild laughter and tangled bodies covered in paint as we played a messy game of twister.

Adam ordered pizza, and we gathered around on the sitting room floor as we ate, watching a movie – after hours of bickering – that we'd finally agreed on.

The night ended on good spirits, Toni back to her bubbly self, Viviane bratty as usual, while Silver rolled his eyes and ignored them as they said goodnight and made to leave the house.

"Thanks Rory," Jack said as he headed to the door, "You should consider becoming like us, if you want."

Before I could reply, he was out the door, closing it gently behind him. I smiled, feeling warmed that he'd asked.

"Do you want to?"

I turned around to face Adam. I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his neck, "I don't know," I said honestly, "I haven't thought about it. Do you want me to?" I asked in a teasing tone, nuzzling my face into his neck.

A rumbled purr rose up in his throat before he cut off the sound, blushing lightly as he replied, "I asked you first."

"Answer me, wolf."

He chuckled and sighed, his arms wrapping around my waist, "Fine, to be honest, I don't care. I want you, Rory, in any shape or form."

"Aw, fuck, all this lovey dovey shit is going to give me cavities," I laughed, pulling him down for a deep kiss. "I don't have to make a decision now, after all, we have all the time in the world to talk about that, don't we?"

His smile was as bright as the sun. "I guess we do."

*

I'd gone to Patricia's to study because I had a test coming up the next day. I would have studied at home with Adam, but he'd been out of the house all day doing God knows what. I texted him that I was on my way home when I was done, and felt a flash of worry when I didn't get a text back.

I drove home trying not to think too hard about it, staying optimistic. Maybe he was busy with the pack and left his phone somewhere. Or something. I exited the car and walked to the house, fumbling for my keys in my pockets. The lights were on, meaning Adam was home.

He was just ignoring me.

I felt a spark of anger.

The door finally came open. I stuttered to a halt, eyes growing wide when I stepped into the sitting room. I was blinded by a sea of red, red, roses, covering every inch of the sitting room. I stared, my jaw slack, disbelieving. The roses filled the seats and tables and every available surface above ground and fuck, it was beautiful. I spotted Adam in the sea of roses on the couch, trembling hands holding a bouquet of white roses.

He stood up with a smile on his face as he approached with the bouquet.

"Please don't freak out," he began, and I laughed maniacally.

"How can you say that and expect me not to freak out?" I said, gesturing wildly at the room at large, while Adam laughed.

"First, these are for you," he said, handing me the bouquet of white roses.

My heart was thumping in anticipation, waiting for the climax. "Thank you," I whispered, pressing my nose against the soft petals to inhale. They were surprisingly fresh. "They're beautiful."

He moved back, and I watched him with wide, curious eyes as he pulled up the sleeve of his jacket and shirt, revealing to me something marked inside his arm.

"I was going to get something bigger and more flashy but then I thought you might not like it so I got a smaller one because I thought it was only fair –"

"Adam," I interrupted, "Stop rambling."

I stepped forward, and felt my eyes water even as I snorted with a laugh. There, on Adam's inner wrist, was the tattoo of a cartoony strawberry. Below it, in the same comic style, was a ribbon banner, with the words BECAUSE STRAWBERRIES ARE YOUR FAVOURITE THING, written in a cute font.

My hand rose up to clutch at my chest because it felt like my heart had stopped beating.

"I do like strawberries. A lot," I whispered on a choked laugh, making Adam laugh too.

"I just thought, since I have my mark on you, it was only fair that you'd have a mark on me too. Obviously, this was just – this was just for you – but you can pick out anything you want and I'll get it done and if you don't like it I swear I'll get it removed –"

My vision got blurry with tears as I interrupted him with a kiss, pouring all my love into it. We finally pulled apart, resting our foreheads together.

"I'm guessing you like it?" he asked breathlessly.

I nodded, and when I was sure I could choke back the emotion, I said, "I love it."

He laughed tearfully and pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, "God, you don't know how nervous I was."

I chuckled, "How long have you been waiting?"

"A couple hours, give or take."

"You're amazing."

"No, you're amazing."

I raised an eyebrow at him teasingly, "We could be at this all night."

"We have forever," he winked, and scooped me up into his arms, leading me up the stairs, the floors covered in petals. When we got to my room, just as I was expecting, every surface was already covered in roses, my sheets covered in just lovely white petals. My heart was thumping as he laid me on the sheets, his gaze filled with so much warmth that I wanted to just melt into him.

And for the first time since we'd started dating, we made love, properly, loving each other until sunlight kissed our forms through the open bedroom window.

THE END.