Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MEDICINE BY LEVI RANSOM
I wake up with what feels like a warm hug wrapped all the way around me, and my first instinct is to panic.
But then I remember last night, Bellamy.
I asked him to stay, and he did, and he’s mentally stable unlike me, and won’t run away in the morning.
So he’s here, and we’re cuddling, which is a weird word to me.
Not only that but it feels weird that I like it so much. It’s almost like a weighted blanket.
I settle into him, my lips brushing against his ear as I move into his warmth.
We woke up together yesterday too, but like I said before, we barely slept.
Last night I had what felt like one of the best nights of sleep in my life.
Bellamy is the perfect person to sleep next to.
It’s like he’s dead for a few hours, honestly.
“Are you trying to kiss me? This early, Kamryn?” His voice is husky with sleep. “Good,” He speaks before I can, and turns his face to me, planting a kiss on my lips, and my cheeks, and he takes hold of my face to kiss me all over, making me laugh as I try to brace myself.
“I’ve never met someone who’s an all day kind of person, but you are that person,” I tell him, shoving him away from me. He leans up, coming into my space again to lean halfway over me. His finger curls around a strand of my hair as he looks at me, twirling it around his finger.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not a morning person, and you’re not a night person. You’re both… and it’s honestly annoying.”
He raises his eyebrows at me, a shocked smirk on his lips.
“Annoying? Don’t be mad because you can’t compete Ryn,” He moves off of me, and my stomach turns but settles at the sight of his body. My mind is finally starting to get used to him, and the way he looks.
“Get ready. We’re watching clouds today, just like Up.”
I smile. I get out of bed, and he takes my hand pulling me into him.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” He kisses me quickly and starts to move toward the door. It almost feels like an instinct to tell him. To tell him I love him, and my chest bursts at the thought. I don’t love him, there’s no way.
“Text me when you get back. And then when you’re on your way here again.”
He nods and leaves quickly.
Now I’m alone in my own thoughts and instantly my mind is reeling wondering if that’s even possible.
I’ve known Bellamy through friends and others for a long time.
I’ve known of him, but I didn’t actually speak to him until this year, not until I started tutoring him this past semester.
I was aware of him, but not like now. I’ve only truly known him for almost two weeks now, and I don’t think it’s possible to fall in love in less than two weeks.
In a normal circumstance, this would be insane.
I would be admitted. So I think it’s infatuation, not love, that’s final.
Bellamy picked me up, and he hasn’t taken his eyes off of me since.
It’s been hard for him to even focus on the road.
He’s got his normal sunglasses perched on his nose, and his hair done, but still perfectly messy.
He wears a normal white shirt with khaki colored slacks.
He paired it with a white pair of tennis shoes, and he looks just as good as normal.
I wear a black dress, one that hugs my chest, and billows out at my waist. It has a cut out in the back exposing my skin there.
I paired it with a pair of Dr. Martens, and it seems like he’s got some sort of problem with it.
I look at him with a question in my eyes.
“Is there something wrong with the way I look? Do I have something in my teeth?” I show my teeth and then look in the mirror, and he takes my hand finally.
“No. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way you look, baby.”
I slump back in the car, and look at him, “So why are you staring at me like I’m from another planet?”
“Because sometimes you look so pretty I think that might be the only way you exist here,” He refers to the other planet I mentioned.
I pause, knowing I’m blushing like an idiot in front of him, but I don’t think I’ve ever in my life been complimented so blatantly.
I look at him, and he’s smiling as he looks at the road. “Black is your color.”
I smile to myself. I thought I looked really good today too, and I didn’t need him to seal that thought, but it does feel good hearing it.
“Thank you, Bell.”
He squeezes my hand three times, an odd number, but I squeeze it back, watching as the houses roll by us. He’s taking us pretty far away for just cloud watching. I don’t speak my thoughts, and let him drive, knowing he wouldn’t tell me if I asked.
The area is pretty, but somewhere I’ve never been despite having lived in the state my entire life. This is a wealthy area, near Seattle. I know that just by looking at some of the neighborhoods, and houses that pass us as we drive. I hear a familiar song on the radio and gasp.
“Bellamy Archer. Is this Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift?” He’s played a few of Taylor’s older songs, but he normally sticks to the newer stuff.
“Listen, I grew up with a sister who loves Taylor, and this was her favorite album. Either way, it’s a good-”
“I LOVE this song,” I take his phone from the cup holder, and use it as a makeshift microphone.
I whip my hair and sing, really channeling my inner Taylor Swift as I belt out the lyrics, probably hurting Bellamy’s ears at this point.
I look over at him, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile wider.
The chorus hits, and I don’t hesitate to lean into him, and his smile that is quite literally making sparks fly in my chest. He rolls to a stop light, and then he cuts my singing off altogether.
He has a hand on each side of my cheeks, his lips are so sure on mine, and the world disappears around the two of us.
A car honks behind us, and I jump. Everything comes back into focus, and Bellamy pulls away.
He still has a million dollar smile on his lips.
I have a million and one butterflies scrambling inside of my stomach at the thought of him, the song, and the moment.
Every moment with him. I smile to myself, still humming the rest of the song.
Slowly he pulls into a parking lot off the main road, and I notice a widespread area of green.
A park, so vibrant. There are a few trees scattered, but there's a huge tree in the middle of the park, with so much shade underneath it.
“This place is beautiful,” I tell him.
There’s a nice breeze today, probably because it’s going to rain later.
I’m happy we can both enjoy the sun together while it lasts.
He parks the car, and as soon as he’s out, he runs to my side to open the door for me.
I thank him, and he helps me down even though I don’t need any help.
He’s incredibly aware all the time, and that’s something I’ve noticed since all of this started.
He’s not the type to let anything go undone or unnoticed.
Even when I don’t need help he wants me to know he can and will if I do end up needing it. He’s thoughtful. More than most.
Bellamy retrieves the blankets and a cooler from the back of the Jeep, and I feel like it’s routine between the two of us. These kinds of dates don’t feel repeated though, they feel just as fresh every time he takes a blanket from the back of his car to take us anywhere.
He walks ahead of me, not letting me carry anything, and he brings us to the tree.
It’s shaded, and nice, but he doesn’t bring us right under it.
He sets everything down and spreads the quilt along the ground right on the edge where the tree won't block our view. He brought pillows too, and I don’t know what’s in the cooler, but Bellamy is always ready to eat something, so I’m not surprised he brought it.
“There are only three more things on the list,” Bellamy’s voice is soft.
I think of the list in my head. I never memorized it, I was only reminded of the things I wrote during each date. But It doesn’t feel like we’ve done as much as we have. It also feels like I could do this for months and months with him. Like I don’t want it to end.
“What’s left?” I ask him.
“Beach trip at midnight, playlist, and carving our initials in a tree, but I plan to do that one today before we leave,” He nods his head to the tree behind him.
He brings himself down to the blanket and I do the same thing, turning over on my back, and inching myself closer to him.
I rest my head on the pillow partially, and partially on his shoulder as well.
“Are you excited to get rid of me?” My tone is light as I joke.
“I’ve actually had a lot of fun the past week and a half. I didn’t really think we’d finish this early, you’ve got a few days left before you leave.”
To be honest I didn’t think he’d finish at all.
“I hate to admit it, but I also had fun,” The words are bittersweet in my mouth as I speak them.
“Hate to admit it?” His eyes settle on me as he turns his head.
“I told you I didn’t want to do it, and I told myself it would be dumb, and I’d hate every second. I hate being proven wrong, and I was. So, yes, I do hate to admit it, but it’s true. I had fun dating you.”
He lets out a triumphant “Hmmm” and I don’t say anything about it, I just let him sit with that fact for a little bit. My eyes focus on the clouds, something I never normally watch, but am enjoying staring at right now.
“I see a giraffe with a cowboy hat,” I point to the shape in the sky.
“Exactly where do you see that?” There’s laughter behind every single word he speaks, signaling he doesn’t see a thing.
“Right there,” I point, bringing my finger in his line of sight, he lifts his hand, pointing to the same spot.
“There? That’s not a giraffe, that’s a dinosaur.”
I scoff, he must have vision issues.
“You’re insane, that looks nothing like a dinosaur,” I laugh, and my hand falls, the sun hitting us perfectly now.
The breeze is constant, and soft on my skin as I lay next to Bellamy. I sit myself up partially and look around at the quiet park.
“How did you know about this place?” I ask. It’s beautiful, and close to the city but still quiet. It’s perfect.
“Well, I grew up right down the road. My parent’s home, my home now. It’s down the street.”
I furrow my brows, “What do you mean your home now?”
“When my parents passed away they left me everything. They left my sister money of course too, but most everything was in my name the second I turned 18. The house, money. The Jeep. It was all theirs, and they gave it all to me. So... so the house is mine, but I don’t live in it obviously.
My grandparents and sister live there now. ”
I don’t understand that kind of pain, and I don’t ever want to, but as always I feel sad for Bell and his sister at the thought of their loss.
“Do you ever want to live there again?” I feel him shrug against me.
“I’m not sure... I guess it depends on the future.
Whoever I end up with might not want to stay here, or if I play for the NFL I may not live here so there’s no point in letting a house go unlived in.
So maybe I’ll sell it, or sign it over to my sister if she decides to stay here. I have no idea what could happen.”
My heart beats faster at the thought of who he ends up with. My heart aches over it.
“When did your parents pass away again?” I ask and he takes a second before answering me.
“When I was in high school.”
My hand moves over the blanket until it finds his. I lock my fingers with his.
“Did they call you when they were gone on work trips?”
“Me and my sister every night,” He nods while he speaks.
“I know it seems like something to be sad about or feel bad for me for, but it’s not.
I miss them, but I’ve grown up, and I’ve learned how to handle that pressure.
And I had them for a long time. It wasn’t enough time but it was longer than a lot of other people have had their parents.
I think that’s one of the things about you that makes me the most happy, Kamryn. Your relationship with your parents.”
I didn’t expect him to turn the conversation around. Now I’m confused.
“What do you mean?” I need elaboration.
“A lot of people our age don’t really appreciate what their parents do or have done.
I know there are some circumstances that make everyone's situation different. I know I don’t know everyone’s story, but it makes me happy to see that you call your mom like you do.
That you’re as close with her as you are, and that you're close with your dad too. It makes me happy to see how much you appreciate them.”
I feel my chest heat up.
“My parents are a handful but they love people, and that’s what makes it easy to love them.”
“I’ve never met them, but they made you... So I can imagine how wonderful they are.”
My chest keeps its warmth, and I feel it spread to my cheeks. Bellamy was always open with flirting, but for the past two weeks the compliments are new, and they make me nervous, but in a good way. They don’t feel like casual flirting, they feel intentional.
“I think both of us turned out pretty okay,” I tell him.
He squeezes my hand again, one two, and three times.
I squeeze back, and we sit, pointing at clouds for what feels like hours.
Bellamy pulled me along with him after the clouds started to turn dark, and we found our way under the tree.
He pulled out a pocket knife I never knew he carried, and he began carving, K first and then a B.
He even drew the cheesy heart around it, and it makes me happy and sad all at once.
We ran from under the tree to his car, the soft rain starting to pour down on us.
There’s one date left. Only one. I want to say it went by far too fast, but isn’t that what I wanted?
Didn’t I wish for these two weeks to be a breeze?