Written in the Stars (15 page)

“That wasn’t nice.” Geoff tried not to smile.

“You should know by now that I’m not a nice person.”

“Oh, believe me, I do.” He winked.

“Sophie, you’re my hero.” Erin hugged me. “I can’t stand her.”

“
Sophia!”
Nonna yelled for me.

“Coming.” Erin and I both rolled our eyes.

After a few minutes of being verbally spanked, and having to apologize to the evil drama queen, dinner was back on track and everyone took their seats to enjoy the food that had taken days to prepare. I was lucky enough to be seated directly across from
Geoff who, sadly, had to sit next to Greta. Knowing I was most likely going to have daggers thrown at me, I kept my eye contact on anything and anyone other than Geoff’s.

The one time I got the courage to look up at Geoff, I felt horrible. I could tell by the look on his face that he was giving it his all not to go ballistic on Greta, and I wasn’t sure how much longer he would last.

By the end of the first course, I would have given my left kidney to sit at any other table, since sitting with Greta meant getting a word in edgewise was near impossible, and I’m pretty sure by that the end of dinner, everyone at our table either hated Geoff or wanted to kill her for talking about Geoff the whole time. 

Finally, after a very long and interesting night, everyone started to head home. Everyone except for Greta, and her shrieking fake laugh echoing through the house was getting on my nerves. It was time to be brave and save him.

I waited until I saw Geoff go into the bathroom to make my move. When the coast was clear, I sneaked into the closet across the hall from the bathroom and waited for him to come out. Five minutes later, I was about to give up when I heard the bathroom door creak open. I waited until he was close enough, to grab his arm and pull him into the closet.

“Hey.”

“Sshh.” I brought my fingers to my lips.

“Holy crap, Sophie, I thought you were Greta.” He exhaled, and I couldn’t help laughing. “There is nothing funny about this.”

“I know, and I really am sorry,” I whispered.

“So why are we in a closet?” He looked around. “Oh, I get it. You want to play Seven Minutes in Heaven?” His grin went from ear to ear.

“What? No!” I shook my head. “I’m saving you.”

“Who says I need saving? I’m right where I want to be.” He smiled.

“You want to be with Greta?”

“For your information, I loved having Greta draped over me the whole night,” he said.

“Oh, I thought…” I was confused. “Sorry, I’ll just stay out of it then.” He grabbed my hand when I reached for the handle.

“Are you kidding me? She is by far the craziest fan I’ve ever met.”

“Sorry.” I felt horrible.

“I’ll accept your apology if you meet me in the field, let’s say, in about ten minutes?”

“Why the field?”

“No questions, just an answer,” he said.

“Fine, yes, I’ll meet you in the field in ten minutes,” I agreed. “Now, I have a plan.”

“Great; let’s hear it.”

“First, you hide your car so it looks like you left,” I said.

“Or...” He pulled out his phone and started texting. “I’ll have Ant move it now.”

“Ant is here?”

“Ant is always close.” He smiled and tucked his phone in his front pocket.

“Oh, now that’s reassuring.”

“So, what’s next in this plan of yours?” he asked.

“Um, that’s pretty much all I had.”

“Great plan.” He smiled. “Let me try. I’ll start by saying my goodbyes, and try to keep my exit graceful, and if I get out alive, I will make it look like I’m walking towards the cars,
duck down when no one is looking, and go wait for you in the field.”

“What if someone is out back?”

“Sophie, it’s pitch black out there. I doubt anyone will be in the field,” he said.

“Good point. Okay, so ten minutes, pitch black field, got it.”

“Geoff, where are
voi?”
Greta was close.

“Wish me luck.” He shot me a fearful look.

“Luck.” I smiled.

Both of our eyes widened when we heard someone grab the handle to the closet, and froze when light started peeking in.

“Geoff?” Greta sounded confused. 

Before I could do anything, Geoff had pushed me into the back of the closet, making me slam into the wall that was hidden behind the coats.

“Ouch,” I muttered.

“Hey, Greta.” He quickly walked out of the closet and shut the door.

“Why are you in the closet?” she asked him.

“I needed a moment.”

“In the closet?”

“Yes, I tend to find closets very soothing.” I covered my mouth so she couldn’t hear me laugh.

“Oh, I will have to try one day.”

“You should.” I heard them walking away.

I waited for the perfect moment to sneak out of the closet and rushed into the kitchen before anyone could notice me acting suspicious.

“Oh my, I’m in love.” Greta melted into one of the chairs next to me after saying goodbye to Geoff.

“You look it.” I rolled my eyes and took a sip of water.

“Are you jealous?” She looked at me.

“Why would I be jealous of you?”

“Please, I know you’re in love with Geoff Mann, and it’s clear he wants me and not you.”

“That’s true; it’s very clear who he wants.” I nodded.

“Did you see him sing to me?”

“Yes, everyone in the house saw.”

“Proof.” She grinned. “Do you want to know why he wants me more?”

“Not really.”

“It’s because I got body, beauty, and class
, and you…Well, you don’t.” She grinned and then got up to walk away.

By luck, I caught Erin right before she was able to actually grab Greta by the hair.

“I have never fought before, but that girl needs to be knocked down a couple of levels,” Erin said angrily.

“Erin, it’s okay. I don’t take anything she says to heart,” I told her. “I’m going to bed. See yo
u in the morning.” I hugged Nonna and said a quick goodbye to what little of my family remained before heading up to my room. I started pacing, until I realized I only had a few minutes left out of the ten Geoff had given me. I grabbed my coat and quietly opened my balcony door.

“Tell Geoff ‘hi’ for me.” Erin sneaked up on me.

“What makes you think I’m going to see Geoff? Didn’t he already leave?”

“Please, Sophie.” she rolled her eyes. “I’ll cover for you.”

“Thanks.” I smiled.

Geoff was right. It was pitch black outside and I could barely see my next step as I made my way down the balcony stairs. I peeked around the corner to make sure no one was around before darting out to the middle of the field.

It wasn’t until I was standing in the middle of the field that the thought of bringing a flashlight came to mind. I looked back at the house to see if it was safe to go back, but too many people still lingered for me to risk it. I started taking small steps into the blackness, hoping to see a sign from Geoff.

“Geoff?” I said just loud enough for him to hear. “Geoff, where are you?” My voice got a little louder. I waited for what seemed like a lifetime without getting a response before I tried again. “If you are out here, and you can hear me, I’m not going to play this game. I’m going back inside and I’ll send Greta out to find you,” I said with my normal voice, and screamed when I felt a hand grab my ankle before pulling me down to the ground. Geoff’s hand was over my mouth before any other screams could escape.

“Are you crazy? Someone is going to hear you,” he whispered into my ear.

“What do you expect? You didn’t have to pull me down!” I snapped.

“I know, but it was more dramatic this way.” He smiled and grabbed my hand. “Stay close.”

“Wait, before I go anywhere with you. This isn’t some kind of retaliation stunt for Greta, is it, because there’s nothing you can do to make me feel any worse than I already do, except throw me off the cliff,” I said.

“I wouldn’t give me any ideas if I were you.” I pulled against him when he tried to pull me up. “I’m not going to retaliate.” He pulled me up.

It was so dark outside that I couldn’t see my own hand in front of me, let alone where we were going, but for some reason Geoff didn’t seem to hesitate and kept moving until he had to catch me before I face-planted the ground when I tripped over a branch.

“Are you okay?” He turned on a flashlight.

“I’ve been blindly following you, and you’ve had a flashlight this whole time?” I glared at him.

“Yes, but you don’t have to worry. I know this path like the back of my hand.”

“Really? How many lines do you have in the crease of your wrist?” I asked him.

“What?”

“When you bend your wrist up like this, how many lines are in the crease?” I showed him. “Without looking at your hand.”

“Four,” he answered.

“Let’s me see.” I bent his hand up and counted the lines. “You got lucky.” I pushed his hand down.

“Just like the back of my hand.” He grinned.

“I still don’t understand why you couldn’t just use the flashlight.”

“I didn’t want Greta or anyone else to see a light running into the hills,” he explained.

“Why wouldn’t want Greta to see you? I thought she meant something to you, since you sang to her.” I tried not sounding jealous.

“I wasn’t singing to her. I knew you were listening.”

“But she was the one sitting with you.”

“And whose fault would that be?” he asked.

“Mine.”

“Wait; are you jealous?” he asked with a little hilarity in his tone.

“No. Why would I be?”

“Oh, I don’t know? Maybe because you, um, kind of like me?” he said.

“Wow, you’re good.” I raised my eyebrows. “But I don’t kind of like you.” I moved into him. “I’m in love with you.” I
tried to sound like I was lying, but not lying.

“Really?” He looked shocked.

“No.” I backed away and laughed.

“That wasn’t nice.” He grabbed my hand again. “Come on; we’re almost there.”

It may not have been nice, but it was definitely true. I was head over heels in love with him. It took another ten minutes before we stopped and I found myself staring at a rickety old wooden fort built into the ground that just happened to look like it could collapse at any moment.

“I actually kind of remember this place.” I looked around.

“Mario and I built it when we were little.” He threw a bag into the fort.

“We’re not going in there, are we?”

“Yes, we’re going in.” He climbed in.

“I’m not going in there.” I backed away.

“Why not?” He poked his head out and looked up at me.

“Because it looks like it should be condemned.”

“It’s as sturdy as a high rise.” He pushed on the walls.

“
I’ll stay out here.”

“Suit yourself.” He disappeared into the fort. “There are only a few animals that eat at night here, so you should be fine.”

As if cued, I heard some branches breaking close by, and then I could have sworn I saw a black shadow dart from the bush next to me.

“Fine.” I climbed in. “But if I die in this thing, I’m going to come back and haunt you.”

“I would like that.” He smiled.

“Wow, it’s a lot bigger than it looks from the outside.” I was impressed. “And look; you have a skyline.” I looked up into the starry night.

“I’m very proud of the work we did.” He pulled out some wine glasses, a bottle of wine, a battery light candle, and a couple of blankets from a bag, and then climbed out, only to return with a handful of wildflowers.

“I get the impression you had this planned for a while.”

“A few days.” He finished setting up.

“What else do you have planned?” I asked.

“Planned – nothing. Hope for.” He looked up at me with a captivating smile. “That’s a whole other subject.” 

“Well, I hope that you didn’t hope that anything other than…” I struggled to find the right words.

“I would never. That’s why I brought two of everything.” He smiled.

“Good.” I let out the breath I was holding.

“Would you like some…?”

“I don’t drink.” I stopped him before he could offer.

“Neither do I.” He showed me the bottle and I felt stupid when I saw the words “Sparkling Cider.”

“I would love some.”

I sat with my back against the dirt wall, and looked up into the night as I waited for him to pour the cider.

“I love gazing at
the stars,” I said.

“So do I.” He handed me a glass and sat next to me.

“My mom and I would lie out for hours, staring into the night sky. I used to love listening to her tell me all the love stories written in the stars.”

“
Written in the Stars
; I know that story.” He looked up into the sky with me. “If soul mates find each other, God writes their love story in the stars for all to read.”

“Yeah; too bad it isn’t real.” I sighed.

“Who said it isn’t real?” He looked at me.

“Really?” I chuckled. “Please don’t tell me you actually believe in all that stupid love stuff.”

“Yes, I actually believe in all that stupid love stuff.” I heard a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Sorry; I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You don’t believe in love?” he asked.

“Not anymore.” I looked back up at the sky. “Love isn’t option for me.”

“Sophie.” He gently placed his hand on the side of my face, and made me look at him. “Love should never feel like an option. It should feel like a blessing.” 

“Not for me it
isn’t. To me, love is a curse.” Tears formed in my eyes. 

“Give me the chance to prove you wrong.” His thumb wiped a tear from my cheek.

Even though his eyes were filled with more love than I had seen in years, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give in to him, no matter how much I wanted to. Sometimes, holding onto what little you have left is more important than love and, for some reason, all I could see when I looked at him was a broken heart.

“I can’t.” I pulled away from him and climbed out of the fort.

“Sophie, wait!” Geoff followed me.

“I need to get out of here.” I started walking aimlessly away.

“No.” He stopped me. “I’m not letting you walk away this time.”

“What do you want from me?” I shouted.

“I don’t want anything from you. I want to be with you.” The sincerity in his eyes was hard to look at.

“Why? When you can have any girl in the world you want, why would want someone whose heart beats broken?” I cried. “I’m not some kind of charity case who needs saving.”

“Is that what you think I’ve been doing these past few weeks?” He looked hurt. “You think I’ve been trying to save you?”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to do.”

“Sophie, you couldn’t be more wrong if you tried.” The sincerity in his eyes faded, and hurt now filled them. “I haven’t been trying to save you. I’ve been trying to love you, but now I realize that no matter what I say or do, you’re never going to believe that.” He let me go, and walked back to the fort. “Just so you know, you’re the one who did the saving,” he said before climbing in.

The pain in voice was unbearable and, for the first time, I knew I was making the wrong choice. I hated myself for being the one who brought any kind of pain to him. He didn’t deserve it, but he did deserve to know the truth, and how I really felt about him.

I climbed back in and sat quietly as I watched him shove things back into the bags. I didn’t just want to blurt out the first thing that came to mind. I needed to make sure whatever I said explained exactly how I was feeling, and left no questions. I just wished I knew how long the perfect words were going to take. 

He had pretty much packed everything and still nothing I was saying in my head sounded good enough to say.

“I’ll walk you home,” he said with very little emotion.

“Geoff.” I grabbed his hand. It was now or never, and I’ve always hated the word never.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “I was so in love with you when I was younger, so much that I put you above everything else in my life, including my mom,” I started. “I honestly believed that you and I would end up together, all because my mom taught me to never stop chasing my dreams or give up on any of my fairytales.” I tried to control my breathing and wiped my eyes. “I wasn’t like this before she died. I welcomed love, I dared to dream, and I never stop trying to make any of fairytales come true. Next to my mom, I was probably the biggest dreamer the world had yet to see, and I was dead set on making all my dreams come true, including you.” I took another deep breath when he sat next to me and grabbed my hand. I looked at him through my blurry eyes and hoped I would be able to hold out long enough to tell him how I really felt. “It killed me when she died. I was so mad at her for leaving me. I was mad at everyone, including you, for taking so much of my attention away from her and you didn’t even do anything.” I tried wiping my eyes. “I stopped believing, caring, loving, and basically, living. I hated everything about life, and couldn’t wait until it ended.” I had reached a point where there were no more tears. “Until I met you again.”

“Sophie, you don’t have to explain this to me.”

“Yes I do.” I nodded. “You’ve always held my heart, when it was whole, and broken. There’s never been anyone else who has ever came close to you in my eyes, and I’m not sure why or how I ended up here, but I know I don’t want to be anywhere else, or with anyone other than you. You’re my dream that came true, and the fairytale I should have never stop believing in,” I finished.

He didn’t take his eyes off of mine as he moved into me and cupped my face with his hands. “And you’re ex
actly what I was praying for,” he said as he slowly brought his mouth to mine. The softness of his lips and the tenderness of his kiss took me to a place I had only dreamed of. Every inch of me longed for this moment to last forever, but it didn’t, and before I knew it, my first kiss was over and I found myself lying in his arms, staring back up into the sky.   

“We should pick one,” Geoff said.

“Pick one what?”

“A star,” he replied.

“Why?”

“So that when we’
re apart, we can look up at it and know that we’re at least still under the same sky,” he explained.

“Okay, how about that one?” I pointed to the brightest one in the sky.

“That one would be perfect, except it’s not a star. It’s a planet.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because stars twinkle, and planets don’t.” He pointed to a star next to it.

“Oh yeah, I can see the difference. I feel stupid,” I said.

“Don’t. I only know the difference because I overheard a little girl explain it to her friend in a planetarium.”

“Okay, what about the star that’s one up and three over to the right from the planet?” 

“That’s a star, but I don’t think I would be able to find it again if I needed to,” he said.

“Fine, how about the moon? Everyone knows the moon and it can be seen anywhere in the world,” I said. “Well, unless it’s cloudy, then you can only see the glow of it if you’re lucky.”

“The moon?” His face looked quizzical. “I like it.”