Artis Hart was used to waking up, getting ready, treading to work, spending mindless hours in front of a computer, turning down offers to hang out after work in a bar, to come home and loose herself in the memory of a certain pair of forest eyes.

So when evening rolled by that day, she wasn't expecting anything to happen.

Except, she found Ethan Brewer in her front door, looking as sinfully handsome as always.

His face was devoid of any emotions but his eyes--God his eyes were a different story.

Artis swallowed.

She wasn't going to get fooled again. Her stupid interpretations can go to hell for all she cared.

But when Ethan Brewer bent down to swoop her up in his strong arms, smelling like freshly baked cakes and bacon, and kitchen, and like Ethan, she was sure neither her interpretation nor her imagination was rich enough to conjure something this surreal.

Ethan broke the hug to look at her with apologetic eyes.

He stretched a hesitant hand towards her, not sure, and Artis felt herself bite her lower lip, her heart hammering inside her chest just like when she was sixteen.

His feather hands tucked unruly almond strands behind her ear and that's when her eyes fell on his fingers.

There was no platinum band.

They still had so much to talk about.

That night when Ethan decided to brilliantly show up in front of Artis' house out of nowhere, truth be told, he was scared out of his wits.

Finally he had figured out his priorities. Finally he wasn't a coward. Finally he was ready to go to Artis.

But what if she had a life of her own? With a man perfect for her?

And though the sensible reminder of no man visiting Artis during her stay at the hospital flashed in his mind, he was scared. Well, you can't blame a guy, can you?

But then, he wasn't expecting her to slap him across his face. Shutting the door on his face? Yes. Slapping the life out of his face? No. But right when she had slapped, his heart did this weird jumping exercise that seemed to lift all the heaviness he had been carrying for years.

And then she smiled. That beautiful sunny smile that took his breath every single time. And he knew.

That it was worth it.

Spring saw them walking shyly side by side. An occasional brush between fingers. Blushes that would put roses to shame. Never once behaving like they were twenty six and twenty four. With the whole package of flowers and smiles.

Summer saw them in sundress, shorts and lemonade. Hand in hand. Head on chest. Him introducing her to his parents who were happy for his selection this time. While her parents were simply happy to see the smile they haven't seen in years.

Autumn saw them dressing as Harry Potter and the snitch to Halloween while golden brown leaves showered them everywhere they went, catching the colour and warmth of her eyes, his heart playing a staccato.

Christmas saw them meeting under the town Christmas tree at five. Artis in her old green dress. Ethan in his favourite blue turtleneck sweater. The date was late by nine years but oh well, better late than never.

"Hey," said Ethan Brewer, the signs of first snow hit in the background.

"Hi," she breathed out.

He was still shy. She was still awkward. But he couldn't help tucking almond strands falling adorably from her woollen beanie, behind her ear.

They never admitted their feelings aloud but maybe it can wait. I mean, passing an agony of eight waiting years put things like confessing their love to the back seat. It was evident in their eyes, in their hands, in their breaths. So why word it out when things are perfect?

Or maybe, they would one day.

But right now, underneath the Christmas tree, they were once again eighteen and sixteen.

They are together
and at the moment,

that's what really matters.

fin.

a/n., and we wrap things up. Maybe you guys found this last chapter really cheesy or rushed but guys, I've made the kids suffer for so long (eight years!!!!) and they deserve it. I suck at third pov so yep. Hope you guys like it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STICKING TILL THE END.

I don't really know what else to say to project my thankfulness lol. Really.

Hope you guys stick around for my next work. I'm so sick of writing sad stories lol (old people would know I'm actually a humour writer [which gained me my current number of followers lol] xD xD) and I'm back to writing humour stories. I think that's just my writing style. Like, my sarcastic tone was trying so hard to slip in between the lines but I punched it out of the way to write this chapter haha.

Idk when I'm posting this but i wrote this during the Halloween season so Happy Halloween my fellow ghosts xD

Stay rad, muffins.

I love you.

Seriously.

Kai x