A/N: Short chapter up ahead, sorry. Please vote!!!

I take Jackson's hand and feel myself float to the dance floor with him.

The lyrics of The Parlotone's Stars Fall Down is the only thing I can hear. Like the chatter of kids around us has suddenly died down and the universe is holding its breath.

'Trace my face while it's a happy face,

When my smile fades I wanna remember this day'

Jackson leads me to the middle of the dance floor. There are couples all around us, but they seem to part for Jackson and me. I can't take my eyes off of him. I can't to anything but stand there when Jackson finally has us in the middle of the dance floor.

'Passion killed by the comfort of time'

"Jackson, I'm not good at dancing with someone," I apologize in advance, because God, I want this to be perfect and it sucks that this can't be some magical moment all because I have two left feet.

"You're not good at sharing your pancakes with someone either, but that doesn't stop you from eating them," Jackson points out and I chuckle at his absurdity.

'I'm sorry if this makes you cry, but I have to speak

My mind...'

"I think I'll share them with you if it means spending more time with you," I admit.

It's such a stupid little confession, but it holds so much more than just sharing pancakes. It's sharing my heart.

There's a sad glint in Jackson's eye, like maybe he doesn't want to spend more time with me. So, instead of waiting for an answer, I let myself be pulled into those compelling eyes of his while he leads us in a slow dance.

'Suck the colors from my eyes,

When they lose their sparkle and forget to shine'

I can't breathe.

'Remember all the times you turned me down'

Everything we've been through flashes through me while I'm entranced by his gaze. It's a beautiful memory swimming in my mind - I take it in. Every single detail. Every breath, every stare, every word. I let my soul embrace all those adventures.

'I'm sorry if this hurts your heart, but

Where's the spark, from the start?'

I remember dropping my phone when Jackson surprised me after school. The cold floor as I dived to pick it up. Jackson's river blue/green eyes as he apologized with genuine concern for my phone. The light from the classroom windows danced across his perfectly tanned skin... It danced to the music of the silence.

'Don't stooo-oo-oop, dooon't stop'

I remember reading the notes on Jackson's phone when we accidentally switched phones. How a few words, letters and spaces, could make me feel for the first time in a long time. A stranger becoming my best friend. Lightning flashing in my veins and thunder rumbling in my soul.

'Nothing lasts forever, soon we will be sober

So let's laugh, talk, tickle and taste'

I remember falling in love with Jackson's unsaid words. Falling harder and deeper than when I jumped from that cliff... Wanting to fall, because I've never truly experienced the rush of air go through my existence quit as much as while I was falling for his unsaid words. I don't want to ever stop falling.

'Till the star fall down,

The staaars fall dowwwwwn'

I remember confronting Jackson about his notes at school and getting scolded. My fists we're clenched tightly a lighting strike upon lightning strike, pierced and burned me. I was waiting, begging for that thunder, but it was hiding behind all those flashing lights.

'Embrace my reflection for a little while'

I remember storming back to Brick Flavored Morning disappointed, but getting surprised when he apologizes through his notes. The calm after the storm. There was hope unlike I've ever felt when I realized Jackson did read my notes...

'If I am to love, I must try love myself'

I remember reading more of his notes and feeling comforted by them. They had become my only friends. My only hope for a life where I didn't want to die. A life where I could feel. Really feel, because that's what makes us human - what makes us alive.

'Cuddle with a cold corpse like frame'

I remember sitting in the book store upset and then having Jackson steal my journal. The scratch drag stop sound was snatched from me. My sword fight stopped. And without admitting it, it felt good to have that bundle of pages and ink taken away from me. All that anger... All that hate...

'I'm sorry if my view of matrimony

Seems obscure, where's the fuel?'

I start remembering everything faster as the song picks up and Jackson tries his best to move us around faster. To swirl and twirl and whirl me around like we've left our bodies. And I let my memories dance to the music as well. I remember having a bicycle race with Jackson and finding out that he actually helped me with it.

'Don't stooo-oo-oop, dooon't stop'

I remember getting ignored by Jackson at school and feeling just so defeated.

'Nothing lasts forever, soon we will be sober'

I remember sitting in Brick Flavored Morning and having Jackson tell me he's not perfect.

'Illuminated by the blood red sun

Let's rather lament on this starlight event'

I remember being told by Jackson to stop writing about the life I want to live and instead to start living it instead.

'Dance, dance, dance naked under starlight'

I remember having Jackson make a bucket list for me.

'There's something about the glow

That flows just right'

I remember Jackson betting he can teach me how to live by the end of the farewell dance.

'Let's make tonight last,

Forget about the past'

Discovering the lake house and falling through the roof like the idiot I am.

'So let's laugh, talk, tickle and taste,

Till the star fall down'

Ordering pizza and saying I'd die for pancakes while Jackson admits he'd live for pizza.

'The stars fall down'

Jackson writing on the wall that he was here and here he was everywhere.

'Don't stoo-oo-oop, don't stooop'

Feeling like I'd want a tattoo over my heart saying Jackson was here and here Jackson was everywhere.

'Nothing lasts forever, soon we will be sober'

Pranking the school in an epic horror theme.

'Illuminated by the blood red sun'

Feeling like Jackson might actually be fixing me.

'Let's fantasize, before the real world comes, 

crashing and colliding'

A shopping-mall-cart drag race with Jackson.

'Like lightning's angry temperament'

One sided fight with Jackson.

'Bubbling teenage love, time will soon be up'

Hating Jackson.

'Don't stooo-oo-oop, dooon't stop'

L-wording Jackson.

'Nothing lasts forever soon we will be sober'

I close my eyes and let my head rest against Jackson's chest. Burning books, camping, jumping, fighting bears with Jackson. It all floods me like the best kind of earthquake is tearing me apart. And for the first time I remember how to live. Actually, live.

'Trace my face while it's a happy face...'

Jackson senses what I'm feeling and lets his head rest above my head. We're so silent and loud at the same time. Like our unsaid words are screaming at each other, but our actual words are trapped desires behind our lips.

'When my smile fades and I'm old and grey'

Jackson said he'd live for pizza.

'All I'll have are these moments to retrace...'

The song ends, but I don't let go of Jackson just yet. Letting go might kill me.

Because I'd very well live for Jackson.

Hey golden cabbages!

Firstly, please vote! Secondly, wasn't this a wonderful little flashback to everything that's happened. The story isn't really long, but if you think about it, a lot has actually happened. 

And now, there are 10 chapters left. Our story is coming to an end. I hope I wrote it well.

Any last thoughts on Jackson and Danielle as we near the end?

Stay golden, stay cabbage!!!

~ Holly Shmit