Willow:

"Do you have a wish ready for the Make-A-Wish?" I asked Kennedy.

We were at Cape's, eating lunch. I was asking him a question that I figured would make him feel uncomfortable, but I had to know if he was at least thinking about it. I hadn't wanted his last few moments on earth to be terrible.

Kennedy smiled. "I have you. What else could I wish for? I want nothing else," he replied.

I studied him and his chocolate mustache. "Is it because of the 'Money Doesn't Buy Happiness Act'?"

He shrugged. "I feel like money can't buy my happiness specifically, but if I had the chance to spend someone else's money at this point and time, I definitely would," he raised his eyebrows. "Did you forget that time we went to Six Flags, Will? I spent my wish on Six Flags."

"No, I don't remember, and no you did not..." I groaned. "Ugh, kids. They do the dumbest things, don't they?"

Kennedy nodded. "Six Flags was pretty dumb, and it was also the least exciting thing that happened in my life so far," he said. "But I was seven, Will; seven-year-old's hardly have brains."

He made it so far compared to seven years, I thought.

"True," I commented. I drank the last of my milkshake using my two straws. "I wish we could do something big, though. I want to do something huge with you that I'll remember for the rest of my life," I told him.

He nodded, grinning. "I'm working on it."

"On what?" I raised my eyebrows. "You can't leave me in the dark, Kennedy. That's against the rules."

We were about to throw away our trash and leave Cape's.

Kennedy crumpled his trash in his hand, and then stuffed it inside of his empty milkshake cup as I did the same. "There are no rules when it comes to life choices. Every individual goes with their own flow. What I'm working on is a plan, Willow, but a secret plan. It's a surprise for us," he went on. "So you can keep yourself guessing, or you can create a plan of your own," he suggested.

"Hmm," I stalled. "I'll leave myself alone with thoughts for now, but I'm on to you, mister. You know I absolutely hate what surprises do to me."

He sighed, longingly.

"You're the most loving person I know. I look past your supposed hatred for surprises, but only because I know you don't have a shred of hatred within you," he responded. "But it's normal for people to be confused about these things, for you to, I mean. People tend to dislike the things and feelings they don't understand."

Kennedy had a serious passion for surprises. He had great surprises, and I had always known that. It wasn't surprises that I hated; it was the suspense before the surprise. The constant waiting, wondering. I hated having to expect something unrecognized. A surprise to me was like wearing a blindfold up until a certain time and moment. You heard things, but you hadn't seen them.

"Give me your explanation," I said simply.

He sat up straighter and looked me intently in the eyes before crossing his arms over the table. "They're spare of the moment activities that make your heart race. They produce these exhilarating feelings that give a person the illusion that they're more alive somehow. It's beautiful, Will. It's absolutely beautiful, and I'm not going to die until you see that," he winked.

"That's fair," I nodded, smiling. "You know I'm open to convincing. Anything is possible."

We stood to our feet and threw our trash away before turning towards the exit.

"I have hope for lots of things, Will. You get no hints. Expect nothing, accept everything, and you know the rest," he said to me.

We rode on our bikes for a while. We rode to a nearby flower patch, and we had picked a few flowers that hadn't belonged to us. We talked about the meanings of flowers. I picked the last three flowers that I considered my favorite while he picked a few favorites.

We went to our home, and sat around on our bean bags and talked until the sky went dark. We had said Hello before parting ways. I walked inside of my house holding three blue roses in their rarity, and I gave one to my mom, one to my dad. They wowed and awed, and said, "I didn't know there was such a thing as a blue rose!"

I agreed with them. They told me they loved the flower.

I filled a clear cup with water, half-full - then I put the last blue rose in that cup before carrying it to my bedroom.

I sat on my bed uncovered, and I stared out the window next to my bed. I stared at the ledge, where the blue rose was resting, and I thought of the meaning of beauty.

-

beau·ty

ˈbyo͞odē/

noun

1. A combination of qualities such as shape, color, and/or form that pleases a person's senses, particularly the sight.

2. An alluring or pleasing person.

-

I thought the first primary definition of beauty represented a blue rose. A blue rose had a beautiful color, shape, and smell. The second primary definition of beauty easily represented Kennedy, because what person could be more beautiful than someone that only paid attention to beautiful things?

I then stared at the blue rose and also thought about how beauty could be disguised. How nature could be disguised by unnatural things, and then I thought: is there really such a thing as a blue rose?

I had gotten up to find out.

I neared the ledge, and then I grabbed the blue rose. I turned it upside down. It was blue everywhere, no marks, but this flower was disguised. I was holding a white rose that was dyed blue and desperation to prove this to myself caught up with me. I dunked the flower in the water. I left it there as I stepped back, and I watched as the water slowly changed color.

I then thought about beauty again, and I thought about how it couldn't be disguised for long. This flower was beautiful all in its own, blue, white, or even rainbow colored.

I placed my hand over my chest, realizing I just convinced myself that surprises are, in fact, beautiful things. They are absolutely and undeniably beautiful. 

***

I hope you all think this chapter is beautiful. Don't forget to vote, comment, and FAN! - Cristy M.