Aarav stormed out of the dock, leaving her there sitting with her chin propped on her knees and fingers playing with the charm bracelet she brought for him.

Once the depths of her words seeped into her anxiety-filled mind, she realized the hurt she had inflicted on her boyfriend. He wasn't selfish. He had always been her anchor in the whirlwind of unsettled emotions. She needed him to be that for the rest of her life. But it felt like they were both drifting apart, space and time, winning over their soul-deep connection.

Shay didn't know how much time had passed or how many tears she had shed until she felt someone's presence beside her and a warm hand wiping the salty water from her face. She didn't have to look up to know who it was because they weren't the one she wanted them to be.

Ryan sat beside her on the mattress, his breathing as calm as ever. The material of his sweater was soft against her exposed shoulder. She wanted him to hold her and tell her that everything would be okay because if anyone knew the intensity of feelings as deep as her, it would be Ryan. Her heart ached for him, too.

"You're not that bad at baking as I thought," Ryan stated, munching on the last slice of dark chocolate cake and nudging her shoulder lightly. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Shay mumbled, still keeping her gaze to the calm lake water. "And why did you think I'd be bad at baking?"

Ryan didn't say anything but brushed her hair lightly. When Shay looked to her side, she saw a light smile on his face, and her heart stopped hurting just a little. "What happened, Shay? Did Aarav lose his shit again?"

Shay nodded, a lone tear escaping her eyes. She could feel the crack in resolve deepening, and if Aarav didn't come along soon, it would break. Pitch black clouds were looming over her mood every passing minute.

"I shouldn't have asked him about Boston," she said in a low voice, closing her eyes. "I don't think he is selfish, Ry. It's just that I didn't know when our dreams started separating. It took me by surprise, you know."

Even though Shay wanted to be a supportive girlfriend and stand by his boyfriend's choices, she still felt vulnerable whenever she imagined him going so far away from her.

Ryan was silent for a long minute. She heard some shuffling as he pulled off his sweater and draped it around her shaking body. "It's called growing up, Shay. We are no longer a bunch of kids riding around the town in matching bikes or making imaginary castles on the beach."

Growing up feels like shit.

"How are you okay with him going so far away?"

His shoulders slumped, and he looked up at the starry sky. Shay knew it was not an easy question to answer. There might be a lot of brothers and sisters who choose different paths, who go on their way but only a few as close as Ryan and Aarav.

"Man, can I ever be okay with that?" He sighed, leaning back on the heels of his palms.

Looking at his face at that moment, Shay could see a million different emotions. Ryan had always been the dependent twin, even though Aarav was the one living under his shadows. If they were to be separated, they both would be miserable. And just like that, tears welled in Shay's eyes.. She knew even though it wouldn't be easy, each one of them had to stick to their dreams. Yet, the thought of losing Aarav scared the hell out of her.

Books and movies always talk about soulmates and love marked in the stars, paved with raw heartache and occasional happily ever after. But Shay seemed to have missed the memo, because now she felt too damn fate stricken.

She was scared to lose her soulmate.

"I'm not okay, Shay. I'm adjusting." Her friend gazed at the stars as if they gave him the hope to shine even when it burns.

"How do you do that?" Shay asked.

Ryan took a shot from champagne lying open beside them. "There's no rule book for that, but I guess you learn to respect others' choices. Besides, love knows no time or space. It's ever-growing, ever-evolving." He looked deep into her eyes and then tapped on his heart twice. "He is here always, wherever he goes."

It was indeed true, distance doesn't matter when your heart and soul remain connected to someone. A smile spread across her lips, mirroring Ryan's. They both felt the same at some level, and he was the mature one while Shay was overdramatic.

"Are you coming back?" He stood up and gestured towards the main house. Shay shook her head.

"I want to be alone for some time." Shay stayed where she was, and Ryan veered away.

"Just don't stay alone late in case Aarav doesn't return." He said before heading back inside.

Shay pulled his sweater around her body and nodded, but deep down, she was ready to wait for Aarav as long as she could.

***

Shay must have drifted off because when she opened her eyes, she was not on the dock. She was in Aarav's room, covered in his blanket. Just as the haze of the sleep dissipated, Shay saw another sleeping figure at the other end of the bed. Wrapped in his white sheets, on his side, Aarav looked like a fallen angel under the moonlight slipping in through the open window.

He was still in the same shirt he wore for tonight. The gentle look on his face as he released light snores and the hair falling on his face warmed Shay's heart. So, her sweet boyfriend did come back to her. He was always a light sleeper so when she brushed his messy waves off his face, his eyes fluttered open, a lazy smile curling up his lips as soon as their gazes met.

A long silent moment passed as they both looked into each other's eyes, just taking in each other's presence.

"Hey, baby." Aarav was the first one to break the silence, his voice groggy with sleep but smooth like honey.

"You came back," Shay mumbled, pulling her hand back and tucking them under her cheek.

"I can't stay away from you for long, Shay." He admitted, his breath shaky.

Shay felt his words deep in her bones, and she almost covered the distance between them, falling right into his arms but she held back. She shuddered with the impact of love and longing she felt for the boy with the crankiest mood but sweetest heart.

"Well, you're still away from me," she whispered, then patted the space next to her. "Come here, Aarav."

"Are you sure, Shay?" He asked, looking deep into her eyes.

"Always," Shay said.

So, he didn't waste another second of their lives and shuffled closer to her. His touch was as warm as the first ray of sun on a cold winter morning, and Shay had been feeling the chills for so long. She let him pull her closer to his body, instinctively placing her cold palms on his warm cheeks and brushing their nose together. Her boyfriend smiled ever so charmingly, then kissed the top of her head as she tucked her face in the crook of his neck. His earthly smell calmed her, racing her heart instantly.

"You know, Shay. I love you so much that I want to be better for both of us." His voice stuttered as Shay feathered his neck with butterfly kisses, moving higher up towards his chin. He looked down, his black eyes darkening just a little and his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, tangling their bodies impossibly closer.

"I know, and I'm with you, here or wherever you go," Shay whispered, tilting her head enough to allow his lips to close around the pulse on her neck, lingering there, peppering open-mouthed kisses, turning both their heartbeats erratic.

"I'm sorry," her boyfriend mouthed over her lips, and then he was kissing her again. She could taste the salty apology from his mouth and heart, and it reached her soul.

He reached her soul. He was half of her soul, her soulmate.

"I love you." The acceptance finally rolled out of her lips, eyes looking deep into his midnight ones and a soft smile tugging on her mouth.

"I love you too, Shay," He whispered against her collarbone, and a wild heat of desire rushed through her veins, desperate, longing, and growing. She tugged at the hem of his shirt and slid it out of his body in no time. As soon as her fingers glided up the expanse of his toned stomach, he whispered shakily into her ear, "Shay, we should-"

"I don't want to," her words fell urgently. The silk draped around her body, slipping out of place to reveal more of her skin with the movement. Aarav breathed heavily against her heart, their bodies falling into a rhythm of their own, too sinful, yet so pure. "Aarav," she said, wanting it to be her forever.

With their mind, body, and heart in perfect sync, when their lips met, their souls were finally ready to unite. They gasped into each other's mouths, kissing and devouring. He rolled over her body, her hands holding his face, his knee wedged between her legs, and his hands drawing her into himself.

"You're beautiful, Shay. So, so beautiful." His voice was a breathless husk against her skin.

"So are you," she pulled him closer, resting her hands on his back, and then leaned in to kiss him.

And no words said, no doubts lingering behind their minds and no uncertainty to pull them away from each other. Aarav's fingers sought approval, trembling as they moved under Shay's silk dress, and as soon as she nodded, their clothing hit the floor piece by piece. And Shay was melting under the heat of his touches, skin to skin they burned like wildfire, molten lava running through her veins.

***

He was gentle, careful, and protective all during and afterward, just like Shay knew him for all her life. He took care of her and dressed her in his shirt, his scent acting as a healer.

She cradled her head against his chest, feeling him skin to skin and soul to soul. A smile bit into her cheeks when she saw the charm bracelet around his wrist, perfect fit and looking just the way she had imagined.

"I'm staying with you forever," he mumbled, kissing her forehead, slowly drifting to sleep.

Shay tilted her head to look up at him. "Promise?"

"Promise," he whispered softly.

But only if she knew some promises come with an expiration date.

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE

This chapter is probably one of the sweetest and filled with heavy emotions. I hope you love it as much as I do. If you are enjoying it, please add your comments and votes. They always motivate me to write further. I'll be updating this story twice a week, but I might update more.

At this point I feel Aarav has become my favorite character. Who's yours?

Until next time!