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Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 3
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2.9k words

(y/n)'s POV
My body was tense and I was holding onto Anakin for dear life with my eyes closed. I was doing fine for the first ten minutes of the ride, enjoying it even. Then we started going up a hill and all the faith I held for my survival immediately left my body.

Dramatic I know, but I've always been one for the dramatics.

Finally, I felt the motorcycle coming to a halt and I slowly opened my eyes without releasing my hold, "Any tighter (y/n) and I'm going to suffocate." He choked a laugh.

Realizing how tight I actually was hugging him, I quickly let go, "I'm sorry, I wasn't prepared for the hill." I apologized as I stepped off of the bike, taking off the helmet and handing it to him.

He smiled while accepting the helmet from my hands, and placed it on the bikes handlebars, "It's fine, you'll get used to it eventually." He kicked the stand down from his bike so it wouldn't tip over, then kicked his leg over to get off.

I raised a brow at is confident comment, "Are you insinuating that I'm going to be on your motorcycle enough to get used to it's dangers?"

"Not insinuating," He walked over to me, a smirk on his lips as he held something behind his back, "Just hopeful."

I hummed with a nod, choosing not to comment, "So, what do you have there?" I nudged my head towards whatever he was hiding from me, "And where exactly are we?" I asked, realizing I haven't even bothered to check my surroundings.

"It's called 'on top of the world'," He informed me, while I scanned the open grassy terrain that was lit up by the moonlight. I also noticed that we were near the edge of a small cliff and we could see the whole town from here. There were certain parts that were dark, while others—where known parties would be—are lit up with multicolored lights. It was actually quite beautiful, "And this," He gained my attention once more, showing me the small blanket in his hands, "Is so you don't have to sit on the dirt."

With an enthusiastic smile, he walked away from me and toward the edge of the cliff. He laid the blanket, and gestured for me to come to him, "You didn't bring me here to murder me, did you?" I joked while walking towards his little set up.

He laughed while sitting down and swaying his feet over the edge daringly, "And face the wrath of Josie? Absolutely not."

I took the spot next to him on the blanket, and not hanging my legs over the edge as he's doing. I sat criss-crossed instead, since the idea of a piece of my body hanging over a high edge unsettled me, "How long have you known Josie?" I asked curiously, turning to look at him.

He leaned back on his palms and kept his gaze on the gorgeous view of the town, "About two years, but I've known her brother Rex much longer. I've really only ever talked to her a couple of times, but enough to know she's a little crazy." He shook his head with a heavy sigh.

A little is an understatement.

"Two years?" I furrowed my brows, and he turned his head to look at me. The moonlight beamed off of his eyes, making them sparkle majestically. Now that is what I would call a breathtaking view. I've always been a sucker for blue eyes, but I'm not going to let him know that and boost his ego, "I've never seen you before or even heard your name. How can you have known my best friend that long without us crossing paths at least once?"

His friends, I've probably seen them a few times and just forgot. But him, a face like his is one to always remember.

He moved his gaze to the floor, and visibly swallowed before speaking "I just haven't been around much lately."

Curious, I tilted my head and asked, "And why is that?"

He smiled slowly, his eyes darting up to meet mine, "Maybe I'll tell you if you ever let me take you on a real date."

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the town that was still dancing with lights. He was right when he said I would love it here, it's so calm and peaceful. This is the most serene I've felt in days, "Maybe one day."

"Can I ask what happened between you two?" He questioned with genuine curiosity, rather than sounding pushy, "I know that Clovis guy is your ex and I know he has a new girlfriend, but how did it end?"

I sighed, looking down at my fingers as I picked at my nails, "To put it short, he blind-sided me, We broke up a little less than a week ago after being together for almost three years." I was still hurting, and I was scared of adding salt to the wound.

"Wait a minute, did you just say you broke up less than a week ago?" He asked in surprise, and I nodded; prompting him to continue, "And he already has another girlfriend?"

I nodded again with a frown, feeling the familiar sting in my chest returning, "Shes the reason we broke up actually, he left me for her."

It still baffles me that three years could mean so little to him, that I was that easy to replace. He always made me feel special, and it turns out that it was nothing but bullshit.

He shook his head in disbelief, "Well he's an idiot, you're a hundred times more beautiful than her. I wouldn't even call her pretty if I'm being honest, I'd call her; basic. Unlike you," He nudged my shoulder with his, "Your beauty is unique, memorable."

My body reacted involuntarily as it did earlier, and I blushed. How funny, I was just thinking the same thing about him,"You're just saying that to make me feel better, she's the head cheerleader, she's popular-"

"Wow she does flips, yells, and waves pom pom's; how exciting." He mocked her, cutting me off before I could finish. And I'm glad he did, because he made the ache in my chest disappear, replacing it with a laugh; a genuine, real laugh, "There's that smile." He chuckle, eyeing my joyful laughter with pride.

"Thanks, I needed that," I breathed, gaining back my oxygen from my laughing fit.

"Of course," He nodded with a smile, "I respect it if you're not ready for anything right now. We can always just be friends." He laid down on his back, looking up at the sky.

I was silent as I looked down at him, scanning his soft features. He really isn't at all how I expected him to be; he's actually sweet, a bit arrogant yeah, but undeniably kind. I sort of thought he would be the complete opposite, and at least ten times more arrogant, "I would like that."

(Song on top starts here; and I know it's not an old song, but I just felt like it fit here, like it was softly playing in the background during this next part.)

"So would I," He looked away from the sky and met my gaze, "Now lay down, it's time for your next view, and I think you'll like this one the best."

I un-crossed my legs, and laid down just as he was; turning my attention to the sky and gasping. It was gorgeous, the stars shined brighter than I've ever seen them. I could actually make out multiple constellations, "Wow." I breathed in awe.

"Wow is correct," He chuckled next to me, "The pollution from the town doesn't reach up here, you can see the sky for what it is, a beautifully hidden masterpiece."

"How many stars do you think there are?"

"Too many for us to ever really know." He responded. His arm came into my vision as he pointed upwards, "Do you see that constellation there that looks like a bird spreading its wings?"
(Picture above)

I looked in the direction he was pointing at and saw what he was talking about, "Yes I do."

"It's called Cygnus or swan to be more simple, it represents love," He informed me of his astrological knowledge, then he pointed in another direction, "And if you look there at those five stars that are connecting, almost like a triangle; that's called Indus, and it symbolizes adventure."

I turned my head to face him with furrowed brows, "How do you know all of this?"

He rotated his gaze to meet mine. He had a saddened look in his eyes, but it was obvious he was trying to hide it with a smile, "My mother taught me, she had an obsession with astrology." He looked away and back up to the stars, but my eyes stayed on him, "She used to bring my little sister, and my brother and I here all the time. We'd be up here for hours."

I caught that he said 'had' instead of 'has', "I hope I'm not overstepping, but can I ask what happened to her?"

He remained silent for a moment, his eyes shifting between stars, "She got sick," He finally responded after about twenty seconds of silence, "And passed away three years ago when I was fourteen."

"I'm sorry," Was all I could think of to say, there's not much else you can say to something like this.

He smiled softly without looking at me, "It's okay, it was a long time ago so the pain has dulled significantly. But I do find myself missing her, especially when I look at the stars."

"What was she like?" I asked curiously. I was never able to experience what having a mother was like, since mine left before I could even walk. My father had girlfriends here and there afterwards, but I still never saw any of them as that type of figure.

His smile grew, "She was kind, funny, beautiful; she used to sing to my little sister and spin her around the kitchen when she was a baby. She's six now but she still has faint memories of it. She just had the biggest heart, everyone adored her."

"She sounds amazing," I smiled, I can see where he got most of his personality from, "Who are you with now, your father?"

"No, he left shortly after Ahsoka was born, that's my sisters name." Looks like we have something in common, absent parent, "So my older brother Obi-Wan took us in, he gave up part of his youth to raise us."

"And how old is he?" I asked, while turning to lay on my side, using my arm as a pillow.

"Twenty-seven," He responded, doing just as I did and turned to face me while laying on his side, "I feel like you've learned quite a bit about me today, and I still don't really know much about you. Except that maybe your taste in men could use a bit of improvement."

He wasn't wrong.

"Well I'm not very interesting to be honest, I feel like you know everything that's worth knowing," I shrugged before stifling a yawn, "My full name is (y/n) (y/l/n), an only child, my mother didn't want to be a mother, I work at a bakery that I love, I adore reading and watching children's movies since it reminds me of when life was easy and innocent, my dad is a cop-"

"Pause," He quickly interrupted me, "Did you just say your dad is a cop, as in, officer (y/l/n)?" He asked with furrowed brows.

I nodded, "Why, do you know him?"

Anakin bit the inside of his cheek before responding, "No, I've just heard of him from the other guys." He cleared his throat, and changed the subject before I could question him any further, "So what would you say is your favorite color?"

"Yellow, but a soft pastel yellow."

"How interesting, mine too."

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I squinted my eyes after hearing the constant sound of a bird gawking. I tried turning in my bed to grab my other pillow so I could place it over my head; hoping to block out the annoying sounds, when I realized that I couldn't move one of my arms. Not only that, but my mattress felt harder than usual, rock hard.

Then it dawned on me and I shot my eyes open, gaining an instant view of an orange sky. I quickly turned my head to see Anakin facing my direction, fast asleep with his hand locked with my own. His forearm was resting on top which is why I couldn't move it.

"Shit," I whispered. We fell asleep, and the sun was rising. My dad was going to be home very soon, "Anakin," I called to him, but he didn't moved, "Blondie!" I called even louder with a light knee to his leg, and his eyes tired eyes finally opened.

He eyed me questionably for a moment, like he didn't understand what was happening. Then realization crossed his features and his eyes widened before he shot up into a sitting position; letting go of my hand, "Fuck, my brother is going to kill me."

I sat up as well, and got to my feet quickly, "And my dad is going to kill me if I don't get home before he does."

Anakin stood up and grabbed the blanket from the floor, wrapping it in a bundle and throwing it in his bag, "Then let's try and save at least one of us," He ushered me to his bike and I placed on the helmet, before getting behind him and hugging him tight, "Please try not to suffocate me this time," He teased before turning on his motorcycle.

I laid my helmeted head against his back with my eyes closed, "No promises."

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"And with time to spare," I cheered happily as I got off of his bike, and took off the helmet. My dads car wasn't here yet, and judging how low the sun still was, I had plenty of time.

Anakin grabbed the helmet, and set it on his lap, "I just wish I could say the same for myself." He spoke in a sigh, I can tell he was dreading going home.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize, it was my idea after all, and I had a good time. It was worth the hour lecture I'm about to go have." He chuckled before stretching. I know his body hurt like mine did. Sleeping on a hard floor is not recommended.

"Well, I had a good time too," I smiled, reaching down into my work boots to pull out my house key that I slipped in there so I wouldn't forget it again.

Anakin watched me with furrowed brows until he saw me pull out the key, "You kept it in your boot?" He raised a brow, "Isn't that uncomfortable?"

I nodded, it really was, "Yeah, but I don't have pockets in this outfit." I gestured to the work clothes I was currently still in.

"I have a solution," He kicked the stand to his bike down, and brought his hands up to his neck where he fiddled with the clasp on his plain silver chained necklace, "Let me see your key." He pulled the chain down. I held my key out to him, watching his next move with intrigue. He placed the chain inside of the key hole, and held it from both ends so it hung in the middle, "Now you don't have to keep it in your shoe," He stood up, and towered over me, as he brought the chain around my neck, locking it in place, "Or remember to bring it, since you'll always have it."

I smiled as I looked down to the key resting on my chest, "What if I forget to put it on?" I asked teasingly with a raised brow.

"Then just don't take it off," He responded simply with a shrug, "Unless you're showering of course."

I nodded, bringing my hand up to the key and fidgeting it, "Well thank you, you just made my life easier." Such a simple solution that I never thought of.

"Happy to help," He smirked before getting back on his bike and kicking the stand back up, "I should go before my brother starts sending out a search party."

"Bye Anakin, and thanks for yesterday, I enjoyed your company." I smiled gratefully, he took my mind off of everything, and even right now I didn't feel like crying as I usually did. For once I just felt okay.

"As did I, when can I see you again?" He asked as he placed his grip on his handle bars, preparing to leave.

My smile grew, "I'm off of work tomorrow at noon."

"I'll be there."

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