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CHAPTER 21
Annie
FIRST KISS & THUNDERSTORMS 
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<>Llovera by; Mia Maestro

         TODAY IS THE LAST OFFICIAL DAY IN HAWAII, I don't want to go back to being sick, I don't want to go back to my routine. We couldn't do anything except stay indoors due to the rainstorm. That night, it started thundering and lightning and raining hard so I closed all the windows, I walked into the bedroom where Julian is sitting on the bed cross-legged wearing a light blue pajama shirt and grey pajama pants. I attempt to close the balcony doors but Julian stops me. “No. I wanna see it.” I look back at him as he smiles and laughs. I walked over to him and sat next to him resting my head on his shoulder. “Wanna know what I love most about rainstorms?”  “Mmm?” I mumbled half asleep.
         “That they're mysterious, beautiful, and stubborn. But not as nearly as mysterious and beautiful and stubborn as you.” He says looking me in the eyes. I sit up a little looking back at him as he leans in. My breathing comes in short gasps, and I feel the same pull I've always felt toward him, an undeniable gravity that dares me to close the gap between us. He sets his hand on my cheek caressing it softly. I hold his gaze, yearning to feel the calm that he possesses. And then I understand. Neither one of us could die. We could die tomorrow.
          All we have is right now. A fire burns through every inch of me. I kiss the palm of his hand. He then slowly but surely places his lips on mine. He kisses me, his lips soft and achingly sweet. He pulls away and breathes heavily as I lay my head on his slow rising and falling chest, his heart beating to a tune that soothes my soul, knowing that if we die, we have forever.
        Julian and I fly back to San Francisco in the morning. I stand outside with my backpack looking out at the ocean. Feeling this empty hole in my chest. We were on the plane for about 14 hours and 10 minutes. When it got dark, Julian and I watched The Wizard Of Oz on Julian’s tablet, listened to music on my phone, and finally fell asleep. When we landed we took a cab to the hospital, the whole ride we worried about what was going to happen. Will my parents be worried? Will Kim be worried? We pull up to the entrance of the hospital. Looking back at Julian, he gives me a sigh. Not a happy sigh. Not a sad sigh. Just a sigh. “Well, here goes nothing.”
          We get out of the cab, and Julian takes a hold of my hand, squeezing it tightly. My heart starts beating faster, anxiety filling every inch of me. We walk inside the main lobby. Nothing. We walk into the elevator up to my floor, the 3rd floor. When the doors finally open, my mom, my dad, Julian’s parents, Wally and Winnie, Dr. Atler, Dr. Tulsa, and Kim are standing there at the nurse's station arguing. They turn and look at us, my mom and dad embrace me in a huge hug.
        “Where the hell were you? You know you guys were missing for 4days! You could have called or texted. Why?” “We were in Hawaii.”  I say as calmly as possible. My mom looks at me and then at Julian. “I'll see you tomorrow.” He says and walks away with his parents following behind him. I look back at my parents disgusted. “We’re fine, and we made it back in one piece, so be grateful.” I say and walk off to my room slamming the door. A month passes, my parents, Dr. Atler, and Kim forgave us for what we did. 
         Julian and I sit on my bed watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame, when I get an email from Winnie. I walk over and see an emailed picture of her, Wally, Michael, and Wally’s girlfriend, Jennifer at junior prom. 
         I can’t believe it, one of the most important nights of my life and I miss it. “Annie, what's wrong?”  Julian asks. “Wally and Winnie just sent me a picture of them at prom, and I was supposed to go with them.” I say.
        “Annie Grace, you just gave me a great idea.”  He says as he jumps  up off the bed and walks out the door. What the hell just happened?

☆

        That night, I lay in bed when my phone rings. It's Julian. “Hi Annie, can you meet in the cafeteria in 20 minutes? And wear something nice, like a dress.” “Yeah I can, but why?”
         “I love Annie Elizabeth Grace.” And then hangs up. I go to my closet to find the prettiest dress I own, when I find it, I get dressed and leave my room and go down to the cafeteria.

<>Out Of Love by; Alessia Cara

          I push open the doors and all the lights are off, I manage to see white christmas lights hanging on the ceiling, suddenly, the christmas lights come on and Julian is standing there, in a black suit and matching tie, his perfectly unruly dirty blonde neck-length hair slicked back a little.
          “I felt bad that you missed your prom, so I made one for you.”
         “We’re the only ones here.”
         “That's what makes it special.”  He says walking over to his phone and plays, Out Of Love by Alessia Cara. He walks back over to me, taking my hand slowly, putting a corsage on my wrist before resting it on his cheek with his eyes closed.
        He opens them again slowly smiling, he lets go of my hand and lightly picks me up and places me on his feet. We look at each other for a while. I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest. We slow dance to the song, when Julian says, “I love you.”  He whispers.
        The way he says it is so soft and real and the most wonderful  thing. I opened my eyes slowly looking up at him. “Close your eyes.”  I say and he closes them, I lean in closer each magnetic breath he takes pulling me closer. My lips meet his, we pull away slowly and we continue to dance.
         We leave the cafeteria and walk around the hospital holding hands. We head down the hall to this large window top to bottom with 32 squares. “Tell me something that I don’t already know about you?” I ask, resting my elbow on the ledge. “Tomorrow is my birthday.” My eyes shoot wide open.
         “Wait, Julian it’s your birthday tomorrow?” Julian smiles and nods as if it is no big deal.
         “I don’t have a present for you.” “Your life is my gift.” I smile and look out the window, knowing my plan for his birthday tomorrow.