Rise & Rise Again

When I got home that night, I went straight to my room and laid down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. I didn't want to play this game with the Tony and Victoria. I knew I had to have her, but I also knew that it was her choice to make. A small sigh escaped my lips as I thought of ways to draw her away from Tony. I was in love with a girl who wanted someone else. My head turned to my left so I could glance at the clock, seeing that it was two thirty in the morning. I pulled my phone out of my front pocket and opened up a new text message to Victoria, asking if she was still awake. Not two minutes later, my phone was ringing and a picture of her face was lit up on the screen. A smile broke across my face as I tapped the answer button.

"Yes beautiful," I said into the phone.

"I can't sleep either, can we do something? Maybe go to the beach?"

"Of course, suit up and meet me by the tree." I smiled as I spoke to her.

"Yes, sir" She giggled before hanging up her phone.

My hands pushed me up and I jumped off the bed before heading over to my dresser to grab
a bathing suit and a zip up hoodie. After I changed, I grabbed my keys and quietly made my way downstairs, being sure to avoid the third step from the bottom because it squeaked too loud. I made it out of the house without waking anyone up, with the exception of Vic, who was in the kitchen getting something to drink. I doubted he even noticed me though, since he was half asleep anyway. By the time I had made it outside and locked the door behind me, she was already waiting where we had planned.

"Good morning Michael," She smiled "What beach are we going to? the one by the
playground?"

"No, I've got a better one in mind, let me drive?"

"You're not going to kidnap me and dump me in the woods right?" Victoria grinned, making
her way over to her small Mazda.

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess" She replied as she got into the passenger seat while I went to the drivers side.
"Dibs on radio rights!"

"Aw bub I didn't even get a chance!" I groaned while I pulled out of the driveway and made a
left onto the next street.

"I want you to hear this song by Lydia!" She laughed as she popped the CD into the player
quickly.

A few seconds later a soft voice came through the speakers.

"You will never waste my time.." Victoria sang along with the music while she smiled at the
world around her. "So come closer baby, I want to see what you're made of, see what you're
made of, cause this isn't all we could be, you're not the same and I'm, I'm not the same and.."

Her voice faded out as she closed her eyes, leaning her head back as she did. I rolled the
windows down, knowing she loved the night air running through her wavy hair. Our hands met
between the seats, letting our fingers do the rest, leaving our hands tied together over the cup
holders. I knew then that this is what love was like. I knew that I loved this girl. I smiled the rest
of the way that I drove, knowing that we would be okay.

~

"Michael this place is beautiful.." Victoria whispered while she looked out over the steep sand
dune that we were standing on.

"I thought you'd like it," I grinned and put my arm around her shoulder.

"I love it. Thank you for taking me here." She smiled and looked up at me. "Race you to the
water!"

Victoria ran off down the beach while she pulled her t shirt over her head and threw it in the
sand. I ran after her, throwing my hoodie to the side with my keys and shoes. The waves
crashed around her as Victoria splashed into the water, beating me to our destination. My
arms wrapped around her and pulled her entirely out of the water, holding her close to me
while I walked further out into the ocean. Her arms reached up and wrapped themselves
around my neck.

"Hey," She whispered

"Hey," I smiled down at her.

Victoria let her legs fall from my arms, but kept her own around my neck, resting her head on
my chest while she looked at the out at the ocean. I let myself hold her tightly while we stood
in the chest deep water. She stayed focused on the water and the moon, while I kept my gaze
on her. The ends of her long hair were wet with salt water, and I was fascinated by her
beauty.

"Stop staring at me creep," I could hear the smirk in her voice as she spoke, not moving an
inch.

"You're beautiful, I can't help myself."

"You're creepy, I told you that the day I met you." Victoria laughed and pushed my shoulders
lightly.

"Don't push me!"

"Whatcha gonna do about it!"

"Oh nothing, just push you under the water!" I laughed and gave her a small push, just enough
to get her to fall back.

"Michael!"

"Victoria!" I mimicked.

Her small hands splashed water at me before she jumped up and pushed me down under the
water. When my head broke the surface again, I did the same to her. Our laughter died down
along with the splashing and I wrapped my hands around hers, toying with her tattooed hands
and staring into her eyes. I watched as her breath got caught in her throat and her chest
seemed to become still. Panic flashed across her eyes, but it was quickly replaced with a
calming look. My hands moved from hers, up her arms and her neck until they reached their
place on her cheeks. I leaned my face down and my lips met hers, I felt the corners of her
mouth twitch up into a smile as Victoria wrapped her arms around my neck again, pulling
herself closer to me.

~

"Are you fucking serious?" Victoria hissed at me while she dragged me upstairs and into her
bedroom, slamming the door behind us. "Michael I told you how important this was to me!"

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. I didn't know what else to say, my thoughts were still a bit foggy on
what was happening.

"I told you to be here at three for dinner, you show up at six thirty, AND you're high out of
your mind."

"I am not out of my mind," I defended clumsily.

"Is that seriously all that you heard?!"

"No I'm sorry I should have done the right thing I know and I'm sorry baby."

"Do you actually mean that or are you just saying what you know that you should say. There's
a big difference between the two and I'm not sure that you realize that. I just wanted you to
meet my grandparents, they're just like my dad, it wouldn't have been difficult at all." She
sighed and sat on the edge of her bed with her head in her hands. I followed her, sitting next
to her and draped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to me. Victoria rested against me
and let out another sigh.

"I'm sorry bub, I really am." I whispered while my thumb made circles on her shoulder. "Hey,
do you think I could get some of the left overs? I'm starving."

"You're such a fucking asshole!" Victoria screamed while she pushed me away from her.
"Get the hell out Mike!"

"That came out really bad that's not the way I wanted it to sound!" My eyes went wide at the
sound of her yelling and I backed away, knowing she could easily punch me if she wanted to.

"No! I don't care! Get the fuck out of my house!" Victoria's hands pushed me out of her
bedroom, stopping at the top of the stairs as she watched me walk towards the front door.

"I'm so-" I tried apologizing again while I stood in the half-open doorway, but her voice cut me
off.

"Get out!"

I walked out of the house slowly, closing the door behind me. My feet carried the rest of me
over the the tree in Victoria's front yard, letting my hands pull me up onto the biggest branch I
could find when I reached it.

"Fuck."

Notes

ok hi i'm back for good