Don't Give Up On Us
Prologue: Lovers Lost In Space
“Jaime, where are you taking me? Tony and Austin must be looking for us,” Lucinda Kennedy giggled while her boyfriend, Jaime Preciado, had a firm grasp on her hand and led her to a secluded place in the woods. They had been together since they were awkward sophomores and were still together now, on the day of their high school graduation.
“You’ll see,” he replied and she heard the smile in his voice. She held on to his hand a bit tighter, tripping a little over the soft soil under them. Her heels were not meant for walking. She didn’t understand why she had to wear them in the first place. She was quite tall already. For her graduation outfit, she also wore a sleeved, royal blue lace dress.
Jaime himself wore something other than jeans and t-shirt, his typical ensemble, and traded it for a white button down shirt, black slacks and tie. Lucinda thought her boyfriend looked gorgeous in anything.
“There,” Jaime said triumphantly as they headed to a clearing. He stopped and pulled her next to him. In front of them was a proud oak trees in the middle of the clearing, adorned with fairy lights stapled onto it and hanging on the branches. Under the tree’s shade was a picnic rug and a guitar.
“What is this?” she asked, squeezing his hand.
“Come on,” he said gently, moving his head towards the tree. They walked towards it and Lucinda grew more curious to what Jaime had done this time. Of course, she was surprised by him from time to time, like when she would find flowers in her locker, but she liked it. It was one of the things she loved about him—his sense of being unpredictable at times.
“Jaime, what is going on? I thought we were going to Austin’s graduation party,” she wondered although she didn’t mind their detour. They were under the tree and she admired its beauty.
He picked up the guitar. “I wanted to give you your graduation present,” he stated meekly, with a hint of his impish grin.
“You didn’t have to,” she argued playfully.
“Nonsense,” he claimed, beginning to pluck the guitar strings. “Prepare to be serenaded,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows, making her laugh.
Lucinda loved watching Jaime play. He was so happy—so alive. It was him sharing a deeper part of his soul, a part of his so vulnerable and precious. He was talented, as was his best friend, Tony, who had similar guitar skills as him. Maybe she was being biased, maybe she wasn’t, but she always thought that Jaime played just a little bit better. They had so much talent and potential. If they worked hard over their summer break, they could be in a band. It was all they ever wanted to do, what Jaime dreamed of doing. When he first told her, he got embarrassed and expected her to laugh. But instead she kissed his cheek and told him that it was a good dream to have and that he shouldn’t let anything get in the way of it.
He raised his eyebrows at her. “You ready to have your metaphorical socks knocked off, babe?” he asked while beginning to strum into a proper rhythm.
She smiled and nodded.
‘I just fell in the deep end
Like a lush without her weekend
I wrote this for you kid
It’s not what I wanted but I need it
But man it’s a long trip
From all the crazy things I’ve seen in this world
I’m blessed, I guess
What if I was the secret and you couldn’t keep it
And I swear I saw something good in your eyes before
And if I sang it in the right key
And I asked you politely for you to find a way home
Find a way home…’
Lucinda loved it when he sang too. He didn’t sing often, usually just when he was just around here or when there was one of his favourite songs playing on the radio. She thought his voice was angelic—as if he was her angel that God had sent her.
‘I find it difficult to sleep when all the walls
they just seem to speak at me
I find it funny that I can laugh
Because my heart’s so fucked up I can barely stand the
Sudden sounds of the cars outside
The red and greens on the traffic lights
That the only thing I got is this
The only thing I want is this
Memories that make me smile
A girl to stand there and so she can admire
The way I can never ever really keep my hands to myself
But the alcohol, it tastes so sweet
When it’s mixed with lies and defeat
Oh all the battles I lost and lost again
What if I was the secret and you couldn’t keep it
And I swear I saw something pretty in your eyes before
And if I sang it in the right key
And I asked you politely for you to find a way home
Find a way...
What if you were the secret
And I didn’t see it
And I swear to God I wish these thoughts of mine
Could create the sunshine
It’s beautiful as your eyes
I paint this night sky
And it’s not like you need this
I just wanted you to see it
Tonight...’
A tear fell from Lucinda’s eye, rolling down her cheek. The song was beautiful, it truly was. It was full of emotion and came straight from his heart. She couldn’t have asked for a more perfect gift.
“Jaime, I love it!” she exclaimed. He placed the guitar down and stretched out his arms which she automatically ran into. In his embrace she felt safe, secure. He would forever be her rock, something that she could hold on to whenever things got tough, say for example, finals week. “I love you,” she whispered.
He backed up a bit, still holding her in the circle of his arms. He pressed his forehead against hers, not needing to bend down a bit since the heels gave her the extra height. “I love you too,” he answered. “More than anything.”
Jaime leaned forward to kiss Lucinda. He loved the way her lips smiled against his or how she’d giggle when he lifted her up. She wrapped her around over his shoulders, closing the space between them. After a few more seconds of what felt like heaven, he reluctantly broke apart from her. There was another gift he wanted to give her.
“I don’t know how this day could get any better,” she sighed happily.
“I’m going to try make it better,” he challenged lightly, dropping his arms and stepping back. He reached into his pocket, fishing a circular object—a ring.
“Jaime?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, her gorgeous smile never leaving her face.
“There’s one more gift I have to give you,” he explained, slowly sliding down on his right knee. He took out the ring, holding it out in front of her. The ring was plain and simple, a diamond ring resting on a band of gold. His mother had given it to him when he confided his plan, telling him that it was the ring that his father had given her.
He cleared his throat. “Lucinda Maryse Kennedy,” he began, feeling his voice tremble. “I love you with all my heart and soul and I don’t see a future where that will change. You are the better half of me and I want to spend each waking moment of the rest of my life loving you. The future is ours, baby, and as long as I have you beside me, I can never go wrong.” He took a deep breath before continuing. He was so nervous and he felt himself shaking with anxiety. But he had to give it a shot.
“Luce,” he breathed. “Will you marry me?”
Lucinda felt more tears rush to her eyes. She could fly. Jaime was her wings.
“Yes!” she gasped. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she cried, placing a hand to her mouth. She was livid with emotions, as was Jaime. Joy, relief, excitement, giddiness. It was all there.
Jaime took hold of her left hand and slid the ring on her fourth finger. He stood back up again wiped the tears from her face. He knew they were tears of happiness and it gave him such a warm feeling spreading through his heart. Lucinda removed her hand from her mouth and he stroked back some of her chocolate curls.
“I know we’re young,” he murmured. “And I know people will say that we won’t make it, but they don’t know us or our hearts. We can make it through. We’re in this together. You’re the only thing that I need—the only thing I will ever need. I love you, Lucinda, and I’ll spend forever trying to prove it to you.”
She chuckled, making their foreheads touch again and stroking his cheek. “Forever is ours,” she whispered, before connecting their lips once more.
Notes
whelp, new story yet again. i think this is a good thing :) thank you so much for reading! i hope you like it.
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CRIES
10/8/14