Ariya

9 years ago

"My-my mother.." I watched from the middle of the church as Khyson stood at the front reading from a small piece of lined paper. His tears impairing his voice and reddening his eyes.

"She had the.. most-most beautiful smile.." He paused again to catch his breath before glancing forward at me. I gave him a reassuring smile before nodding.

"My father.. he always saw the best in people." The silence between his pauses were deafening. He gasps for his words, it didn't seem like he would make it. I knew that look, he was stuttering-but he was trying-he was really trying i just don't think he'd be able to finish.

I smiled to the old woman beside me before slipping out of the bench and walking up beside him. He stared at me blankly before I smiled. He handed me the paper before pushing his head into my shoulder and dropping into a cross legged position beside me legs.

"He always saw the best in people, even when I was sitting on the curb at two in the morning when I needed a ride home from practice. Or when I got into a fight at school. He never hesitated to do what was right." I took a deep breath before glancing down at him at my feet.

-

"Can we get out of here." I turned to him as everyone around us feasted on the food.

"But there's still m-"

"Ariya, please." He rested his chin on my shoulder with a beg.

"Okay." I sighed.

He grabbed my hand as we ran out of the church, we knew his grandparents would be after us but we didn't care.

He began to pull me towards the forest behind the the church and I furrowed my brows before stopping us both.

"Where are you going?" I stopped with furrowed brows.

"Just.. trust me Ariya, okay, please?" He tightened his grip on my hand before I nodded with a slight gulp.

I let him pull me through the branches and the bushes, feeling the fabric of my dress get caught and stained by the nature. Suddenly the greenery ended and a small shore of a lake clouded my view.

"Wow." I breathed in aw.

"I found this place a couple weeks ago." He smiled while looking forward at the water.

"It's.. beautiful." I gaped with wide eyes.

Suddenly he began to loosen the tie on his shirt and I furrowed my brows.

"Why are you undressing!?" I turned my body around so my back faced him before a heard a low chuckle.

"Calm down, Ariya-just-turn around."

"I don't want to be flashed by your dick." I yelled. Suddenly I heard a splash and flipped my body around.

"Khyson?" I ran up to the edge and searched for his body beneath the waves.

The water was silent, only a couple ripples and bubbles.

"Khyson?" My voice began to heave, the panic increasing.

"This isn't funny, Khyson."

Suddenly his body plummeted upwards and I let out a string stressed breaths.

"I hate you." I panted.

"You love me! Get in!"

"I'm not getting naked." I shook my head in immediate protest.

"I'll turn around, see just tell me when your in." He placed his palms over his eyes and turned his back. I eyed his toned back muscles treading the water.

"Fine, don't turn around!" I warned him as he nodded sloppily.

I kicked my shoes off and pulled the zipper of my black dress down my back, feeling the wind hit the bare skin of my back.

Slipping my arms out from my straps and unstrapping my bra before it fell to my ankles.

I wrapped my arms around my body before glancing over at Khyson's pile of clothes, his boxers laying on the dirt.

I quickly tugged my underwear off and lowered my body into the water, making sure the water went up to my neck as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You can look now." I grumbled.

"So, isn't this refreshing?" He smiled.

"No, I'm cold and exposed."

"Here, come on." He held onto my hand before swimming deeper.

"Khyson, I-I can't swim." I stuttered before he stopped and chuckled.

"Don't laugh!"

"Here, hold onto me."

"I'm naked." I whispered.

"So am I, you wanna drown or not?" He rolled his eyes before I sighed and attached my body onto his back. I could feel my rigid nipples pressing into his skin. Great.

He drifted us out a bit right as the sun began to set, the shadow painted us yellow.

It was so evidently quiet.

"I'm sorry." I whispered into his ear as he gripped my ankles at his lower stomach.

"For?"

"Your parents." Resting my cheek on his shoulder.

"Shit Happens, it's not your fault."

"I know." I spoke softly.

"I'm just happy to have you here with me." I glanced at his lips to see the crooked smile on his lips.

"You mean a lot to me, Ariya. I hope you know that."

"You mean a lot to me too, Khyson."

"Promise me that after Highschool we'll keep in touch, even if we do get separated." He leaned his head against mine and I sighed softly.

"I promise I'll always keep in touch." I held out my pinky as he locked his own within mine and brushed the shell of his lips over our connected hands .

"Good.. because I don't know what I would do without you." He chuckled lowly.

"You'd be fine without me."

"I'd die."

"No you wouldn't." I laughed while playfully hitting his chest.

"What about last week when you stopped me from eating that expired can of peaches."

"You wouldn't have died."

"Whatever you say."

"Whatever."