Second chance love

F o u r t e e n

A clearing in the forest at night. The noise of the leaves rustling in the breeze. The moon above lighting a path. Holly glided down the path, her feet not moving but feeling an invisible string from her chest pulling her along. 

A voice, deep and rumbling. Unrecognisable. 

Snatches of conversation. 

Words floating in the wind. 

Beach hut. 

Sand. 

High tide.

Holly jerked awake, sweat pooling in the bed beneath her. She sat up shivering, despite the warm night she felt cold all the way down to her bones. She grabbed a hoodie from the floor and threw it on over her short and vest pyjamas, before heading downstairs. Hot chocolate was most definitely in order. 

She got to the kitchen and padded softly across to the fridge, grabbing the oat milk from the very back and pouring some into her favourite pink rounded mug. As she put it in the microwave she grabbed the cocoa powder from the cupboard, adding it to the milk once it was heated through. Tidying up after herself, she blew on the hot drink to cool it down a little, and looked at the moon out of the patio doors. It was such a peaceful night that she decided to sit at the breakfast bench to enjoy her nighttime beverage. At least that way, she would have the moon for company.

***

Caleb rolled over in bed again, his attempts to get comfortable were increasingly fruitless, and he was on the verge of giving up on sleep entirely. He looked at the thin line of light on the floor made from the full moon through the small c***k in the curtains. Maybe that was what was keeping him awake. He got up and moved towards the window, grabbing the curtain to close it, when he noticed Holly sat on their breakfast bench. She was sat on the top of the table with her legs crossed, wearing a pair of small pink shorts and a large tattered hoodie. She was cradling a mug in her hands while staring up at the moon. Caleb smiled slightly to himself, clearly she was having a similarly restless night too. 

Deciding he was going to join her, he pulled on a t-shirt and padded barefoot across to the bench. She turned to face him, recognising his scent before even hearing him approach. Caleb looked at the person the Moon Goddess had chosen for him and was blown away once more at her utter perfection. Her beautiful tanned skin glowed in the moonlight, and her sleep rustled hair gently lifted in the breeze. She pushed some of it back behind her ear and pulled the hood up over her head apologetically to hide her bed head. She hadn’t expected to run into anyone in the middle of the night, let alone Caleb!

“Is it breakfast time already?” Joked Caleb. 

Holly blushed, and mumbled something about not being able to sleep, before Caleb took a seat on the table top beside her. She inhaled sharply as his arm brushed against the bare skin of her thigh, feeling suddenly underdressed. 

Caleb looked at Holly, making eye contact straight away. He wondered if it was his fault that she couldn’t sleep, he knew it was because of her - or the lack of her - that was keeping him awake. He reached his hand out, and gently tugged the hood off her head. 

“That’s better, I can see you now,” he said without breaking eye contact. 

Holly hadn’t managed to form a coherent sentence yet, and she was having a hard time thinking straight with him this close to her. She pulled her mug up and took a small mouthful, then offered it out wordlessly to Caleb. He shook his head, and took a breath, steeling himself to say something. 

“Listen. I know the last couple of weeks have been tough on you, and I am so sorry for my part in that. You have been unbelievably patient with me and I am really grateful for that.”

Caleb paused and looked down, inspecting his hands. 

“I guess this is where the ‘but’ comes in, right?” Holly had found her voice, and the sadness poured off her in waves. This was how it would end, Caleb would reject her and she would accept knowing that it would be what he wanted. She braced herself for the worst. 

Caleb looked at her confused for a second, then smiled and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she stared down at her now cold hot chocolate. 

“No buts,” he said, “just gratitude.”

Holly beamed in relief and let out a little laugh that warmed Caleb’s heart. He could listen to that noise all day. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face up to look at him. He saw a slight blush in her cheeks and watched as she nervously pulled her bottom lip in. 

He had had enough time, he knew what he wanted, and it was Holly. He leant in slowly, closing the gap between their faces, and softly pressed his lips against hers. 

It was unlike anything Holly could have imagined, the heat from his lips, the feel of his coarse hand on her cheek, she felt like there could be electricity sparking from just this soft kiss. 

Caleb pulled back slightly, resting his forehead on hers. He was breathing slightly heavily, and she watched as he battled with his emotions to see which would win out. Finally, he settled on one, she saw it in the darkening of his eyes. He stroked her face with his thumb, then grabbed her hand in his and pulled her towards his room. Holly felt like her heart might explode out of her chest, as she abandoned her mug on the table and followed her mate through the light of the full moon to his room.