Chapter 64: Beginning

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The final chapter of Rivals (don't forget to read the epilogue!). Please tap the star to vote and, as always, enjoy :)

Chapter song: Collide - Howie Day. "Out of the doubt that fills your mind, you finally find that you and I collide."

Brett

Driving through town with Becca had quickly become one of my favourite pastimes. There was something intimate about the silence that fell between us every time we drove; my hand on her leg, her hair blowing around her face like leaves caught in a breeze. As we drove to her apartment, to whatever surprise lay before us, I felt the shift.

As soon as she climbed back into my car after her conversation with her father, there was something different about her; her laugh seemed louder, more carefree; her eyes were vibrant and beautiful, the sadness that lurked around the edges was missing. The happiness radiated off her and wrapped itself around me.

I was proud of her for facing her demons head on and conquering them. She had spent so long running away, we both had, but today ... today she stopped running. And I had this strange feeling that today pave the path to the rest of our lives.

Becca jumped out of the car as soon as I pulled into her apartment building, the excitement nearly bubbling out of her. I smiled as I watched her walk to the doors with determination before I ran out myself, chasing after her.

Whatever this surprise may be, she was proud of it. Even if it involved eating that disgusting ice cream, I would eat it for her.

But as Becca lead us into the elevator, where her finger pressed the button for the top floor, our destination became clear: the rooftop, where our love began; where we kissed and my entire world shattered only to rebuild itself around her.

Impatiently, I reached for Becca. I smiled as her body collided with mine, wrapping herself around me. She stood on her tip toes and brought her face closer. Slowly, teasing. I was desperate as I closed the space between us, breathing her in as she kissed me in that soft, gentle way of hers.

Her body moulded to my hands. Every kiss, every touch, ignited my soul on fire. I could feel the flames licking at my insides as her fingers slid under the hem of my shirt, burning their touch into my skin.

I wanted her. I always fucking wanted her but now ... I needed her. It took all my willpower to not reach out and press the button that would take us to the floor her room was on.

Surprise, I reminded myself as I willed my mind back on track.

A chime sounded in the distance and I was vaguely aware of the elevator doors sliding open behind us. I pressed Becca's body closer to mine, holding her to me as she began to pull away.

"No," I groaned as I rested my hands on her hips. She chuckled.

There's no rush, I reminded myself. We have all the time in the world.

"Your surprise awaits," Becca said slyly. Her tone made my heart slam in my chest.

She smiled secretively as she walked ahead of me, outside into the cool air. I glanced around the rooftop, at the open sky that sprawled before us. The sun was setting into a canvas of brilliant colours.

Becca stood at the edge, leaning against the stone as she gazed over the city. The light made her look luminescent. Radiant. And as I continued to watch her, the sun began to seem a little more dull against her own brightness.

"What are we doing up here?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist as she pressed her back into my chest.

"It always goes home," she said absentmindedly as she stared at the sky.

I traced my fingers along the soft fabric covering her stomach. "What does?" I murmured into her hair, resting my chin on the top of her head.

"The sun," she answered, her voice sounding far away. "Every morning, it rises. Every night, it returns home."

"Then you're my sun, Becca." I whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Please always return to me."

Her fingers wrapped around mine, her eyes answering before her words could. Becca brought my hand to her face and kissed it lightly. "I'm not sure this beats your surprises," she said skeptically.

"Tell me why you brought me here."

Becca chewed on her lip for a moment as she thought. "Because I used to come up here as a kid to think. There was something about being on top of the city that made all my problems seem smaller ... And then I came here with you."

"And I kissed you." I grinned.

"My second first kiss," she replied, laughing. "You kissed me up here, Brett, and it felt ... It felt like the beginning of the rest of my life. And all those problems that used to overwhelm me on this rooftop began to fade away until it was just the two of us." Her hand rested on my cheek as she spoke softly. "You're my sun, Brett. Please always return home to me."

"You are my home, Becca."

As a smile stretched across her face, I kissed her. Soft and slow. There was no rush. As the silence settled between us, I could hear Becca sigh happily as a familiar warmth spread throughout my body.

Her hands wrapped around mine as she leaned back against my chest, facing the sunset. "A lot has changed since we last stood here." She said after a moment.

"I like to think we've changed, too."

Becca's voice was merely above a whisper as she said, "No matter what the future holds for us, Brett, I will always be thankful for the person I became while loving you."

I gently spun her around until I held her face in my hands. "You were already that person, Becca. Strong, fearless, determined, selfless ... Beautiful," I whispered, caressing her cheek with my thumb as her eyelids fluttered. "You just never saw it in yourself."

"Maybe you're right," she said slowly. "Maybe I would have changed on my own and someday worked up the courage to visit my father. But, Brett," she grabbed my hands in hers. "I'm stronger because of you. Loving you gave me a reason to fight because I finally had something to lose. Your love pushed me to be better, to do better. And I think you're absolutely remarkable because you make me feel remarkable, too."

It was in that moment I realized that there was nothing as special, nothing as beautiful, as loving someone with everything you had and having them love you back just as much.

"Kissing you in that hallway was the greatest thing I've ever done." I murmured, losing myself in her ocean eyes.

Becca's laugh vibrated around us -- pulling me closer, warming me up. She turned around to face the grey sky. The sun had finally returned home.

"Remember what I told you about falling in love?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"That it's ... supposed to be scary." Becca said slowly, recalling the words I once said to her. "But we need to trust that we'll land the right way."

I smiled. She had remembered. "And is this the right way?" I asked.

"This is the only way." She shifted in my arms to face me, her eyes giving me that look that made my heart flip.

I kissed her gently as the stars began to shine above us. I wanted to hold her until I could find the right words to tell her how much she meant to me. That she was my absolute everything. That my love for her was like the sky, stretching on endlessly and that she was the stars. But I just stood there, holding her, because I realized that she already knew. And, even if she didn't, I was perfectly content to spend the rest of my life proving it to her.

Something told me she would be content with that, too.

"And so the sexy jock fell in love with the ordinary girl." She murmured to herself, laughing. "This is so cliche."

I ran my fingers down her arms, resting my palms on her waist. "You think I'm sexy?" I whispered into her ear.

She spun around to face me. "That's what stood out to you?" I chuckled as she rolled her eyes, pulling her towards me as a smiled tugged at the corner of her lips.

"You are far from ordinary, Becca. A world away." Her cheeks flushed pink at the compliment. "And frankly, I don't think I had much of a say in falling for you. After our first kiss, I was yours."

"Seriously?" She scoffed, resting her palms on my chest. "But you didn't even know me. I was some girl that lied about having a boyfriend."

"Exactly. In that moment, I knew that falling in love with you would be a crazy fucking ride," I said with a wink. "Lucky for you, my life was a little dull at the time. Crazy was exactly what I needed."

"I think we both got a little more craziness than we bargained for."

"Well, if you hadn't thought I cheated on you with my mother --"

"Brett!" She shrieked. Her entire face turned pink and I laughed until a tear slide down my cheek. "Please pretend that never happened."

I sighed happily. "I can't wait to tell that story to our children someday." Her eyes widened at the mention of kids but she didn't protest. I decided to take that as a win.

"Seriously, Becca," I continued, wrapping my arms around her waist. "My life was dull before I met you. I was dealing with my deadbeat father, playing football and looking forward to the day I could leave this all behind. But you," I cupped her face in my hands. "You came in like a damn fireball and turned my life upside down." She smiled widely as her eyes gleamed with tears. "I love you, Becca. Absolutely everything about you is incredible to me."

Her arms hooked behind my neck and in a second, her mouth was moving against mine. I slide my hands into her hair and held her closer, wanting to breathe her in. All of her beautiful colours crashed into mine, changing the white, the black and the grey into something more -- something beautiful and something hers.

She is permanent. I told myself, holding onto her tightly. Her colours will never fade.

Becca's arms wrapped around my back and I still struggled to understand how, for once, my life had gone right. The world could be on fire and I would never know. When we were together, it felt like it was only us. And up here, away from the rest of the world, it may as well be.

"I love you, too, Brett." Becca whispered, breathless. My eyes burned as I stared into hers. And the most beautiful part was that everything I felt was reflected in those incredible ocean eyes.

"I was thinking ..." I began, smiling as her eyebrows instantly shot up.

"Oh no," she said slowly.

"You don't even know what I'm going to say!" I whined, giving her my best pout.

"I know where your mind drifts to when we're alone, Brett." I grinned widely. She knew me so damn well.

"This isn't dirty, actually." It was nice to say that and finally mean it.

She watched me skeptically before saying, "I'm listening." Crossing her arms over her chest, she continued to eye me wearily.

"Since we already did the whole "fake girlfriend" thing, I was thinking we could try something new. Take it up a notch, if you will." I told her, wiggling my eyebrows for emphasis.

"Like what?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

I winked at her. "Fake wife."

She stared at me for a moment before throwing her head back in laughter. I chuckled along, reaching out and grabbing her left hand in mine, running my fingers along her bare ring finger.

"Fake wife?" She repeated. I ignored the way my breath faltered as she said that word.

I smiled at her. My Becca. My love. The girl I would do anything, give anything for just to see her smile. The keeper of my heart for as long as she wanted it.

"Fake wife," I confirmed, wrapping her in my arms. "You know, just to try it out."

I kissed her for everything we now were and everything we would soon become.

Breathless, Becca pulled away slowly, our foreheads still touching. I could feel her heart beating against my chest.

"I don't think fake is going to cut it anymore," was all she said before she kissed me again.

And as I kissed her, as the night stretched on behind us and I held Becca in my arms, I knew she was right. Fake would never be enough.

But someday... Someday fake would turn into real.

After all, she had taught me that.

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