｡𖦹°‧ 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐧' 𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐥 ⭑°‧꩜ .ᐟ

( 035. 'girlfriend' )

real life

THE SUN was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, pinkish golden glow over the beach. the sky was painted in soft hues of pink and lavender, and the sound of gentle waves rolling onto the shore filled the air.

walker had been quietly planning this moment all day, and now, everything was coming together. he wanted to make sure this day was perfect. not just for ariella, but for the two of them.

"hey, ariella," he called, standing up from where they had been sitting near the water. his voice was casual, but there was a hint of excitement under it. "you wanna come with me for a second?"

ariella, who was currently doomscrolling on her phone looked up with curiosity. but she couldnt help but notice the hint of something in the boys eyes, she curiously stood up. wiping the sand off her shorts.

"where are we going?" she asked, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

walker grinned, taking her hand. "it's a surprise. just trust me."

ariella followed him as they walked down the beach, the sand warm beneath her bare feet. they made their way past a small cluster of people, the sound of children laughing and playing in the background. as they rounded a corner of the beach, ariella's eyes widened in surprise.

there, in a secluded spot by the water, was a cozy setup— a hugeee heart in the sand a beach blanket spread out underneath it, surrounded by soft pillows and glowing fairy lights. small lanterns flickered around the perimeter, casting a soft, warm glow on everything. a basket sat in the middle of the blanket, a bottle of sparkling lemonade beside it.

ariella stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. "wow, this is... beautiful."

walker turned to her, his expression warm and sincere. "i wanted to make tonight special. i thought it'd be nice if we just... spent some time together—no distractions, no plans. just us."

ariella's heart fluttered in her chest. she was touched, more than she could say. the thought, the effort, the fact that he was doing all of this just for her—it meant the world.

"this is amazing, walker," she said softly. "you didn't have to do all of this... but im glad you did."

"i wanted to," he said, stepping closer to her. his hand brushed hers, and she took it, letting the warmth of his touch comfort her. "you deserve it all ariella."

they both sat down on the blanket, and for a moment, they just enjoyed the sound of the waves and the warmth of the night around them. the air was fresh with a hint of salt, and the sky was a perfect gradient of blues and pinks. it was as if the entire universe had come together to make this night beautiful.

ariella settled in beside walker, her legs tucked under her, as she took in everything around her. "i really don't know what to say," she admitted. "this is perfect. thank you, walker."

walker smiled softly, looking down at their intertwined hands. "i'm glad you like it. i've been thinking about this for a while."

ariella tilted her head, noticing the seriousness in his tone. "what do you mean?" she asked, her voice gentle.

walker took a deep breath, clearly gathering his thoughts. he looked at her, his eyes filled with a warmth that made ariella's heart race.

"i mean that i.. ive been thinking a lot about us. about how... easy it is to be with you, ariella." his voice faltered just a little, and for a brief second, she saw the vulnerability in his eyes that made her feel even closer to him. "i don't want this to just be a vacation thing. i don't want it to end when we leave here."

ariella's pulse quickened, her chest tightening with the weight of his words. could this be what she thought it was? she looked down at their hands again, squeezing his lightly.

"walker..." she started, but he gently cut her off, his voice low and steady.

"ive been wanting to ask you this for a while now, but i didn't want to rush you. i didn't want to push you into something you weren't ready for. but i need to ask... ariella, would you... be my girlfriend?"

her heart nearly stopped as the question hung in the air between them. it was everything she had hoped for, everything she had wanted, but the moment felt so surreal. the idea of saying yes, of making this real, felt like such a huge step. but looking at walker, his eyes soft and sincere, ariella realized there was no doubt in her mind. she wanted this. she wanted him.

a smile tugged at her lips as she finally answered, her voice filled with emotion. "yes, walker. i want that."

his face lit up, his grin growing wider as he leaned forward, pulling her into a tight hug. "im so glad," he murmured into her hair, his arms wrapping around her with a sense of relief. "you have no idea how much that means to me."

ariella laughed, pulling back just enough to look at him. "i think i do," she whispered.

and with that, it felt like everything had fallen into place. walker leaned in, his face so close to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her lips. he didn't rush it. instead, he waited, giving her time to decide. but ariella didn't need any more time. she closed the distance, their lips meeting in a kiss that was soft, sweet, and full of everything they had been building over the past few days.

it was slow at first, tender, like both of them were savoring the moment. and when they pulled back, they both just smiled, breathless. ariella touched her fingers to her lips, feeling the lingering warmth of their kiss. "that was... perfect," she said softly.

"i agree," walker said, looking at the girl. "perfect."

as the night went on, they unpacked the picnic basket, eating sandwiches and laughing over jokes only the two of them could understand. it felt so natural, so right, to be sitting here with him.