waveofstars

[waveofstars]

There was no greater feeling in the world than to just be seen by him. His reaction was achingly adorable and completely solidified just how much she had missed being near him. She hadn’t expected him to ditch the stage soon as the song was over, but she was relieved when she watched him scramble over to her. She tried her best to meet him halfway, crashing into his arms and kissing him like it’d be their last. 

She kissed him between fits of laughter and short breaths, wishing she could linger on his lips and the taste of him. Despite being surrounded by a crowd, it was just the two of them in their world. “I’m here,” she spoke between kisses. He lifted her over the barrier and she realized right then and there that she truly was living some sort of teenage fantasy of hers. 

Her heart was full for the first time in weeks and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Before they parted, she took his face between her hands and smiled at him. “Go fucking kill it,” she told him before giving him one last kiss. 

The security guard escorted her to the backstage area and she couldn’t believe how much adrenaline she had from that moment with him. She was practically jittery and just so happy to see him. God, she had it bad. She imagined this was what real love was like - slightly embarrassing at how intense she felt, but not caring in the same vein because it was worth it. He was worth it.

Watching from the sidelines, she focused on him as he dominated the stage and looked so completely in his element. She sang along, cheered even louder, and felt her heart beat faster when the show was coming to an end. Once he came around the corner after handing off his guitar, she wasted no time. Normally she would try to be casual, so nonchalant when she was in relationships, as if constantly trying to prove that she was a cool girlfriend. This time she didn’t care. She jogged right over to him and jumped into his arms, equally excited as she was proud. “You’re a goddamn rockstar,” she told him before planting a kiss. She smiled at him then, still beaming. “Surprise. I had to come see you…”

Silas pulled out his phone with a sigh. He was so tired of this. Being away from Chey. He scrolled through the pictures and videos they'd been sending each while he toured and she filmed, a smile tugging at his lips when he saw one of her singing. He replayed it a few times, his thumb running over the screen as if he could reach through it and touch her.

He missed her so badly.

"Looking through your phone again?" Gage asked with a nudge to his side. "You are so whipped," he teased, dropping onto his bunk across from him.

"Fuck off," Silas threw back at him with a laugh, sliding his phone into his pocket.

But his friend was right. He was in fact whipped for Chey. He'd gone from a bed hopping, drug loving, hard partying, uncaring to settle down kind of guy to a one woman, sober (ish), early to bed early to rise, thoughtful sort of man. And surprisingly he enjoyed it. Chey was all he needed. She was all he would ever need and there was nothing tempting enough to risk ruining it.

So if that meant he was whipped, then so be it.

"You would be too if she was your girl," he added with a smirk as he shifted to lay down on his bed, staring at the bunk above him.

"Why don't you just fly her down to see you?"

"She's filming. In Canada. And their days off are sporadic and I never know where we'll be when she's free," he said with obvious disappointment in his voice. His hand instinctively went to his phone, tracing the edges through his pocket - the temptation to pull it out once again to see her face almost overwhelming.

"Well, lucky for you guys we don't have much time left on the road," Gage offered as he followed suit and laid down. "Then you guys can be up each other's asses as long as you want. Or at least until the next album," he teased, settling into his bed. "Night Si."

He huffed softly with Gage's dig. "Night," he replied simply, his mind wandering through his memories with Chey as he drifted off to sleep.

-----

Silas thrived when he was on stage. It was the only thing that managed to distract his mind from the ache in his chest from missing Chey. Outside of being with her, it was the one thing that made him feel alive. The cheers from the energetic crowd egging them all on.

Halfway through their set he started crossing to the other side of the stage, switching places with Liam. His eyes danced across what faces he could see among the masses, the lights blinding, when he saw her face. No. It couldn't be. He was missing her and his mind was just playing tricks on him. That had to be it. He had to do a double take just to make sure and nearly jumped from the stafe when he realized it really was Chey standing there.

Silas was barely able to finish the song before handing off his bass to a roadie and hopping from the stage. He rushed over to her and immediately pulled her into a hug, hungrily kissing her. "I. Can't. Believe. It's. Really. You," he said between a flourish of kisses and without missing a best lifted her over the barrier at the front of the crowd.

He motioned for a nearby security guard to escort her backstage, pulling her back momentarily for one more kiss. "Only a couple more songs then I'm all yours," he told her with a smile before letting her go and jumping back up on stage.

#int: chey #myriadxofxmuses #omg take your time never a rush with me! #but i seriously adore them and have so much fun too #was practically dying over the whole 'you would be too if she was your girl' comment ahhhhh!!!

[waveofstars]

A half smile greeted her lips in response to his brush with luck. She knew his past seemed to linger, something she could understand all too well, but she hoped it didn’t get in the way for him to know how lucky she felt just to know him. 

The softness in her gaze turned into something more akin to embarrassment, a light pink hue adorned her cheeks as she tried to brush it off with the roll of her eyes. “I was enjoying myself, I’ll have you know. I just happened to notice her chatting you up.” She took the last swig of her drink before setting the empty bottle down to the side. 

“It didn’t seem boring and you most definitely didn’t need any rescuing,” she chuckled. “She was into you! I thought a good flirtation would do you some good for your birthday night.” The words felt strange coming from her lips, yet natural just the same. She was exceptionally well at pretending to herself and others that she didn’t care. 

"i can get you and cake any day?" laughter bubbled from him, swift to counter her jest. "you're making me out to be quite the fortunate fellow," he added, spreading his arms wide as if to present himself, as though in doing so he could unveil his own history. "but let's not kid ourselves. we both know i'm not exactly a lucky guy. nope."

he reminded himself not to dwell on the past, especially not on his birthday, amidst a celebration arranged in his honor and alongside one of his dearest companions. "when did i become so lucky?" he mused, his voice softer now as he reflected on his own journey. with his gaze fixed on chey, he paused, a thought striking him.

"wait a second, did you just—" his index finger traced a narrative in the air, indicating the conversation. "were you paying attention to who i was speaking with rather than the festivities unfolding around us? did i hear that correctly?" he couldn't resist a playful tease. "so, you witnessed all the other boring conversations i had to endure and chose not to rescue me from any of them?"

#int: chey #godsforlorn

[waveofstars]

Isabella was a reminder of who he truly was at his core. He knew her all those years ago when he was just a kid with his nose in a book, all the way to him being a dysfunctional adult with a self sabotaging need for destruction. Now he was somewhere in between, somewhere he was perhaps always meant to be. If it was any time in their lives to give them another chance, it was now. 

To be touched by her, kissed by her, loved by her… it was more fulfilling than any pill or drop of alcohol he could get his hands on. If he had faced that blaring truth years ago, perhaps his life would be different.

The fear would always be looming in the back of his mind that this might not be always. Between their track record and his sobriety, there was a lot he could lose and it’d be easy to do. With every word she said, every small touch she gave, those thoughts were soothed. For now. She painted a picture that Luke once would’ve thought was rather bleak. Now, it was warm and glowing, like the light at the end of a tunnel. It was what he needed - something steady.

He smirked, unwilling to quite admit that it all sounded like music to his ears. “I’ll do lazy Sundays, but I’m drawing a line at moving boxes. C’mon, Bells. You know I got a bad knee. That’s just inconsiderate of you.” That familiar devious little smile found his lips before he leaned in to steal another kiss, smiling gently in this one as he pulled back just as slow. “I suppose I can help… But it’ll cost you.”

She'd always known; for her, there was no one else but Luke Edwards. Her brother, her ex-husband, and anyone with eyes could see it. Try as she might to conceal it, or do away with the love under the pretense of 'moving on' and safeguarding her sanity. It always came back around, often with electric kisses and adrenaline pumping in her veins. This time, however, she pulls back to a feeling of calm. Oh, he kisses like no one else. That could never change. But Isabella is not afraid, or filled with nervous anticipation for losing him.

Somehow, it's different. Somehow, this new era of theirs feels steady.

"I'm a doctor. I know how to pick up your heart and put it back together. Not that you need it anymore." She will always look out for him. But these months coming off of Luke's sobriety show that he isn't the same, debonair writer of his twenties. Luke's grown into a man, solid and forthcoming. He wanted her, but he didn't need her to be good... And somehow, that knowledge is a comfort. "You're your own man now." She clarifies with a small laugh, inching closer so that she's never too far away from him. "It's my favorite look on you." She says, blue eyes surveying his handsome features. This Luke? Oh, it is her favorite.

"Mhm," she smirks. "And lazy Sundays. Boring routines." Isabella tacks on, exaggerating the tedium of an adult relationship. Luke wouldn't be Luke without resistance. It's how he is. "And helping me move my boxes into my new apartment."

#int: luke #rosesonbreeze

[waveofstars]

@myriadxofxmuses | chey & silas

Loving someone who was constantly halfway around the world was easier said than done. It was something she didn’t have much experience in, which was one of the only benefits of being single while she was in the height of her career. It seemed like every other night he was in a new city, a new state, a new time zone, and she was stuck in Canada finishing up a two month long production. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it was also agonizing being away from him for so long. 

Their schedules never lined up, and even when they did they were both too exhausted to really say much. Though she prided herself on being someone who didn’t need a significant other and could handle life just fine on her own, that ache inside her was undeniable. She missed him. Hell, she needed him. 

Production was a few weeks from wrapping, but she couldn’t wait any longer. On the first long weekend she got, she found herself booking a flight to see him. She withheld the details from him, almost as if she was returning the surprise he gave her last Christmas. For all she knew, he might not have the time for her, but at least she could see him up on that stage doing what he was so amazing at. 

So, that’s exactly what she did. After working out some details, she found herself at one of his shows, just as positively amped up as the rest of the crowd was. Chey would always be a music lover first and foremost, but she had a feeling even if he sucked she would’ve been this excited still. She didn’t try to get his attention, but just simply enjoyed watching him in his element as she sang along and bounced to the beat. 

Then there was a moment, and maybe she could’ve been imagining it, but his eyes finally found her in the crowd. A wide and adoring smile found her lips as she peered up at him.

#int: chey #idk why i always insist rambling dngkjndfkjdf SO SORRY #im just their biggest fan ok

[waveofstars]

It was always important to Chey to make those she loved feel special. For a woman who so often stayed on the lighter side of things and joked her way through serious moments, she cared a great ton. The affection she had that she held within her came oozing out in times like this. All she wanted was for him to be happy, and even though her night twisted into something more akin to bittersweet, she was still happy he had a good time.

The idea of just her and a cake being suffice for his birthday was something she couldn't easily grasp. He deserved more than that and it was difficult (more like impossible) for her to accept otherwise. "You can get me and a cake any day. But getting to see your closest friends make drunken fools out of themselves? Well, that's priceless. You have to admit that." She chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, that bit of vulnerability began to peak through. "I just wanted you to have a good night. And by the looks of that redhead chatting you up all night, I think I succeeded, by the way. You're welcome."

"you truly outsmarted me this time, i'll give you that gracefully," he replied, his chuckle mingling with a sense of bemusement. the sheer effort she invested in organizing a birthday celebration for him left him slightly flabbergasted. when had his life mattered so much to anyone else? certainly not to himself, as evidenced by his daily ventures that boldly flirted with danger, a testament to his indifference towards the specter of death.

"i might even playfully jest about expecting something more avant-garde for next year, but..." his tone softened, shedding the earlier veneer of smugness. "deep down, i hope you realize none of this was necessary to brighten my day. simply showing up at my doorstep with cake and confetti would have sufficed." his contemplative gaze lingered on his own words, his brow furrowed in introspection. "in fact, the confetti isn't even necessary. just you and the cake. though i refuse to compromise on the cake. even i have my standards, you know?"

#int: chey #godsforlorn #omg i was thinking the SAME thing its perfect!

[waveofstars]

@rosesonbreeze | luke & isabella

Isabella was positively the only thing in his life that had ever made sense to him. Even when she hated him, and rightfully so, he knew at the end of the day she was the only one who could actually bring change into his life. No other voices ever got through that impenetrable force of his own stubbornness and years long coping mechanisms. He was always untouchable, because no one could get through to him. Everyone except for her. 

Everything she had ever said to him had a lasting impact on his life, even when he claimed to not care in their petty fights or one of her much needed lectures. It wasn’t her responsibility to change his life, of course. He knew that. But she was always the catalyst, always the driving force that made him actually want to change. Thinking of being better for her, better for the both of them, was enough to get him through his darkest days during his time in the rehabilitation center. She was the best parts of him and that was one of the many reasons why he knew he’d never be able to stop loving her. 

Kissing her felt right, because it was right. They always found a way to come back to one another, even when the odds weren’t in their favor. If they broke each other’s hearts again and watched their worlds crumble, he’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. He’d live through a million heartbreaks as long as it meant he’d always come back to her. Maybe that didn’t make sense to some, but it made all the sense in the world to him. He smiled at her, an almost relieved look fell on his features like he was finally releasing a breath he had been holding. He had been waiting for this moment, even though a small part of him knew he was undeserving of it. “Isn’t that what we always do?” he smiled. “We break, we fix, we break… We know a thing or two about picking up the pieces. If we break each other’s hearts, well we’re experts in the field of putting it back together.” He brushed back her hair some and made a quiet vow to himself right then that he’d do everything he could to make sure this was the last time their pieces needed reassembled. 

“So… laundry and taxes, huh? Doesn’t sound too bad. Count me in”

#int: luke #rosesonbreeze #i somehow wrote a novel #SO sorry

[waveofstars]

It was near impossible to hide anything from him, even though she did more often than she liked. It came to her naturally to stifle unwanted emotions, like she had been practicing her whole life. When he noticed the expression she had tried her best to conceal, all she could do was knit her eyebrows together and look at him as if he had said something truly preposterous. 

“Somber?” she echoed and let out a small laugh. “More like exhausted. You are extremely hard to surprise, y’know. Pulling this off took all the mind power I could muster.” It was all true, so nothing in her words feigned deception. Besides, she didn’t even want to think for another moment why there was such a sour taste in her mouth that evening. Some things were better left untouched. A genuine smile found her lips, a softer and sincere glow to her face as she looked over at him. “I hope you liked all this. I know parties seem pointless at your crippling old age, but I felt like you deserved a good one.” She gave him a cheeky grin, always eager to tease and joke her way out of any sticky situation.

with just the right amount of hype and positive energy, riaz always had the potential to effortlessly become the life of the party. a birthday celebration with friends and acquaintances, all seemingly thrilled to see him, provided the ideal setting. of course, he found himself repeating the phrase "i don't drink" throughout the night, but as he often proclaimed, "drunk is a state of mind!" indeed, he felt intoxicated by the joy of the gathering, yet nothing could distract him enough to overlook the absence of his closest friend.

"i know i'm meant to be the star of tonight's festivities, but still, i have my doubts at this point in the evening—" he checked his wristwatch, "—most of them are past too inebriated to think o'clock." taking note of the expression on her face once more, he posed his question. "if i were as intoxicated as they are, i might go as far as assuming your somber expression is due to the fact that your old friend has aged another year. what's with the long face, miss?"

#int: chey #godsforlorn #its perfect!! ty for the reply!

[waveofstars]

𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖓: m, f, nb, 30+ 𝖕𝖑𝖔𝖙: chey threw your muse a surprise birthday party. someone has been flirting with your muse all night long and chey found herself feeling secretly uneasy and unwilling to admit that maybe she has feelings for her best friend 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖓𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: best friends

The night was dwindling down and everything had gone according to plan. Drinks were filled, spilled, and enjoyed. Everyone was in high spirits celebrating the birthday of someone they all loved. Chey was happy to host the event, even happier to plan it all in surprise for them, yet a slight sadness lingered within her as she excused herself to spend some time alone outside. If she thought long enough about why she was feeling this way, she would likely have to come face to face with a truth that she was in no rush acknowledging. So, she took another swig of her beer and did her best to resist finding a cigarette to smoke. She could only break so many bad habits at a time. Whenever she heard someone walking towards her, she turned to see her best friend, the vip of the night. “What are you doing out here? You better get back in there before someone notices you’re gone,” she told them with a somewhat forced smile.

#indie rp #indie para rp #indie open rp #indie bi rp #indie open starter #open starter

[waveofstars]

// PSA.

I do not intentionally mean to drop threads randomly.

I do not intentionally mean to forget to reply.

I do not intentionally take forever to reply.

I do not intentionally favor other writers.

I will always LOVE writing with all of you!! just because I do the above things =/= me having lesser interest in our interactions. this has been a PSA.

#this this this this this #my head is a mess sometimes y'know #ooc

[waveofstars]

ooc,

howdy howdy, i just wanted to thank all the love y’all gave me when i was feeling down. i’m slowly building myself back up and desperately wanting to write again. i’m going to go ahead and start fresh, so i will not be replying to old threads but instead starting new ones! i’d love to continue writing with you all, so pls let me know if you’d like something fresh and/or new! <3

#ooc #plus most of my threads were holiday based lol

[waveofstars]

ooc,

i've been struggling with inspiration for some time now. between never ending life stuff and a heaping pile of self doubt, i feel like i don't know exactly where i belong in the rpc anymore. i just know i miss it and i miss the joy it brings me. i miss giggling over good ideas and gawking over the writing of my partners. i miss forming connections with people and feeling like i'm a part of something rather than just pumping out replies. but most days i feel stuck in slow motion just watching everyone move on. here's hoping one day i catch up. hope to write with y'all soon.

#ooc #rough night lol #but missing writing

[waveofstars]

sorry for my absence - my muse has really depleted and i feel like i dont remember how to write :( still thinking of you all fondly and hope to get back into it soon <3

#ooc

[waveofstars]

Love was always a four letter word that Chey had a hard time fully grasping. There were times in her life where she thought she felt it, but never enough to even say it. She was terrified to, almost as if she only ever got one shot at love. Only one chance to say I love you. Growing up with her parents who were undeniably soulmates, she knew she would never settle for anything less. Maybe that’s why she had convinced herself she’d never find it.  It seemed impossible or too terrifying- so, why bother?

But then he said it. I love you. His lips were a welcoming interruption, kissing her before allowing her to let those words truly sink in. I love you. It had been said to her once before, but from the lips of someone who didn’t have the slightest clue what love was. It was said to her before, but with no meaning behind it. Three empty words. But Silas said it with intent and he said it with meaning. He loved her. 

And god, she loved him. It was such a dizzying and terrifying revelation, but there was no way to avoid it. There was no way to deny it. She parted from him and blinked, the smile on her lips curling more. She resisted the urge to ask him are you sure, half as a joke, half very serious. Her stomach swirled, but she finally managed to say what she really wanted to say. 

“I love you, too.” There it was. She let out a small laugh, almost surprised to hear herself say it. “I really fucking do.”

"I don't know about that," he started to deny its perfection, still holding a playful tone in preparation for some affectionate dig at his reasoning.

But when she turned around something in the air shifted. The world around them seemed to stop and became so still he swore he would have heard if a pin dropped onto the carpet. His heart began to pound so loudly it nearly deafened him.

Chey was the one.

This moment solidfied it for him. He'd never felt this connected to someone like he was with her. And it was the first time he understood what had initially drawn his parents to The Farm. She made him understand what it like to love someone.

A hand went to her cheek and caressed it, remaining against it through there kiss. His lips gently tugged themselves into a soft smirk as he stared back into her eyes. "I love you," he said softly before he could stop himself, pulling her in for another kiss.

#int: chey #myriadxofxmuses #ahhhh i love them 🥺

[waveofstars]

F•R•I•E•N•D•S (1994-2004) Season 7 | Episode 21 “The One With The Vows”

#musing: cohen

[waveofstars]

Out of all the things she could've possibly imagined his surprise gift would be, this certainly was not it. When her eyes opened to see the necklace around her neck, the hint of blue not only her favorite color but just the right shade to bring out the color in her eyes, she felt her stomach twist and flip like it never had before. It was so perfectly her, but above all, it was a gift with thought and love put into it. It was so perfectly him. That, again, was something she was not used to.

Suddenly all signs of her usual quips and jokes disappeared. She was genuinely touched and it showed on her face as her fingertips brushed against the wave-like pattern. Her lips curled into a smile as her eyes flickered from the necklace to him in the mirror. Her expression softened more and her breath hitched in her throat. His choice of words did not go by unnoticed, though she convinced herself it was a slip of the tongue and nothing more. For the ones they loved.

"It's perfect," she told him quietly. What made the gift so perfect was simply the thought he put into it. It could've been poorly glued pieces of actual macaroni and she would've felt the same. He thought of her and that was enough. Chey turned from looking into the mirror and faced him. If she looked at him any longer, she might've blurted the first thing that ran through her mind: I think I'm in love with you. So, she kissed him instead and said, "This might be the nicest thing I've ever gotten."

He clicked his tongue and shook his head slightly. "Guess I better head out then," he joked back.

He gently moved her back a bit so he could grab his bag. He reached into the front pocket and pulled out a necklace box. It had taken awhile for him to get this gift because it had been custom made and if he was being honest, outsiders would have probably found it a bit childish. But he'd wanted to give her something special. Something that would always remind her of him. Something that only his free spirit could think of.

"Close your eyes," he said as he rose from her bed. He stepped to bring himself behind her and took out the necklace, securing it around her neck before his hands now slid down her arms and came to rest at her elbows.

He turned her around to face her mirror and gently fixed the neckalce to look as beautiful as she was in the reflection. Shades of blue diamonds shimmered in the light. They had been set in small lines of three or four, almost like noodles, and any time it moved reminded him of ocean waves. It had come out perfect.

"Open your eyes," he instructed. "Don't laugh, but it's my version of a macaroni necklace. Gage's mom used to tell me how kids made them in school for the ones they loved, so I made you one," he added, nervous she may not get it and think it was stupid - unaware of the subconscious slip of the 'L' word in relation to her.

#int: chey #myriadxofxmuses

[waveofstars]

His family possessed a special gift. They could easily talk someone into doing just about anything- influencers at their core, debaters by trait. Luke was well used to getting what he wanted, but it had never been that way with Isabella. He knew he could've pleaded, begged, and gave her every reason in the world to believe that he was now this new reformed prince charming... but he didn't. She deserved something real, and the realest thing he could do was accept that perhaps she was not mean to be his in this life.

For the first time in his life, he was prepared to give up something he so desperately wanted. It was quite possibly one of his first real acts of selflessness. And then she moved to him, pulling towards him like a wave to the shore, reminding him just how easy it was for him to be selfish. Because in a way, that's what this was. He knew she'd be better off without him, sobriety or not. He knew she deserved something stronger in her life, healthier, and more put together. She deserved it all, and he was only Luke.

But selfishly, he wanted her to pick him. He wanted her to settle for the likes of him. He wanted her to grace him with that kind of love and kindness he did not earn, but adored nonetheless. She got in front of him, fingers reaching out to graze against his forehead. He relaxed at her touch, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. She may have crossed the line, but he rids the line completely. Luke pulled her in to him and pressed his lips to hers, a familiar warmth spreading through him as he was thrown back to every time his lips ever touched her. He didn't think it through nor did he want to. He seized the moment and knew he'd be a damn fool not to. Parting from her slowly, lips still barely brushing against hers, he let out a breath. "I'll fight for you always," he murmured.

They made a litany of mistakes. Often, at the other's expense. But this conversation? It is the right thing to do. They've skirted around this love and affection, trying to pretend like it doesn't exist. Acting as if fondness and friendship is the same as passion and love. Yet they both breathe into life what they know; there is nothing like their love for one another. Everything else is confetti.

She intakes a small breath at the tears in the corners of his eye. Except this time, they are not breaking apart. They are coming back together. Older and not-much-wiser versions of themselves. His acceptance twists the knife in her heart. The Isabella of years prior would've taken it and counted her good fortune. A quick escape from the mess of affection and risk that Luke's love represented. Instead, what she feels is him slipping through her fingers. It's losing him, even as he promises to stay.

"I-" She pushes the back of her hand across her cheeks, brushing away her tears. Standing up, she closes the distance on the couch. Sitting in front of him, her knees brushing against his. "I don't know if I can live with that, either." Losing him is terrifying. But not loving him entirely? It is impossible. "I can't lose you. That's non-negotiable. But the idea of walking away, spending our lives other people who won't love like we do-" Arrogant of her to say, but they have decades of proof to show that they love each other in ways no one else can. She crosses the line in the sand, fingertips brushing the blond hairs on his forehead. "I would rather fight for you everyday than never fight at all."

#int: luke #rosesonbreeze

[waveofstars]

It was only a matter of time before they talked of this. As much as he wished they could simply be friends, he knew in his heart that she’d always be much more to him. The feeling she gave was something no substance in the world could make him forget. And now that he’s sober, it’s always in the forefront of his mind. She was always on his mind. 

Normally, Luke was willing to take just about any leap forward into the dark unknown. He used to think that made him brave, but now he realized he had always just been a fool. That bravery, or foolishness rather, was dwindling every day. So, instead of fighting with her that their future together was improbable, he found himself agreeing. She was right. They could so easily break each other’s hearts all over again, and he was certain that they both had enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. They didn’t need any more, nor could they risk losing each other.

 But he wanted to. God, he wanted to risk it all for her. That thought alone brought a hint of tears to his eyes. The ghost of a smile pulled on his lips that displayed such tenderness and melancholy. He bit his inner cheek to fight off that wave of grief in him. The grief of what could’ve been.  “I love you for free, Isabella.” His lips twisted and he blinked back the tears. Luke tried his best to continue on as if heartbreak and love didn’t hang so heavily in the air. “I don’t know all the right answers, but I know that much, too… and if that’s all we can have, then I’ll have to live with that.”

She is not faultless in their long and tenured history. Isabella hurt him, too, though her inflicted scars seemed less apparent. Cynicism and an obsession with perfection is a dangerous cocktail, and she had both in spades. Isabella built rules, structure, and order around a man like Luke who could not be contained to it. Now, what they have is good. They are better versions of themselves, kinder and more present for one another than ever before.

Was it devotion or cowardice that kept her from rushing into his arms and saying yes?

"Luke..." She finally puts her food away, readying herself to interrupt his words. Luke and his words. It's no wonder he's a celebrated author. "Luke..." Her voice softens, as he talks about their love story. "You made those stupid romantic comedies real for me, too." She does not have his talent for words, but he knows what she's like. Isabella is all logic and reason, with love as a myth he brings to life. Finally, Luke's question lingers between them. After a weighted silence, she feels a small and uncertain smile on her face.

"No, it isn't impossible." But... "It is improbable, though." Sad as it is to admit. "We'll fight all the time. Drive each other positively mad. We could break each other's hearts all over again." Like any good doctor, she comes back to the probabilities. "Our love story is one in a million. So are our chances of ever getting it right. Are those odds worth losing what we have now?" Isabella searches his eyes, looking for an answer she cannot find within herself. There's only one thing she knows, and she reaches forward, running her thumb along his cheek. "I don't have an answer for you, Luke. All I know is I love you for free."

#int: luke #waveofstars