Drowning in Stars

I had to choose between you or me. I chose you.” Pixie Rae was glowering at me like she was holding a baseball bat to bullies. That was my girl. The no shit taking bad ass that somehow taught the world to be better for her.

The ache in my chest hurt again. I didn’t know how to be me without her.

And then he came in for the kiss. It was him and I was so used to him, but in a totally different way. A new way. Changing everything and realizing that nothing really had to change. He was already mine. His kiss was just ours. So different than the accidental kiss when we were kids. His lips tasted good. Slow and gentle, but my heart was racing fast. He stopped and checked my eyes. I nodded slightly. I was good. This was good.

I faced her and she faced me, and in the space between us in bed, she held out her hand. I took it in mine. Connected at the heart. I went to sleep soon after instead of worrying about the ramifications of what we had done. The safety was a sedative.

You’re my heart. They know that. They all know that. There’s no me without you.

I’m yours.” I kissed her forehead. “I hope I’m enough.

had to tell them what happened. How it happened. How many times it happened. I am so very sorry Gaze. And now my punishment is no you and it’s killing me. Can missing someone kill you? I think it will.

I was her something special.

He was making my mouth mine, letting me be the one that decided to be kissed. And then I wasn’t thinking anymore. I was just a girl kissing a boy and free falling into the beauty of permission.

Just being together. Peace flooded my system. She was just right. Still. After all this time.

I hope you forgive me for what I had to do. I had to tell. They had to know. Just live, okay? And we can sort it out. Just live. Okay?

I wasn't a puppy with my tail between my legs. If he wanted to hit me, it’d be the start of a fight that I would end.

Gaze got a future or I got one. I picked Gaze.

She was reuniting a vendetta with a curse.

I had Gaze. He was always just a bubble gun away.

He called me a motormouth because I liked to talk--but then he'd tell me it was okay because he liked to listen.

He was like speaking to my own reflection. Things were only between the two of us.

I’ve always only wanted to save you.

She’d always be my hero. I just wanted to do everything I could to be hers as well.

Each other’s sun and shadow at the same time.

He pulled us both into light headlocks and kissed the tops of our heads. Gaze pat Austin’s stomach hard. “My chickens. Do well. Be well. I love you.

But now I knew that my love for her was as real as the blood on my hands.

Whatever you need. You can take it from me.

Be you. Being you is a victory. Being you and everything you have faced in your life makes you exceptional. Loved. So, so worthy of love.

He didn’t want to be home and I couldn’t stand mine

What’s all about me?” I mean, I could understand the prom and the dress all seemed so important for the girl. “My life.” It was simply how it was for Gaze.

I think I’d deep-throat a cactus for a cig right now.

Blushing looks great on you. Keep doing that.