The Elementals: Chapter 20 Date

When I get back home, it's already dark. I briefly run home to hug Rain and promise to fill her in on everything after I have processed it myself. She was disappointed but understood that I need time and something to take my mind off it.
I really just want to feel normal again for a bit, to forget all this stuff with powers and parents and just be a normal girl. I head to Sky's place, hoping that whatever he has planned for our date does not involve anything too out of the ordinary. 
He meets me at the bottom of the stairs "I was so worried when you didn't come on time. Is everything ok?" He asks taking my hand and pulling me inside his flat and straight to the kitchen.
"Sorry, I wasn't expecting to go to Antarctica.  It's a long story, but I'd rather not talk about it right now. I just want to have a nice night with you." I say. 
"Wow, ok I'm amazed you are even here at all, is that not like a 12 hour flight?" Sky asks. 
"Apparently not for a dragon. I'm glad I made it though, I don't want to wait any longer." I say. 
"Well I'm glad you made it too. I did have a dinner reservation, but that was for several hours ago sorry. I can cook you something though if you are hungry." Sky says. 
"Oh no, I'm sorry I messed up your plans. I do love your cooking though, it's probably better than the restaurant anyway." I say. 
"Why don't I make some risotto, there is a fresh focaccia bread in the oven if you are already hungry. You have to leave the brownies until after dinner though" Sky says 
"That sounds amazing! It will take all of my self control to wait for brownies though." I say as sky starts cooking. 
"Well you are not allowed in the sitting room until I'm there to supervise and they are in there so we should be safe." Sky says. 
"Why am I not allowed in there?" I ask automatically moving towards the door to try to sneak through. 
Sky pulls me into a seat beside him "you will see, be patient." Sky says. "Oh and while you wait, open this." He says handing me a poorly wrapped present. 
"Oh thank you, I didn't get you anything though" I say
"Don't worry, it's part of the date. Open it." He says waving a spoon at me. 
I eagerly tear open the wrapping to reveal a dark green silk skater dress and a pair of matching heels. They are beautiful, definitely something I would have chosen for myself. I look at Sky in his black jeans and dark blue t-shirt.
"It's beautiful, but don't you think I will be over dressed?" I say. 
"It's all part of my plan, put it on" he says.
"Am I allowed to go to the bathroom to change and freshen up?" I ask. 
"Nope, you will peak and ruin the surprise. Change here and don't try to tell me you are shy because you have been desperate to strip for me for weeks" he says smirking. 
Well if he is going to tease me then I'm going to tease him too. I strip down to my underwear and walk towards him, stepping on my tiptoes to kiss his neck and gain his attention. He doesn't take his eyes off me until something smells like burning and draws his attention back. 
"Those red ones are really not playing fair. Please put the dress on, otherwise I will burn our food because I can't focus with you like that." Sky pleads 
This time I oblige and I put the dress on, it fits almost perfectly, it's only a little tight. The shoes are also my size. I really want to look in a mirror to see myself properly, but the smile on Sky's face tells me that I look ok. 
He finishes cooking and we eat mostly in silence, both of us clearly hungry after waiting so long to eat. “your cooking is amazing, I know I should stop, but I just need it all inside me” I say reaching for another helping.
Sky pulls the dish away from me “well since that’s not the only thing you want inside you tonight and if you keep eating i’m sure you will pass out in a food coma before we get to the proper date bit, i’m going to put this away for now.” Sky says and I realise what I said and grumble but I can’t argue with his logic.
“So does this mean I get to see what is in the sitting room?” I ask excitedly.
Sky smiles “yes” he gets up and opens the door for me and I rush through.
In the sitting room is the most elaborate blanket fort I have seen in a long time. It is set up facing the TV with a plate of brownies and several bottles of cider on the table in front. I walk over to examine it more closely, there is a mattress set up for us to sit on and all the sofa cushions have been rearranged to make the most cosy and comfortable looking space inside the blanket fort. Sky turns off the lights and I notice that the room is being lit by an assortment of tea lights, but the giant TV screen lights the room well. I have a sense of familiarity that I can’t quite put my finger on. I turn to sky who is looking at me taking everything in like he is looking at the northern lights or some other natural wonder.
“This is amazing! How long did it take you to set all this up?” I say
“Well it was probably a good thing you were late, it definitely didn’t look this good at 6. I’m not as good a planning and time management as you are” He says.
“I’m pretty impressed that you organised this. I can’t believe you did all this for me.” I say
“Of course I did, I wish I could have done more for you.” Sky says.
“I couldn’t ask for more. Come on, lets go inside” I say taking his hand and pulling him under the sheets.
Sky starts presses play and to my surprise, its not a marvel film, it’s the firefly movie serenity. “Wow, its been ages since we watched this! I remember when we first watched it and we were so hooked that we watched all of the episodes in a week.” I say smiling at the memory. Then it hits me, I look around and at my outfit then back to Sky. “wait, we first watched it the night of the Christmas ball. I was so upset that no one asked me to dance, while Rain had so many suitors that I came home early. You never went to the school parties. We did this, you cheered me up.” I say realising that I’m dressed in the same dress I wore and while the TV is nicer, the brownies are homemade and the fort is much better built, he has perfectly recreated that night.
“I figured we are old enough now for the alcoholic cider rather than that rubbish we used to have, but otherwise I think I managed to remember everything right. I even got Rain to dig out the dress you wore, I’m glad it still fits.” Sky says.
“I think you did a pretty good job, I can’t believe this still fits, its been years! Why recreate that night though?” I ask.
“Its the night I realised I had feelings for you. You looked so beautiful in that dress. I actually considered going to the ball so I could keep looking at you in it. I could not understand how anyone would have overlooked you, but I was so glad when you came back and I got you all to myself. I wanted so badly to kiss you that night.” Sky says.
“Why didn’t you?” I ask slightly breathless from his words.
“I didn’t think I was good enough for you, you were my best friend and deserved the best, that wasn’t me. I was also 17 and you were only 15, I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I guess I convinced myself that it would be wrong and you wouldn’t want me. Then later when I left, I tried so hard to distract myself, to keep busy and make new friends to try to forget these feelings, to try to move on, but I never could. Even with Ember, we never… I never felt what I feel for you.” Sky says seriously but with such a gentle voice, like he is trying to show he means his words, but doesn’t want to scare me with them.
I can’t answer with words, I lean in and kiss him. A long and deep kiss that I only pull away from for lack of oxygen.
“You stupid boy! I have liked you since I first came to the orphanage and I liked you even more when my hormones kicked in. That night if you had kissed me, I’d have given you everything and never regretted it for a second. I don’t trust people, I don’t like most people enough to even remember their names, I was so mad that you never came back that I went through a string of people trying to feel even a glimmer of how you made me feel, but nothing has ever compared. I should have waited for you, I’m sorry.” I say sadly.
“You have nothing to apologise for. I’m sorry, I should never have left, at least not with out telling you how I felt. I love you Lily, will you be mine?” Sky says.
My heart stops, I’m pretty sure I have died and gone to heaven. I can’t speak, I just nod frantically and kiss him. “I love you too Sky, I always have” I say when I recover.