5. I'll hold you to that

song of the chapter: I won't give up- Jason Mraz

Please please please give me feedback on this one.

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Nervous was an understatement for what I'm feeling right now.

I look at the mirror, taking in myself. My hair messy on top of my head as I sported a black button up and denim cuffed jeans. Dark circles under my eyes and I would say even after dressing up, I looked like a mess.

She's gonna be there.

I got nervous thinking about what would happen today.

It's been a week since I last talked to her, her wet teary face still hogging my mind.

"I don't think this is going to work out Chase"

Since she lost her sister, it's been taking toll on her and she had gone on self destruction mode.

I put my hand in the pocket of my jeans, feeling a small box inside.

Her birthday gift.

I'm not even sure if I'm welcome to the party anymore or not but I grab my car keys without thinking any further.

Throughout the ride to her house, my mind wandered thinking about what I'll say to her but it only frustrates me further.

Soon, I'm surrounded by the smell of sweat and cheap perfumes. Half the people drinking while other half are in the corners passed out or bored.

My eyes dart everywhere, trying to spot her among the sweaty bodies.

Holy shit!

My breath hitches as I stare at the gorgeous figure gulping down another shot, a strapless body hugging wine color dress on her stunning figure while her brown beach waves hung loosely around her waist.

She laughed at something Amanda said and then they both gulped down another drink.

Oh she's definitely drunk.

I walk towards the bar on the other side of the room, my eyes still on her as I silently try to make myself strong enough to go and wish her a happy birthday.

Half an hour pass away and I was three pepsis down, watching her drink, joke around, hug her friends, and drink again.

If I keep this up, I'm never going to face her today.

I look at her as she walks towards the dance floor and starts twerking with Amanda behind her.

Why girls do that is out of my thinking capacity.

I stare at her, still shocked how a girl like that has been saying I love you to me since the last five years.

Before I could lose myself in the trail of thoughts, I see Jack taking her hand for a dance.

Oh hell no.

I sprint towards them to hear him ask her "Finally single huh cupcake."

Before she could reply, I tug at her waist, which I now notice is bare because of the side cuts of her dress.

Did the shop have shortage of cloth or what?

"No she isn't." I smile at him, though glaring at him at the same time before dragging Gracie out of the dance floor and out of the backdoor to the backyard.

She looked at me, her blue eyes scanning my face before a smile broke out on her face "Baby....." she dragged out, her lips spread wide and her eyes squinting at me before all of a sudden the smile fell, as if she just realized what happened last week.

"What the hell are you doing Chase." She glared at me.

"I..I just wanted to give you your birthday gift." I lied.

"Ok do it fast" she sassed, visibly still mad at me, folding her hands on her chest, her foot tapping on the floor.

I bit my lower lip as I slowly took out the box, handing it to her.

She wouldn't have taken it if she weren't drunk but I'll take whatever chance I get.

She glared at me, before violently tearing the gift wrapping.

She knows how much I hate it when people tear up my carefully wrapped gifts.

Her glare softened as she blankly stared at the gift.

Seconds passed by as she looked at it and I looked at her, taking her in for maybe the twentieth time today.

Gosh she's beautiful.

I let out a shaky breath as she took the necklace out of the box and silently handed it to me.

She's gonna deny taking it. My heart shattered but then she silently turned around.

She wants to wear it.

A ray of hope surrounds my heart as I clutch on the diamond necklace.

She turned back to face me but doesn't meet my eyes, her blue orbs looking at anything but me as I look at the customized necklace now dangling around her neck.

"I told you I don't want it." She finally mumbled, her hand touching the necklace.

I kept quiet, looking at her.

The necklace was actually a promise ring I gave her two years ago.

The ring now attached permanently to a thin chain which took me lots of arrangements and money to get done.

"I never broke my promise Grace." I mumble back and her eyes finally look at me.

We looked at each other, lost as she mumbled out "I know" and smiled lightly at me.

Taking my chance, I held out my hand, silently asking her for a dance.

She looked at it, her eyes landing on the promise ring I wore, still in its place because I didn't have the guts to remove it yet.

I don't wanna let go.

I felt her hand sliding in mine and I closed my eyes briefly before opening them and giving her a small smile.

We enter the house again and I turn her towards the Bluetooth speakers.

I take out the mobile it's already connected to, shooing the grunting girl away and ignoring the complains from the people dancing and connect my own device via Bluetooth.

I keep my phone in my pocket as my playlist starts playing on shuffle with "all of me"

All crazy dancers groan and get away from the makeshift dance floor as the normal ones who don't grope or couples stay.

I place my hand on Grace's waist as the song starts and I feel her laughing.

"I forgot how cheesy you are." She smiles up at me, her height just perfect for me to engulf her in a hug but I resist myself.

As we ignore the next two songs playing, I start feeling a sudden sadness settle into me , Grace still in my arms as we just sway from side to side.

"I'm moving away to new York. " I hear her and my brown eyes snap to hers.

"Please don't. We'll get through this." I speak as I feel as if I'm getting choked.

"I can't Ace." She softly replies as she rests her head on my chest.

My mind goes back to three years ago as we sway in silence.

"You know why i named you Ace?" Her eyes snap to mine as she grins at me.

"Why?" I squint my eyes at her, turning my body away from the sky and towards her.

We lay at the back of my jeep, at five am, looking at the sky change colors.

She grabs the blanket which was previously covering her legs, up to her waist and snuggles it up to her chin.

"My name is Gracie but you're the one who named me Grace and I just..wanted to make a name for you too..." she trails away, blushing.

"Why Ace?" I ask her, not confronting her about her red cheeks.

Her eyes soften as she spoke "You're my ace. My winning card. My good luck."

Her head tilts in innocence and love shines in her eyes as they look lighter in the morning light.

I sigh before pulling her in for a kiss.

"I love that name." i smile at her and she smiled back.

"Did you make a different playlist for today?" Her voice snaps me back.

"I may have." I sheepishly admit.

She smiles looking at me and my world stops.

"Grace I don't wanna do this." I murmur as tears well up in my eyes.

She keeps quiet, looking at my eyes, then roaming around my face and settling on my eyes again.

"I don't wanna either. But I have to." Her eyes well up as she replies.

I slowly take out my phone and click on a particular song.

A tear falls out of her eyes as the song starts.

"You're not making this any easier." She whispers painfully at hearing 'I won't give up' by Jason Mraz. (play the song while reading)

"I'm not supposed to, love." I smile back as tears start falling out of my eyes.

Her breath hitches hearing the word love and tears drop out of her eyes too.

We keep quiet, listening to the song so painful.

"Well I won't give up on us,

Even if the skies get rough,

I'm giving you all my love,

I'm still looking up."

Her eyes travel to my lips and mine goes to hers as an instinct and soon we're close.

I feel her warm breath as she looks into my eyes, hesitant.

Slowly, our lips capture each other as my hand goes to her cheeks, wiping her tears as our kiss deepens mixing with both our tears.

I don't want to give up.

I can't.

Through the kiss I desperately try to tell her what I feel.

Love, sadness, passion lace our kiss but eventually we pull away.

Our foreheads rest against each others.

"I love you Grace."

She looks at me, our tears nowhere near end as they keep falling, blurring my vision.

"I'll always love you." She replies.

We stare into each other's tear filled eyes.

Her ocean eyes swarm with sadness, regret and love. But what I hated the most was there too, dedication. Dedicated to go through with her decision.

She rests her head on my chest as I bury my face in her hair, taking in her vanilla scent.

"Don't go." I try again.

"I have to. But we'll meet again." She replied.

And I believed her.

I close my eyes, swaying with her tight in my arms.

Who knows what will happen, if we'll meet again or not. But I hold onto her words and hold onto her.

Whatever happens, happens, but I'll always remember her shining blue eyes under the dusk light and the way she looked at me like I was her whole world.

"I'll hold you to that." I murmur and we stay quiet for the rest of the night, crying.

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This has an open ending.

Do they meet again, do they not?

Do they move on and cherish their past or do they run into each other someday and become friends or anything at all?

You decide

To be very honest I cried.

I DON'T WANT THEM AWAYYYYY

My single ass who has never had a single romantic moment cried writing this.

Ughh I'm proud of this one though.

Gimme feedback!

(1848 words damnnn)

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The necklace btw:

(The circle used to be a ring which she gave back to him so he got the chain attached to it like that as a memory of them)