Chapter 7 : Moving On, Together

Chapter 7 : Moving On, Together

Scene 13 : The Big Plan

Cassie started telling me about her magnificent plan, that according to her, would be just the best thing ever.

There is a place, in Florida, called Sandy Shores. Next to Miami, great view on the beach. A litlte building that could be bought for a shop to be created. She started talking about big plans, a little flower shop that would also be dedicated to artistic stuff like paintings, drawings, poetry and beautiful things.

Beautiful Things. Yeah, I could definitely see us having a little shop with this name, and having some pets and kids. It would be marvelous, really.

The thing is, we have to take our decision very quickly, because the sale is only up until next week, and many people are already willing to put the price to buy it.

But still. I think it's time for us to move on from our very delicate situation, and start living, together. And in the end, the sentence we had, together or not at all, started going towards the together.

During that night, we decided to keep it a secret. We'd tell Cassie's parents on the next morning, to see how we'd buy it, and looking at my bank account, I realised that I barely had half of the money required to buy it.

Bank loan it is then.

« Yeah, I mean, if you go to the bank, you only have to prove you have enough money for the first couple years, right ?

• Cassie... looks like you know nothing about banks. First of all you have to give the guarantee, what you just called enough money for the first couple of years. But then, you need to have a stable job, am I right ? With a decent salary so you don't go bankrupt. We're going to a very brand new place, and I'm telling you, we have no guarantee of having such salaries. Unless... Wait, I have an idea !
• What idea ? Annie ? »

Barely a second later, I had my phone in my hand, dialing Linda, asking her for some little informations about the bank. Since it goes on a national scale, it wouldn't be hard to have an appointment with a friend of hers in the loan department. She had more friends than me, let's be honest : I've never been in touch with my colleagues besides her anyways. And that was just because our offices were in front of each other in the corridor.

On the other hand, I called my former teachers from high-school (the art teacher, the litterature teacher, the music teacher, and the drama teacher would be enough), asking them to give a little plug to their protégés in order to make some noise on the Internet. I had heard that they had all retired, and that they managed to do something pretty great, in the end.

I finally gave a last plug to Cassie on my social media website, and encouraged her to create an online shop – I mean, why hadn't she done this years ago ? It seems to be the best way to get a name when you're little nowadays – and people starting noticing her work. If the bank asked us for a job, we could give them our referentials, and they'd be pretty impressed by the amount of work we've been doing lately. We also contacted people in the district and the mayor of Sandy Shores himself to ask if they needed a shop we would offer them and he seemed pretty interested in the concept.

In the end, the bank loan was given an hour later (thanks Linda for the cheeky plug-in), and we contacted the seller, to ask him for some more details about the place that he was pretty glad to give to us. I mean, when he saw my former job (well, soon-to-be former, I haven't quit yet and my boss is still harassing me about my come-back, which sadly never happen), he couldn't refuse such a prestigious person coming in, with her girlfriend, in a little town like Sandy Shores.

« Wow, didn't know you had so many contacts in your area, my girlfriend told me before kissing my neck softly. Now we're pretty sure to have the place !

• When I told you that being a little snob sometimes could pay off... » I started talking, but then remembered that she probably doesn't remember herself calling me a snob whenever I went to this bourgeois parties with other big banks like the one I'm working for. « Anyways. I also had our teachers from high-school on the phone... and they said that they'd give a little plug to your work soon. I basically informed everyone of what we are about to do... and now, we only have to tell your parents. And mine, of course, but it can wait.
• You should tell them though, it's important...
• I'll tell them tomorrow then, just after we told your parents, I quickly suggested while we would be planning for our departure. Oh, and I'll have to call the bank to tell them that I'm leaving, now. »

When I picked my phone one more time, calling my boss directly, I felt a little relief going through, as my chest went lighter and all my problems seemed to go away instantly. I mean, this was the beginning of a new adventure, for us ; away from all we had been through, we were ready, five years after leaving high-school, as we'd be reunited after five years of practically nothingness. I just told him I was leaving, didn't hear his pleas for me to come back, and I told him that there was probably someone more talented than me, who just left university, and who's jobless, and who'd love to take my place. He just ended up wishing me good luck and made me promise to keep in touch.

Eh, maybe this guy isn't a douche after all. Maybe I just hated him because he reminded me of this hated job. But he seems to be a nice guy, when you think about it.

Maybe, in the end, it's time for me to move on. Just like Cassie did with her amnesia and remission, when she told me that she didn't want our past to affect our future. After all, we both wanted things to back just the way they were, and we were on our way now.

I just had to let it go.

And all of a sudden, in my head, all of the bad memories replayed all at once, and I felt weird, like all those fights between the two of could have been avoided if I had talked to her in the beginning, instead of running away like the idiot that I am. I was pretty much embarassed about whad had happened to us, the crazy fights, the drugs we had both taken, and all the shit we had been through.

But in the end, we finally see the end of the storm, it is an awakening – the dawn of a new day, for both of us, and now, nothing could happen to us.

I'm right, aren't I ?

« What are you thinking about ? » Cassie's voice surprised me, letting me jump a little before I turned around to see her pretty face. Man, her deep, rich brown eyes, her messy and curly brown hair, I missed those. « Not something bad, I hope...

• No... but it just feels weird, to let all these things go behind. I mean, it will probably take us time to recover from what happened during the last few years. Learning to trust each other again will be an exercice much more complicated than I thought.
• And I'll take all the time you need to make sure you're alright, she answered while pulling me into her arms. I promise you, Annie, nothing bad will ever happen to us again. And even if shit happens to us, I promise we'll keep on talking and have good communication. Just like what we actually missed while you were away in Detroit. Maybe we were a little bit too young to understand what being apart truly meant, but now, we know it, and we learnt from it. But the situation we've been through during the last five years ? I can definitely tell that it will never happen ever again. »

And while she held me firmly, eyes closed, her kissing my head like a little child who needs protection – and God, yes I needed protection – I had a strange feeling. A new one. All the bad memories seemed to fade away, replaced by the bright future that we had in front of us. Like the lat five years were just a nightmare, only there to scare us and threaten our relationship. Like a very long hardship to test the strength of our love. But now we were out of the storm, our love had conquered everything, and our relationship was stronger than ever before. And we were living again, together like it should have always been, now the situation was clear and only our imagination was the limit to our dreams and creations – I felt free. I felt powerful, and this new power I had just been granted was maybe, something I needed.

Not a power over other people, I don't care about that.

But rather a power over my own life, that I had let slip away for the sake of Cassie, and the sake of our relationship. And for the first time since I had left high-school, I felt that once again, my life was mine and only mine, and that no one was in control of it.

Cassie had gained a few followers on social media that were enthusiastic about her work, and a few potential clients that had already ordered stuff on her online website.

Since we would be in possession of the shop in a week, we both thought that it was time to move out and start our new life.

« I can't believe it's finally happening, I said while packing my clothes in my luggage once again. I mean, I called my landlord to tell him I was moving out with you – he knows about me being gay, by the way – and he was very happy about us. And now, we have the shop, freedom to design it the way we want – and there's even a little apartment above it, so we can live there and start a family. God, I've been waiting for this moment for such a long time...

• I'm excited, too ! », she said while doing the same thing with her luggage. « We'll be on our own, with the life we've always wanted to have, and now, nothing can stop us. »

However, that didn't change some things that needed to be solved.

As we both contacted a psychologist in Miami, we re-took the test via Skype, and discovered we still both had depression, and in my case, drug addiction, that we needed to fix. Cassie didn't seem to be very bothered by it, but for me, it seemed like a big deal, since we would have to do therapy, again. But since it was for the best, we couldn't refuse the offer.

In the end, I believe, that all worked out. We only had to inform our parents, design the place where we'd live, and then, move out next week to recieve our first clients. It seemed a little scary at first, but the prophecy we had made at three in the morning, completely drunk and after some mind-blowing sex, was about to become true.

We were leaving Glendam, once and for all.

Once again, I slept in our bed this night, snuggling on her chest like a kitty cat – God I should stop the analogies – and we fell asleep to the sound of happiness and the sight of a bright future.

Maybe it was meant to be, our story. It took turns and more time that we thought, but we made it. The future was now reacheable, and we only had to grab it.

We only had to grab it.

Words : 2058 (Total : 27682).

Scene 14 : Sandy Shores

On the next morning, we decided to have a big surprise thingy, so I invited my parents on Skype, as I wanted to tell them at the same time as Cassie's.

I mean, my girlfriend – it still feels to say it, I mean, knowing she isn't my ex anymore – agreed to do it with me, so we ended up, all in front of the breakfast table, having a big announcement on our lips.

« So... here we go, I said, everyone's eyes on me. One, I left the bank. I hated it anyways.

• God, we're so glad you left. », my mom said. I thought she'd me mad at me, but it was actually the opposite. « Your dad and I have tried for so long to tell you that you should change your job, but you've never listened to us anyways.
• She wasn't listening to us anyways, Erica, Martha replied. Neither me, nor Jack, nor your husband...
• I know, right ? Anyways... Peter and I wanted to tell you the truth, but you were always about Cassie here, Cassie there. Even after your break-up.
• Is it true ? » Cassie seemed a little bit taken aback by those confessions, but she ended up understanding them anyways. « Annie, come on...
• Anyways... Cassie and I have bought a little shop in a town called Sandy Shores, in Florida. It's next to Miami and it's in front of the beach. It's very cozy, in a small city, and we really love it. We intend to have a flowery-artisty shop down there. »

For a couple of minutes, the room was filled with compliments and hurras, from both of our families, and we felt filled with pride. We kept on talking for an hour about our plans, how we'd fill the space, and since Cassie was the artisty one, we had decided that she'd design plans that we'd end up agreeing on anyways. I mean, our tastes are so similar – except for clothes, she still hasn't changed her blue-and-black pattern and I haven't changed my white-and-pink one – that it wouldn't be hard for both of us to find an agreement.

Once the announcement was finished, we decided to start thinking about the designs of our new place. We spent the last few days in Glendam on our computers, trying to have our furniture arrived by the time we would be there next week. Cassie designed our bedroom, our kitchen, our living room, our bathroom – and God, it felt amazing to hear her saying the word our, and we, and all the fantastic things we are now about to do.

In the end, we moved nine days later. Now, we're getting ready to welcome our first clients, but before all of that jazz, we needed the help of construction men helping us design the shop. Cassie didn't have much trouble to tell them what to do ; and besides some sexist jerks who didn't really wanted a woman to yell at them because of a mistake they had make and they hadn't apologised for, and some homophobic douchebags who didn't see our relationship with a good eye, they made quite a good job. They were paid dutifully and left with no word behind them.

« Annie... I think this is the most beautiful place ever. Don't you think ?

• Yeah, I agree... I mean, with you on charge of the designs, it couldn't go wrong...
• Don't forget that you helped me for this... so we can say that it's a co-production... besides, you're still the most beautiful thing in this room.
• And you're the most beautiful thing on this planet, I answered with a grin on my face, arms around her neck.
• God, you're so cheesy, she replied before kissing me.
• It's supposed to be cheesy, come on. »

After a little break consisting of kissing and hugging in the middle of the way, we looked around one last time to see what our two-month work had done. Burgundy walls, with paintings on the walls and plants under them ; some cute designs for clothes, notebooks, and inspirational quotes everywhere. I had taken the opportunity to sell some of my poetry to show it to the world, even it it felt a little bit weird to show potential clients what I'm usually writing in the middle of the night in my bed with insomnia and depressive thoughts clogging up my messed-up brain.

I mean, when you think about it, I left my creative side when I left high-school, five years ago ; even if I had a minor in litterature and creative writing, I had made finance and law my job, and to be honest, it prevented me from creating so many things that I wish I had gotten the time for them to be created.

« It's gonna be a brand new experience ! Come on ! Cassie excitedly told me when I had told her about this side of the plan. If you've always wanted to do it, what is holding you back now ?

• I don't know. Maybe the irrational fear of being judged ?
• At the very least, you have the intelligence to realise that it's irrational. It's a good first step. And I mean, art is subjective, it's always been and it will always be. So, in the end, no matter what you do, there will always be people who will adore it, and people who will despise it. You just gotta keep on the positive and forget the negative. And it's not urgent or anything. I mean, take all your time and tell me how you feel about this, alright ? »

We were supposed to open the shop two days after.

In the end, we even met the mayor himself, who wanted to see why such a rich girl as me, I guess, was into town to open a little shop with her girlfriend. Unlike some homophobic douchebags that we had previously met, he seemed friendly and even brought his wife, who absolutely fell in love with some of Cassie's works. It even seemed like she was pleading for her husband to buy her some stuff before they left, and he did, actually.

We visited the town during the next couple of weeks, and met new people. And now, we're pretty much the new celebrities in this town, although I hope that it isn't because we're a lesbian couple or anything. The town seems very nice and calm ; and there, besides a couple of looks we got from old nasty people, it seemed that we could hold hands and kiss on the beach without being flagged as weird and wrong.

The town is composed of very old, 18^th century-looking houses ; and we felt more like in a touristic place than anything else. On the main road, there are many grocery stores, and also hotels. The mayor had told us that during the summer, people in their holidays could multiple the local population by four, or even five during the most touristic periods.

There is also a pizzeria and an ice-cream parlor, along with some cute restaurants. In the end of the road, there is a pier, with some cute wooden attractions and a candy shop, although it's closed for now since there aren't tourists at this period of the year.

The beach is very beautiful, with its golden sand and pretty clear water. We even took a little dip in it on a Sunday morning after a little jogging down the main road. I can see, now, where people come here and not anywhere else during their holidays.

In the end, now we have all of our traditions back. In the morning, we wait for each other to have breakfast together, with some anime ; during our free time, we play loads of Mario Kart and we even bought the last game in the franchise that was released two months ago. Cassie is now fully back to work and the customers coming in our shop to buy some of her floral arrangements or paintings is the best thing in the entire day.

Well, for me, I guess this is a new life starting. I focus more on poetry than ever, I also take care of the legal papers of the shop while Cassie does the accounting – I never liked this anyways – and I'm in the front office, recieving people, when Cassie isn't there with her big smile and her pretty face covered in dimples when she laughs.

It feels like we are back from a hiatus, and after years of being undecised and confused, we are home. Because, I realised, home could be a person. And for both of us, home is the other person, wherever and whenever.

We were definitely meant to be, in the end.

« Annie ! Come on, I'd like to give you a little present. »

Cassie is in front of the door, all dressed up and coat in hand. She tells me to take a shower and wear a nice outfit, since we are going out tonight. She says she wants to show me this Italian restaurant, that seemed so romantic that she couldn't turn down the offer when the chef told her that he'd reserve the best table on the balcony, first floor, view to the sea and stuff, to honour us for the little work we did at his place a couple of weeks ago.

Half an hour later, we were out, and walking down the street. The restaurant wasn't far away, and it was cool outside, so we didn't need to take the car out. Marco – the said chef – welcomed us with the biggest smile ever, telling everyone around him that we had been the people who had helped him design his place.

« Let me show you the table. », he says while letting us leading the walk leading upstairs.

He gives us the menu and bows down before leaving, taking care of his other clients. And he's right, we have the best table in the whole place ; conveniently placed in the middle of the balcony, first floor, we were right in front of the beach, while the sun was setting down.

While I order the classic pasta alla bolognese and she tries the pizza margherita, Marco comes bach, wishing we're having a good time here. He takes our orders and makes sure that we don't wait too long – after all, we are his guests of honour.

« So... what is this for ? I suddenly ask. I mean, you don't usually do that kind of favour... and it doesn't seem your typical type of making me go outside.

• It's because it's a special day... I mean, we just opened our shop, we have the best job ever, and we are the happiest people on this planet, right at this moment. I just wanted to have a little celebration, you know, just to relax a little bit and enjoy the bliss that is our life. »

She smiles a little, and shifts a little, as if she was trying to take something from her purse. Now I see where she's going, but I keep my mouth shut, and I let her do her little speech that will probably make me cry a little. Tears of joy, of course.

« So... yeah. I think it's been a very long time coming, am I right ? We've been friends forever, and we've been dating for eleven years. It's time.

Annie, would you give me the honour... to marry me ? »

« Of course, you Dumbo ! », I honestly reply before she puts the ring on my finger, and kisses me passionately.

People on the balcony are now watching us, being all happy to see us now engaged, but we were honestly the happiest. Because the big great ending I've always wanted to come was here.

And marriage was just a way to strentgthen and proclaim our love unbreakable and, the most important, forever.

2033 words (Total : 29715).