SO FAR AWAY

- Chapter 3 - Clare's POV -
I leaned against the door and smiled to myself. Was I in love with a guy I had just met? Was that even possible or was I just way in over my head? I silently tip toped further into the room to find two beds filled with all my friends. I quietly slipped off my shoes with a huge smiling still smeared all over my face. "You were out late and what are you so happy about anyways?" My friend Leah said startling me half to death. "I thought you were asleep." I said in a frightened voice. "Thanks for replying to my text messages. Your lucky I didn't worry about you to death. I just figured you ran into Zac Efron and he asked you out for tea." she joked. I got into the crowded bed, "Sorry, goodnight." I told her. I closed my eyes knowing I would get no sleep tonight because all I would be thinking about was Ben. "Is there a reason you're still smiling? And you haven't told me where you were anways?" Leah whispered, trying not to wake the others. "I met someone." I told her. Her eyes widened. "Shut up! Tell me everything." I told Leah about our whole day and she listened in awe. "And you're going to see him tomorrow?!" she asked excitedly. I nodded, still smiling with the same smile that never left my face. "That's adorable, Clare. Definitely the cutest spring break romance I've ever heard." she added while turning off the bed side lamp and doozing off. It took me a while to fall asleep because I was reliving the day I had just had and trying to think of my day tomorrow with Ben. Then I finally realized that I better get some sleep cause a whole new day with Ben was waiting for me and the sooner I feel asleep the sooner it would come.
   That day we toured hollywood, shopped in LA (well I shopped), and went to see all the famous sights. It was nice to have somebody to explore the world with. After a long day of sight seeing, he surprised me with a moonlit picnic on the beach. It was totally cliche and cheesy but it was all so perfect. "Do you ever feel like there's more to life than getting a job, getting married, settling down and having a family?" I asked him. I was leaned against him while munching on some dessert from our picnic. "I don't know. I mean I guess. What do you mean?" he asked. I listened to the waves crash and looked around to find we were all alone, so late at night. "I don't know. It's stupid really. I just feel like there's supposed to be more adventure. I've dreamed about traveling all over the world and just making the most out of life. I just don't know what I want. I know it's stupid to say because we're graduating in several months but I don't think I want to live the normal life, the american dream." He moved the hair away from my face, "I like that. That you have a dream that you're so comitted to. I wish I was more like you. I'm planning on just getting a regular job and settling down like everyone else. I've always wanted to become a doctor since I was little so I guess it's kind of my dream." I giggled without really thinking. "What?" he asked. "Nothing. It's just you know when you can dream you can dream about anything, right?" He started to laugh with me. "Well at least it's practidble. But, sometimes I wish I was more like you."
I got up to my feet and held out my hands to help him up. "You can. Follow me." I said while walking off. "Clare? Clare? Where are we going?" he asked nervouslly. I could tell he wasn't the type for surprises. I started to climb up the rocks next on the beach. "Clare? Don't do that; it's dangerous." I giggled again, "I thought you said you wanted to be more like me. Living on the edge with risks." He climbed after me until we reached the top. "I said I wish I was more like you. I can't be more like you; it's not me." he commented nervouslly. "Why wish when you can be?" I asked. He looked at me with a confused expression on his face. I stared down at the ocean waves nearly a hundred feet below, watching the waves crash against the rocks. "Jump." I demanded him. "Are you insane?" he asked in fear. "No, I'm just living on the edge. You know, like you said you wish you could be. Don't worry, I'll jump with you." He grabbed my arm. "No, I won't let you do that. Come on, Clare. this is insane. Let's just go back down." he instructed me. "Ben, there's this certain rush you get when you take risks. You can't live your life on the safe side all the time. The feeling I get when I do things like this makes me feel alive. Come on, please." I begged. "Clare, it won't be fun, trust me it has death written all over it and-" Before he could say anymore I jumped into the ocean. "Clare!" I heard him yell on my way down. I landed safely in the water, as planned and he landed right next to me. "Are you okay?" I asked concerned. "Okay? I feel amazing. You were right, that rush you get is the best feeling ever." I continued to tred water to keep me afloat. "Better feeling than this?" I asked while kissing him. After I pulled away he answered, "No that definitely beats any feeling in the world. Just being with you, Clare is the best feeling in the whole entire world." We both treded water for a while just starting at each other. "I know this is only the second day we've spent together and I just met you yesterday," he started off by saying breaking the silence, "But these have been the best two days of my life. And since we're taking risks here; I'm going to take one right now. Clare, I love you." The biggest rush I had ever felt zoomed in my entire body. "Ben, I love you too." He kissed me, which was honestly the most amazing feeling ever. It felt different than kissing any other boy; it was so hard to explain why. "Weren't you glad you took the risk in telling me?" I asked while we decided to swim back to shore. "It was definitely worth it."
i'm going to keep writing this story. but you guys need to do me a favor and fav and comment cause honestly those are the only things that are motivating me to keep writing. so thanks so much:) love you all. sorry it's a boring start. i'm going to try my best to get another chapter out tonight! thanks again!