Chapter 19

~

It's later that night and I was laying on my back, looking up at the ceiling stretched out like a starfish, while Aspen was laying on his stomach, facing me as if he was going to sleep, but he wasn't, and I kind of didn't want to either...

"Well..." Aspen started. "What do you want to do? We're both not tired. We're not hungry... How can we kill time?" I sat up actually trying to think of a solution, but my mind was still blank.

"I dunno," I said honestly with a shrug. "I feel it's too late to go out but too early to sleep. So...what could we do?" I just restated the question. He looked down at the bed thinking and I looked at the vintage wall painting to the left of me then suddenly after a few silent seconds, he perked up.

"Hey....do you like water?" He asked me. I gave him an awkward face with a smile.

"Do I like water?" I asked as if he was serious.

"Yeah, like...do you like it?" I shrugged looking around.

"Yeah, I mean, we need it to live," I said slowly, scared he'd ask such a question. He laughed.

"No, no, like pool water. Can you swim?" Suddenly my mind started racing.

"Yeah...." I said slowly. "I like to swim." He smiled.

"Cool! Do you have a swimsuit? We could go down to the pool. I bet it's still open as long as we're here," Aspen suggested. I bit my bottom lip looking away.

I did have a swimsuit, but it wasn't the fact that he'd see me in it, it was the fact that I actually couldn't swim. But I didn't want to turn down Aspen's offer either. We had nothing to do and this would kill time....

'I'll just stay on the shallow side, and avoid the deep end. This won't be so bad. It won't be so bad,' I thought to myself letting out a deep breath.

"Yeah...I do...I honestly haven't worn it in years so....hopefully it'll still fits..." I told him honestly.

"I bet it'd be fine. Let's get ready," he smiled.

"Okay," I chuckled.

I dragged my oversized backpack to the bathroom, and I dug for my swimsuit, which was at the very bottom of my backpack of course. I honestly forgot what it looked like, but it was just a black one piece, that was open on the sides, and a small oval shape on the chest, as if I had anything to show. Overall, it was very modest and I see why I got it years ago when I did.

I put it on, letting my hair fall down for a change as it was probably going to wet anyway. I still wore the necklace and bracelet though, as I felt I needed to keep it on.

I wrapped a white towel around my body, and tied it and all that visible was the spaghetti type strings that wrapped around my neck.

I walked out the bathroom to see Aspen, surprisingly with a shirt on that was just white, and some blue and black swim shorts that could pass as just summer shorts. When he heard me he turned around smiling.

"Ready to go?" He asked. I shrugged.

"When you are."

We walked out our room and I saw on the clock over a telephone that looked as if it was only for decor, that it read 8:16pm. Great timing.

We went down the elevator and I hid my lips in my mouth looking at Aspen trying not to laugh as he looked ahead of him probably not breathing.

"It's okay....alright?" He nodded letting out a deep breath from his nose.

"I won't say that until we get out of here," he said not looking at me smiling. I laughed.

We 'safely' made out the elevator and the front desk manager greeted.

"Hello. Are you looking for our pool?" She asked us. I nodded as Aspen and I stepped forward.

"Yes, we are," Aspen said politely.

"Well, we have an indoor or outdoor pool, both with hot tubs. Their both down this hall, pass the gym, and the indoor will be on the door on the left and the outdoor is straight out the back door," she informed us.

"Oh cool, thanks," I said with a smile.

"No problem. And the indoor pool is open 24 hours and the outdoor closes at 12am, due to safety reasons," she added. Aspen and I nodded and headed that way.

"Alright. Thank you!" Aspen said with a wave.

"Thanks," I said at the same time.

"No problem," she smiled sweetly at us.

Aspen and I were walking down the dim hallway, and he glanced at me as we did.

"Okay. So indoor or outdoor?" He asked me. I squinted my eyes really thinking about it.

"Hmm, I think the outdoor," I concluded. "I want to see the stars. Hopefully it's not too cold," I finished. Aspen chuckled. "Well...if there's a hot tub I guess it wouldn't matter," I chuckled almost forgetting already.

"Oh yeah I forgot," he remembered.

We went pass the gym and as we did I couldn't help but look in there and the light automatically came on when we walked by. "Aspen....do you work out?" I asked him curiously. He looked at me.

"I do. But I haven't recently. Football seasons over. Time to eat food and be happy," he told me. I laughed looking at him.

"Hahaa! So football made you sad? Well as you can tell I don't. I don't do no physical activity."

"Hahah nah, I was happy during football season," he chuckle at me looking ahead. "But whoa, Nothing at all?" He asked me surprised. I shook my head.

"Nothing at all. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't try. I was always fond of dance or soccer. Really soccer. I use to help Vanessa at the foster home kick the ball back and forth so she can practice her moves and she'd even teach me a few things," I nodded remembering it all. "It was fun." Aspen looked at me as we passed the indoor pool.

"Oh really? That's cool."

"Yup. If I would've stayed in a stable home after Kelly, that's what I'd want to do for the school. Play soccer," I said softly looking at the ground. I felt Aspen looked at me as we're approaching the door.

"Yeah...?" I didn't look at him.

"Yeah..." I finished. "And I know Kelly would've rooted for me..." I whispered too low for him to hear. Aspen used the card to the open the door and we stepped out and it wasn't as cold as I thought, but it could've been a bit warmer.

"Feels good out here," Aspen commented looking up at the sky.

"Hmhuh," I said through my lips.

Aspen set his towel on a bench and I sat mine in the chair beside it and we were surprisingly the only people out here.

"Let me test the waters," Aspen volunteered. I chuckled as he took his shirt off and I nearly had acid reflexes. No matter how many times I saw his four pack, by mistake or not, I will never overcome how cute...hawt...he actually was.

He went forward and went around to the deep end and I watched him, forgetting to take off my towel as he fearlessly looked at me and before jumping in, he placed his hands on his hip, staring at me.

"So, what should I do?" He asked me. I looked at him weirdly.

"As in...?" I wanted him to finish.

"A cannonball, a back flip, front flip, a hurricane-" I automatically busted out laughing.

"Hurricane?! What's a hurricane??" I asked hysterically.

"I dunno, I was just saying stuff," he admitted. I couldn't stop laughing.

"Do a back flip," I suggested. "Don't hurt yourself." He turned around, but turned his head to me on the side to where I saw his profile.

"Don't worry, I won't." Aspen built up his momentum, and afraid head he'd hit his on the concrete or slip, he didn't, doing the perfect back flip into the pool with a semi-giant splash, as some drips made it all the way over to me on the the other end. I chuckled, still holding the towel around me, and waiting for Aspen to slowly emerge from the water, he eventually did, shaking his head like a wet dog who just took a bath, and I giggled as he wiped his eyes and his black hair smiling.

"Wow...I haven't done that in awhile," he commented. I just kept chuckling. "I'm serious... You comin'?" He finally asked me. I perked up.

"Oh yeah. Sorry, I forgot," I said looking down.

"You're fine." Aspen dipped down in the water, to where I couldn't see him and I took off my towel and I forget that people who wear glasses are blind in the pool, so I kept them on knowing I was just going to stay on the shallow end anyway.

As I stood at the stairs of the pool, checking the water with my toes, Aspen emerge a little closer on the short end. I looked up at him as he somewhat scared me and he was breathing hard as he was actually down there for a little bit. He turned around to face me, his eyes a little red from the chlorine and he wiped his eyes, not seeing me yet.

"Oh God...I was holding my breath and I felt-" and when he stopped rubbing his eyes and he saw me....he was speechless.

I had my hands cuffed in front of my chest, nervous of what he'd think.

"You...you what?" I asked him. He stared at me a bit longer and finally replied.

"Oh...I..I was holding my breath-" he began to smile, swimming closer to me. "And I felt this sharp pain through my body and my only logic was to come back up to surface," he said laughing at himself.

"Aspen, you almost passed out!" I exclaimed.

"I know!" He went over to me, sniffing. He paused a second. "You coming in?" I looked down at the water....somewhat afraid.

"Well....is it cold?" I asked stalling as I just checked it.

"A little, but you'll get use to it," he said truthfully. I bit my bottom lip still standing there and Aspen asked for my hand at the stairs still in the water. He didn't say anything and I didn't either as I slowly took his hand and he grasped it gently and lead me into the water.

I tensed up as it was colder than I thought and Aspen smiled, showing his teeth.

"Yeah it's a little chilly," he admitted.

"A little??" I asked him. We chuckled as I finally made it completely in and I walked away from the stairs.

"Aww man. I haven't swam in so long," Aspen laid on his back floating away. I was still trying to get use to the chill.

"Me either," I admitted holding my arms.

"Actually Amanda, when was the last time you swam?" Aspen asked me curiously. I shrugged as if he could still see me on his back.

"I don't know. I got this swimsuit a year ago, when the orphanage went on this 'mini vacation'. We just went to a water park for two days. I didn't swim that much," I brushed it off. He nodded.

"I see. Actually tell more about the orphanage," he sat up. "How was it?" I sighed as that was a hard question.

"Well...it was an all girl orphanage first off. Ages from 10-17," I didn't look at him. He widen his eyes. "I know right. Imagine that many girls under one roof...." I chuckled getting closer to him, getting use to the water. He chuckled with me. "Well...the home at which I was at....didn't have a lot of money as we were a non-profit, and we'd be blessed if a miracle happened and people sponsored us. Like for one thanksgiving people donated food, in the summer we got summer clothing, and that Christmas when I wrote two things on the card I wanted and I got one of them," I said thoughtfully. He looked at me.

"What were your request?" I shrugged looking down at the water with a nonchalantly attitude.

"Oh, um, just a penny board and pair of Van shoes. Now to think about I don't think I got those shoes because I forgot to mention my actual shoe size," I wondered with my wet hand on my chin. Aspen laughed. I looked at him. "I'm serious!" I paused a minute after Aspen calmed down, and he must've moved a tad closer to me, but we were still at least arms length.

"Whoever got that penny board was extra sweet and generous. I knew those things were kind of pricy and I'm grateful for them...." Aspen just looked at me as I looked at my reflection in the water. "If it wasn't for them, I don't even know how I'd get to the airport now to think about it." Aspen waited a second by the way he asked me this question, I looked up,

"Do you know who gave it to you?" He asked. I shook my head kind of sadly.

"No. They only put their initial or just there first name for safety reasons."

"Do you remember what they put?" He asked with squinted eyes. I nodded looking at him, moving my arms underwater as if I was swimming but I wasn't.

"It was A.B I know. I mean, I know I'll never-" I quickly stopped and my heart dropped when I remembered what Aspen told me in the past about getting the call his parents had gotten killed in the 18 wheeler accident,

~
...."And....and I was happy thinking it was a call from my parents," he forced a vibrating smile. "And I said on the line, 'Mom! Dad! I finished my interview for the college! I think they might accept me!'....." He paused wiping his cheeks. "And....and I was thinking I was going to a 'Congrats son!' and 'I'm so proud of you darling....' But...but instead... it was.... It was a doctor...."

I shook my head sucking in my bottom lip knowing the worst was coming.

"And...And he told me...'I'm sorry, but....but is this Aspen Baker?" I kept shaking my head as he had on an angry face looking toward me, but not looking at me. "Yes, I replied......."
~

I quickly looked at Aspen as he grinned at me holding it in, and quickly I whispered....

"Aspen....doesn't you're last name start with a B?" He smiled...swimming around me in a circle.

"Hmhuh," he said through his lips mischievously. My cheeks grew hot.

"So...so doesn't that mean...you're initial are-"

"A.B.?" He finished for me. I covered my hands over my mouth gasping staring at him. "Yes 'mam." Suddenly my heart was racing and I felt this warmth go over me as,

"OMG! YOU'RE THE GUY WHO GOT ME THAT PENNY BOARD TWO CHRISTMAS'S AGO! YOU'RE AB!! AREN'T YOU!" Aspen busted out laughing and I smiled kind of mad at him but I was still playful about it and I slapped the top of water, causing splashes to hit his face. "Aspen! You know good and well that penny board looked FAMILIAR! That's why you asked me where I got it when we got off the plane in Philidelphia!!" Aspen kept laughing holding his stomach, and I couldn't help but join in as it was contagious.

"Hahahahaa! Okay, okay, listen. I was curious at first but when you told me who the initials were I was skeptical but passed it over! I honestly thought Amanda, that, that was the same penny board I bought for another anonymous girl two years ago." I just kept laughing still trying to be irritated.

"What we're the odds that board was someone else's!!? And I know darn well, Aspen, my name was the card you chose!" He felt guilty once I said that and the minute he tried to deny it, I already began walking to the edge of the pool.

"Hahaha! Amanda I'm sorry!! I didn't think about it! I honestly forget what name was on the actual card," he said sincere behind laughs.  I gasped even more.

"Oh that's even WORST!" I said fake cried exaggerating. He kept laughing, hearing his water motions move closer behind me.

"Amanda no! Come back! Forgive me for not telling you!" He grabbed my hand but I resisted.

"Hahaa! Aspen let me go!" I chanted back at him.

"You're my friend! Don't leave me!!" Suddenly I felt his arms wrap around my stomach and he began pulling me back.

"Aspen no let me go!" I said quickly.

"But do you forgive me!" He asked like a child. My feet couldn't touch the bottom anymore.

"Yes, yes! Please just DON'T let me go!" I knew right then he was giving me a funny a look by the way he paused.

"Wait...what?"

"Aspen don't let me go," I said desperately. "Don't." He began to swim to the shallow side.

"Amanda what's-" but before he could say anymore I loosen from his grip and walked my away on my toes as much as I could.

"Aspen. I can't swim," I admitted bluntly. I turned around. "I can't swim." Aspen stared at me a little and I couldn't even look at him in the eyes anymore for lying.

"Then...why did you say-"

"I only said that so that we could do something together.... Look I know I told you many, many times I don't want to leave...I don't want to leave you. If doing something I don't know how to do or want to do...I'll do it...but only if it's with you..." Aspen just stared at me as I continued to look at my reflection in the water and I heard him come over to me and he gently wrapped his arm around my belly button and I looked up at him.

"I can teach you," he offered generously. I smiled at him a little...as I knew he felt the same way about me.

~

Now just kick your feet!" He told me behind laughs.

"I'm gonna sink!" I squealed smiling hanging onto the edge of the pool.

"I won't let you go, promise," he told me.

Oh gosh...his promises.

I began kicking, splashing water everywhere with my eyes closed but I heard Aspen laughing,

"Amanda you're doing it! You're swimming!!" He chanted. Right when he said that, I stopped moving and I felt as if something pull me under the water and like in slow motion, I open my eyes to see Aspen smiling under, the air bubbles escaping his mouth and I had my puffy fish face holding my breathe so cautiously and coolly, Aspen came over and grabbed my hand and pulled me back to surface and we began breathing hard together, our hair soaked, wiping out eyes.

"OMG..." I said breathlessly. "You shouldn't have told me I was swimming by myself. I panicked," I admitted out of breath.

"Why? You were doing it. I said I'd never let go," he chuckled. I laughed glancing at him.

"I know. I guess...I guess I just got scared," I shrugged. We smiled swimming his way to the edge of the pool and I followed, trying to swim and I did half way and walked.

"That little incident reminded me of Peter when Jesus called him on the water," Aspen said looking up at the sky. I brighten.

"Oh I love that story," I sighed. Aspen looked at me as I looked up at the sky this time, admiring the stars. "Jesus called to Peter during the storm in the middle of the ocean. All the disciples were afraid but Jesus called to Peter....
Peter stepped out on the water and if you think about it, he was the first man to walk on water besides Jesus," I chuckled. Aspen chuckled...still looking at me. I crossed my arms in front of me on the edge of the pool and laid my head down side ways, facing him, but still looking at the sky.

"Peter was walking out to him by faith, but he lost it when he got scared and fell through the water. Jesus was disappointed but he didn't leave him. He pulled him back up to surface.....like you did me," I looked at him. Aspen smiled at me and sighed as if was very relaxed.

"That is true. That story," he added. I looked back up at the stars that was now becoming foggy with the semi-thick misty clouds.

"I know..." It was quiet amongst us and it was peaceful. We watched the stars dance in the sky, as a few clouds rolled by and I felt Aspen looking at me for awhile and I finally turned to him, after I couldn't take it.

"Aspen...why are staring at me?" I finally asked him. He just smiled, his wet vanilla skin tone looking a shade of pink on the cheeks.

"Sorry. It's just..." He paused as I continued to look at him. A blonde strain of hair in front of me. Looking like a pale yellow string. He shrugged. "I don't know. I....I like you Amanda." I widen my eyes at him not knowing what to say back and he panicked by my expression. "No no! I don't like you!" I gasped into a laugh.

"What?? You don't like me??" I asked distraught. He smiled.

"Nooo! I like you it's just-" I began swimming away.

"It's ok Aspen. I understand if you don't like me," I began swimming away (walking) and Aspen laughed after me.

"Haha! Amanda please! I didn't mean what I said!"

"Oh so now you REALLY don't like me!" I chanted playfully with a gasp. He laughed as I turned around to him stopping.

"No! That's not what I meant either!" I laughed as I was just messing with him and I splashed water into his face and he quickly went for his eyes.

"Ah man, my eye!" He cried smiling. "My eyyyyes!" I couldn't stop laughing.

"Ha! Ha! Got you!" I pointed at him like a baby. He looked at me grinning and suddenly he did the same to me.

"Ah!" I semi-screamed. "Stop!"

"No way! You started it!" He said back.

"Well Imma finish it!" Consequently we kept splashing water at each other and Aspen got me really good and I couldn't see a thing.

"OMG! This water really does burn," I commented rubbing eyes. I chuckled looking up to see Aspen no where in pool. I tilted my head. "Aspen?" I looked around the pool, and he was no where and I called for him again, "Aspen..?" And right when I had a feeling of where he could be, from behind, he shot out the water and I panicked.

"Ahhh!!!" I screamed covering my mouth. Aspen laughed hysterically and as I got my breath back, I gasped smiling, hitting his arm that I knew didn't hurt him as much as I wanted it to. "OMG Aspen, you scared me!!" I told him.

"Hahaha! I'm sorry, you just had to get you back from the mini tsunami," he joked. I laughed rubbing my eyes as I still felt the chlorine in them and I saw Aspen perk.

"Hey we should play Marco Polo," he suggested. I smiled.

"I haven't played that since '03," I joked. He laughed.

"Come on, it'll be fun. Close your eyes." I smiled at him as I did, I pulled my hair behind me like a I was putting it in a ponytail but I didn't, and I let out a cool a breath.

"Alright, you ready?" I asked him. He didn't say anything and I smiled showing my teeth as that indicated he was.

"Marco?" I asked.

"Polo!" he said as if was far away. I chuckled.

"Marco?" He waited a bit.

"Polo!" He said again. I didn't know where he could be, but I kept walking in the darkness, my arms looking for him.

"Marco?"

"Polo," he said more quietly. I turned to the sound of his voice.

"Marco?" He waited.

"Polo," he said again. I felt he was right there but when I thought it was him, I hit the edge of the pool and I laughed when I did, and I heard him chuckle nearby so I turned around sharply with my eyes still closed.

"Marco!" I said optimistic sure to find him.

"Polo," he continued to move. I went toward the sound.

"Marco!"

"Polo," he whispered. I smiled.

"Marco...." I said totally still. He didn't answer at first but I felt the water waves come to me from the right and he whispered so quietly,

"Polo...." Right then I yelled,

"Marco!!" And I jumped in that direction and I ended up falling on him opening my eyes and he caught me as we made this giant splash and we both stood up, the water to my belly button.

"Hahahaa!" Aspen laughed uncontrollably. I laughed too, sniffing the drops of water up my nose and rubbing eyes.

"You probably cheated!" I pointed at him.

"No way! You were in front of me and I swam under water and swam away and that's when I started whispering and you ran into the edge of the pool," he proclaim. We laughed looking at each other and I finally snickered,

"Hehehe. My turn! Close your eyes," I hurried him. He smiled with his chin high and he closed his eyes and started, cleaning his throat.

"Haha! Ready?" He asked. I already shuffled my way away from him. I didn't say anything, just wanting to laugh.

He got the idea.  

"Marco??" He questioned moving his arms in front of him. He snickered.

"Polo," I called quietly. He laughed.

"Marco??"

"I said Polo," I told him. He turned to me sharply and began running toward me, still with his eyes closed, and I just started running away but he stopped where I was and when he noticed I wasn't there anymore he asked,

"Marco...." I kept walking slowly trying to get to the edge of the pool.

"Polo..." I said normally. He came over slowly. I began walking to the edge of the pool and I was watching him the whole time, trying to find a way to get around him.

"Marco?" I waited a bit.

"Polo."

I was on the side of him.

"Marco??"

"Polo...." He turned to me slightly, and I noticed was trapped between him and the edge of the pool and I found a life saver in the pool and I threw it that way and he ran toward it and I was moving slowly behind him, and when he reached out and yelled,

"Marco!!" And wrapped his arms around the life saver, falling in he water thinking it was me. I laughed behind him as he was under and he shot back up holding it confused.

"What? But where did-" but suddenly like I was the predator and he was the prey, I pounced on his back and yelled,

"Polo!!" And he got scared, his reflexes telling him to cuff my arms as I held them around his neck, as I wrapped my legs around his back.

"Hahahaa! I can't believe you fell for it!" I laughed beside his face. He kept laughing.

"What!? I could've sworn that life saver was you!"

"No way! I just threw it cause you almost got me over there!" I said beside his face. He laughed as he placed his arm under my legs now, carrying me on his back.

"Well you won, fair and square Amanda," he admitted. I smiled, my arms still around his neck.

"Yay! I tried," I told him with over dramatic nods. He chuckled as he was carrying me around the pool, as I looked at the stars, my head resting on his shoulder.

"You know Aspen?" He titled his head to me and raised his left eyebrow.  "I honestly don't know what I'd be doing right now if you didn't come with me on this journey." He smiled still walking around to no where.

"Me either..." He paused a minute. "I think I'd still be in Texas. Mourning for my family." I let out breath as I forgot about them as he slowly was making his way to the deep end. But I hung on comforting.

"Sorry about that..." That's all I could say. "But then again....me and you could relate in way," I told him.

"How so?" He looked at me.

"Well....I don't have parents. I never really had a family....but...but now I have you. We're friends and....Kelly always told me when you make friends never let them go until they do..." He looked at me still carrying me and I looked at him. "And I know you'll never let go...."

He smiled at me, and I blushed at him and he looked back in front of him.

"Hey. I believe you 120%, but whatever YOU DO, don't let go." I gave him a funny look.

"What?" I chuckled giving an awkward face. "Yes I know I'll never let go of or friendship." He chuckled.

"Yes, yes I know. But I'm talking in literal sense.... Don't let go." Suddenly he let loose of his grip around my legs and when I noticed he was swimming in the deep, in over 6ft water, I panicked.

"No, no, no. Aspen, please don't drown me," I hesitated. Wrapping my legs all the way around his stomach, my arms right around his neck. But to be honest, they were so thin it didn't harm him. I knew this by his laugh.

"It's alright. It's alright. You're not heavy at all. I got you, just don't let go," he calmed me.

"Aspen, please! I cannot swim!"

"It's alright Amanda, I won't let you drown. I won't."

I was quiet, as the water slowly started to climb up to his chest and it was getting most of the back of my hair wet.

"Aspen," I whispered.

"Shh. It's alright."

I listened to him and I closed my eyes, my head against the side of his neck and I FELT him smiling.

I didn't know where he was, or what he was doing, but my eyes were still closed as I just...trusted him. "Don't worry Amanda. I still got you," he assured me as he realized I wasn't talking.

When he turned around I continued to hang onto him, but when I felt the water cover my nose, I freaked and tried to climb OVER Aspen, but that just made HIM sink which made ME sink and we both fell under water.

I opened my eyes to find him smiling, the air bubbles escaping his lips and for some odd reason I wasn't drowning, or even panicked when I noticed we were under water together. I was just there, calm, as if someone was in the water with me and not just me and him.

But someone else.

Aspen smiled and I smiled back as he swam closer to me and I watched him. When he made it we stared at each other....like we were waiting for something to happen...but instantly widen my eye as I felt something inside me pitch and he gasped, wrapping his hand around my waist and pulled me up to surface.

We breathe extremely hard as I coughed a little and he swam me over with hand to the other end of the pool and I laughed showing him I was okay,

"Amanda, are you alright?  Aspen asked me really concerned. I laughed.

"Haha yeah I'm fine. Sorry I climbed on you like that. I freaked out," I apologized. He smiled.

"Nah it's fine. I dipped in the water cause I almost lost my balance. If I wouldn't have did that, I wouldn't have fell with you falling in the water on your back, so I shifted my weight forward. So...we fell under," he laughed. I chuckled at him.

"Well thanks. For, you know, semi saving me from drowning," I rolled my eyes smiling. "Again." He nodded his back licking his lips.

"No problem." We stared at each a bit, the water just at my rips which were to his belly button and I felt a cool breeze in the air. I turned to the hot tub.

"Wanna hit the hot tub?" I asked him. "It's kinda cold to me."

"Yeah sure," he agreed.

We went out the hot tub and yes I did still feel insecure about myself with Aspen walking behind me. But I knew he didn't care. And even if he wanted to...he simply couldn't.

This was the judge free zone.

We went inside and it felt comforting when my feet and ankles sunk into the hot water, after that my legs than I sat down to the water up to my chest, and I was happy.

"This feels so good," I commented relaxed.

"I know right. I'm kinda glad we saved this for last," Aspen said. "It's nice." I cheesed at him with a giggle and I looked up at the stars again. Just admiring them.

"I don't know why I love the stars so much," I shrugged with a breath. "Their just so pretty and...inspiring I can't help but to look."

"I know. I always felt each star represented a person, a saved soul in the world...by God," Aspen looked at them. I glanced at him moving closer to him a bit.

"Kelly..." I paused. He looked at me as I sighed down at the hot tub but back up at the stars. "Kelly once told me.... 'Stars are the many reasons why we should be thankful and love God and why God loves us.' So after that, every since she told me, I try to think of things to fill the stars." I kept looking at them and from the corner of my eye, I saw Aspen move a little closer.

"Like....I woke up this morning," he looked at me. I nodded and smiled at the night sky.

"Yeah and like...having food to eat," I shrugged.

"For God so loved us He gave His only son. That who ever so believes in Him, may not perish but have eternal life," he quoted.

"He's merciful," I said after him.

"Forgiving," he moved closer.

"Amazing," I said after him.

"I'm thankful for food," he looked at me. I laughed.

"I'm thankful for hope," I said honestly.

By then Aspen I were side by side and I laid my head in his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around my back and he said,

"Hey, you see that star?" I giggled.

"Which one? There's so many?" I asked.

"No. I'm pointing to that one. Closes to the right," he said seriously. I laughed as there were still thousands of stars he could be talking about, but I played along.

"Oh that one with the white light?" I asked looking up with him.

"No, the off-white," he corrected me. I laughed.

"Yes, yes I see it," I chuckled. He looked at me.

"That stars represents...." He paused. I looked at him. "Me being thankful for you." I blushed really hard and my only response was to get closer to him, holding one knee close to my chest with squinted eyes,

"I'm thankful for you too Aspen. Don't ever forget that." He nodded looking up at the stars too as I placed my head on his shoulder. "Ever."

"I won't. Promise."

~