Page 6 of Broken Beauty

- Spend the whole day at the beach

- Get a tattoo with a stranger

- Sneak into a movie theater

“Interesting,” I say while reading through the list. “And why are you telling me this?” I look up at Ariella but still have the bucket list in my hands.

“I need help completing it.”

“And you want me to help you complete it I'm guessing?”

Ariella nods her head. “If you don't want to then that's fine but I just thought that maybe-“

“I'll help you.”

Ariella looks shocked.

I am too, honestly.

Guess I'm not going home anytime soon. It's a good thing I have my dad's apartment.

“Really?” Ariella raises her eyebrows.

“Yes but there has to be a few conditions.”

“Absolutely.” Ariella agrees. “I can make the first one.” I nod my head for her to continue. “After this summer is over I want us to have no contact. What's happening this summer leaves the moment summer is done and we are back in school.”

“Agreed. One of the rules I had. I don't want to be committed to someone for that long,” I explain. “One of the main rules I have is 'don't ask about my family'. That's the only other rule I have.”

Ariella nods her head. “I don't want us to get too close. Because when this ends I don't want to end up hurt.”

“I won't hurt you, Ariella.”

“You won't mean to, but you will.”

Ariella and I leave after we finish our dessert and I walk her outside the same time it starts raining.

On the weather app it didn't even say it was going to rain.

Ariella smiles as she looks around and watches people try and get to shelter.

“So is there a contract I have to sign?” I look down at Ariella and I watch as water covers her face from the rain.

She shakes her head while giving a small smile.

We stare at one another for a few more seconds before I feel the need to lean down and kiss Ariella on the lips.

Our wet lips meet and my eyes close from how good she feels against me. As we kiss, she opens her mouth and I let my tongue slip in. She breathes heavily and I feel her shudder against me when I touch her cheek.

Our lips move in sync with one another and it's like we have done this many times before. Kissing her feels like the world just stopped for us.

And I just realized that those voices are gone.

Everything is quiet.

I have no idea why I agreed to do such a stupid thing with such a beautiful girl.

She leans away and her eyelids are droopy.