Lost In Time

Chapter 14 — Dancing Beneath the Stars

Juliet's POV

As we trudged through the unknown terrain, the weight of uncertainty hung heavily on our shoulders. It felt like an eternity had passed since we had set out on this journey, trying to retrace our steps and reunite with the rest of the group. The once luminous sky had now transformed into a blanket of darkness, obscauring our view of the path ahead. With aching feet and tired minds, we collapsed in front of a colossal oak tree, seeking refuge in its sturdy embrace.

A few moments pass, and I turn to look at Preston. His brow was in a furrow, and his lips were set in a tight line, seemingly deep in thought.

So, with mischievous intent, I playfully nudged him, pointing at a nonexistent object on his chest.

“What’s that on your chest?” I quipped, raising my right eyebrow and gesturing towards his torso.

He looked down, his expression contorted with bewilderment. “What?” he murmured, clearly caught off guard.

With a grin spreading across my face, I revealed my true intention, “Gotcha!” I exclaimed, flicking his nose with my finger and bursting into laughter.

Finally, he smiled. I liked it when he smiled. I felt relieved as I saw the corners of his mouth curve upward, his eyes creasing in amusement. It was a sight that brought joy to my heart, and I realized how much I appreciated the moments we shared when we were both able to let go of our worries and just be present in the moment.

We both chuckle, the sound echoing softly through the trees, and settle back into the quiet companionship of each other’s company.

Suddenly he stood up and his face grimaced in pain, but that didn’t stop the curve of his lips. He glanced back at me and held his hand out. I grabbed him, grinning, and stood up beside him; he then tugged me a little away from the tree and more under the brightly shining star.

He lifted his gaze to the sky, and in that instant, a spark of joy ignited in his eyes. Slowly, he turned to look into my eyes and drew me into an embrace, his hand encircling my waist while his other hand clasped mine at his shoulder. It was a dancing stance, and the grin on my face grew wider. I became more cognizant of the moment as my fingers slipped into his, and we began to sway beneath the twinkling stars and the moon’s radiant beam.

As we danced under the glittering night sky, I felt as if we were in our own private world, a world where nothing else existed but us. I could feel his hand clasped tightly around my waist, guiding me effortlessly through the air as we moved to the rhythm of the stars.

We swirled and twirled, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. Every move was graceful and fluid, as if we were both part of the same dance. And in that moment, I felt alive, free, and completely at peace.

Suddenly, he spun me out, and I found myself floating in the air like a leaf in the wind. For a moment, I felt weightless and carefree, with nothing to hold me back. But as I started to drift away, I felt his strong hand pulling me back, bringing me back into his warm embrace.

As he held me close to him, I felt his heart beating against my chest, and I knew that he was feeling the same thing that I was. The world around us disappeared, and we were lost in our own little world, just like we were when we were children.

The night air was cool and crisp, and the stars shone down on us like a million little lanterns. It was a moment that I would never forget, a moment that took me back to a time when life was simple and carefree, a moment that reminded me of everything that was beautiful and magical in the world.

As he spoke, a smile crept across my face, and I wasn’t even aware of it slipping off when he said, “Look at what lies before us! Behold the beauty of the world, and see all its mysteries and secrets laid bare. For us, there is no impossible!” His words filled me with a childlike joy, and I laughed without a care in the world.

His words filled me with an indescribable joy, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of a world where anything was possible. Though it made us forget we were lost, it didn’t help the nagging voice at the back of my mind about how we were going to meet the others.

He yanked me toward him with a sudden jolt, his grip on my waist firm and unyielding. I could feel the heat emanating from his body as he fixed his gaze on me, his breathing heavy and ragged. I could hear his heart thudding against his chest, each beat loud and rapid.

As he held me close, his eyes flickered down to my lips before returning to mine, and he spoke in a gentle voice. “Would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?”

My heart fluttered wildly as I gazed at him, my mind still reeling from the question he had just posed. His grip around my waist was firm, yet gentle, and the way his eyes locked onto mine made me feel like I was the only person in the world. I could feel his warm breath on my face, and his racing heart thumped against my chest.

For a few moments, I simply stared at him in awe, too overwhelmed to respond. But then he gave my waist a soft, reassuring squeeze that sent shivers down my spine, and I finally managed to nod in agreement. My lips curved into a radiant smile as I basked in the joy of the moment.

As if he could read my thoughts, he mirrored my smile, his eyes twinkling with delight. With a swift movement, he dipped down and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, sending a tingle of excitement through my body. And then he did it again, his lips grazing my cheek before moving to my other cheek, and finally to my lips.

As his lips met mine, my whole body seemed to electrify, and a shiver ran down my spine. I was caught off guard, my mind momentarily stunned by the sensation. My lips parted ever so slightly, inviting him to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away, leaving me longing for more.

As he looked at me with that mischievous twinkle in his eyes, I couldn’t help but smile back, feeling the warmth spread across my cheeks. It was as if I was under a spell, unable to resist his charming aura.

With his smile still beaming, he stepped back, but the impact of his presence lingered. My heart was now racing, and I was acutely aware of his every move. It was as if time had slowed down, and I was caught in a moment I never wanted to end.

I felt myself blushing and my stomach doing flip-flops as I let myself get lost in the moment, but that didn’t last too long. The teacher, our friends, and the rest of the class found us soon enough, and before I could stop myself, I quickly looked away from him, not wanting them to see what was going on.

“Thank God you’re alive,” Patricia said, hugging me.

When she finished hugging me, she looked behind her. I follow her gaze to Jessica, who was limping

“What happened to her?” I whispered, still looking at her.

“Well, first she was yelling early about what an i***t you were when you fell.”

How rude!

“And then she started talking about what a sweetheart Preston was and that he would keep you safe. Then suddenly she looked pissed off, kicked a rock out of anger, and sprained her ankle.”

I wonder what got her that angry.

“Anyways, so what happened between the two of you?”

Shrugging, I mumbled, “Nothing; he just asked me out,” trying to stop the smile that was threatening to break out.

Squealing, she hugged him and yelled, “Finally!” I hushed her and looked back as I noticed everyone giving us strange looks except Preston. He was smirking as if he knew what they were talking about.

I smiled sheepishly and turned back around.