Anthony woke to the gentle pressure of fingertips brushing through his hair.
He blinked once, twice, the room slowly coming into focus.
Camila smiled the moment she realized he was awake.
"Morning."
His lips curled into a sleepy smile.
"How long have you been staring at me?"
She gasped dramatically.
"I was not staring."
"You were."
"I was... appreciating."
Anthony laughed softly.
"That's suspiciously close."
She leaned down and kissed him, lingering just long enough to steal the rest of his sleep away.
"Better?" she asked.
"Much."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward. It was comfortable, the kind that only existed between people who didn't feel the need to fill every moment with words.
Anthony traced small circles against the back of her hand.
How are you feeling?"
She gave him a teasing look.
"You mean emotionally or physically?"
He winced.
"...Both?"
She couldn't help laughing.
"I'm happy," she said honestly. "Really happy."
Then her smile turned mischievous.
"And a little sore."
Anthony immediately looked guilty.
"I'm sorry."
She reached over and poked his chest.
"Stop apologizing."
But—"
"I knew what I wanted."
"I still hate that you're uncomfortable."
Camila rested her forehead against his.
"It'll pass."
He searched her face, looking for even the slightest sign that she was hiding regret.
He found none.
Only warmth.
Only certainty.
She seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.
"I meant everything I said."
"I know."
"You believe me?"
"I do."
His shoulders relaxed.
She smiled.
"Good."
For a few moments, they simply looked at each other, the gentle rhythm of the waves outside filling the silence.
Anthony's smile slowly faded into something more thoughtful.
"Can I tell you something?"
Camila nodded.
"Anything."
He took a slow breath before speaking.
"I've been thinking about everything that happened between us... these last few months."
She listened quietly.
"I was scared."
He looked down at their intertwined hands.
"Not just scared of losing us... scared that I'd already lost you."
Camila squeezed his hand.
"When you agreed to come here with me, I honestly didn't think I deserved another chance."
His voice grew quieter.
But you gave me one anyway."
He looked back into her eyes.
"And I'll never stop appreciating that."
Emotion flickered across her face.
"I don't ever want to take you for granted again."
He shook his head gently.
"I don't want us to become one of those couples who just... exist together."
"I want to keep choosing you."
"Every day."
His words hung in the quiet room.
"I'll never let anything come between us again—not work, not stress, not distractions. You're too important to me."
Camila felt her eyes sting.
She reached up and rested her hand against his cheek.
"Anthony..."
He leaned into her touch.
"I mean it."
"I know you do."
She smiled softly.
"But you know something?"
"What?"
"This wasn't just your fault."
He frowned.
"It wasn't?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"I got caught up in everything too."
I kept telling my self everything would work out
Camila looked down at their intertwined hands before continuing.
"Instead of telling you I was scared... or that I missed you... or even just calling you..."
She paused, taking a shaky breath.
"Or trying to come up with a solution, I broke down. I let my emotions get the better of me. I ran before I even tried."
Her voice softened.
"That night, when I waited for you in the rain... I was so hurt that I lashed out."
She looked up at him, tears gathering in her eyes.
"I gave up."
Anthony felt his heart sink.
He knew exactly what she meant.
He remembered the rain as if it had happened yesterday. The way her curls had clung to her face, the loose strands escaping from her bun, the way the rain had hidden her tears—but not from him. Even through the downpour, he had known she had been crying.
He had made her wait.
He had been late.
And he had carried the weight of that night ever since.
Hearing her accept part of the blame broke something inside him.
For months, he had replayed that night over and over in his mind.
If I'd arrived ten minutes earlier...
If I'd been there at the time we agreed...
If I'd stopped her before she walked away...
If I'd just told her I was sorry...
But he hadn't.
Fear had kept him silent when he should have fought for her.
And that silence had cost them both.
Yet here she was, taking responsibility for something he had always believed was his fault.
At the same time, he understood why she did.
She had blamed herself just as much as he had blamed himself.
Anthony reached up and gently wiped away the tears that had escaped down her cheeks.
We were both hurting," he said softly. "Neither of us knew how to handle it."
Camila nodded.
"But we know now."
A small smile found its way onto Anthony's face.
"Then let's promise each other something."
"Anything."
"No more running."
She smiled through her tears.
"No more running."
"And no more letting life convince us we don't have time for each other."
She squeezed his hand.
"We'll make time."
"For us."
"For us."
Their foreheads met once more, the weight they had carried for so long finally beginning to lift.
Anthony smiled softly before closing the small distance between them.
Camila pov
His kiss wasn't desperate is was just perfect it spoke to me it told me everything he had not said and I understood every world
I kissed him back with an urgency i didn't know I had all my emotions came at once I was sore but still I ached for him his warmth
And presence the way he smelled needed it all .
Narrative
In all truth neither was to be blamed the situation could not be helped but to young aching hearts there was only 2 ways to play ,blame each other or them selves and so they did but young love has a way of working it self out or well enough so to find its way to where it needs to be