Find You in the Dark

here. You know in our own little bubble.” I said mournfully as Clay placed small, shiver inducing kisses on the underside of my jaw.
    He nuzzled my neck as he spoke. I could feel his warm breath on my skin and the tickle of his lips.
    “We'll just have to move the bubble back to Davidson is all.” Clay said confidently. “But bubbles have a nasty way of popping.” I was being really gloomy, but I couldn't help it. Nothing good ever lasted.
    “Then we'll just make a new bubble.” Clay murmured as he pulled me into another mind blowing kiss. And I let my pessimistic thoughts go as I thought that my forever was starting right now.

Chapter Eighteen

    But I was right. The bubble did pop and it was loud and painful. It started with my month long grounding that came courtesy of some very pissed off parents. I was so deliriously happy from my night with Clay that I was oblivious to the twenty some texts I had received over the last 24 hours from my parents.
    Turns out my mom had called Rachel's house looking for me when I hadn't returned her phone calls or texts. She wanted to confer with me on pancake recipes, or something equally asinine. Of course, I wasn't there. And Mrs. Bradfield -(who Rachel had annoyingly told the truth to-) filled her in about our lovely evening away in the woods. To say my parents were angry was an understatement. I'm surprised I lived through the epic screaming that followed my arrival back at home.
    My father confined me to my room until Monday morning, only allowing me to leave to use the bathroom and to eat. I was grounded for a month and I was not allowed, under any condition, to see Clay outside of school.
    Of course, they blamed him almost entirely for encouraging me to lie to them and to go away overnight with him. (-The fact that my friends were there was inconsequential to them-). Even when I, very maturely I might add, tried to take responsibility for my choices, my parents insisted on viewing Clay as the villain.
    I was able to send Clay a few quick texts before they confiscated my phone. Busted. Grounded until I'm fifty. Love you. I received his reply less than thirty seconds later. I'm so sorry, baby. Any way I can bust you out of Alcatraz? Should I send a file in a cake through your bedroom window? :-) I love you!
    I smiled and furiously typed back, trying to be sneaky so my parents didn't flip again. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll meet you at school. Dad will be driving me. No file necessary, though I may be forced to resort to cyanide tablets from the sheer boredom. xoxo
    I quickly turned off my cell. My dad took the phone, unhooked the internet in my room and confiscated my car keys. Yep, I was a prisoner. And I was also receiving the silent treatment. My mother barely acknowledged my presence and my father just shot me looks of hurt and disappointment. Disappointment was 100 times worse.
    They were the champions of the guilt trip. So I sat in my room all of Sunday evening, alternating between catching up on my homework and staring blankly at my wall. And all I could think about was last night and everything that had happened between Clay and me.
    I hadn't taken off the butterfly necklace he had given me. I felt it lay warmly above my breasts. It was almost like having his fingers touch me. I was still so blown away by his thoughtfulness. And the words he had told me, how he opened up and revealed things about himself that were painful, only made me love him more.
    I tried not to let our earlier fight taint my memories of our evening together. But no matter how much I pushed them away, they simply bounced back, bringing with it the memory of his anger and my hurt.
    But despite the painful start, the night ended in the most romantic and toe curling way possible. I hugged my pillow to my chest and let the delicious memories of us together fill me. I shivered as I remembered his hands touching me and the feel of him as sank inside me. I rolled onto my back and groaned. Hell if I knew when we'd have a chance to be together intimately again. I may be under lock and key until I start collecting social security.
    I thought about Clay whispering how much he loved me and how he wanted to be with me forever. And I, in my naive, young- adult mind, thought that it would happen. That, of course, Clay and I could overcome anything and we would follow each other off into the sunset.
    I ignored the nagging voice in my head that whispered doubts and concern over Clay's intense need to be