Chapter 5: Paloma

            The next morning, I sit in bed for what seems like hours, looking at the butterflies in my canopy. The storm is still raging outside like it won't ever stop. Mamma comes into my room and sits down beside me. "Paloma. The airport called. Your flight has been canceled because of the storm."
            "Oh." I say languidly. She looks at me. "Don't be sad, my darling dancing doll." Then she looks at my many bags and smiles. "Get up and eat some breakfast. Theresa made pancakes for you."
            I smile at her. "I love you Mamma."
            "We all love you so much. Your father would be so proud," she says wistfully, tears glistening in her eyes.
            "I wish I knew him," I say sadly. I hug her and we sit like that for awhile.

~*~

            The storm hasn't stopped by the time I'm done eating and showering. I dress myself in the light, fluttering white dress I wore when I first met Jake and curl my black hair. When he rings the doorbell and I open it, I notice he's not wet. There's a faint white glow around his body. His breath catches when he sees me and I smile. I have just turned seventeen and I've never felt so wonderful, but so sad. "Are you ready? Follow me." I tell him.
            "Where are you taking me?" He asks as we walk along the beach, a drop of the rain never touching us. I lead him down many pathways with pink stone markers to the cove by the sea only Jessica and I know about. "It's the Cove. Only Jessica and I know about it. We found it when we were little."
            "It's nice. But so dark." Jake says, and sends light into the fairly large cove. He takes me in his arms and we look at the old writings on the wall: Jessica Anne-Marie Bennett, age 9. Paloma Maria Lopez-Fitzgerald and Jessica Anne-Marie Bennett, best friends forever. Paloma, age 13. Jessica, 13. Suddenly music starts playing, like it's from the ocean, dark and menacing. But this isn't scary music, this is sweet and soft. "Dance with me, Prima. Let's dance forever and ever," Jake whispers. 

            "Paloma?"
            "Yes, Jake?"
   He's looking so intently into my eyes and then he whispers into my ear. "Are you gonna be there?"

If I was down, would your arms
lift me up to higher ground
with just the strength of your love?
If I was lost, would I find something
in your eyes to lead me home?
And if it all went wrong,
would you be there to hold?
It’s easy to be there through the good times,
but when the times get hard,
would you stay or walk away?

Are you gonna be there when the rain comes?
Are you gonna be there with a wrong turn?
Can you swear you’ll be there with a real love?
Are you gonna be there?
Will you stay by my side through the bad times?
Through whatever will be, will you still be mine?
Will you stay in my life for a lifetime?
Are you gonna be there?

When I need someone to hold,
someone there for me,
are you gonna be… in my world,
if it should all fall down,
will you be there,
be there to turn it around?
Will you still care?
Can I depend on you
to see me through this life?
And if it all goes wrong,
will you still make it right?
It’s easy to be there through the good times,
but when the times get hard,
will you still be by my side?

Are you gonna be there when the rain comes?
Are you gonna be there with a wrong turn?
Can you swear you’ll be there with a real love?
Are you gonna be there?
Will you stay by my side through the bad times?
Through whatever will be, will you still be mine?
Will you stay in my life for a lifetime?
Are you gonna be there?

When I need someone beside me,
someone there for me,
are you gonna be there
with the arms to hold me?
There with the love I need?
(there with the love, all that I need)
Will you be there, will you be there?
Heart and soul, I need to know
Are you gonna be there?
Are you gonna still care?
Are you gonna be… yeah
Will you stay by my side?
Are you gonna be mine?
Are you gonna be there?

Are you gonna be there when the rain comes?
Are you gonna be there with a wrong turn?
Can you swear you’ll be there with a real love?
Are you gonna be there?
Will you stay by my side through the bad times?
Through whatever will be, will you still be mine?
Will you stay in my life for a lifetime?
Are you gonna be there?

("Are You Gonna Be There" is by 'N Sync.)

            "Yes...oh....yes, Jake, I will." I breathe. "I will. Forever." Then another song comes on and I laugh softly at which song it is.

Candlelight and soul forever
A dream of you and me together
Say you believe it, say you believe it
Free your mind of doubt and danger
be for real, don't be a stranger
We can achieve it, we can achieve it
Come a little bit closer baby, get it on, get it on
'cause tonight is the night when two become one

I need some love like I've never needed love before
(wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be

Silly games that you were playing
Empty words we both were saying
Let's work it out boy, let's work it out boy
Any deal that we endeavor
love will bring us back together
Take it or leave it, take it or leave it
Are you as good as I remember baby? 
Get it on, get it on
'cause tonight is the night when two become one

I need some love like I've never needed love before
(wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be

Be a little bit wiser baby, put it on, put it on
'cause tonight is the night when two become one

I need some love like I've never needed love before
(wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(wanna make love to ya baby)
I need some love like I've never needed love before
(wanna make love to ya baby)
I had a little love, now I'm back for more
(wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it's the only way to be

("2 Become 1" is by the Spice Girls.)

            "I want you by my side forever, Paloma. I need you. I want you." Jake says, his breath coming faster.
            "Then take me." I say. I kiss him with all the passion in me. "Make love to me. Right here."
He looks at me, surprised. "If it's what you want. I'm so glad I have you..." He kisses me back and picks me up, carrying me to an area of moss, laying me down and kissing up and down my neck. "I have no choice."
            I smile, and let him do what he wants with me. Our breath comes faster and soon we're undressed, caressing and kissing gently. I hear more music playing as we explore each other...

It's amazing how you can speak right my heart
without sayin' a word, you can light up the dark
try as I may I can never explain
what I hear when you don't say a thing
the smile on your face lets me know that you need me
there's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me,
the touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
you say it best when you say nothing at all.

All day long I can hear people talking out loud,
but when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd,
old Mr. Webster could never define what's being said between your heart and mine,
the smile on your face lets me know that you need me
there's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me,
the touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
you say it best when you say nothing at all.

the smile on your face lets me know that you need me
there's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me,
the touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
you say it best when you say nothing at all.

            "I don't wanna let you go. I don't wanna ever leave. I want to stay like this with you forever and ever, never leaving your embrace." I say when we're done, wrapped up in each other's arms, Jake's lips kissing the back of my neck and my shoulders. "I love you, Jacob Andrew Standish."
            "I love you too, Paloma Maria Lopez-Fitzgerald." I turn to look at him and kiss him. We let the passion that has just ignited take over again and we surrender to each other...