saf’s nose scrunched at the sight of their playful gesture , a feigned scowl and a tongue poked out in her direction . it didn’t escape her that her fingers had curled into the blanket beneath them , grounding herself to a happy reality though her stomach plummeted . she would do anything for julian … but the desire to do something didn’t always mean the ability to do it was there . she wanted , more than anything for her life to look like their little dream : a private island , just the two of them , where she was the love of his life … and he was hers . but lately she’d begun to see the places they differed , the way they wanted different things , the way her love for him was a lot less of a great romance and more of a great friendship . she wanted it to be him so badly … “ an island just doesn’t fit your vibe , jules . maybe a star , ” she smiled softly as she looked out at the twinkling horizon where water met sky , “ a whole constellation actually . ” but when she spoke of her favorite things about home , them being on the list , she was being honest . and it made it easier to meet their gaze . she was terribly comfortable with them , making it so easy to fall into their touch , to leave quick kisses against their skin . glancing up at him , she grinned a teasing kind of grin and gasped in fake - surprise . “ julian king , you are blushing . all this time and i can still make you blush , ” she raised her brows , giving a firm nod , “ good to know i haven’t lost my touch yet . ” but as they brought her hand to their lips , as they mumbled something about her inspiring them , all she felt was another pang of guilt . “ that’s probably because my closet is strictly neutral colors with the occasional pop of green , ” she raised a brow , flopping back onto the blanket . she used to love days like this with jules . now she was beginning to crave the numbness to problems her family seemed so adept at . “ hmm , i could dye my hair pink in solidarity . think i could pull it off ? ” her eyes closed as she basked in the warmth of a sun , “ you can always go back and visit . especially when you’re insanely rich . you’ll have your own private jet for round trips whenever you want . ”
with a crinkled nose and a joyful grin, julian chuckles. a star. as he often feels when compliments are dolled out in his direct: he couldn’t argue with that. albeit, anything from saf carries a bit more weight than most. they didn’t know many people who could truly affect them quite like her. if he didn’t trust her as much as he did -- it’d be troublesome. few can raise him up and bring him down quite like her. “ ooh, nice save. a constellation, you’ve really out done yourself. ” they teased. did they believe she meant every word she said? yes, hopelessly. maybe even blindly. julian nudges her softly. there were moments ( small ones ) that’d he’d like to freeze in time. put away in some little bottle to feel again whenever he needed them. almost always, includes saf grinning at him as she does. radiant underneath the sun and among a beach that could never be as beautiful as she is. how could he -- even after so many years -- not blush? to this day, she manages to unearth the terribly shy teenager he was when they met that julian really thought he’d buried well. talent. “yeah, yeah.” they start with feigned embarrassment. “won’t happen again. enjoy it while it lasts.” truthfully, they were glad to embarrassingly blush over something she says. to him, it was only a sign of their spark. “we’ve been through this, saf. neutral colors are amazing on you,” they spare her the rant the timelessness of neutrals. the two could spend hours talking about fashion trends, if she let him. “and no, it’s because...” they fall back onto the blanket along beside her. cloud watching as he speaks. “what’s more inspiring than perfection itself?” they’re sincere. even in their fanciful, rose tinted view of the world -- they’re always so sincere. they glance over at her, imagining a head full of cotton candy pink hair. “hm. you could pull off anything... but, i think pink is my thing. -- would you considered green?” they joke. “i like how you think. private jet, island, a constellation. you.” they pause. “could get a house together. or an apartment...” julian smiles, watching a heavy cloud go by and pass over the sun. “we don’t have to wait til i’m insanely rich for that, though. we could live together whenever, y’know.” they say a little softer than normal. odd how much he wants to ask and yet, something tells them they shouldn’t.
