The Other Side of Tomorrow

I wasn’t looking forward to this, didn’t think it was my thing, but suddenly I’m glad he brought me here.

For the moment, I’m not the girl who needed a transplant and he’s not the guy who lost his brother. We’re just Willa and Jasper, existing as we always should have.

The music changes and our bodies adjust to the new beat.

I feel his lips at my ear.

“Open your eyes,” he whispers.

I do, slowly, and feel as if I’m looking upon a whole new world.

The rainbow hue of lights reflects in his eyes as he lowers his head toward me.

“I want to kiss you,” he confesses.

Boldly, I say, “Then why don’t you?”

His lips tilt up in the smallest of grins before they’re pressed against mine. My eyes flutter closed and a tiny sound, completely muffled by the thundering music, escapes me. My whole body melts into him, my arms wrapping around his neck and my chest pressed to his.

The ever-changing hue of lights flash behind my closed lids, making me feel as if I’ve been transported to another dimension. Maybe I have for all I know.

His lips coax against mine and my lips part.

This is how people are kissed in movies. Passionately with all the air being stolen from the room. It’s never how I imagined I’d be kissed, but here I am living it because I took a leap of faith.

Our lips break apart and he rests his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. My hips move to the song, his hands still there following my movements.

“Who are you?” he whispers so low I can barely hear him.

“What do you mean?” I take a deep breath, trying to get enough oxygen to my brain.

“I’ve never met anyone like you … someone that … that makes me feel like this.” He removes one hand from my waist and presses it to his chest.

“I know what you mean,” I admit, blinking up at him.

“It’s strange,” he continues. “But it’s right.”

“It’s right,” I echo, because it is.

So much about us doesn’t make sense, but there’s no denying the connection that’s there. It’s more than my transplant, and his brother, there’s something about us that has always clicked since that very first time I saw him. Since before I knew his name.

We dance to several more songs before we decide to stop for a break.

Jasper guides me to a round barstool table and I hop up onto one of the chairs.

“I’ll get us some water,” he says, before disappearing into the crowd.

I take a moment to catch my breath while he’s gone. Sweat dampens my brow, and I worry about the state of the makeup Meredith applied—but not enough to go check.

It isn’t long until Jasper returns with a glass of water for the both of us.

I slurp it down greedily and he chuckles.

“Remind me to hydrate you more often.” He winks, sliding his own glass toward me.

I blush. “I’m supposed to drink loads of water, because … you know … transplant, but I find I want to drink all the time now anyway.” I shrug and finish off his water while he crunches on a piece of ice from mine.

“How are you liking it?” he asks, motioning to the club.