"Promise you'll always be cute like this?"
Charlotte suddenly felt like someone had walked over her grave, danced and peed on it even, and all she could think about at that moment was how terrifying it was not to know the future. Just as Landon wanted her to always be cute, she also wanted him to always be there...but was that possible, considering what Landon wanted to do with his life?
"Can you promise me something in return?" Charlotte heard herself ask. "Can you promise to always be there and never leave me—-"
"I promise."
"I'm not joking!" And she wasn't, even though she knew she was also asking for the impossible.
"Who says I am?"
Charlotte gazed up at him in a mixture of frustration and fear. "You can't promise what's impossible—-"
"But it's not," Landon said softly. "I promise, Charles. I'll always find a way to be with you—-"
Inspiration struck, and Charlotte's face lit up. "Like Demi Moore's Ghost?"
"Hell no."
She looked at him in surprise.
"They didn't end up together," Landon pointed out. "When I said I'll never leave you, I mean it. So think of something else like—-"
"Somewhere in Time!"
Landon groaned.
"They ended up together—-"
"In heaven," he growled. "I want us to live happily ever after here and in heaven, so think of something like..." Landon rubbed his jaw. "Ah. I have it. Remember Yuyu Hakusho? That's one of your favorite animes, right?"
Charlotte frowned. "Yes, but..." Yuyo Hakusho was not a romantic anime in any way. Was it?
"Remember the part where Yusuke possessed his friend's body, and his girlfriend recognized it was him even without actually seeing him?"
Her face cleared. "I do."
"That's what I mean by finding a way to be with you, no matter what happens."
While a part of Charlotte knew that everything they had been talking about could never actually come true in reality, his words still comforted her, and she found herself playing along as she asked, "How do I make sure it's really you?"
Landon touched her lips. "With this."
Huh?
Landon bent his head, and as he brushed his lips against hers, he whispered, "You'll know it's me...the moment I kiss you."
Chapter One
Someday, she promised herself.
Someday, she'd be with Land again.
But for now...
Charlotte turned her gaze to the window, and a faint smile gradually formed over her lips. Her hotel was one of the few places in Tokyo that could guarantee stunning views of Mt. Fuji in days of clear weather. And even though it was supposed to rain today, the skies outside were a lovely shade of blue, and there was barely a cloud to hide the snow-capped peak of what was arguably Japan's most famous landmark.
She grabbed her iPhone and padded barefoot to the window to take a photo. She had never been the type to enjoy taking photos before, but ever since Land...went away, it had become her favorite way to cope.