Guys! Thanks so much for the reviews. This isn't a one-shot by the way. :) Still 3 chapters to go after this one. ;) Enjoy! I love you all to bits.

verse two: the lucky ones

iv.

The bell rings one Saturday night and Molly skips down the stairs to check who it is. She's still humming the lullaby she played on her flute for Zander over the phone the night before.

The bell rings again.

"Coming!" Molly calls. She opens the door to find no one there.

"What on-" She pauses. On their doorstep is a basket of sunflowers. She blushes at the sight. She picks them up and reads the note attached to the basket.

Guess what? These flowers didn't fall into a puddle or get blown away. Guess that means you're the one, Molly. ;)

Molly smiles. "Wow. I wonder who left these flowers for me," Molly says loudly. "Maybe it was Jared from next door. Or Keith. Or-"

"It is I, my lady," Zander says, jumping out from behind the bushes.

"Why, good sir!" Molly says, playing along. "How chivalrous of you to being me these lovely flowers."

Zander walks up to her doorstep and kisses the back of Molly's hand.

"Only the loveliest flowers for the loveliest lady," Zander says smiling. "But who the hell are Jared and Keith?" Zander adds, breaking the moment.

Molly laughs. "They're the kids four blocks down. Jared is 8 and Keith is 5."

"Whew, for a second there I thought I had competition," Zander says.

They enter the house and sit in the dining room.

"Are your parents home?" Zander asks.

"No. They have a business dinner or something," Molly replies.

"Shame. I like your parents."

Molly scoffs. "Please, Z. You only like them because they worship your singing skills."

"I'm not even going to deny that, Mi," Zander says.

"Who told you nicknaming me Mi was a good idea?" Molly asks.

"You call me Z. I thought I should call you Mi," Zander chirps.

"Fair enough," Molly says. "Anyway, you are just in time for dinner."

"Yay dinner date!" Zander says clapping his hands.

Molly tries to hide the amused look on her face. "Dear Lord, help me. I'm dating a five-year old."

"I am not five!" Zander says. "I am amazing."

"Sure you are, Z," Molly says. "Now shut up and eat."

Zander gasps exaggeratedly. "That is no language for a lady!"

Molly giggles despite herself.

Zander looks like he's the luckiest guy on Earth.

After they eat, Zander tells Molly he has another surprise.

"Really?" Molly says. "What else did you get me? A horse?" She says jokingly.

Zander shakes his head and grins. He leads her out to the patio beside the pool. The lights are off and the water is dark. The lights in the house are dim compared to the moonlight.

"Wait here, Mi," Zander says as he disappears.

"If you're going to push me in the pool again, I swear, this time I'm bringing you with me!" She yells into the night.

Suddenly, the lights in the house turn off.

"Zander!" Molly calls nervously. "What's going on?"

Suddenly the pool lights turn on and Molly's jaw drops open to see her pool glowing purple.

"Like it?" Zander says, suddenly right beside her.

"What did you do?" Molly says, awe-struck.

"Nothing major. Remember when you tried to dye your pool purple? I thought of a better idea. I just tinted the glass purple. I asked your mom's permission. You can always change the glass ba-"

Molly hugs Zander so tight it almost hurts to breathe.

"Thank you," She says. "It's beautiful."

She laughs and Zander closes his eyes and cherishes the moment.

"To the start of summer, and all the days to come," Zander whispers in her ear.

Molly pulls away from the hug and kisses Zander softly. "To infinity and beyond," She whispers back.

v.

They have their very own version of a summer romance.

They play hide-and-seek in the park and feed the ducks. They go horseback-riding on private trails. They convince their families to go to the beach where Zander builds sandcastles and writes Molly's name in the sand. Molly counts the stars as they lie on the shore at night and sings her heart out to Zander and the rumbling ocean.

Zander tells her he loves her. Molly tells him she loves him back.

Molly doesn't tell him she's not as perfect as he thinks.

Zander doesn't tell her he's transferring to Brewster High this coming school year.