I woke up and checked my phone expecting to see my photos posted everywhere. But there was nothing, not a single threatening text or post. Maybe I was just being paranoid.

I missed the after-party last night for nothing. I couldn't let these bullies continue to control me. I got up and did my makeup as if nothing was wrong. Ignoring the anxiety washing over me I put on some light wash jeans with a cute Princess Polly top I had been meaning to wear. I even curled my hair. If I faked that everything was okay, maybe I would start to believe it was.

Classes dragged on all day, I kept checking my phone every five seconds in case I was tagged in something. But still, nothing happened, I was beginning to think that maybe I had made up seeing Sierra and Emily converse. I grabbed my bag and hightailed it out of the building as soon as my last class ended.

You know that feeling you get when you feel like everyone is watching you?

A sense of dread and stares burning into your back. The feeling that you're paranoid yet you're very sure that everyone is watching you, staring, talking about you. Well as soon as I exited my contract law class, I felt that feeling, it hit me like a harsh fountain of cold water.

I was so deep in thought walking back to the dorms that I didn't notice someone had fallen in step with me. I knew who it was before I looked.

"Earth to Jules" Warner waved his hand in front of my face.

"Sorry" I mumbled.

"What I wouldn't pay to know what goes on in that head of yours." He chuckles.

"Usually nightmares about how you pushed me from a tree like this when we were nine. I almost broke my arm and I had to miss my piano recital." I pointed at a nearby tree.

"It wasn't this tree." He says defensively, pointing to the whooping willow behind us. I shake my head and smile at the sudden embarrassment on his face. Is he feeling bad?

"I didn't think you would actually fall." He says softly

"It's okay it's been nine years, and I think I'm over it by now." I chuckle and he laughs with me. Much as I used to want to, I don't like making him feel guilty anymore. It's apparent that he feels bad for all the times he's bullied me in the past but ever since he saw me at University he's been different. I don't know why but most of the time I think it's because he feels sorry for me.

"Well, you disappeared last night after the game. Did something happen?" he put his finger under my chin and forced me to actually look at him. God, why did he know me so well?

When he looked at me it was like he was searching my brain for information. Like just from one look he knew exactly what was wrong and that scared me. It scared me how just having him next to me comforted me and made me less anxious.

"Are you okay?" he searched my eyes with worry written all over his face.

It's like when you keep telling yourself you are fine and then that one person asks you if you are okay and all the tears you have been trying to keep inside come bursting out. I was fine until he asked me if I was fine. I managed to compose myself and give him a nod, he didn't buy it but he didn't press me for information either.

Instead, we walked back to the dorm together and decided it was the perfect day for our floor to have a movie night of my favourite movie series. Which meant a Twilight marathon, growing up I had an obsession with Twilight, both the books and the movies. My room was filled with posters and I slept with a blanket that had Edward and Jacob on it. Even now that I was older I liked to rewatch the movies, they were my guilty pleasure. So the fact that Warner was willing to watch them with me just to cheer me up made me happier than he probably knew.

I put on a tank top and some Victoria's secret pyjama pants with pink stripes. I matched the fit with some comfy slippers and walked out to see everyone sprawled out in the common room. Winston and Abby were cuddled up on the couch next to a table filled with movie snacks.

I was surprised to see almost everyone on the floor had turned up including a few people I didn't know so well. A quieter girl named Emma was in cute polka dot pyjamas sitting next to a guy named Max who I had spoken to a few times in passing. They both gave me a wave and I smiled back.

Adam was nowhere to be seen but I didn't mind as I assumed it would still be pretty awkward after yesterday.

I sat down on the couch that Winston and Abby were on, happy to be a third wheel as long as I got a good view of the screen. Warner had entered the room and suddenly I wished I had worn more than a tank top because I could feel his gaze on me.

"Okay movie time, Twilight marathon starts now!" Abby grabbed the remote and was about to press play but Warner stopped her.

"Wait I need to make the popcorn!" Warner exclaimed setting down more snacks and refreshments on the coffee table.

"We don't need popcorn we have so many snacks already!" I gestured to the table that was already full of chocolate, candy and chips. Jiggly Juliet was in heaven.

"Popcorn creates a cinematic feel, Jules. I'm making it."

"I'll do it" I offered getting up from the sofa. This way I could control how much butter and salt he put on the popcorn, I couldn't handle not being in control of the food I ate. I put the bag in the microwave for 4 minutes..that was a normal time, right? I waited impatiently in the kitchen, I couldn't wait to find out whether Warner was team Edward or team Jacob.

"Oh, oh," Warner said from the couch "You got the fire department on speed dial right?" He looked at Abby.

Abby nodded.

"Be ready to dial"

I shot him a look. I wasn't that bad of a cook...

"Sorry Jules but I have seen you cook, you burn toast. I am pretty sure I even saw you mess up scrambled eggs once."

I feign hurt. "You're exaggerating"

He shook his head, just as the smell of something burning drifted toward us.

I hurriedly got up and rushed to the kitchen pulling a smoky black bag of popcorn out of the microwave.

"How do you like it?" I turn to them. "Crispy black or charcoal?"

Everyone bursts into laughter and I couldn't help but join in. Perhaps Warner was right and I should just stick to what I do best...eating the food.

And for the first time in a while I did, I sat and watched the movies and when Warner sat next to me and passed me my favourite candy I didn't swat it away I took a piece and ate it.

"I know Swedish berries are your favourite" he smiled passing me the bag. I used to hide bags of them in my locker because I couldn't go a whole school day without them.

When I looked at the array of snacks on the table I noticed a common theme, all of the snacks were my personal favourites. But Warner couldn't possibly have done all this for me right?

________

The movie marathon was exactly what I needed, I didn't think about Sierra, Emily or Adam. However, most of my thoughts were about Warner and how close in proximity he was. We were sat next to each other on the couch not even touching and my chest was pounding. If I shifted even a little to the side my arm would brush his. His hand was on his knee and if he just moved his hand a little to the right it would land on my thigh.

I could barely focus on the movie at times because I wanted him to move his hand, I wanted him to touch me. God, I was turning into such a horn dog. I had never felt this way before, I had never wanted someone's touch like this.

Clearly, my love language was acts of service because every time Warner did stuff for me I wanted to kiss him more and more. From defending me against Emily, the dress for Halloween and planning a whole movie night around my favourite things I wanted to jump his bones. Which was funny considering I was an inexperienced virgin who didn't even know how to jump someone's bones.

When everyone decides to call it a night I stay back to help Warner clean up which was really just an excuse to be alone with him.

"Thank you for tonight. I really needed this" I throw out some empty chip bags and smile at Warner who is putting the drinks back in the fridge.

"You're worth it" he smiled back at me referencing what he said to me yesterday at the field.

The vibe between us feels different. It's the first time we have really looked at each other without feeling like we have to look away.

"So why did you do all this for me?" he looks annoyed at my question.

"You know for a bright girl you can be really daft sometimes."

"W-what do you mean?" my voice comes out shaky.

"When you like somebody proximity is a good thing regardless of how they feel about you or don't," he says matter of factly but I almost drop the plate in my hand. Did I just hear him correctly?

I stand there like an absolute idiot, with no response. Alarm bells ring in my head. This is happening, I try to think of some snarky comment but I can't.

"You know I don't think I can sit back much longer and hear you say there is nothing going on between us. I know this isn't one-sided" Warner steps towards me and I am glad he is doing all of the talking because I have gone mute. I kind of want to pinch myself in case I am dreaming, I could've fallen asleep during the movie and this is all in my imagination.

I wanted this I did but it was hard for me. Hard for me to put myself out there after all those years of torment. There was a constant voice in the back of my head telling me this was some sort of joke, that Emily and Sierra had told Warner to do this. To make me fall for him and then break my heart. The fact that he might actually like me just didn't seem possible.

He is right in front of me now. I wonder if he can see how fast my heart is beating. I wonder if he can tell that I just want to grab him by the neck and mash our mouths together. I wonder when he'll realize that I'm not brave enough, confident enough to actually do what I want to, especially with him.

"Don't look at me like that" Warner sounded a bit breathless

"What do you want from me?" I manage to get the words out.

"I just want you" Warner cups my face between his palms. I'm forced to look into his eyes and what I see puts me at ease. He looks...he looks at me like I'm the most important thing in the world like I'm the most important thing in his world. The look is staggering.

"I will leave you alone if you want, is that what you want?" I want to shake my head no but I am scared if I move this dream will end. "Do you know why ill leave you alone? Because I care about your feelings more than mine"

"I don't want you to leave me alone," I say hoarsely and his eyes fill with so much happiness that my heart squeezes with joy.

"You don't?"

I nod, smiling at his disbelief time and time again, he does things or says things that show me that he cares about me. I don't do that quite as often. Maybe it's because of my shyness or maybe it's because I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But then again, how much more does he need to do to make me believe that he's not going to break my heart?

"You can't look at me like that and expect me not to kiss you" Warner stares into my eyes as if seeking permission. I all but throw myself at him linking my arms around his neck. Gulping audibly, I move closer not knowing where the bravado is coming from.

"I need to hear you say it" his voice is so low and gruff that I almost don't hear him speak.

Another gulp.

He inches his face nearer, one hand lifting from my face to cup my cheek and the other going to the back of my neck and angling my face closer to his.

I concentrate on his smouldering eyes. I never want to forget this moment and if I get amnesia and the only memory I can retain is this one, I'll die a happy woman.

"Kiss me" I breathe out.

"God, I've been dying to do this for years." He breathes and then in a split second, he closes the space between us and presses his lips against mine.

You spend your whole life waiting for that perfect moment, for that perfect boy and the perfect kiss. You read the novels, watch the movies and dream about the endless possibilities but let me tell you one thing. Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing can come close to the feelings that course through you when it actually happens.

Every thought, every carefully pre-planned move I had flew right out the window as soon as Warner's lips touched mine. They are everything I could've imagined but even more. My eyes flutter shut as like the ghost of a touch he brushes them against mine, once, twice and then a couple of times more until I'm almost ready to beg for more. His hands still gently cradle my head and I'm afraid to move like if I even shifted slightly I'd ruin this amazing, magical, mind-blowing moment.

Then it happens. His lips touch mine with an increased pressure and I respond almost immediately. I don't know what I'm doing as I have only been kissed once or twice by Adam but I've seen enough movies to have a general idea. Our lips begin to move in sync and fireworks burst behind my eyelids. Oh god, this feels so good. Why haven't we done this before?

I gain encouragement from how he's not pulling away. It means I'm not potentially that bad right? My hands travel up his chest and one comes to rest just above his heart. It's hammering away and the thirteen-year-old inside me is squealing with joy because I know I affect him like this. He moans into my mouth and it's the best sound I've ever heard. Thrilled by his response I curl my arms around his neck and press myself closer to him. The need to mould myself into him is as foreign as it is urgent but he seems to be on the same page. We kiss slowly and languidly as he pulls me into his lip. My skin sears where it touches him and jolts of electricity shoot through me. It's the most wondrous feeling on earth.

The need to actually breathe is what causes us to pull apart. Stupid human weakness for air, I want to pout because I never ever wanted to stop. But I guess since we're both breathing heavily, we needed to stop.

"Woah." Warner rasps and rests his forehead against mine and I can't help the grin that spread across my face. He liked it! He liked our kiss! Warner, the guy who has probably been with more girls than I'd like to figure out liked kissing me!

If both of us smile any wider, our cheeks might not be able to handle it. I touch my still tingling lips and stare at Warner, completely awestruck. The way I'm feeling can't be described.

Warner cups my face and his gaze zeroes in on my thumb which is still tracing my bottom lip. I see his eyes darken and he leans in again. My insides melt away in a flurry as I prepare myself for round two, this time feeling more prepared.

A cough sends us flying apart. Warner curses under his breath jumping back into one of the chairs. I grab a bowl of chips to look like I was putting away some more of the snacks, whilst Warner grabs a random book from the counter and pretends to be reading it. But I knew we had already been caught red-handed.

Abby was standing in the middle of the common room and the smile on her face said that she saw it all and she was quite happy about it.

Suffice to say I was redder than Rudolph's nose