As Courtney watched me with expectant eyes, I decided it was probably about time I said something.

"I have some things to talk to you about, yeah. I was mostly thinking about kissing you, though," I rambled. I rambled when I was nervous around someone and my girlfriend was of no exception to that rule. In fact, I was fairly sure I felt more nervous around her than anyone else. That was something that simply came second to liking her as much as I did, though.

Courtney released a gentle chuckle, as she moved in a little closer to gently hold my neck with one of her hands, as she trailed her other hand through my hair. She pressed her lips to my own and I found myself kissing her back instinctively. My mind was still a mess of my thoughts but when she was kissing me, it became silent for some time. I realised in that moment that everything that I had felt the past few months was so real. The three words that I wanted to say were on the edge of my tongue. I just had to work up the courage to say them out loud.

I moved back from the kiss and smiled. Courtney was smiling, too. I wished that I could take better mental photographs of that smile, so I could remember it forever or put it in some kind of mental scrapbook.

Courtney moved forward to wrap her arms around me and gently traced her hand down my spine.

"Are you okay, Phoebe? What did you need to talk to me about?" she asked me, as that same thoughtful expression appeared on her face again, when she drew back from the hug. "You know, whatever it is, I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere."

"It's not a bad thing," I said.

Courtney breathed out in relief then.

"Well, good, good! I'm glad it's not," she stated.

"Do you want to stay here today?" I asked her.

"Duh. When do I not want to spend the entire day with my gorgeous girlfriend?" she asked in return.

I felt the corner of my lip lift at her kind words.

"I know that the future is bright for us, Phoebe. I can just tell," she said. "I can tell because I feel something for you that I haven't felt for someone before in my life. I mean...it's not every day that I decide to draw a picture of a girl for an art project, you know? You're special to me and you always will be. You're my best friend and so much more."

"Well, I'll always be here for you too, Courtney. I want to give you everything you deserve. I know thing haven't been easy for you but I will always be here to be your friend and your girlfriend and your partner in crime," I said, as a smile made its way onto Courtney's face again and her pupils seemed to dilate slightly, too.

"I'm afraid I wasn't fair on you when we first met, Phoebe. I...If I had given you a real chance to be my friend, I would have realised how incredible you are so much sooner. You say that you want to give me everything I deserve and well, you deserve all the love in the world," Courtney said, as she gently squeezed my shoulder. "And, well..." she led off then, as though she was considering whether she wanted to say what she had on her mind. Perhaps she was working up the courage to say it.

"I love you," I said then.

Courtney's cheeks reddened.

"You do? I mean...you really do?" she asked me.

"Yes," I said, as a grin worked its way onto my face. "I thought that much was obvious."

"Not at all. I thought I was the one being a gay disaster..." Courtney trailed off.

I smirked in amusement at her words. The two of us had been so clueless. We had been so worried to say those words and now that I had finally said them, I felt a little lighter.

"I love you too, Phoebe," Courtney replied.

I felt as though my heart was going to burst with how fast it was going, but at the same time I had never felt happier in my life.

I moved a little closer, so I could grab a hold of Courtney's jacket and pulled her into me, so I could kiss her again. I tasted the vanilla lip balm on her lips and felt my heart beating steadily in my chest. Courtney kissed me and the two of us slowly fell back against the mattress of my bed. Courtney chuckled and then pressed her lips against mine again, as her hands trailed through my hair.

Eventually, she stood up and held her hand out for me. I took it and then jumped up so I could wind my legs around her waist and kissed her again.

"Are you sure you're happy, even though your dad-" I started to say.

Courtney kissed me again, interrupting my words. Once she had pulled back from the kiss again, she gave a slight shake of her head.

"Forget about that, alright? It's not fair for you to worry. I'll fight my own battles but...Phoebe, I love you. I won't let anyone get in the way of that. I don't care what I have to deal with, as long as you're happy. Like I said, I'm loyal to you and you're one of the most incredible girls I have ever met. You're worth keeping a hold of, Phoebe."

"I love you and I will always be here for you. No matter what happens, we're going to be okay. I'll do whatever I need to make sure things are okay," I told her with sincerity.

"My will is too strong to let anything stop us from being together. You're all I want," Courtney whispered into my ear, as she placed me back down on the ground.

I felt a little dizzy on my happiness but I wouldn't change the moment in any way.

Courtney placed a hand on my cheek and her eyes became affectionate as she spoke again.

"We're going to be okay, you and I. A lot can happen in a lifetime, Phoebe, but I believe that you and I are going to be together for a long time. In all honesty, you make me the happiest I have been in so long. You look out for me and I look out for you and that's why it is so easy to love you, Phoebe," she said, as she wound her arms around my waist.

"We've got this, Courtney," I vowed, as warmth filled my voice.

"We do. We can trust each other and I promise you, for as long as I love you, we're going to be okay," Courtney said.

I nodded in agreement. "I love you," I said again. It was strange how I had been so anxious to say and hear those words before, but now they were like music to my ears.

Courtney's eyes brightened with joy, as she moved her face towards mine to kiss me again and I felt my heart swell with contentment.