We were so out of place with our outfits, but we didn't care. It took a while to wipe that red lipstick off my lips, and seemingly I wasn't so successful at that because my lips still looked red—or they were swollen because of the kiss.

Whenever our eyes touched, we started laughing so that you could think there was a funny joke between us. There was, the whole thing was a joke for me. It was like a dream that I didn't want to wake up—or I felt like Prince Charming was going to lose Cinderella when the clock struck twelve.

That never happened, though. Abby was with me all night and beyond. When we lay together under the moonlight, I kissed her again, and she didn't look at me like we were doing something unorthodox. She kissed me back. Her breath lulled me to sleep, and the last word I uttered before the sleep enveloped me was: "I love you."

It was like once a secret was out, you wanted to repeat it again and again until you believed it was over—all the dark days that you had to hide your feelings under a rock, making sure they didn't face the sunlight. Now they were in the open; they wanted to surface whenever they found an opportunity.

I had dreamed of the very first morning I woke up beside Abby. Though this wasn't the first time, it was the first time that she acknowledged my feelings and still lay beside me. When I awakened, she was still in a deep sleep, her soft breaths close to my ear.

I was suddenly filled with an urge to text everyone that I loved Abby. Including Roy. I pushed the thought aside quickly, though, to relish this moment alone for longer, in fact, for the rest of the trip. I wanted this to only belong to us as it ought to be.

I didn't move an inch until she woke up, watching her in her sleep, sometimes blinking several times to assure myself that it wasn't a stupid dream again. It was how it felt—it would feel so for a while until I adjusted to that beautiful smile of hers—kissing her, hugging her. Without contemplating whether she thought differently about my actions.

I was staring at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts, so I missed her open eyes watching me curiously. I just noticed she'd woken up a while ago when I dropped my gaze down at her. "Morning," I said smilingly.

She watched me for a while, then let out a muffled sigh. "Morning." Rubbing her eyes, she tilted her body and looked down at me. "I still think, at some point, you'll say you were pranking on me, and last night was a terrible joke."

I leaned back against the head of the bed and held her gaze. She looked anxious, but I couldn't see the point in thinking I would be joking last night. Why would I joke about this matter? Didn't she notice that I made a considerable effort and prepared her a mixtape, and even this trip was to only confess to her in the first place? "Why would I joke about it?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "But it doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't make sense?"

"You...being in love with me." She shook her head in dismiss. "I mean, it's bizarre, isn't it?"

"You don't make sense, Abby," I said, followed by a long sigh. "I love you. I don't know what will convince you to believe it, but it's true."

"You can't see, can you?" She said, scooting closer to the bed. "I was the one who had to watch other girls swoon after you in the restrooms and halls, and I was the one who was friend-zoned from the very beginning, so I had to smile whenever someone said they liked you. You are my George, but you're also George Shaw—do you see the difference? I do. And do you know what else stuns me? You, as both, love me. That's what makes it bizarre. I don't mean I don't believe you. I mean, it's too much for someone like me."

"Someone like you?"

She shrugged. "A wallflower."

I shook my head, and she frowned. "There's something you neglect." Her frown got deeper. "I always thought I was nothing for you. You may be a wallflower, but you were the only one I saw in the whole room."

At least I told her that I loved her a dozen times, but she didn't even say it back. I didn't know after this point. "I'm not used to you being this romantic."

"I'm not romantic with anyone else."

Abby suddenly moved towards me, straddling my waist. That was uncalled for and got me in the worst time. By the look on her face, she wasn't aware of the effect it left on me. Smoothening my hair with her fingers, she whispered, "I love you back."

It was so hoarse, so soft that I thought I made it up for a while. "What?"

"I love you back," she repeated, looking at me this time. "I think I've loved you for a while—a long, long while. When we kissed at the back of the car that night, I stupidly believed that you felt the same, but then, you just walked away, and I was back to my misery. I cursed myself for thinking that you could like me. Then, I called Roy. I'd rather have him here than hear you that the kiss meant nothing. I thought you'd also be content because this way you didn't have to have a talk with me over that. But you looked irritated...I thought it was how I wanted to believe—from the bottom of my heart. You can say I always thought the worst of you not to hurt myself in the end. That's why I still can't believe you... love me."

"I backed off that night because I thought you'd think I used you. I didn't know if you were reasoning or if the drugs drove you. I didn't want to ruin the things between us."

"So many misunderstandings," she replied. "But it's over now."

"Yes."

As I wrapped a hand around her waist, I pulled her closer until our lips were murmurs away. If she felt me up there, she didn't say anything but pressed her lips against mine. Abby Whittaker loved me back. Each thought worked me up over my undoing. From slow to impatient, our kisses grew gradually. I slowly pulled the hem up to touch the bare spot under her top. I didn't know where this was leading, but there was no energy in me to hold back anymore.

A quiet gasp left her mouth when I twisted her around so that I was on the top, but she soon regained her power and pulled me down to meet her lips. When she placed her hands on my chest, something went off—interrupting us. I looked over my shoulder to see my alarm go off.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath, leaning forward to stop it.

"What's that?" She asked, straightening her back.

"I set the alarm in case we slept in."

"Right," she said, running a hand through her hair. "We should get ready, then."

"We don't have to," I murmured in protest. "We can take a day off."

Throwing me a look, she walked to the bathroom, and I knew it was over...for the time being. Still, under the effect of our session, I wished I had canceled the alarm earlier. Life always worked against me.

Next, she came out, brushing her teeth. Inspired by a naughty idea, I went inside and grabbed my toothbrush, applying some paste to it. She frowned when she saw me brushing my teeth as well. She said something but, of course; I didn't understand a word. "Huh?" I replied with a muffled sound, and she shook her head dismissively.

I suddenly put some paste on her cheek, taking her off guard. Trying to wipe the toothpaste off her cheek, she looked angry—but cute angry—and she managed to wipe some off with her hand and brushed it against my cheek. That started the toothpaste wars—and ended up with both of us in toothpaste and laughing.

"You just caused us an hour delay," she said once we were in the car after a shower—separately though I teased her—she didn't sound angry at all. We had fun, as we always did, but the tension between us was no longer there. There was a relaxing effect that confession provided, so she was no longer holding back or calculating, and neither was I.

"What's our route today?" I asked.

"A short drive today," she informed me, looking through the map. "Because...Grand Canyon! We can spend a long day there. First, we will stop by Bellemont."

"Cool," I replied, driving off in that direction. "Abby," I said next, all of a sudden. She raised her gaze at me in question, wondering what I was about to tell. That was so obvious, and there was an underlying fear in her eyes, which reminded me of her saying she thought I would announce that it was a terrible joke. I wasn't that cruel, though the idea of scaring her off was tempting, so I went with what had been in my mind all along. "I love you."

The fear in Abby's eyes disappeared suddenly, like the Sun shining bright after the clouds. She beamed at me, her hand hovering over mine with tenderness. "I love you back. I do."

And that got me thinking why I didn't tell her earlier if it was going to be so sweet, so beautiful. Fuck you, George, I thought to myself, but you're still a lucky beast.

The road to Bellemont was quiet, for we both didn't need to talk anymore, with everything said and done. A nice tune accompanied us, or every song started to become beautiful to me after all. "Will you stay in the dorms or at home?"

I shrugged my shoulders. I hadn't given a thought about college. I was too focused on making this trip right that I didn't have time to think beyond. I think I could plan those stuff after Abby was gone, and the reality of her absence sank in. "Probably dorms," I replied, though, "I want to have a real college experience."

"I'm thrilled to be leaving that house, George," she suddenly said, looking out of the window. "Now, with a baby in the equation, the last thing I want is to tolerate Susan. I bet she'll be whining about the baby and make our lives miserable. I feel sorry for Dad, but he should have thought better than making a baby from a woman half his age."

"Aren't you exaggerating? Susan is thirty."

"So, what? Dad is fifty." She let out a huff. "And they have been married for three years. Can you believe it? I'd not marry someone in his forties if I were in my twenties. That's sick as hell. I know she's married because he's loaded, but my father is so fucking blind to see."

I squeezed her hand. "I'm with you—you know that, right? I'm not going anywhere." I could see that her biggest fear was to be alone; for her father to suddenly focus on the new baby and his wife than on his first daughter. After Abby's mother's death, she couldn't shake the feeling of being so alone—and her father's marriage only added up.

Sighing, she, replied, "I know. Thank you, George. You're the only good thing in my life right now." That was flattering to know but I didn't tell her anything else. The warmth of her hand wiped away all the worry in my heart, and I hoped my hand had the same effect on her. Love was the cure to any problems, and I knew, together, there was nothing we wouldn't solve.

When we arrived in Bellemont, her spirits were higher than before. We went around the center, looked at the shops, and I purchased some gifts for my parents after her insistence. I didn't see a point in giving them a keychain or so but she said they would feel valuable. During the walk, she didn't pull her hand once, holding mine with the same will and tightness until we had to get back into the car.

A part of me wanted to stop the car and kiss her, but the reasonable part convinced me to keep going and keep it lowkey. I couldn't really think straight anymore; my mind was only on Abby. This sudden flood of thoughts made me crave nicotine but if I smoked now, that would disappoint her, and the last thing I wanted was that. I wanted to be the person she could rely on at any time, that she could love and trust, that she considered as her haven and beyond. I wanted to be hers, and for her to be mine. Always. I knew these thoughts weren't something I could voice right now, because, at this age, it was really strange to have solid plans for the future. I didn't have solid plans, actually, I just knew whatever I was doing, I wanted Abby by my side. I wanted to support her through her life, her ambitions, and her successes. She deserved the best in the world, and I wanted to be the one she hugged first when she achieved her goals one by one.

I wanted to be her rock. Solid, permanent, and hers. Only hers.

***

Hey people!

We have entered The Sweet Era after all the struggle, misunderstandings, and sexual tension. Sit back and have fun; we all deserved it! 😉

Writing earlier chapters have been a delight but I gotta admit I LOVE them like this, and hope you do, too. Things are easier and less awkward when your lover is your best friend.

❤️

Please don't forget to and let me know your thoughts!

Sev xx