My heart started beating faster as I walked up to Gabe’s house. Thankfully, it wasn’t him who answered the door. I was told he was in his room so I continued walking through his house and up the stairs. My heart started pounding by the time I was at his door. I knocked quietly and eventually heard footsteps shuffling across the room. I felt terrible when he opened the door and I saw the state that he was in. His eyes were puffy and his hair was disheveled, which it never was. “Natalie.” He said in a low voice. “Hi.” I said with a smile. I looked at him once again and saw that he was only wearing gym shorts. I blushed a little. Passed him I saw that his room was a mess. Books and school work covered his desk and bed and clothing covered his floor. He backed away from the doorway and I took that as my queue to come in. He cleared off his bed so we could both sit down.

We were sitting on his bed, awkwardly staring at the adjacent wall, until I decided to speak up. “I’ve missed you.” I said quietly, turning in his direction, but immediately regretted saying it because I felt so weak and vulnerable telling Gabe that I needed him. I began to worry when Gabe didn’t say anything back. Did his feelings change about me? My worries subsided when Gabe said he had missed me also. “I’m sorry I have been ignoring you,” Gabe said shortly after, “I just thought you needed some time away from me.” I looked at him and said, “I never need time away from you.” I could have sworn I saw him blush a little at this. The pink in his cheeks immediately went away as the confident Gabe I knew threw his arm around my shoulders, pulled me close to him, and said, “Good, I like having you around.” I enjoyed the moment I had with my head against his chest.

Then he let go and things went back to being awkward and serious. “I want to talk about what happened that night.” I exclaimed but Gabe just shook his head and said he didn’t want to talk about it and that we should forget what happened. “But I don’t want to forget.” I said stubbornly. Gabe sighed and gave in. “Fine, let’s talk about it.” I smiled contently, but it quickly faded as I tried to remember my speech I made up on the way here. “Gabe, I want to apologize for everything. I made you leave your date to pick me up and sit with me for hours while I cried and ruined your shirt with my makeup. I caused a fight between two good friends, and made you breakout into a fight at a charity game that I missed even though I promised to go, and most importantly, I apologize for lying to you. That night, I told you that I didn’t know what my feelings were and the pang in my heart as you left my house told me exactly how wrong I was. Unfortunately, I didn’t figure this all out until about 20 minutes ago, but I really do love you Gabe. A lot, actually. Sometimes I can’t even think straight when you’re around which was probably the main reason I lied to you that night but I have cleared my head and finally realized how much I need you in my life and want you to feel the same way I do. I always forced these feelings to the back of my head because I always thought, never in a million year would a guy like you like someone like me.”

Gabe looked at me and smiled. He tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear and said, “I am so damn lucky that an amazing girl like you would even have second thoughts about a guy like me.” He started leaning in and I did the same. Soon out lips were touching and he was kissing me for the first time. It felt good; it felt right. Those clichés about kissing the person you love is like fireworks being set off are so wrong. Fireworks don’t even compare to the feeling of kissing Gabe. We broke apart eventually and Gabe rested his forehead against mine. “I love you, Natalie,” Gabe whispered sweetly in my ear. “I love you too, Gabe,” I whispered back and kissed him again.