YES!

We were both quiet during the ride home. I just want to relish this moment with him. I looked at his profile while he was driving and I can see that he was concentrating on the road with a slight frown on his face. He startled me when he pulled to the side and said, "Is it okay if we stop and talk for a while?" I noticed we were by the park near my house. "There's something I really, really want to tell you."

I nodded and he turned off the engine. He is making me nervous all of a sudden.

"You know Cassie," he began, shifting in his seat so he can face me a bit which was really hard because of the bucket seats. "I don't know how to begin or how to say this..." he cleared his throat "...but I think I'm in love with you. You're so different from the other girls I've ever been with. With you, I feel like I can be myself and I find myself letting all my barriers down. Like earlier, I haven't shared that part of me with anyone else but I just suddenly had this urge to tell you everything." He took my hands in his, "With you I never have to be Raiden, the jock, the popular guy, the cool guy or the rich kid. Around you, I can just be plain old Raiden and I know that you will have no issues with that whatsoever. I can be a nobody and you would not care one bit." He paused, "Look, what I'm trying to say here is...uh..." he took a deep breath and held my hands tighter, ...will you be my girlfriend?"

That took my breath away and I was not able to respond right away.

"Cassie?"

"Uh...I... I'd love to be your girlfriend." With that he let go of my hand and opened the center console. He took out a blue box. When he opened it, there were two silver rings with our names. Cassie and Raiden and in between our names, a tiny panda was carved too.

"Raiden!" I was surprised. "They're beautiful!"

"Not as beautiful as you. Do you like it?"

My eyes were tearing up. "I love it!" But how did you know I'm gonna say yes tonight?"

"I didn't but I was gonna keep asking until you said yes."

I don't remember feeling this giddy with Jeremy. The feeling that all the blood in your body is rushing to your brain and your heart pumping really fast that it's scaring you. Maybe this is what love feels like. I waited for my kiss but it still did not come, he just drove me home.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening. This one's for the books." I said as he walked me to the front door.

"Thank you for making it wonderful for me." He cupped my face in his hands and my heart started to go wild again. I don't know if I'm dreading the kiss or if I'm excited. He leaned over slowly and I readied myself, but to my surprise, the kiss landed on my forehead. "Goodnight Cassie, dream of me."

"Goodnight." I smiled with my emotions all mixed up. I was relieved but somehow disappointed with that kiss. I don't think I'm a good kisser, Jeremy and I seldom get alone time with Therese and Jason always being around that I feel like his sister or friend sometimes.

Raiden waited until I got safely through the front door before going back to his car and I was halfway up the stairs when I heard him leave. Today was very eventful and I slept like a log.