Flag 9

- Elizabeth Andrews -

She steps out of the bathroom door. She points to me, "Your turn!", she says.

I lift myself up and stumble to my feet and proceed inside the shower.

- Amber Hills -

I fall into the sheets of Lizzie's bed. Her room feels so much warmer than mine. My eyes scan the room and are met with baby pictures and I can't help but smile.

I hear vibrations coming from my phone on the nightstand. The screen lits up and it's Hayden but what's new? I choose to ignore his messages. My stare holds onto the stars on the ceiling, patiently waiting for Lizzie. The warm covers of her queen-sized bed, its soft white pillows laid out perfectly, the comfort they all bring together and the fact that I get to spend the night with her is all that matters to me.

The bathroom door creaks open and I sit myself up. Ocean eyes with streaks of gold, dyed raven hair done in a messy bun, loose strands that fall perfectly over her face, lips curling up to form an adorable grin. She's the definition of beauty, the living proof of how human beings could be works of art.

She shuts the lights off and the stars once again, turn to glimmers. She moves to lay herself down next to me.

"Have you read Hayden's messages? Your phone was kinda vibrating when you were in the shower," she says.

"Yeah, those don't really matter to me right now."

She lets out a little chuckle, "Everyone's falling for you," she says softly.

My heart jumps in surprise. I turn to face her.

- Elizabeth Andrews -

"I--I--W--Wha--What?" She says flustered. It's cute.

Everyone truly is falling for her, me included. I just wish it's me she falls for. My right hand moves grazing her left arm down to her left hand. My fingers lace hers, I squeeze them tight.

(Hurry up and fall for me.)

I gently put her hand on my waist and pull myself in a little closer. Our faces, only a few inches apart, I bite my lip and sigh. Her auburn eyes look at me in awe. I give her a soft grin and I cup her left cheek.

Her face is painted in soft pink.

Is your heart finally beating for me?

"Liz--," I cut her off.

This is me making a move.

"Everyone's falling for you... but who could blame them?" My heart beats ten times quicker. I bite my lip as she looks at me intently.

"You make it easy."

She really does make it easy. My heart pounds wildly.

The way her lips curve into a smile that's extremely contagious, how her nose crinkles up when she laughs, the deep rasp of her voice and how it grew to become my favorite sound and her eyes, my favorite eyes that look at me like I'm somebody special but apart from her beauty, she means everything to me. Everything she does always leave traces that excite me like the feel of her skin and the warmth and security she gives when her arms are wrapped over me or simply when she's breathing the same air in the same room.

She means everything to me.

I've never truly allowed myself to dive into someone this deep but she makes it easy. She erases my fears completely. She could welcome anybody into her life and make them walk out guilty.

I used to look down on myself every damn time. I convinced myself to choose being alone and work independently. I indulged myself into sitting in lonely benches underneath shade trees and found the quiet calming. I thought I didn't need anything else until she came along. She's practically a storm that rained down more people in my life when she welcomed me into our circle. She gave me so much to treasure and that, I'm grateful for. She gave me a purpose, a reason not to waste anything. She pushes me to become a better version of myself each day. She showed me true happiness. Weeks and months have passed, we grew closer and I began catching feelings for her. I started feeling the need to give her everything she deserves and perhaps, all I truly needed was this storm to make my life worth living.

"You make it so easy, Amber. You go out your way just to save people disregarding your own feelings. You truly are a good person and you NEED to see that," I give her a soft smile.

"Goodnight," before I doze off, I land a gentle kiss on her forehead.

It's my turn to make your heart beat.

- Amber Hills -

That was a whole new side of Lizzie but I didn't hate it but then again, who am I kidding? It's impossible for me to hate her.

I like YOU, Liz.

Words I wish to say and feelings I wish would stay.

But I have to stop myself from falling any deeper. I've decided that I can't risk it. I like this. I like how we are now.

Close friends.

Friends.

Just friends.

And I'm leaving soon.

"G'night Liz," I whisper.