8

"Are you two ok? You've been acting kinda weird today," Soph asks as we finish up cleaning the shop. Daniella is waiting for me outside to take me home when I'm done with my shift and hopefully have that conversation we've been meaning to have. That is if she doesn't run away from it again.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," I say dismissing her worried face. "How are things going with you and Jenny?"

"Good? It feels a little weird."

"How so?"

"I feel like she has been avoiding me," she sighs, leaning on the counter.

"Maybe she's just a little confused or overwhelmed, give her some time."

"Well, she'll be leaving soon to college."

"I thought she'd stay in Arizona."

"I thought so too but she's moving to California."

"That's not that far," I say trying to brighten her mood.

"We're not dating or anything, I don't want to make her feel like I'm pulling her down or something."

"That's ridiculous, Soph. It's visible that she likes you, don't you?"

"A little bit?"

"Shut up," I say hitting her with my broom making her squeal. "Liar!"

"Ugh, you'll never get it out of my mouth!"

"I don't need to, you already admitted it."

"Shut up and leave, go to your girlfriend before she comes back to get you. I can feel her stare trespassing the walls and all laws of physics."

"Just think about it, Soph. You can't let her leave without telling her you want to walk down a church aisle dressed in white one day with her."

"That will make her block me in all her social media."

"Not denying? Cute," I say, sprinting away before she could hit me with something.

I quickly change and I can't help but feel nervous as I walk out of the shop and towards her car, Daniella's eyes are on me the whole time and I can sense that she's trying to read my emotions.

"I'm sorry for making you wait, today was a busy day," I say, reaching up to her and placing a quick kiss on her lips.

"Don't worry, I came way too early," she says simply with a small smile. "To your house?"

"Yeah, I think my dad might put up missing posters throughout the city with pictures of me if I sleepover at your house one more night."

"Haven't you been telling him you were with me?"

"Of course, but you know him, he's dramatic like that."

She lets out a small laugh as she turns on the engine. "How was work?" she asks, obviously trying to keep the conversation going as a way to see if I'm mad at her or not. And to probably discover what it is that I want to talk about beforehand.

I'm not exactly mad at her, if anything, I'm confused.

"It was good. Is Lucia home already?" I ask seeing something in her face change.

"No, she didn't want to leave before Edward."

"That's very romantic," I say and I can't help but smile even though she doesn't quite reciprocate it. "I have to visit them, I haven't seen Ed in a while. How is he doing?"

"Good," she says simply. "We can go together next weekend."

"I was thinking about going tomorrow, I've been missing him."

"He misses you too," she says with a small smile. A smile that held something I recognize, something I've never liked.

Pity.

I don't really have time to question it, fortunately, or unfortunately, it was a rather quick drive to my house. I can feel Daniella tensing up as she parks her car in one of the parking spaces.

"Dad won't be home until later this evening," I say opening the door, letting her come in first. "Are you hungry, thirsty?"

"I'm good."

"Then, let's go upstairs," I say, not really waiting for a response and just walking up to my room as she follows close behind.

"Is this about the other night?" she asks once I close the door behind her.

"Yes, but not only."

"I understand," she says sitting down on the edge of my bed. "Before anything, I know that there's still a lot of things I have to work on myself."

"Is honesty one of those things?" I ask, taking her by surprise. She's silent for a few seconds.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw the note, the one I gave you at the end of the graduation ceremony."

"I..." she starts but makes no effort in finishing her sentence. Silence overtakes us once again.

"Why did you hide it from me? Why do you hide everything from me?"

"I didn't want to hurt you."

"You're hurting me more now," I say, my throat is feeling tight and I know my eyes will sooner or later give me away.

"That was not my intention," she says getting up and walking up to me.

"Just tell me the truth, Daniella, please."

"I will," she whispers, wrapping her arms around me and holding me tightly. Her head rests on top of mine while mine rests against her chest, her heart is a beating mess and I can feel a slight tremble from her body. "I'm scared you'll leave and I'll be left with my stupid feelings, yet I keep giving you reasons to leave, don't I?"

"I'm not going anywhere, I just want to understand you."

"I don't quite understand myself," she lets out a humorless laugh. "At that time, I didn't want to make it too official in my own head, just in case it didn't work out. That's the truth about the note."

"So you just thought it was ok to lead me on? thinking we were happily dating —" I barely manage to say, I want to get out of her embrace but she holds me tighter. "While you were overthinking us this whole time."

"Anna—"

"At least look at me while you talk."

She doesn't say anything, she simply lets out a shaky breath, just then I feel it. Something wet dropping on top of my head. "You're right, I can't say you're not, because you truly are," she says in a shaky whisper. She holds my chin making me look up at her, another tear falling down her face and landing on my cheek. "But that's not how I feel anymore, I'm not scared anymore. I can assure you that."

"You didn't have to hide it from me," I say not containing my tears anymore. They fall freely down my cheeks and loud sobs escape my mouth preventing me from saying anything else.

"I know. I'm sorry, I truly am," she says holding me closer but keeping eye contact. "We can start again, no more hiding feeling, no lies. I promise you."

I barely manage to nod my head as she wiped the tears off my face with her hand. I reach up wiping hers too making her let out a small laugh.

"I'll sign the note, but I still want to keep it."

At that I shake my head. "just leave it, it was stupid."

"No, it means something to you and it means something to me too," she says stroking my cheek with her warm hand.

"It's not the same now," I sigh. "It's ok."

"Anna, I can't promise I'll be everything you want me to be, but I do promise I'll be everything I can be for you," she says giving me a sad smile. "I can't stand the thought of losing you, I would never forgive myself for being the cause of that. Anna... I love you."

It takes me some time to fully process what she has said, I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating for a moment there. "I love you too," I say immediately the moment I gain back control over my brain.

My tears immediately switch from sad to happy. "You're such a baby," she says holding my face close to hers.

"Your baby."

"My baby," she sighs. "Am I forgiven?"

"Depends, no kissing instead of answering?"

"What about kissing and answering?"

"Deal," I chuckle letting her place a small kiss on my lips. "You're forgiven."

"I'm glad," she says holding me tightly. "I'm so glad."

"I'm glad too," I say looking back up at her. "Can you say it again?"

Her face immediately goes red. "Don't abuse it."

"You know I will," I say amusedly, making her chuckle.

"You're such an idiot."

"You love this idiot."

"Ugh, I do," she groans, planting another kiss on my lips. "I have no idea why though."

"I have just forgiven you like 2 minutes ago, and you're already making me reevaluate my decision," I joke leading her back to my bed. "I'm exhausted."

"Me too, we barely got any sleep last night because of everything."

"Nap with me?"

"Reconciliation nap?"

"Uhum, the best kind of reconciliation," I smirk kicking my shoes off and laying down on my bed, Daniella does the same laying beside me.

"Just for a little bit."

I don't think I've ever fallen asleep this fast in my life. I remember laying my head on her chest and the next thing I know, I'm waking up alone in my bed. I turn on my phone seeing it's around 10 pm, can't believe I've slept for that long.

I was just about to get a little bummed for Daniella not waking me up for at least a goodbye kiss when I see a little note on my bedside table. I open it carefully:

'I'm sorry for leaving without waking you, you were in such a deep sleep I thought it was best to let you rest. Message me when you're up. Sweet dreams, my love.

– Daniella'

I can't help but smile at the little letter as I read it for the 4th time.'My love' I repeat in my head over and over again.

And then it finally hit me. Earlier this evening... She said she loves me.