Sweet Love

          Alleah looked into Josh's eyes. What she saw there, she did not know. They were standing on a quiet lake shore, and the only sounds were of the soft splashing of the water on the shore, and the sound of pelicans, screaming into the wind. Josh and Alleah were staring at the other, their hands clasped in an unbreakable hold.

                                         "Josh, I-" Alleah started to speak, but Josh interrupted her quietly.

       "Alleah, you know how much you mean to me. I know that I mean a lot to you, too. I just, I know you are important to me, and you are different. I haven't had many crushes, but you are... unique. And, because of that, and because what we could be, I need you to know that I love you, with all of my heart." Josh stared into her eyes, with the gentle green gaze that she had seen everyday, and Alleah looked back, her heart stopping. She had been waiting for those words for two years.

                    Their story had started in 9th grade, the first year of high school, freshmen, ready to come at the world.  Alleah was a straight A student, while others in her class were off messing around, bothering others, being a distraction. Alleah focused all the time. Then Josh walked into the room. At the time, Alleah had just moved from a country town in Kansas, to a bustling city near Chicago. She wasn't ready for more people to come into her life yet. She only talked when called on by the teacher, and never said anything to anyone else. She wasn't ready to make friends. But Josh was there. She never thought they would be any more than classmates. After the first semester, she started opening up and talking more. She soon had a best friend, Mia, and Josh had become her semi friend/crush. Alleah didn't know what to call him. But, soon enough, that all changed. Josh asked Mia and Alleah to come to the big oak tree near the back of the school. He had told Alleah he liked her, and Alleah managed to mumble back that she liked him too. That was just the beginning.

              Soon enough, Josh wanted Alleah to be his "girlfriend" and they started dating. For 2 years. Alleah was nearly tired of Josh, and Josh was nearly tired of her. But, neither would leave the other. Alleah trusted Josh with her life, and Josh trusted Alleah with his life. Not only were they dating, but they were best friends.

             So now, after the 2 years of dating, they confess their real feelings. Alleah had a feeling about Josh from the start, and even though they were about to start their graduating year, they wouldn't part for a long while.  As Alleah maintained her composure, she pulled Josh into a hug. 

              "I love you, too, Josh. I hope our love will always stay sweet," Alleah murmured, her heart full of love.