The Rose That Changed It All

3

"Are you alright, L?" He paused to wait for an answer, "What's the sigh for?" He stepped a little closer to my slightly shorter self but I felt myself back up.

 "I'm alright, I just realized I left my oven on. Which means I have to go!" I ran away towards home before anyone could question it. 

The only thing I heard besides the wind rushing past my face was him screaming my name... I couldn't tell if he was following me, I didn't really care, I just needed to get out of that situation before I ended up accidentally confessing my love in a nervous rant. I stopped running to catch my breath near the oak tree down the street from my house when I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned to face an equally out of breath Samuel 

"Jesus, L... You sure do run fast" I frantically apologized with what breathes I had left in my body, "I'm so sorry! You really didn't have to follow me! I really did just accidentally leave my oven on!" 

Samuel gave a small smile and looked down at me, really hate that he's so much taller than me... "L, I know you don't know how to even use your oven, so why the hell would it be on? Tell me what's wrong..." I looked down, anxiously tugging at my shirt, and let out a sigh. 

"I'm sorry..." was all I could get out without breaking down and having a panic attack right there in the grass, but all Samuel did was put his hand on my shoulder while giving me his stupid reassuring grin. 

"Talk to me, you know I'll listen." I nodded slightly and began saying the words I've tried so long to avoid even thinking about saying... 

"I uh..." I let out a shaky breath "I really like you, Samuel"... he laughed a bit and said "Well I like you too, we've known that, or else I wouldn't hang out with you all the time but what's up?" Fuck! He didn't get it...

 I cleared my throat and looked up at him, trying to talk without crying. "No Samuel... I really like you, like how friends shouldn't like each other...- Like LIKE you". 

I felt his grip on my shoulder tighten, I was afraid to look up at him anymore. Just as I was about to pull away from him to end this awkwardness, I heard him speak...