wait; karl jacobs ✓

sixteen

karl's ears were filled with the sound of his car humming and his wheels driving over the semi-bumpy road.

there could have been music, but the radio was turned off.

there could have been talking, but he and talia were silent.

after talia suggested the two needing to speak, they both got in karl's car. they both agreed it was best to get out and clear their minds and change up their environment. karl had a familiar trail nearby that went through the woods that was his ideal destination.

when they arrived, the silence continued. both parties were gathering their thoughts. karl delicately grabbed talia's hand, partially to guide her and partially to try and calm his nerves. it calmed hers also.

"we can sit up here." karl said, his words coming out a bit hoarse from not speaking the entire car ride.

he brought her to a log that was set on the side of the river that ran parallel to the path they walked on. the two sat with about a foot of space between them. just hours ago she was sleeping in his arms. not long before that they had kissed each other.

but now there was a foot of space between them.

"where do we start?" karl asked.

"i'm not too sure." talia admitted. she sadly looked down at her lap, disappointed that she couldn't direct the conversation.

"well, i h-have a lot i could say." his voice wavered in that moment.

talia had never heard his voice waver.

"um, so i don't know how to say this," he nervously began cracking his knuckles. "i guess i can just start at the beginning."

karl scooted to where he was now sitting on the ground, leaning against the log. his head leaned back to stare at the sky. he clenched his eyes closed to gain courage.

"you've always been so special to me, tal. since the second we met. i've always wanted to keep you safe and keep you close to me. you mean so much to
me. you're my everything. i thought it was just because we were best friends, but i don't think its normal to have your best friend always be the first thing you think of in the morning and the last thing you think of before you go to sleep. you always were."

karl took his eyes off of the stars for just a moment to glance at the girl who was looking at him with such desperation. he returned his attention to the sky, knowing he couldn't continue in one piece if he was looking at her.

"it hurt me so bad when you started dating maxwell. he was always such an awful person and i couldn't comprehend why you would pick someone like
him. it made no sense. you are so perfect and deserving of the best, and it made me so sad that you would pick him when i knew he wouldn't treat you right. i just-"

karl knew that what he had to say held depth. he turned his body to give talia his full, pointed attention.

"i just wanted to be the one to love you. for so long i have loved you, tal. you have been all i wanted for so many years now. i-i don't know how else to say it. i've been so in love with you for, well i don't know how long. i know this might mess things up but i can't keep putting myself through the torture of not being honest with you."

karl didn't bother wiping the tears from his face, knowing they would just return. he watched talia, unable to read her expressions.

"please say something. i have no idea what you are-"

before he could finish his sentence he was met with talia's lips on his own. he was so in shock by this that his body initially froze. he quickly realized what was happening, and he relaxed into this kiss, letting his arm wrap around talia, pulling her closer while his other hand went to the back of her head.

she parted the kiss just enough to speak.

"i think i have always loved you karl."