LOVE IN THE DARK , MILEVEN TEXTING AU

twenty-five.

mike never understood why el thought he'd be afraid of her.

each time she walked towards him, he thought she was the most beautiful person ever.

he'd never ever be afraid of her. not in a million years.

the thought of el thinking he felt that way broke his heart into the smallest pieces. it was like his heart was on fire, burning, when he ever thought of el thinking she wasn't good enough and was someone scary to the world.

because she wasn't.

she was lilah.

he held his hand out to el as she approached, them meeting up in front of a cafe just a few steps off campus.

mike had to get something first and el didn't feel like joining so they settled on waiting here.

looking down at his hand, she waited a few moments before grabbing his hand.

but it wasn't hesitation. mike knew that.

it was fear. he could see it clearly in her eyes majority of the time during the day.

he didn't know what fear she had as of right now but he guessed it was because she was afraid he was going to leave.

he wasn't sure why she would think that either than it being her anxiety thinking it instead.

all he needed to do was make sure that the fear would go away.

"what do you want to do? where's bella?" he asked her and she shrugged a little, her eyes sagging with tiredness.

"bella.. home,"

he nodded. "do you want to walk around chicago? you know that one street with all the little tiny stores where we can walk?"

she nodded weakly.

"wanna go there?"

she nodded again and he smiled widely, swaying their hands as they began to walk.

she leaned in to whisper, him instantly dipping his head down to place his ear by her lips due to his height. "yes?"

she mumbled. "i'm.. im.. happy.." she took a deep shaky breath and he nodded in encouragement. "i'm happy.. you're.. here with.." she gasped quietly then mumbled something in frustration. "with me,"

he smiled widely, stopping his steps and pulling her aside so they won't block anyone when he stopped.

"el," he tipped her head up. "i'm so fucking happy i met you too,"

she looked up through her brows, staring him straight in the eyes as her eyes teared up.

his lips parted and his eyes widened in shock when he watched the corner of her lips tug up till a small smile escaped.

a small one, but one that not only he would be able to see.

"lilah," he murmured as she blinked, the tears rolling down her cheeks. "lilah, i love you. you've made me so insanely.. insanely happy to the point that i'm trying to be better. thank you.. for being my diary, lilah,"

lilah, i love you.

she let out a chocked sob at his words then she dipped her forehead down to his chest. "mike.."

he smiled widely and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "i'm here,"

"you... you.. love.."

"i do, i do," he instantly said. "of course i do. you're my lilah,"

she looked up at mike, her smile still there on her face and getting even wider.

he gasped loudly. "woah! your freckles are way prettier today!" he told her, hopefully to keep her smiling but it wasn't even a lie, he genuinely loved the small freckles on her cheek.