Stuck in the Middle

I always loved you

(*Caleb's POV*)

I walked out of Mariah's house smiling, she loved me and what I said was true. I DO love her. I never expected to fall in love with her, but I did.

I knew she wanted to kiss me, but I don't know what was holding her back. I can wait for her, she's worth it.

As I was walking home from her house I saw Tyler walking towards it.

He stopped in front of me.

"Did you just come from Riah's house?" He asked me.

I nodded, still replaying the moment in my head.

He squinted his eyes at me, and came closer, he was invading my personal space.

I took a step back.

"What the hell were you doing at her house?" He asked, anger threading into his voice.

I told him the truth.

"I told her I loved her." I said, looking him in the eyes, standing my ground.

He looked down, defeated.

"What did she say?" He whispered.

"She loves me too." I told him.

He nodded."I love her too Caleb." He said, looking up.

I nodded slightly, knowing.

"She loves you too, she just doesn't know it yet." I told him, giving him hope.

I wanted Mariah to see how special she was. Two guys are crazy about her and Justin wanted her back. I also want her to choose. She can't have both of us.

He nodded hesitantly.

"See you at school." He said, walking away.

*****

(*Tyler's POV*)

I tapped lightly on Riah's window, knowing she was up.

"Caleb!" She whispered happily.

I felt depressed inside when she said that, I wondered if I should just leave but then I tell myself to fight for her, because she's worth it, she's always been worth it.

"Tyler." She whispered, her eyes softened as I climbed into her window.

"Your up." I told her knowingly.

"Yeah, um Caleb came a little earlier." She said awkwardly.

"I know, I bumped into him coming over here." I whispered.

I sat down on her bed and she joined me.

"Lemme guess, you couldn't sleep?" She asked me.

I smiled to myself and nodded.

"What's your reason for coming over here, that was such an emergency?" She asked me jokingly.

"I just want to tell you how why I feel this way, I never got to finish what I started."

She nodded and yawned as she laid down, patting the space next to her.

I laid with her.

"I missed you." She whispered as she put her arm on my waist and laid her head on my chest.

I cleared my throat, getting my words prepared.

"We've been best friends since eighth grade, and I never knew that I was in love with you until freshman year." I began

"How did you know you were in love with me?" She asked.

I smiled, remembering the day so clearly."Do you remember the last day of freshman year?" I asked her.

"When Justin asked me to be his girlfriend?" She asked.

I nodded, intertwining my fingers with hers.

"I got jealous, because I was in love with you. I didn't want you to get hurt. I felt the need to protect you."I told her.

She giggled softly.

"What?" I asked her, as she traced little circles on my chest.

"I never told you this, but when Justin asked me to be his, I hesitated, because of you." She whispered, sitting up.

I sat up with her and we looked each other in the eyes.

"I love you Tyler, I always did..." She answered trailing off.

I leaned into her, taking a chance, I've been waiting for this for so long.

She didn't pull away or tell me to stop, she just closed her eyes and waited for my lips to touch hers...

(*Mariah's POV*)

Tyler leaned into me slowly, I just waited for his lips to touch mine, he's been waiting for this moment for so long, and I realized that all along, I really did love him.

I closed my eyes until I felt his lips gently touch mine. He started out hesitantly, not sure of what to do.

I placed my hand on his cheek, signaling him to go further, I opened my mouth slightly letting his tongue slide in. I moaned in pleasure and I could feel him smile as we kissed, I grabbed his hair, trying to savor this moment.

He pulled away first, but it wasn't enough.

"Whoa." He said, breathless.

I laughed a little. "I love you Tyler."

He looked me in the eyes and smiled big."I love you too Mariah." He whispered.

He leaned into me again and pecked me gently on the lips.

"Are you leaving?" I asked him, yawning.

He nodded as he exited out of my window.

"See you at school" I whispered as I grabbed his hand again and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"So does this mean we're..." He asked me, trailing off.

I caught on and shook my head, I still have Caleb.

"Caleb?" He asked, as If reading my mind.

"Yeah." I whispered, turning away.

"I understand..." He said, sounding depressed.

"I love you." I told him, one last time before he left.

"I know." He answered as he walked away.