boy of my dreams- JESS MARIANO

chapter 7

Today was a new day, and it felt like the start of something wonderful. I woke up with a smile, the memory of last night still fresh in my mind. After a quick shower, I changed into a cozy blue sweater and dark blue jeans. I added a touch of mascara and blush, just enough to bring a little color to my cheeks. I glanced in the mirror one last time, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest.

Grabbing my backpack, I hurried downstairs, calling out a quick, "Bye, Mom!" before rushing out the door. The bus was already at the stop, and I climbed in, scanning the rows of seats. That's when I saw him—Jess. His messy hair, the way he leaned back against the seat with that effortlessly cool expression... everything about him was perfect. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met.

I made my way down the aisle, my smile growing with each step. "Hey," I greeted softly, stopping next to his seat.

"Hey, you," he replied, that familiar smirk appearing on his lips. Without waiting for an invitation, I slid into the seat beside him, feeling his arm drape casually around the back of the bench as I got comfortable.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked, his voice low and warm. He leaned in closer, his knee brushing lightly against mine.

"Like a baby," I laughed, looking up at him with a playful grin. "Though I couldn't stop thinking about you." The words slipped out naturally, and I bit my lip, suddenly feeling shy.

Jess's eyes softened as he tilted his head, his smirk turning into a genuine smile. "Funny," he said, his tone teasing yet sincere. "Because I couldn't stop thinking about you either." He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek.

My heart fluttered at the gesture, and I couldn't help but lean into his touch. "This is still so surreal," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "But in the best way possible."

"Yeah," he agreed, his eyes not leaving mine. "It's like everything finally clicked, you know?" He pulled me a little closer, and I felt his thumb gently tracing circles on my shoulder.

I nodded, my breath catching as he leaned in, his lips brushing softly against my forehead. "I'm just glad we're here now," he murmured, his voice sending a warm shiver down my spine. I tilted my head up, meeting his gaze, and for a moment, everything else around us faded away.

Slowly, he leaned in, closing the distance between us until our lips met. The kiss was soft, sweet, and unhurried, as if we had all the time in the world. I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of his hand as it cradled the side of my face, his thumb caressing my skin gently.

When we finally pulled back, I let out a small, content sigh, opening my eyes to find him staring at me with a mixture of adoration and joy. "So, what's the plan for today?" I asked, still lost in the moment.

Jess chuckled, his thumb brushing across my cheek one last time before he let his hand fall back to the seat. "I don't know," he said with a grin. "But whatever it is, it's going to be a lot better now that I'm with you."

I blushed, feeling the happiness swell inside me. The bus continued on its route, and we settled into a comfortable conversation, our hands finding each other's naturally, fingers intertwining as we talked. It was simple, effortless, and so wonderfully real.

As we approached the school, I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes for a moment. I couldn't stop smiling. This was everything I'd hoped for and more—just being close to him, laughing, talking, and feeling that spark every time he looked at me.

And for once, I wasn't worried about what would happen next. I was just happy to be in this moment, with him.

After school, Jess came over to my house. I led him up the stairs, my heart racing a bit. When we reached my room, I pushed the door open, glancing back at him nervously. "Well... this is my room," I said, waving a hand around. "I know it's kind of a mess."