𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 ♡ (𝐎𝐍𝐄-𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒)

𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐢

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» [heart like yours by willamette stone] «
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story by: dancingwiththestarsinhereyes

"So you wanna hear me say it then?" Mark asked her with a sideways glance as they walked hand in hand.

"It's the only way I'm going to be sure we're talking about the same thing here," Sadie teased. Mark laughed, guiding her into the small cafe.

Now that some of the tension had eased away, Sadie was nervous for an entirely different reason. This was it. Somehow, she always knew deep down that they would get to this moment– despite all odds, age and background differences, or other relationships.

"I'll order for us, if you'll grab us somewhere to sit," he said, squeezing her hand before letting it go once they were inside.

Thankfully, the shop was mostly empty and provided a lovely setting for their impromptu date. Although it wasn't very big, the cafe was set up to afford its patrons a more intimate, private atmosphere– clusters of sofas and chairs were positioned here and there, and some were set in small alcoves. Bookshelves lined one of the walls, making it feel more like a European bistro rather than a coffee shop in an LA outdoor mall.

Sadie made her way over to one of the alcoves near the back corner of the shop, and took a seat on the dark gray velvet sofa while Mark ordered their coffees.

He didn't even have to ask what she wanted– every time he would get coffee on his way in to the studio, he would bring her a caramel latte after she'd mentioned once that it was her favorite.

"So...you were saying," Sadie prompted when he sat down beside her moments later.

"Now who is the impatient one?" Mark laughed as he handed her the warm cup.

"Hey now, you brought this on yourself," she said with a wink and a playful push to his shoulder.

"I guess I did," he replied, sitting his coffee down on the small table beside the sofa and taking her hand in his, kissing it softly.

The butterflies in Sadie's stomach returned with a vengeance. She sat her drink down, too– not really caring about coffee at that moment.

Mark gazed into her eyes, his feelings shining in his own as he started, "Sadie, from our very first practices, I knew something was different about you. I've had a lot of sweet partners that made me laugh over the years, but you– you and I have something that can't even be put into words, and I felt it right away. As far as the moment that I fell hopelessly in love with you," he paused, looking at her intently as the words sunk in, "I can't pinpoint an exact moment because it was such a gradual thing that progressed from our deep friendship. It was before the end of our season, I'll admit that . I knew I loved you during finals, that's certain. Do you think I would ever cry over another contestant in this lifetime? I was overwhelmed– our time together was over, and listening to your beautiful message just pushed me over the edge."

He'd loved her since their first season two years ago. Two years. She remembered the finale like it was yesterday. She'd been surprised by his reaction, and every time she was asked about it in interviews, she'd smoothly answered, but inside, she'd wanted to cry, too . Not because she didn't win– she'd naturally been a little bummed, but she wasn't kidding when she'd said she was truly happy for Alfonso. She'd wanted to cry because she was going to miss Mark so much.

She would have never ever admitted she had feelings for him, but looking back, she knew she did. The days they'd spent together in Louisiana had been wonderful, but bittersweet knowing that they were going back to living completely separate lives.

"Since then? Really?" she asked.

"Yes, indeed. I tried not to love you– you were taken, too young, you know the rest of this list. But obviously, I can't not love you. I love you, Sadie, and there won't be a single moment before I breathe my last breath that won't be spent loving you."

His admission shook her to her core. This wasn't a flirtation or a light-hearted feel good time— this was real. Love, pure love, was sitting before her. Two years of keeping it in, and when he said it, she could see his face light up with happiness to have shared it with her.

"Mark, I've fallen in love with you, too. Like you, I don't know when it happened, or if it was really there all along, and I just refused to see it. I only know that it's the truth of this moment. This is our time– it's right. I love you, too," she replied, laying her heart on the line.
He took both of her hands in his, kissing each one tenderly.

"Want to know something strange?" he asked, leaning in close, their faces not even a hand's breadth apart.

"What's that?" she whispered.

"I've just admitted my undying love to a woman I've never even kissed before," he murmured with a smile as he caressed her cheek, "I think I need to change that."

"Please do," she responded just before his lips met hers for the first time.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, soaking in all that her heart could hold as she molded her lips against his. Sadie was kissing the man she loved for the first time, and it was everything that encompassed her relationship with Mark– pure love, tenderness and for lack of better words, the feeling of "home." His kiss felt like a promise– she could feel his love for her intermixed with a burning desire and an underlying heat that he managed to keep properly in check.

After a few blissful moments, he lifted his mouth from hers and pressed his forehead against hers. "You are a dream come true, Princess," he whispered against her cheek.

She closed her eyes. "This isn't a dream. It's love in it's truest, purest form and I'm so thankful and blessed by God to share it with you," she whispered back.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
finally i finished editing all of the chapters!! new stories should be up on monday (: but hopefully you guys enjoy this chapter <3 & i'll see you guys later!!