Learning A Lake ✔

- Twenty-One -

♢ Laura ♢ 

The temptation to take things further with Ryan was very appealing to me. I mean, who wouldn't want to do things with the person they have fancied for the last five years or so? I still hadn't told him that I'd liked him for that long. I didn't know if it would be a good thing to admit or not. I was worried I would creep him out!

I knew I couldn't do it though, he meant his promise and I knew he was going to stick to the 'taking it slow' rule. He was right, the amount of girls he's been with before, and I could tell he rushed things with every single one of them. The fact that he is willing to take things seriously with me is all I could ever want. I never imagined the day where this would happen. It was something I had dreamt about for a long time.

---

"Question time." He stated whilst popping a malteser into his mouth and laying back against the headboard of the bed. I frowned at him a little in confusion. I was sat at the opposite end.
"Questions about what?" I asked.

"Questions about you, silly! The whole point of this." He waved his hand around the room. "is so I can get to really know you, I've told you a lot about myself. You intrigue me, I want to know more!"

His comment put an instant smile on my face. "What do you want to know?"

"Hmm." He pouted a little. "When's your birthday? What do you plan on doing now we have finished high school for good?"

"My birthday is the 7th of Augu-" He cut me off and nearly spat his drink out.
"That's three days away, thanks for the warning!" He said with wide eyes.
"Sorry, I should have said sooner, you don't have to get me anything, and if you insist, this date can be my present as, quite frankly, it's been perfect." I took his hand and smiled at him.
"Umm, I'm still going to get you something else!" he protested against my offer but at least he returned the smile. "And, you only have eighteen days to prepare for mine!" He stuck his tongue out at me like a child.
"So that makes yours the 22nd of August. That gives me plenty of time." I teased him. "The other question you asked me, what I plan on doing now high school is done? I'm going to University to study Architecture." His face lit up when I said that.

"Typical." He laughed to himself. "So am I, well I'm not studying Architecture, I'm studying Sports performance."

"Looks like you have to put up with me for a lot longer than just being at this camp." I laughed. "But I kinda assumed you would be doing something sporty."

"Very true, I'm not complaining about that though! And who can blame me, sport is much more interesting than architecture." He snorted to himself.
"Don't judge me!" I folded my arms and turned away from him.

"I'm only messing with you, bub." He pulled me back towards him and kissed my nose. He is easily forgiven, it's hard to get grumpy with him when he does stuff like that.

---

"Tell me about your family, their names, what they do etcetera
etcetera..."

"Well, I live with my parents. I have a sister but she lives with her partner, she's going to be having a baby next year, her name's Eliza. My mum is called Nina, she's an estate agent and my dad, Graham, manages the local Audi branch. We live in a little house with my dog, Jake, he's a husky. Pretty boring really."

"That's not boring, your family are a lot more interesting than mine, my parents own the golf and country club just outside the city and that's all they really care about, they live there more than they do at home." Ryan sighed a little and ate some more maltesers.

"Hold on, Jane always boasted about her dad owning the golf club?" I frowned a little. This didn't add up. It's all she would ever go on about. Ryan shook his head and scowled to himself.
"This was supposed to be a Jane free zone!" He smirked at me before continuing. "But no, she lies about that. Her dad works for my dad. That's how I first met her, unfortunately." He shook his head again.
"Anyway, enough about that, I'd love to meet your family and your dog." He replied with a cheeky grin.

"You would!?" I asked, thinking he wasn't being serious.
"Of course! Did you think I was joking?" He opened up his arms in front of me, inviting me for hug. I gladly accepted and snuggled up to him on the bed. I couldn't be happier.

"Well yeah, but if you are serious, I must warn you about my mother." He raised an eyebrow. "I'm her precious little baby, she doesn't like the idea of me going to camp every summer, and that was when it was just a girl's camp. When I spoke to her after what happened, I'm pretty sure she had a mental break down while she was on the phone to me. Just to sum that up, she's rather protective. My dad on the other hand, he's laid back and is pretty much cool with anything, although, he's not seen me with a guy."

"Hmm... Wait! You've not been with anyone before?"  He sat up from our cuddling position. I shook my head slowly.
"Does that mean, wh-when I kissed you, it was y-your first kiss?" He stuttered nervously as he asked me the question.

I held up three fingers. "Third kiss. Frank Jackson, year eight. Liam Grouse, year eleven. You. A few days ago." My response instantly made him relax before laughing a little.

"Frank Jackson!" He burst out laughing. I shoved his shoulder.
"Hey! I'm pretty sure you've kissed worse than that over the years." I think I shut him up with that one.
"True, I'm not saying I'm glad I wasn't your first kiss, but for someone like you, I was expecting more than just two before me at least."
"Someone like me?" I questioned him. What was he implying now!

"Let's put it simply, you're beautiful Laura." And before I could respond, he pulled my chin up and his lips met mine once again.

I pulled away first this time. 
"Can I make a confession?" I hoped that telling him this wouldn't be a mistake. 

"Sure, go ahead." He seemed enthusiastic to know what I was about to say, although there was a small hint of nervousness radiating from him. 

"Well." I took a deep breath. "God, this is embarrassing." I whispered under my breath, sighing and staring at the ceiling. Ryan chuckled lightly. "Go on, tell me!" He was finding this amusing. I directed my eyes back to his gaze and said it. 

"I've had a crush on you since year seven." 

His eyes instantly widened and he placed his cup on the table. I knew I would regret this. I covered my hands with my face and laughed at myself. I didn't want to see his reaction anymore. 

He didn't speak and I thought my worst fears had been confirmed but the next thing I knew, Ryan had taken hold of my wrists, pulling my hands away from my covered face. He was looking right at me, but I couldn't read his facial expression. 

"You know what?" He asked, continuing to hold onto my wrists. He edged closer and whispered

"I've liked you since year nine." He pulled away again and bit his bottom lip. I was speechless if i'm honest but he carried on. 

"When we were put in that seating plan in Geography. I remember you then. That's when I first noticed you and that's when I saw Jane bullying you." He blushed a little at his confession. 

I still didn't know what to say but I couldn't help but laugh, mostly in disbelief. 

"Who made the rule about not talking about Jane?" I fired at him. 
"That was an exception!" Ryan protested. 

"As I was saying, I never got a chance to speak to you, because from that day on wards, Jane, unfortunately became a part of my life and changed me into a complete dick head." He became more serious again. 

"I regretted not talking to you more than anything, ever! And now this is me proving to you how serious I am!" He finished, tilting my head upwards by holding my chin gently. 

"Well, now I don't feel as embarrassed! We both chickened out in the past then." I felt more at ease about my confession. His words sent my heart into overdrive. If he said anything else I'd probably go into cardiac arrest. 

"Definitely worth the wait though!" Ryan chuckled and kissed me once more, sending warm, electric pulses right through my body.