Aaron and I'd been dating for almost six months.
I was in love with him for six years before he finally noticed me and asked me out.
Since he made the first move then, I thought I would make the first move when we first said "I love you."
>>
We were having our normal Friday-night sleepover.
Cuddled in bed, legs tangled, my head on his chest, his hand stroking my arm lovingly, it was the perfect moment.
"Night baby." He said, kissing me lightly on the nose.
"Night." I wrapped my arms around his torso, burying my face into his chest, inhaling his scent.
"I love you, Aaron."
I held my breath, waiting to see what he would do next.
He smiled and hugged me closer.
That was it.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
But I couldn't sleep.
My mind was whirling with all sorts of negative thoughts.
Why didn't he say it back?
I eventually fell asleep, the negative thoughts forgotten as I succumbed to the comfort of feeling Aaron's heartbeat in my ear. The rhythmic sound put me to sleep.
>>
When I woke up, Aaron wasn't in bed.
I sat up, confused.
I could hear the sound of the shower running and I sat there, waiting for him to come out.
He came out, a towel slung low on his hips, little drops of water cascading down his torso and disappearing under the towel.
Looking up, he saw me sitting on the bed and grinned.
"Morning."
I smiled back and he retreated into the closet to change.
As I waited for him, I headed to the bathroom to wash up.
Memories of last night rushed back to me and I was left, once again, with my confused thoughts.
After all that thinking, I came up with the conclusion that he simply didn't love me.
That's why he didn't say "I love you" back.
With that statement in mind, I finished washing up and headed out of the bathroom.
Aaron was already downstairs. I could hear him making breakfast.
Walking down the stairs and entering the kitchen, I wondered what I had to do about the situation.
I had no idea if I was supposed to confront him about it or break up with him or just continue being with him until he got bored of pretending to love me.
"Y/N?"
"Yeah, sorry, what?" I snapped out of my daze and looked up at Aaron, concern written on his face.
"Are you okay? You seem a little out of it."
Faking a smile, I said, "I'm fine. Really."
He looked convinced as he went back to flipping pancakes.
As we sat at the breakfast counter eating, Aaron tried to make conversation but I wasn't really in a talking-mood.
He caught on to my mood and asked me multiple times if I was alright but I just nodded and said I was fine every single time.
"Aaron?" I asked, not able to keep it in any longer.
"Hmm?" He replied, mouthful of pancake.
I sighed. "What are we?"
His eyebrows creased in confusion at my question.
"What do you mean 'what are we'?" He asked once he finished chewing.
"I-I mean, are we.. I dunno.." I trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"..a couple?" He finished for me.
I nodded.
"What do you think?" He asked me.
I shrugged. "I dunno, I mean, I thought we were, but to be a couple, we'd have to have mutual love, right? But we don't.." I looked down at my still-full plate of pancakes.
"We don't? What do you mean 'we don't'? Of course we do!" He cried out.
"Then why wouldn't you say 'I love you' back to me last night?" I questioned him.
"Oh."
Silence filled the air as neither of us knew what to say next.
"You know what? It's fine. That was a stupid question." I got up to empty my plate and headed back upstairs to pack my things.
A few minutes later, Aaron walked into the room and took my hands in his, stopping me from packing.
"What are you-" He cut me off when his lips connected with mine and my eyes closed on instinct.
His hands left mine and shifted to my hips, holding them tightly.
My arms involuntarily wrapped themselves around his neck.
When we pulled away, he pecked me on the nose and held me close.
"I'm sorry I didn't say 'I love you' back.. The truth is, I was terrified. I've never loved someone this much and it was scaring me. You're the first girl I've had to say that to and I just panicked. I'm so sorry." He said, bringing one hand up to cup my cheek lovingly.
I smiled at him. "It's okay."
"I love you." He said and my smile stretched wider.
"I love you too, Aaron."
