Been You

Chapter 18: Figure Her Out With Me

JUSTIN'S POV:

Ely comes running downstairs in yesterday's clothes at 7:55, late as usual. She's so cute. "Do you want me to walk you to class, babygirl?" I ask, as she grabs her bag by the stairs. She pecks me on the mouth with the softest lips in the world. The kiss is quick, but it still manages to give me butterflies.

"Nope, I'm late! Gotta run! But I'll come by after, okay? Love you! Bye!" She rushes, breezing through the front door, it shutting behind her. I stand there, still with utter shock. She... loves me? I mean, she's said she loves me before, but that was always as friends. This is the first time she's said that as my girlfriend. Did she mean she loves me loves me, or was it just a habit thing? Damn, this is driving me insane. I go into the kitchen, where Za and Ry are still eating. I drag Za away by the neck of his shirt, ignoring his protests. Ryan takes this opportunity to dig into the bacon I'd made, but he's clearly the least of my worries right now. Once Za and I reach my room, I shut the door and plop down on my bed, face to the ceiling.

"She said she loves me," I say, lacking emotion, still in shock.

"Well, she was screaming pretty loud last night. And that bacon was off the charts," Za compliments, not realizing why this was such a big deal.

"She's never said that before," I say, my voice level, emotionless.

"Oh," he says, realization washing over his face. "Well, did you say it back?" He asks, his eyes expectant.

"No," I say. His eyes go wide. "I mean, I didn't get a chance to; she said it on her way out the door," I explain.

"Oh," he says again, further realizing. "So you don't know if it's a real I love you or a slip of the tongue I love you," he clarifies. I nod, confirming.

"What do I do, man? I have to know. I love her so much, and I wanna tell her all the time, but I don't wanna come on too strong, too fast. It was so much easier not saying it when I could assume she wasn't ready to hear it. But now that she could be feeling the same way I do..." I trail off.

"Just show her you love her," Za advised. "That's what I did with Atifa, and look at us; we couldn't be stronger. Just take every opportunity you can to be a gentleman. Grand gestures like what you did this morning mean way more to girls than those three words. Oh, and don't be selfish in bed," he warns. I laugh, shaking my head.

"I think I've got that part covered," I laugh, remembering what Ely said about me to my friends at breakfast. My face goes red.

"Yeah, I bet you do," Za laughs, ruffling my hair up. "Let's go play Call of Duty." I get up to follow him to the living room. Ryan is already in the living room setting the game up, when we join him. While playing, Za asks, "Hey Ry, who are you gonna take to the homecoming ball, the night before the big game?"

"Eh, I'll find a bitch. Don't you worry," Ryan brushes off, over confidently.

"You do know that the ball is on Friday night, right? In two days," Za stresses.

"Shit," I let out under my breath. "I forgot to ask Ely," I remember.

"Grand gestures, my friend," Za reminded.

"God, you guys are so whipped, it's embarrassing," Ryan comments, disgusted.

"If being whipped means I get to spend every night like I did last night - balls deep in the hottest girl on campus - then I'm so whipped. What do you call it when you're jacking off alone to the sound of your roommate getting laid? Oh, you call that Ryan," I say, unapologetically. Ryan slams his controller on the coffee table, storming upstairs. Okay, maybe I did go too far. But I have to admit: it felt good, and he had it coming. I stand up from the couch, heading up to my room.

"Where are you going?" Za asks.

"I've got a grand gesture to set up," I say, smiling to myself.