Play Pretend | ✓

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We pulled away after what seemed like an eternity, both of us breathing heavily. My mind was reeling by the time Tyler opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Lizzie," he breathed.

I couldn't even open my mouth.

He continued, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"You don't know how long I've waited to do this, and only this."

I whispered, "How long?"

"About six years."

I took a sharp breath in. He'd liked me for six years? That meant he liked me since, what? Freshman year of high school? Even before that? Oh, god, and here I was thinking he didn't reciprocate my feelings. Oh, dear Lord.

I looked up at him and grinned. "Good. Because I've wanted to do that for a long time, too."

Tyler grinned widely and leaned down to kiss me again. It felt heavenly, as if there was nothing in the world except him and I.

He pulled away. "Lizzie, you may think we were best friends all this while, and believe me, we were. But somewhere along the line, you started meaning much, much more to me. I started looking at you differently, in another light. It happened so gradually and naturally that I didn't even feel surprised by it. It felt right. I started noticing the little nuances and slight changes in you as time passed by. You grew taller, you lost your baby fat, you outgrew your Tom and Jerry slippers, your hair became straighter and longer. But your smile and laughter remained the same, as beautiful and lively as ever. I loved it, I loved it all, Lizzie. And I became more and more fond of you as each day passed. And it's not because your appearance changed, I'm not that shallow. But I guess, as I grew up, my feelings matured, and I realised I'd liked you all along. And then, somewhere, someday, I just...I fell for you, Liz. I fell for you hard. And I feared you wouldn't catch me, when I gave you up two years back. But now, here, in front of this photo, I realised you were always here. It was I who strayed. You were always here to catch me, and now you have. And I couldn't be happier, Lizzie. I..." he took a deep breath. "I wouldn't normally say this to any girl after the first kiss, but this is not normal, and you're certainly not any girl. I love you, Lizzie."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. I couldn't think of any words to say. How could all this be possible? How could all my dreams come true in one day? I couldn't fathom a single thing, yet my heart was hammering hard against my chest and somehow it all felt right.

I tried to speak. "I--I...I can't think of anything else to say, except that I've dreamt of this very day for a long time. And now I can't believe it's come true."

He smiled and pulled me into a tight embrace. Tears started flowing down my cheeks, as sappy as that may sound. I couldn't keep it in anymore.

"God, I love you too, Ty."

He pulled away and looked at me with wide eyes. "Say it again."

I rolled my eyes, sniffing. "Now you're just being mean."

"No, no, I didn't hear you properly. What did you say?" His lips started twitching.

I mock glared at him. "Damn right you did. I'm not going to repeat it."

"Pweeaase?"

"No. I'm not love struck enough to melt at your puppy dog eyes. They can't fool me after all these years."

He pouted. "Sometimes I regret knowing you for so many years."

I gasped. "You didn't just say that! Now you're gonna pay, mister!"

With that, I grabbed a pillow from my bed and hit him hard with it. He shielded himself with a small cushion from the couch and I rolled my eyes.

"Some great defence you've got there, mister."

I hit him again and again until he collapsed on the bed with his hands raised in surrender. The sight looked so comical that I couldn't help but laugh. And in that one moment of weakness and letting down of guard, Tyler caught my arms and hurled me onto the bed, on top of him. I rolled off him and laid down beside him, smiling.

I just loved how easygoing the entire thing had been. No nervous moments post-kiss, no stealing glances, no 'sorry's or 'it's okay's, no awkward silences. There had been nothing I'd always feared would happen after my first kiss with Ty, if at all that would've happened.

We had both returned to our normal banter and behaviour after our confessions. And as I mulled over the words he'd said to me, I couldn't help but smile. I'd just loved his little confession. It was the sweetest thing he'd ever said to me.

Tyler suddenly rolled over on his side and linked his pinky with mine. "Pinky promise you'll say yes when I ask you what I'm about to ask you?"

I thought I already knew what he was going to say, so I smiled. "Okay, pinky promise."

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

I decided that since Tyler had once broken a promise he'd made to me (even though he had good intentions), I'd break one too. And so I broke the pinky promise. I didn't say yes.

Instead, I answered him with a kiss.

(A/N: okay...was that cute, or cuteness overload, or sappy, or cliché, or just plain bad? I'm not too sure myself, since I'm not used to writing romances. Please be sure to let me know your opinions in the comment section! And don't forget to vote! Remember, it doesn't cost a penny and it'll make my day, so please make an eager girl happy! Love you guys! xx)