Unexpectedly So

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Relationships weren't exactly her strong suit.

Taylor excelled in academics, specifically the arts− music, language, writing− and other practical things, but she never dealt well with matters of the heart. She always managed to feel awkward, pushy, or overbearing in her (brief, it must be said) romances.

She knew her difficulties in her affairs stemmed from the thing she had. The thing that predisposed her to fall for anyone that she thought could give her a little care. She knew her childhood and upbringing were largely responsible for her many issues, but it still sounded pathetic in her mind, being pinned as the affection-craving, love-starved girl. Yet as much as Taylor tried to change, her need for a connection, any connection, always overwhelmed her reason.

She wanted so hard to believe that amongst all the pain, heartache, and mistakes, she would finally find it − the angels-trumpeting, fireworks-exploding, heart-fluttering, belly-flipping kind of love.

And she did find it. Unexpectedly so.

In the most surprising of circumstances, she had found him. Obviously, they had known each other from high school. However, seeing as she had almost single-handedly orchestrated the permanent expulsion of him and his girlfriend from school, their relationship was polite at best. Eventually, even as she became friends with Seth and Summer, they never grew past mere acquaintances.

Until she went to France.

Burgundy specifically, where she had done the hands-down stupidest thing in her young life and married the last man on Earth who could make her happy. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but be grateful because her doomed marriage had led her straight to Ryan.

Ryan, whom she had never expected to be kind and funny and interesting. Obviously, he was attractive but she had never given a second thought to his personality. After a while, she had realized that her attraction to him wasn't just physical. She genuinely enjoyed his company more than anyone else's.

She loved that he would listen to her very intently ( or at least pretend to) when she talked so that she felt like she was the only thing that occupied his thoughts. Loved that he made her feel desirable no matter what they were doing or where they were. Loved his unique ability to make her feel like her whole body was on fire.

Loved him so much it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Taylor had realized very quickly that loving him was like embracing a part of her very being. She knew she would never go back to a life without him. She didn't want to even consider the possibility.

And of course, she was the first to reach such a conclusion. Ryan was still trying to sort out how he felt about her and for awhile, the situation felt hopeless.

But then, she began to notice it. At first it was one light brush, his thumb over her knuckles, as they were holding hands. It progressed into patterns made on her palms by his fingers. Soon whenever and wherever, he would grab her hand and slowly rub circles into her skin with his thumb. It became a constant connection between the two of them, something he depended upon

Slowly, it dawned on Taylor. His small act had shown her so much more than he could have ever said. He needed her as much as she needed him and wanted her to be a part of his life. Finally, she knew that he was absolutely, positively, one hundred percent in love with her.

He just didn't know it yet.

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A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed "Pretty Freakin' Perfect"! It absolutely made my day.