Disclaimer: One Tree Hill and its characters are not mine; no copyright infringement is intended.

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It feels unreal. Like a dream. He doesn't yet know whether it's a good one or a bad one. Though it has to be the former, really.

"If this were a movie…" (But it isn't, right?)

He will always remember her following words, remember that moment. No screenwriter could have written it more cliché-ridden and yet perfectly, heartbreakingly simple.

"… I'd say I love you and *then* kiss you…

I love you…"

It has to be the former. Definitely.

For this is *not* a movie; or if it is it's theirs.

For even if she didn't mean it, (which, strangely—or hopelessly?—he doesn't believe) even if she said it only for the sake of the moment, knowing how desperately he wanted to hear her say it, even then it is more than he could have ever wished for.

Watching her beautiful perfect lips form a sentence; hearing her whisper he cherishes each and every single word spoken by that wonderful smoky voice of hers…

Perfection.

He knows it was more than stupid of him to expect her to reciprocate his first declaration of love earlier. He knows that. He should have been content with what she gave him then: a kind of love not relying on the actual words; a love shown to him by her shy attempts at trusting him, or the way she offered her soft and gorgeous body to him, allowing him to taste her, touch her, feel her; see her in her most primal state.

But it wasn't enough for him back then. There was that self-conscious younger version of him nagging him to never trust anyone with his own feelings unless they make an effort and let him in completely. Still, he ignored it (and isn't that his fault alone?). He ignored that old fear, of being rejected, of not being good enough, not worthy of anyone's love—of Brooke's love.

The fear is still there…

Because he relies on her love so much.

He loves Brooke. So much so that finally he realizes he probably wouldn't need her to ever feel the same strong feelings for him as he feels for her. He wouldn't really need to hear the words if only she was with him.

And yet, hearing that she does in fact share his feelings is something he doesn't ever want to miss knowing again.

Just as he doesn't want to miss her in his life. Ever again.

Regarding her, a smile on his face, he buries one hand in her silky locks, with the other cupping her adorably dimpled cheek. Eventually he bends down once more until his lips reach hers and they kiss a second time, forgetting all pain, all fears. Forgetting the world…

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A/N: I'm thinking of adding a second part to this, from Brooke's POV. Now that I already feel horribly embarrassed at having posted something here, a second little chapter won't hurt too much, right? :)