Chapter 3 : Resolutions.

Misty couldn't move. In fact, she couldn't even breathe. The idea of Ash kissing her was too unreal for her to have any reaction. All she could do was stay still, eyes wide. Ash noticed the lack of reaction, of course, and slowly pulled away. Her expression was of pure shock. He gulped, finishing what he had already started.

''This is what I mean.'' He said in a low, calm voice, ignoring the fact he was nervous as hell inside. 'She didn't kiss you back...'. He sighed again. ''Sorry for the kiss. I just thought you should know. I shouldn't have done that. I don't expect an answer, and I don't expect you to say anything back. If you want to, we can pretend all of this never happened. But the fact is that I needed to somehow take this out of my chest. I don't even know if it was the best idea anymore. I'm sorry.'' He gave her a sad smile, kissing her lightly on the cheek before getting up and starting to walk towards the stairs. ''Good night, Misty.''

He started to make his way back to his room, stopping for a few seconds to say the words that make Misty froze even more.

''I love you.''

She just sat there, mouth agape, in the chair. After a long time, all that has happened finally clicked on her mind.

''What do you mean?''

''What do you think I meant?''

The kiss.

''I love you.''

''Oh my God.'' She said under her breath, exasperated.

'He loves me. Ash loves me.'

It seemed almost unbelievable, but she heard it, she had heard it herself. And she knew Ash was not the kind of person who would joke or say something like this, unless he really meant it. And he did mean it.

Then, another thing finally clicked on her mind. 'I haven't kissed him back. Oh my God, I haven't done anything. I didn't even move! He must be thinking...'

She abruptly got out of the chair, running towards the stairs.

His eyes roamed in the ceiling of his room, examining every inch of it, but the truth is, he wasn't really paying attention on anything. His mind was blank. He didn't even know what to think – or maybe he was just thinking too much.

'She didn't kiss you back, she didn't say anything. She didn't even have a reaction.' He sighed, fighting back the tears. 'It's over. Everything. It's over.'

He didn't even notice the knock on the door, but when a lovely voice called his name, he immediately sat on the bed.

''Ash?''

''Misty?'' He quickly dried his tears.

''Can I come in?'' She asked apprehensively, in a quiet and shy tone.

''Sure.''

She silently walked to him, sitting by his side on the bed. He looked at her, uncertain what to do. They stood on silence for a few moments, again. Misty stared at the ground, wondering what would be the best way to start the conversation. He was looking horribly nervous, and she couldn't help but feel a little guilty over this. The poor guy was clearly in crying, and she knew it was her fault, even if indirectly.

Once again, it was he who started to talk. He took a deep breath, looking at her as he tried to gather his courage.

''Look Mist, I'm sorry about what hap...''

His eyes winded when she cut him off with a kiss. He stared at her in shock for a second, before carefully reciprocate the kiss. He was definitely not expecting this reaction, although he had to admit, it was great to feel her lips upon his again. It was sudden, and it felt unreal. Amazingly unreal. 'Maybe now I know why she didn't have any reaction.'

He didn't dare to much more than lightly kiss her back, his mind absolutely confused by her action. Misty slowly broke up the kiss, staring at him. She had never, in her life, seen him so dumbfounded.

His eyes were full of confusion. He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find any words. She struggled to found her voice, awkwardly asking him the one question she needed to know for sure.

''When you were leaving the kitchen you said... you said you loved me.''

He nodded his head, still unsure what was happening. She smiled at him. That was the only thing she needed know.

''It's reciprocal.''

His heart pounded furiously against his chest. He couldn't believe it.

''What?''

His voice was full of hope.

''I love you too.'' The girl continued ''And I'm sorry I didn't say anything, or didn't have any reaction when you said that to me on the river, or when you kissed me in the kitchen. I was just in shock. I never thought you would actually say that to me. I really didn't know how to react, and I was truly scared of misunderstanding what you were saying. But I do love you back. Have for a long time.''

Ash was dumbstruck. It took him a good amount of seconds to assimilate what she was saying. Then, he finally opened up the biggest and brightest smile she had ever seen in my life. Misty smiled back.

''I don't know what to say to you. You... love me back?'' She nodded ''Really?'' Another nod. ''Wha... how long?''

''Since I was ten.''

This took him by surprise. It was true that he had started to fall in love with her when he was the same age, but believing that she had too, was something he had never, even in his greatest dreams, imagined.

''It's... eight years, Mist.''

She smiled

''I know.''

He couldn't believe it. A few minutes ago, he was laying on the bed, crying over what he believed that had been the end of any hope he could ever have, and now his beautiful best friend was sitting in front of him saying it was all mutual. He grinned.

''Me too.'' She looked at him, puzzled. ''I mean... eight years. I guess we just like making things difficult, don't we? We could have talked a lot sooner.''

The boy laughed, seeing her finally understanding. By her look, he could tell it was a surprise to her too.

''I would never imagine you like me too. But we can't exactly complain now, can we?''

The boy shaked his head, giving her another small laugh.

''No.''

There was a brief pause, both of them trying to assimilate all the information recently discovered. As usual, it was Ash the first to say something.

''I thought you would be mad at me for that kiss.''

''I could never be mad at you for a kiss, Ash, even if it wasn't reciprocal.''

She took his hand, gently running her thumb on the back of it. It was simple gesture, but incredibly kind lovingly at his eyes.

''I'm sorry I made you upset. Maybe I could... make it up to you.''

He gave her a small smile, before whispering quietly.

''Please.''

He slowly pulled her into him, kissing her on the lips for the third time. The kiss had been a lot more passionate than the others. Maybe because this time, both knew it was mutual. There was no fear of one of them not returning it.

The feeling finally having the girl he loved so much, and for so long in his arms was amazing, and almost unbelievable. Ash tangled his hands into her hair, gently tracing his tongue over her lips; asking her permission to deepen the kiss, which she gladly gave. Both of them fell on the bed, the handsome boy hovering over his beautiful friend. It didn't take them too long to see where this was going, either.

It had been eight years; eight years of repressed feelings and love for each other. Maybe the most of the people would consider this too fast, but to them, it didn't matter. They didn't need deep and introspective conversations about their feelings or status of their relationship, because they knew each other. They knew that was real, and they knew exactly what they felt. Anything else was unnecessary.

He reluctantly broke the kiss, just to get the only confirmation he needed to.

''Do you want to sleep here tonight?''

She cupped his cheek, bringing his head close to hers again, murmuring quietly, just before kissing him once more.

''I would love to.''

Nothing more was needed to be said.

Alright, first of all, I'm sorry for the delay. I had a lot of things to do this week, and I was having a little trouble with this chapter. I'm going to be honest - I didn't love it. I like it, I'm not in love with it. Hopefully, you all will like it, though. I promisse I'll try to make the next one better, mostly because it will probaby be the conclusion. As I said before, too, the rating is changed.

So, please, go there and leave review, and thank you a lot for not throwing me out of the window for the delay. Hopefully, I'll update sooner, because the next one is almost finished - this one wasn't.

I really, really hope you all liked it. Thank you all.