'Just go in there.' I paced back and forth in front of the basement door.
'Come on, you bought the frigging bear, just go in!'
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and reached my free hand... into my jeans pocket. I know, I know, I'm quite the procrastinator.
I took out my iPhone and pressed the home button, which lit up the lock screen picture of Alex and me at my family's house for Christmas, sitting cross-legged in front of the lit tree and wearing overly large Santa hats on our heads. I loved that picture of us; the smiles on our faces showed nothing but joy and having not a care in the world.
Above the picture was the time, which read "12:04 AM". So, technically, it was Valentine's Day.
Since I didn't "slide to unlock", the screen went black after a few seconds. Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I tried swallowing down the butterflies, and finally placed my hand of the basement doorknob, turned, and pushed inside.
The sight of our messy kitchen from that night's dinner greeted me. My heart, which I could've sworn was beating at twice its normal pace, seemed to pulsate throughout my whole body.
Was I really going through with this?
Yes.
"No no no no... damnit!"
Alex, previously seated on our couch and leaning over the coffee table, threw aside his controller and ripped off his headset vigorously. "Fuck this level!" Alex slammed himself into the back of the couch and groaned.
'Maybe I caught him at a bad time...' I slowly tiptoed backwards towards the door. 'Another time would be bett-'
"Hey Charlie." Alex called without looking behind him.
Stealth. That's a thing.
"Uhh, hey." I sputtered out. What was I supposed to do again?
I racked my brain for memory of what I rehearsed only a few moments ago, but alas, my mind was blank. All I could think to do was clutch what was in my left hand as tightly as possible.
Alex stood up from the sofa, the back of his map-of-the-United-States t-shirt facing me, and stretched.
'Oh shit. What do I do now?' I thought frantically. 'Should I run? Should I-'
"Hey hey, what's that?" Alex had turned around and was now walking towards me. His eyes were fixed on what I held in my left hand.
I was immediately rooted to the spot, and felt the adrenaline rush through my brain as I tried to think of a good excuse: Nothing. Useful thing, my brain.
At this moment Alex stood in front of me with confusion and curiosity evident in his face. His eyes twinkled as a child's would: full of adorableness and innocence.
I couldn't do this to him anymore. The secrecy wasn't fair to either of us; I couldn't lie to my best friend any longer. I took a deep breath and thrusted the bear I held into his arms.
"What?" he asked, chuckling, as he held it with both hands facing him. Then, his eyes fell down to the heart it was holding.
"Will You Be..." he read aloud. He now squinted to read what I had added in black Sharpie in the middle, "Forever Mine?"
He looked back at me, with now only confusion on his flawless face.
That was it, I couldn't resist any longer: I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his.
Wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him further into my grasp, I realized I had been wanting to do this for far longer than I thought.
I felt Alex drop the bear and go rigid beneath my arms and lips, but I didn't dare open my eyes just yet. I needed to enjoy this as long and as much as possible before the glory died, and the reality settled. Was he kissing me back? I had no idea; I was enjoying myself too much to tell.
Finally I released him, and shyly glimpsed up at him. His expression was illegible, but his hazel eyes seemed to ask too many questions for me to answer right now.
Before I lost any of the courage I discovered I suddenly had, I unraveled my arms from his neck and whispered in his ear,
"Happy Valentine's Day, Alex."
Fin
Well, that was it! We hope you enjoyed this heart hammering, nail-biting Cherimon journey.
Join us next time on "Fanfictions We Are Writing Instead of Doing Actual Productive Things". ;)
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-StolenLastMonday-
