I was seeing him more and more and we had made my room our new meeting point. It was easier this way. Perhaps I have not paid attention before, or he was, indeed, making sure to cross my path more often. I had to face it. My feelings for him had grown into a deep friendship. He seemed to be the only one who'd understand me. The only one that likes me for me. The thought makes me blush. Does he like me? Surely not. He told me he wanted to be my friend, that's all he said. The clock appeared broken because the time went by so slow. Eventually when it finally reached 9pm, I heard the familiar knock on my door. He was here. I got up and tried to keep a straight face while I opened the door. As expected Alexei was there, except that the usual books that he held were replaced by a bunch of flowers. My heart skipped a beat and even though I didn't know what it was to feel hot, in that moment I realized that this was probably how I looked. My cheeks were certainly tainted red. He held me the flowers while bringing his head down. Shy? He was shy? Impossible. Alex had proven to me in the past couple of weeks that he was the opposite of shy. He got trough my shell so easily. He broke it without even trying. All he had to do was be his awesome self. I laughed, I cried. We read, we talked. We shared fears and nightmares. Today, we were about to share our, apparently mutual, love. Butterflies flew right out of my chest. I felt as if it was going to explode. I felt as if I was lighter than a feather. I took the flowers and put them down gently on the table beside the door. Then, I decided to let go. To just let it all go, forget everything. I took Alex's hands and brought him close to me as I closed the door. As I stared into his eyes, I knew he was hoping for this too. Who knows for how long we had both been too shy to say anything. Thank god he had given me these flowers. This innocent gesture that meant so much more than it actually is. I tentively moved my lips closer to his. Searching the approval in his eyes. He closed them and I could see the hint of a smile forming on his face. Our lips sealed shut and the stress of the first touch went away as fast as it came. Alex wasn't freezing. Alex wasn't dying. Alex was kissing me. Alexei, was mine and only mine. His hands moved down my back and moments later we stopped because we knew it was too soon for anything else to be possible. He sat on my bed, holding the back of his neck as if he was pulling his face down, his eyes down. He was certainly blushing, I could see it on his ears peaking out of his hair. I sat beside him and we both fell on our backs, staring at the ceiling. I put my hand in his hair and started playing with the small strands that I have been wanting to touch for so long. He moved on his side and put his head over my heart.
-Your heart beats fast.
-Yours too. I say while placing my other hand on his chest.
-I really like you Elsa, I'm glad you feel the same way. I was scared of your reaction.
-You…you were scared?
My stomach clenched.
-No no! Not like that. I was, scared you wouldn't like me back. That's all.
His smile widened when he saw the relief in my eyes. Then his gaze became playful and he reached my lips with his again. He would be my prince someday, I would make sure of it. This, was love.