I reached up and pushed my hand through his still damp hair.

He leant forward, easing against my body, his head against my shoulder. He shook lightly with sobs, and I wanted desperately to ask what was wrong. But he just needed me. Needed me to hold him.

My arms wrapped around his body, holding him close, and sliding forward on the bench so our knees touched. I could feel his heart beating against my chest and I took a deep breath, my nerves taking over.

"Adam, I don't know what to say…" he whispered into my neck.

I rubbed his back. "You don't have to say anything."

"Yes, I do," Charlie said, sitting up. "I've been playing with your feelings today, and you deserve an explanation, or at least an answer…"

I took a deep breath, waiting for his answer.

He looked up at me, with such emotion in his eyes. "Adam, I think I love you."

My heart rate dropped rapidly and I think I lost all vocabulary skills.

"Uh…wh-what?" I stuttered.

Charlie cupped my face with his hands, his blue eyes boring into mine. "I love you, Adam Banks."

My whole body went weak, and I slid forward into his arms, wrapping him in a tight, loving hug.

I tried to process this information, but it was nearly impossible. Charlie loved me?

"How?" I choked out, sitting up.

Charlie played with my fingers. "I love you. I don't know how or why. But I think I've had feelings for you for a long time. And when I found at that you might reciprocate some of those feelings…I freaked. I'm so sorry, Adam."

I brought his fingers to my lips, kissing the tips of them gently. "Don't be sorry, Charlie. Never be sorry."

He stroked my cheek, a tear rolling down his cheek. "You're what I always wanted…I just didn't realize it till now."

I took a deep breath and leant in to kiss him. The feeling of my lips on his, finally, after all this mess, was like a cathartic experience. I was home, I was with the man I loved, and he loved me back.

His strong arms enveloped me, folding me into his arms effortlessly, and slid me towards him on the stone bench, so that my legs rested over the top of his. His kisses were urgent, like he needed me to breathe. Like the way I needed him to breathe.

My left hand tangled in his hair while my cast sat happily on his hip, my head swimming with happiness, and my body hot from arousal.

"Charlie…" I whispered, leaning my forehead against his. "This probably isn't the best place to get so…active."

He panted lightly, his hand caressing my neck. "You're probably right. We should go back to your room."

My eyebrows shot up at his suggestion and I blushed. Did I want what my evil mind was so obviously suggesting?

He placed a tender, short kiss to my lips and got up, reaching out a hand to me. I accepted it and let him pull me up, his hand slipping into mine perfectly. I looked down at our joined hands and was amazed how well they fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle.

We walked back into the dorms and up the stairs, stopping outside of my room momentarily.

I turned to him. "Once we go in there, there's no turning back," I told him.

He smiled, his eyes dancing with mischief. "I haven't wanted to turn back since I kissed you this morning."

This morning? Was it just a short 12 hours ago we'd shared our first kiss? It felt like weeks.

"But are you positively sure?" I asked, my hand on the doorknob.

Charlie smiled, a smile that lit up his whole face, and mine too. Without warning, he pressed his lips to mine, opening the door with his other hand, sending us tumbling into the room.

"Is that sure enough for you?" he asked once we'd regained our balance and the door was closed, the lock slid in place for extra measure.

I smiled. "I think that's sure enough."

I walked away from him before I lost control, and I sat down on my bed, pulling off my jacket and then my shoes. I felt the bed give as he sat down behind me.

"Is this weird for you?" I asked him.

"No," he answered. "And it's weird just how not weird this is."

I smiled. "You have a way with words, Charlie Conway."

I turned around to look at him.

He smiled. "That's why you love me."

I leant across so our faces nearly touched. "That, among other things."

He pressed his lips to mine in the softest of kisses, and lay me down on my bed, his body fitting in next to mine snugly.

I wrapped my arms around him as he kissed me once more, then moving to lay his head on my chest.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this," I admitted softly, stroking his hair.

He traced patterns on my torso through my shirt. "How long?"

I smiled. "About a year. Even more."

I could feel him smile. "I wish I'd realized how I felt about you sooner. We could have spent more time together before going off to college."

My smile faded. College. I had no idea where Charlie was going, but I knew that I had a definite place at Minnesota University if I wanted to go.

"College seems so far away, Charlie. We still have Christmas break to get through, remember?"

He sighed. "Yeah, I know. But I don't want to think of losing you now that I've found you." He propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at me. "You know what I mean?"

I nodded. "'Course I do. But you're not gonna lose me. Even if we end up going to colleges at opposite ends of the Earth…you will not lose me."

He swallowed. "Can I ask you a question, Adam?"

I looked at him. "Sure."

He cleared his throat nervously and looked away. "You don't expect that we're gonna…"

"What?" I prompted.

He coughed. "I mean, are you expecting to sleep with me tonight?"

A blush rose up in my face, and I wondered momentarily if Charlie could reads minds. "No, we don't have to do anything we don't want to."

He smiled. "I mean, I do…but, maybe tonight, after everything…" he blushed profusely. "You know what I mean."

I ran a hand through his hair. "I know what you mean. And I want to…with you. But like you said…"

He nodded. "So, what is this? Us?"

I took a deep breath. "I don't know. I'm still blown away that you actually feel the same way."

He smiled. "I'm nervous."

"Why?" I asked.

"This is all new to me. You understand?"

I smiled. "Of course."

"Am I your first relationship? I mean, with guys?" Charlie asked.

I nodded. "You're my first, Charlie."

"You're my first too."

I smiled. "Not first in that way though, right? I mean, you and Hilary, last year?"

Charlie smiled. "Yeah. My first time was with Marci though. But it was nothing special. What about you?"

"With Bradi," I admitted. "But like you said, nothing special."

"First kiss?"

I took a deep breath. "With Julie after the Goodwill Games."

Charlie laughed. "Julie Gaffney? Man, that's a good one. I'll have to thank her for teaching you how to kiss."

I blushed. "Yeah, sure. Who was your first kiss?"

"Connie, when we were kids."

I laughed. "I think I have to talk to her about your kissing technique. It's a little sloppy."

Charlie scoffed, sliding onto my body, holding himself off me. "Yeah, I'll show you sloppy!"

I laughed as his mouth covered mine in heated kisses.

He pulled back and gave me a look. "Well?"

I grinned. "It could be better."

He laughed and let his weight fall onto my body semi-crushing me.

He sighed and hugged me tight, and I let my arms slide around him.

"It's been a long day…" he said softly. He sat up suddenly and pulled off his shirt, then slid his pants off and dumped them on the floor.

I blushed. No matter how many times I'd seen him topless, and practically naked, it was a completely different story when he was in my bed, getting ready to fall asleep in my arms.

"What?" he demanded, catching my look.

"Nothing," I said. "You just have no idea about how hot you make me feel."

He pretended to look shocked as he pulled me into a sitting position. "Arms up," he ordered and I obeyed, and he pulled my shirt up over my head. He grinned. "Now, I can do your pants for you, but I don't know if you want me to do that. See, I'd have to do it with my teeth, because suddenly, my hands aren't working."

I laughed. "Ha ha, Conway. You ain't getting your mouth near my goods on the first night!"

He laughed too. "Come on, you've seen mine."

"That was a year ago!"

Charlie laughed, throwing his head back happily. "Tell you what, you show me yours and I'll show you mine again."

I rolled my eyes as I stripped down to my boxers, reaching over and flicking the lamp off, plunging the room into darkness. "G'night Charlie."

He settled down next to me, his breath tickling my chest. "'Night Adam."

And that night, I fell asleep truly happy.