"Do you have to go now?" Sam dragged, holding onto her boyfriend's hand as he got up from the bed. Miguel smirked.

"I'm not trying to get another bruise from your dad," he replied. Sam snorted.

It was almost 10:00pm on a Thursday night, which meant Sam's parents were just about to close at the dealership for the night. She had invited Miguel over after school per usual, just to hang out, and with the knowledge of her parents, of course. What they didn't know was that he'd be staying after 8:00pm, which they had agreed on in conversation before.

Well, with her fingers crossed behind her back.

Which was why she kept her boyfriend over until the very last minute she could possibly get away with, but that didn't make the goodbye any easier. And she hated to seem like that couple, but there was something about her relationship with Miguel this time around. After witnessing his fall from the balcony and fighting with the possibility that she may never see him again, it certainly put things into perspective for her. Anything that may have seemed important to her before meant nothing now, and it was clear what really was.

And that was him.

"Fine," she replied, rolling her eyes playfully. "Only because I'd like to keep seeing you in one piece."

"So does that mean you wouldn't wanna be with me if I was back in a wheelchair and lost my legs?" he joked. Sam frowned.

"That's not funny."

"I'm just kidding."

"But don't say that," she said sternly. "I'm serious." Miguel smiled at her, tapping her cheek with his index finger as she stared up at him from her seat on the edge of the bed.

"You're right," he told her. "I'm sorry."

"Whatever."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No."

"I can't leave while you're mad, Sam."

"I'm fine." Miguel chuckled at her before bending down to cup her face and kiss her. When they parted her lips twitched up into a smile, and the two laughed.

Just then, Miguel's phone chimed, signaling the alarm he set for 10:00pm so he'd leave on time. He was serious about her dad bruising him, by the way. Though it was during training, he could tell by the way Daniel had looked at him after that it was more than just a practice duel. And Miguel couldn't blame him; he was dating his only daughter. Again.

"I really should go," he turned then, heading towards her bedroom door. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," Sam smiled. "Bye, I love you."

He had stopped in her doorway almost as quickly as the words left her mouth, and from his reaction Sam realized what she had just said. Her eyes instantly widened as he turned to face her again, their expressions mirroring in shock. After the moment of surprise left him, his lips instantly turned into a wide grin.

"Really?" he asked excitedly, walking back towards her. "Did you really just say that?"

"Oh, God," Sam rolled her eyes, covering her face with her hands to hide the blush forming on her cheeks. Miguel pulled her to her feet as she hid behind her hands, and he tried to tickle her to reveal her face.

"Say it again," he teased, poking at her sides and tugging at her wrists. "You have to."

"No," she laughed. When he finally freed her hands from her face, she gasped as he pulled her flush against him, looking straight down into her blue orbs. Their laughter died down as he searched them, as if asking if she really meant it. Sam felt herself nodding her head ever so slightly, and that was enough for him to press his lips against hers. He kissed her eagerly, his hands on either side of her face as her fingers latched onto them, trying to hold onto the moment as long as they possible could, until they had to part for air. He leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers, each wearing the same smile. She chuckled faintly and he did the same, grazing his thumbs across her cheeks.

"I love you, too," he said softly, and the grin on her face made him laugh. He repeated the three words in between pecking her face all over and she laughed, squirming in his embrace despite never wanting this moment to end.

Suddenly the sound of her dad's car horn rang out, quickly followed by the slam of the doors. Their eyes immediately widened, and they couldn't help but try to contain their laughter, still high on the milestone they just reached.

"You have to go!" Sam whispered to him.

"How? They'll see me going out the door!" he whispered back.

"Out the window!" She started leading him towards the other wall.

"What?!"

"It's the only way they won't see you!"

"What if I break my back again?"

"You'll be fine."

"Oh, so now it's funny." Sam giggled before pecking his lips once more, then slowly and quietly lifted the glass of her window.

"It's not that far down," she told him. "Don't worry." Miguel took one look out her window and rolled his eyes.

"Easy for you to say."

"Sam?" Her dad called to her then. "Are you in bed?"

"Go! Go!" Sam whispered in between fits of laughter, leading him out the window. Miguel swung one of his legs out, perching it above the small ledge he would use to help him down. He quickly got the rest of his body out, hanging onto her windowsill as he met the ledge with his other foot. He was about to jump the rest of the way down as she moved to close the window when he stopped.

"Wait," he spoke. She eyed him incredulously.

"What are you-" he leaned forward to kiss her again, and she smiled against him, resting her hand against his jawline.

"Say it again," he whispered to her. She rolled her eyes.

"I love you, Miguel."