Kissing Casey McDonald is the single most terrifying thing I have ever done. I hadn't even planned it, I was just talking and the need to kiss her was overwhelming- it was killing me inside. For the first time that I can remember, I wasn't even sure if a girl wanted me back but she was just sitting there killing me with those blue eyes, I didn't even think, just acted. And now, as my lips were on hers the fear of rejection kicked in and I pulled away. The single dumbest thing I've ever done, because as I pulled back I realized something…

Casey had been kissing me back.

Blue orbs stared back at me as we hovered inches apart. I was half squatting from where I had attacked her face with mine and she was sitting on the floor leaning against the foot of the bed. The expression on her face was unreadable; I had no clue what she was thinking, what she was feeling but I was very aware of every inch of her. The way her chest rose and fell just a little faster, like she was out of breath or had been caught by surprise, which I suppose she had, her hands in her lap clutched together.

I opened my mouth to ask what she was thinking, but the words never came because her hands moved up to my shoulders, one hand wrapping around my neck and to the back of my head… I could feel her hands in my hair and then she was pulling my face close to hers and we were kissing again.

This lasted for a good forty-five minutes or so. The best forty-five minutes I've had in a very long time.

Finally though, we both needed to pull apart for some air. Oddly enough, I was the first to speak. "Wow…" I was in shock, in awe. I hadn't expected for her to kiss my back; I had hoped she would, of course, but I hadn't expected it. And the energy I felt when she was kissing me… I could tell we would be good together. I looked over at the brown haired beauty and watched as she pulled her bottom lip in between her lips still not saying anything. Uh-oh. When a girl didn't say anything, that was bad… right? "Case?"

"Hm?" Her eyes flickered over in my direction and I offered her a genuine smile, not the trademark smirk.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just… I'm processing." I couldn't really tell if that was a bad thing or not but I decided to just sit still and wait it out. At least outwardly it didn't look like she was freaking out. Yet. While I waited I stretched out my legs in front of me, examining the tops of my shoes. Suddenly, I was very aware of slow movement beside me. Casey was turning over on her knees and leaning in…

This kiss was different. It wasn't wild and desperate like the first kiss, or intense like the second. This was slow and sweet… explorative, curious. It sent a shiver up my spine and I was too scared to even try and touch her. Slowly she pulled away and looked at me. "This… this is good, I think." She murmured.

"I think so too."

As it turned out, we were no longer going out for dinner. Room service was good enough and we just stayed in for the night talking.

"I liked you for a while, it just took some time… a lot of time, and Emily, for me to realize it." Oddly enough, out of the two of us, I had been the first to figure out I had feelings.

"I was surprised they were reciprocated." I admitted, taking a bite of some cheese thing Casey had ordered. She grinned.

"Look at you using big words like 'reciprocated.'" Her voice was light, teasing. I answered with a shrug.

"What can I say, you inspire me." After that there was plenty more kissing and making out, we actually ended up falling asleep cuddling. On purpose.

Best day of my life.