Author's Notes: Sorry for late update. I've been busy planning a chapter fic, doing homework, and watching a lot of Digimon (which may write fanfiction for eventually). Don't worry, I don't plan to abandon this collection of oneshots. I shall try and update more frequently especially since the season finale really inspired me. Two notes… 1) There's going to be a season 3! Isn't that awesome? 2) They said Kevin's full name in the show! And to think I wrote about it… Well, on to the actual oneshot…
Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10, never will. I also don't own the quote at the beginning.
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"Do you want to know what my problem is? I will tell you what my problem is, I LOVE YOU I love your name, I love the way you look at me, I love your gorgeous smile, I love the way you walk, I love your beautiful eyes, I love what you look like when you are asleep, I love the sound of your laugh, to hear your voice fills my entire heart with an indescribable feeling. I love the way I can be having the worst day of my life and seeing you completely changes my mood. I love how when you touch me I get weak, that is my problem...."
-Unknown
70. 62
I'm not trying to be dreadfully romantic with this. That's not me. So don't ask me what prompted me to write this. I would love to say someone else made me do it, but there are two things wrong with that. One is that I would be lying (which I'm generally okay with except with you), and the other is then I'd seem weak for bending my will to another. Not fun, and definitely not me.
So what am I doing, writing this terribly cheesy list of truths? I don't know. Avoid asking me if you ever see this. Part of me hopes you read it and that it brings a smile to your face; the other part of me fears that if you see this you'll think I've gone soft. And I have definitely not gone soft. The worst possibility is that… Well I'm too afraid to write it down even if the thought plagues my mind day and night. Yeah, it's that annoying.
Now that we've got that straight, I think it's time I stop wasting time and get to writing this list. A list of the 62 things I like about you (told you it was cheesy). There's no real order to these though the last one is definitely my number one.
62) I like your red hair. Actually that's a lie. I LOVE your red hair. When the sun makes your hair shine like flames (what am I becoming? A poet?!), I think it's the most beautiful color in the world. I want to run my hands through it. If I could, I would spend my entire life (or at least a big portion of it) stroking your soft hair.
61) I like your emerald eyes. They're the most beautiful color I've ever seen, other than your hair in the sun. I could stare for hours in your eyes and be completely lost in them. Imagine me, falling into a girl's eyes? Don't believe it? Well, it's true no matter how ridiculous it sounds.
60) I like the way your lips turn up when you smile. That's why I do a lot of the stuff I do. Not the bad stuff like when I traded that alien tech, just the stupid stuff that makes you smile. I know I look like a fool, but at least I'm a fool who gets to see a girl smile.
59) Speaking about smiles, your lips appear better and more satisfying than… chocolate cake! Yes, I would trade my car to kiss those lips of yours. You better not tell anyone. They'll all laugh. Maybe you're laughing right now.
58) I like your body. I love it more than you could ever imagine. All I want to do is hug you and never let go. Kiss you and never let you leave my side. It's terrible, the way I'm after you. But I can't help it. You're hot.
57) Your laughter is like music. I'd stick straws in my nose any day if it makes you laugh (which is why I did it. I'm not a moron… Okay maybe sticking straws in my nose to get you to laugh is moronic). So long as I get to hear it.
56) I like it when we dance together. I know I've only danced once with you, on the night after Ben laid his eggs, but I would love to dance with you again. It was worth it to wear that suit and to learn how to put on a bow tie. Even the useless fork arrangement lessons were worth that one dance. Maybe you'll dance with me again. I'd like that even if I have to get dressed up.
55) I like wrapping my arms around you. The first time I did that was when we were younger and I was that terrible mishmash of Ben's aliens. Remember? I used you for bait to get Ben to surrender. It's not a good memory, so I don't know why I brought it up. Maybe it's because it was that day that I was struck by how delicate you were. Though I wasn't thinking about it in a lover's way. More of a she's-easy-to-squish way. A better memory is when I carried you out the first time Ben fought with a HighBreed. I know you were struggling to get out, but I enjoyed feeling you close by.
54) I like how you won't let people make you do something you don't want to do. Bringing up that moment again when I was dragging you out, you didn't want to leave. So you fought against me. Not a lot of girls have that spirit. But you do. And I love it.
53) I liked arguing with you about your powers. That doesn't happen anymore since we all know it's not magic. Still, I can remember when you thought it was magic and when I knew it was alien heritage (I told you so).
52) Staying on the subject of powers, I like how you use your powers for good. Back when I was younger, I didn't care who got hurt because of my powers. It was all about me. As long as I was happy, nobody else mattered. You were never like that. You've always used your powers to help others. I love that about you.
51) I actually enjoy it when you lecture me about speeding or disapprove of the collection of unpaid tickets that is slowly building up in my car. You're giving me attention and I like that. It's nice to know that you care about me. But don't worry; no one will ever drag me to jail due to a dozen unpaid tickets. They can't catch me.
50) I like it when you look my way. I like meeting your eyes and seeing something reflected in them. I don't like it when you're scared, but I like the fact that I can protect you since I know what's wrong. Your eyes show your true emotions, so when you look at me, I can always tell. Okay, maybe I shouldn't tell you that since now you might not look my way anymore… I guess I'll be able to tell you're hiding something when you avoid my gaze.
49) I like the trust you put in me. I don't know if I deserve it, but I hope I do. You didn't give up on me even when I took off with the Rustbucket. For that, I thank you. If you hadn't trusted me, I don't know what I would do.
48) This isn't a specific thing I could name. It's just a moment that I enjoyed with you. It's the time when I was a large statue courtesy of Vulkanus. The feel of your hands on my skin was such a relief after being locked in that cold stone. You'll never know the feelings that washed through me, but they made me love you more. It also made me cherish your touch.
47) I like the way you make me a better person. If it wasn't for you (and Ben), I would still be trading alien tech to other bad guys and ripping people off. Even if I still rip people off, I do a lot more good now. Maybe not gold-metal hero material, but good enough.
46) I like the way you worry about me when I'm hurt. I'd rather you save yourself, but it's pleasant to know someone else cares about me. The last time someone cared for me was a long time ago. It's nice to know you'll always be there to treat my wounds even if I insist I'm fine.
45) I like the way you think over things before rushing into them. It's the exact opposite of me. I prefer to charge in with my fists flying and then ask questions. You think about things, make plans. Sometimes you even find other ways to go through with things. I might prefer my impulsive style, but I like it when you hold me back.
44) I like it how you chose your friends and family over an education in your powers on Anodyne. It was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but you decided to stay here. I was happy when you said you would stay. You wouldn't believe how scared I was. I wouldn't want anyone to know how scared I was, but it was definitely a lot worse than being in the Null Void. The Null Void is cake compared to the thought of you leaving.
43) You're a fighter. And I like that. You're not like other girls who shriek in terror and run from a fight or wait for a knight in shining armor or whatever to come. You'll fight back with your mana and your karate. Even if I do come and rescue you like the first time we fought Morningstar, you're not going to stand around at the sidelines. You helped us out and I guess I became the 'damsel' in the end (though without me, I'm not sure you would not have found the strength to fight him).
42) I like watching you do karate especially when you use your moves against other guys. I guess that's why I watch your karate tournaments. I don't really care for what's going on; I just want to watch you kick butt.
41) You're nice. Maybe that'll get you in trouble someday, but you don't know how happy I am that you are nice. I'm not talking about the large acts of kindness that you do. I'm talking about the minor things. Like helping that confused alien baby or bringing me soda when I was busy with repairs.
40) You're a lot more sensitive than I'll ever be. I don't need to evaluate here. It's who you are.
39) I like feeling the warmth of your body against mine. When I turned back to normal after that crazy time anomaly in Los Soledad turned me old, I leaned against you for a while. I didn't need to. I just wanted to feel your warmth radiating into me. It reminds me of when I was younger and my mom was there to hug me close.
38) You smell good. No, it's not creepy that I know what you smell like. I like the scent; a mixture of cherry (I think it's from whatever soap you use, but I dunno), vanilla, and something uniquely you that I can't begin to name.
After those, there were 23 more reasons that she quickly skimmed over. She didn't want to read to in-depth in them, in case he came back. He would be angry, furious, but she couldn't stop now. She got the main point of each reason before finally reaching the big one.
1) The thing I love best about you is that you make me like you. That doesn't make sense, does it? It doesn't make sense to me either. I suppose I'm saying that everything that makes up you makes me love you. Yes, I do get annoyed of you sometimes, but that's natural. If anything, it makes me love you more. I don't know if you love me like I do, but I love you more than I've ever loved anything else. Does that mean a thing to you? If it does, I'm glad. If it doesn't, well… I'm too afraid to write it down. It haunts me enough in my nightmares.
So why did I write this list of reasons I like you if I'm never even going to show you? Mostly to tell myself why I like you. To see if I love you enough to think up 62 reasons why I like you. Maybe one day I'll work up the guts to give this to you, or send it by mail. Do your parents read your mail? I hope not. That would be quite the show if they ended up reading this, wouldn't it?
Well, I would say I've wasted enough time writing, but… I actually don't think this is a waste of time. I actually enjoyed this… Great, I really am going soft. I'll be watching chick flicks without you prodding me to watch one with you and writing poetry next time you see me… Ack! I need to go and do something more fitting for someone like me. Like kick alien butt (or human butt if there are no aliens). Or race my car.
She finished reading and stared at the rather normal collection of papers, all stapled together. It had been on the floor of his new car that he had got yesterday. She had never known that Kevin wrote anything except what was required for school (and even then, she had her doubts about how much work he actually did). The bold, scrawled title of "62 Reasons Why I Like You" hadn't exactly helped to stifle that curiosity.
"You done with that?"
Gwen looked up, her emerald eyes meeting charcoal eyes. Kevin. A blush covered her cheeks and she handed the bundle of papers to the boy's waiting hand. He didn't glance at them. Instead he was staring intently at her.
Gwen couldn't think of what to say. He didn't look mad. His expression was blank, which caught her off-guard. Shouldn't he be mad? Or had he purposely placed the papers there, in the hopes she would read?
"I-I-I-I--" Gwen stuttered out, Kevin still watching her with those blank eyes. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Gwen began speaking, "I didn't know you write for fun."
Kevin glanced at the papers in his hand. "I normally don't."
Silence invaded the space. Gwen shifted uncomfortably in the seat of Kevin's new car. Kevin continued to stare at the papers as if they would spontaneously combust if he stared hard enough. Nothing happened for a few minutes as both sought for words.
Kevin was thinking of what he would do if Gwen laughed at him. It was a miracle she hadn't started laughing yet, but maybe she was still too shocked. Maybe she would laugh anyway. He couldn't handle that. Unfortunately, he couldn't flee without leaving his new car behind.
Gwen was thinking of what to say to explain her feelings for Kevin. The fact that he liked her didn't make it any easier for her to explain her own emotions. Finally she settled on something simple.
"I liked it." Her voice was small, but it sounded so much larger after that period of meditation.
Kevin looked away from the papers to look at her. He could see the truth in her eyes. She wasn't lying. She really did like it. But did that necessarily mean that she felt the same way?
Kevin did not like feeling weakness. He did not like feeling vulnerable. So he channeled that weakness and transformed it into boldness. Maybe she didn't feel the same way, but he couldn't stop himself. He certainly deserved it for having his privacy invaded upon.
He leaned forwards, causing a small gasp of surprise from Gwen as he pushed his lips against hers. It lasted for a second or two; a simple first kiss full of all the love and nervousness (did she feel the same way?) that had built up in him.
Kevin leaned backwards, savoring the taste left from her cherry lip-gloss. A smile spread across her face and she leaned forwards. This time the kiss was more passionate, but every bit as satisfying as that first peck had been. Kevin's tongue pushed against her mouth and she obliged, allowing him to explore the inner caverns of her mouth and to wrestle with her tongue. Eventually they unhappily pulled away for air and conversation.
A content silence fell over the two as they digested what had happened. Both were immensely happy and while they both wanted to say something, they couldn't think of the right words.
"Wanna head out and catch a movie?" Gwen smiled over as Kevin asked her the question she had always dreamed of him asking.
"I've been waiting long enough." Gwen said, nodding her head.
Kevin started the ignition of his brand-new car. The engine roared on and they began driving to the movies. They sat in silence, contemplating this change in their relationship.
"Why 62?"
The question caught Kevin off-guard (a rather rare thing) and he glanced at her. "What?" She pointed at the papers that had dropped to the floor when they had begun kissing.
"Oh…" Kevin smiled, amused. "62 is the grade I got on my last test."
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A/N: So I tried out going for a more humorous effect than I normally do… I'm not sure how well I did with that, so please review. And yes, I cheated. I couldn't think of 62 reaons, but since the theme is that, I had to write it… So I just had Gwen skim through them. That was mostly done to keep my sanity in place. I think I would've died if I had wrote anymore reasons. By the way, my next oneshot will most likely be about Ben (or one of his alien forms) or something about Kevin's past. Yes, I am obsessed with writing about Kevin's past, so sue me!
Twilight Phantom Dragon