I could feel the panic starting to set in, I couldn't speak, it was like my brain turned off. No words would come but sure enough, tears did start to come. How was I supposed to risk a life with Chloe in it for a life that was no guarantee? How can I tell her the truth when that truth could have her running for the hills?

Chloe came and sat next to me and started to rub circles on my back. "Whatever it is, you can tell me." Her hand left my back and moved to my hand, interlocking our fingers. "We can get anything, together."

I wanted to run, run far and fast, never looking back. "Love ain't it." Mom would always say before we changed everything, I have been trying to unlearn that but to no avail. Love makes you weak, it can be used against you, the scars run deep and I have yet to figure out how to make the color of the scar tissue fade. The tears started to flow down my cheeks and my chest got tight, I stood up to try to walk at least a few steps away. It was so hard to gather my thoughts with her right next to me. Chloe tightened her grip on my hand stopping me. "Talk to me, Red." She said sternly as she stood up as well, "I am starting to worry." She put her free hand on my cheek, I leaned into her hand, I couldn't help it.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Princess," I whispered as I opened my eyes, her eyes snapped down to my lips before snapping up to look into my eyes. "I lo-" I stopped myself, I couldn't bring myself to say it. "I don't know if we should live together." I said, it was better to protect myself. I pulled myself away from her and started walking off.

—

R: I was going to tell her and I can't

M: She would burn the world down for you, Red

M: Just tell her.

R: She'll hate me

R: I can't do that to her

M: Just tell her, trust me.

—

I knocked on the door, it had been a few hours since I walked away from my best friend. Chloe answered the door and I immediately noticed that she had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red. "I'm sorry." I took a deep breath in. "I need to say something and I need you to listen to every word, please."

"Okay." She sighed, moving over, and letting me into the apartment.

I took another deep breath. "I didn't want to escape from the bricks that I laid down. You are the only one, the only one that sees me, trusts me, and believes me. You are the only one, the only one that knows me, and in the dark, you show me. Yeah, it's perfectly reckless. Damn, you leave me defenseless, so break in." I looked her in the eyes, I knew that she knew that I was throwing Halestorm lyrics her way, but this was the only way that I could think of to tell her the truth without coming right out and telling her that I love her. "And take everything I have, till there is nothing left, till it's just your voice in my head, and when the lights come on, you see me as I am."

"Are you done?" She asked, I couldn't read the look she was giving me, so I nodded. She took a deep breath. "I lay in bed at night contemplating." She looked at me with a shy smile, like she knew that I knew she was responding with Halestorm lyrics. "Why the hell you gotta keep me waiting? Every time I try to get a little closer, you shut down and the conversations over. I'm right here, but you leave me in the dark." She took a step closer to me, grabbing my hands in hers. "Show me your private parts. Give it up baby, what are you afraid of?" She looks deep into my eyes. "Love sucks when you don't know what it's made of." Her hands ran up my arms to my neck. "I can take a little hesitating, I'll wait forever if it's worth the waiting." She leaned in and brushed her lips against mine. "I have been in love with you for a long time, Red." She pulled me closer, moving her hand to my cheek. "Let me love you. Let me in, please." She kissed me again, this time with more confidence.

I melted into her, I don't know why I had let fear hold me back from this moment. I kissed her back with everything I had to give. "I love you too, Princess."