Forever and Always || Chase Davenport

Part 10

I walked down to the lab, taking my time. I did want to admit my feeling for Chase, but I wasn't exactly rushing to get it done. It was nerve racking, not knowing whether or not my feeling would be reciprocated, but I proceeded because I didn't want to chicken out last minute. When the elevator doors opened to the lab I was happy to see that Chase was alone down there.

"Hey," I said, upset at how nervous I sounded.

Chase looked up from whatever he was doing and smiled at me warmly.

"Hey," he said and walked over, "what are you doing down here?"

"Um," I started.

I felt like my heart was beating a thousand times per second but I ignored it. Confessing how you feel to a boy is even harder than I thought.

"I, um...I actually came to talk to you about something," I said, avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah? What's up?" He asked, probably assuming it had something to do with homework.

I took a deep breath. Now or never, I thought.

"Chase," I said, looking directly into his eyes, "I like you. And not just as a friend, I mean I really like you. I've liked you since the second I met you and I've just been afraid to tell you since. I was worried that you wouldn't feel the same way, so I didn't tell you because I thought it would ruin what we already had, but now I can't pretend anymore. I can't pretend that I don't like you. I can't pretend that I don't want to be more than friends."

I finished, realizing I hadn't taken a breath that whole speech. I waited for him to say something but he didn't. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as I stood there, totally exposed. I couldn't read his expression. I had no idea what was going thought his head.

"Please say something?" I begged, but it came out sounding like a question.

Instead, he walked closer to me so our faces were inches apart. Then, he leaned in and...kissed me. Not at all what I had expected, but I wasn't going to complain. I kissed him back, a billion thoughts running though my mind, but I couldn't care less. All I was focused on was Chase and how he was kissing me. Chase Davenport...was kissing...me.

When we broke apart, I was speechless. It was my turn to not know what to say and Chase smiled at my reaction.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to tell me that," Chase said quietly, "I really like you too, Reagan. A lot."

Of all the ways this could have played out, this was the best possible scenario. I smiled widely and threw my arms around him in a hug. He hugged me back tightly, his arms wrapped around my waist.

"Thank you," I whispered into his shoulder.

"For what?" Chase asked.

"For everything."