Steve's POV
I smiled when I saw the sticky note on my desk.
Study session after school?
I sat down and instantly grabbed my own sticky notes and wrote my answer. I stuck it in my notebook to save it for later. Since the first day of high school, Y/N and I have been leaving notes for each other.
On the first day, Y/N was really nervous. After comparing our schedules, I saw that I had English first and she had it directly after me. We switched up like that every couple of classes. When I got to English, I borrowed a sticky note from the teacher. I wrote a message to Y/N on it and left it there.
After class, I waited outside the classroom and caught Y/N. I sent her a wink and whispered where she should sit. That started the tradition of us leaving each other notes.
At the end of history, I left my response on our desk. I walked out with a small smirk on my face. I didn't see Y/N until lunch. When I did see her, I straighten up as she sat next to me.
"So?" I asked. I laughed when Y/N put a sticky note on my forehead. I took it off and saw the smiley face she drew on it.
"Did your mom borrow your car again?"
"No," she said, getting her lunch out of her backpack. "I have my car today. I can meet you at your house after school."
"Sounds good," I said, playfully nudging her shoulder.
We ate our lunch in silence. She stole some of my grapes and I stole some of her chips. Suddenly, I noticed Y/N get a little nervous. I looked over at her but saw Tommy and Carol glaring. I reached over and gently placed my hand on her knee.
"Ignore them," I whispered. "It's just you and me, Y/N."
"All the way," she chuckled.
After lunch, Y/N and I walked to PE. This was one of the few classes that we had together. We went out separate ways when we got to the locker rooms to get changed. I didn't see her until her class was already in the gym and my class had just walked in.
"Boys! Start running laps. 10 of them!" Coach Walker yelled. I looked over and saw Y/N watching me. She sent me a wink before going back to passing the volleyball back and forth with one of her friends (I think her name was Lily). I saluted her before starting to jog.
As I started my third lap, I noticed Jason, a guy on the basketball team, running ahead of me. It wasn't that he was running ahead of me that was rubbing me the wrong way. It was the way he was watching Y/N. I watched him for the next lap and the entire time, Jason didn't take his eyes off of her. I jogged up next to him when I couldn't hold back anymore.
"Why are you staring at Y/N?" I asked, trying to control my protective anger.
"I'm gonna ask her out."
"What?" I scoffed.
"Unless you plan to," Jason said, glancing at me with a knowing smirk. "Then again, you've been her best friend for like ten years. You've had your chance, Harrington. Why don't you step aside and let another man have a chance."
He sped up, slowly running further ahead of me, but I was too angry to keep pace. I looked over at Y/N to see her watching me. She mouthed something to me but I couldn't make it out. I ran the next six laps to try and get rid of my anger.
It didn't work.
Y/N and I don't have classes the rest of the day, but I needed to talk to her. I slipped a note into her locker, knowing that she usually checked her locker before math to grab her textbook.
I couldn't pay attention as I waited for the agreed-upon time. I had asked Y/N to meet me in the bathroom at 1:15. And 1:15 couldn't come fast enough. When it finally did, I instantly asked Mr. Stevenson if I could use the restroom.
I walked down the empty hallway and waited outside the bathroom. I couldn't stop fidgeting as I waited for Y/N. When she finally walked around the corner, I let out the breath I'd been holding.
"What's wrong?" She asked the second she was in front of me.
"Nothing," I tried to say. Even I didn't believe me. Y/N sighed as she grabbed my hand and led me into the restroom. She let go of my hand, turned around, and instantly wrapped her arms around herself.
"Talk to me, Steve," she whispered, sounding weird. "It isn't just today. You've been distant lately and it's driving me crazy. I always know what's going on in your head but lately. . . Please just talk to me, Steve. I hate thinking that I've done something wrong."
"You haven't," I rushed out. "You've done nothing wrong, Y/N."
"Then what's going on with you?" She asked, her voice breaking.
"Jason wants to ask you out."
My heart sank when she froze. I tried to figure out if she was shocked out of eagerness or disgust. I was hoping for disgust.
"Oh," was all she said. She looked down at her hands, nervously picking at her fingernail polish.
"Are you thinking about saying yes?" I asked, part of me not really wanting to hear her answer.
"I don't know," she mumbled.
"He's not really your type," I scoffed.
Y/N looked up at me with a look in her eyes that felt like a punch in the gut. I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say but she shook her head and looked away. My heart clenched as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"You're right," she whispered, her voice breaking. "He's a basketball star. Why would he want to ask out a nobody like me?"
"I didn't mean it like that," I rushed out.
"Then what did you mean, Steve?" Y/N asked, cutting me off.
If I told her the truth, it could ruin our friendship. And losing her was the last thing I wanted. I knew I had taken too long to respond when I saw Y/N's eyes fill with tears. Without a word, Y/N turned around and started walking away.
"He's not good enough for you," I said too softly. I began to panic when she continued to walk out of the bathroom and I realized something.
If I let her walk out of the bathroom without explaining myself, I would lose her forever.
"I was jealous," I blurted out.
"What?" She asked as she turned around.
"That's why I didn't want you to say 'yes' to Jason," I sighed, walking closer to her. "When he started showing interest in you, I got jealous. I imagined him swooping in and taking you from me."
"You honestly think that I would bail on you because I started dating someone?" She asked, her voice breaking. "How could you think so little of me, Steve? We've known each other our entire lives. I have never left you for a guy. I've stood by you through every girl you've dated. Every girl, Steve. How could you think. . ."
"I was jealous."
"You already said that," she sighed.
"I don't like the idea of another guy showing you attention."
"Why?"
"Because I was. . ."
"Jealous," she cut me off. "Will you please stop saying that? It's confusing and frustrating and. . ."
"I love you."
Y/N didn't say anything for a beat. I held my breath, waiting for her to say something, anything.
"You what?" She asked, her voice soft. I took a slow step towards her and gently grabbed her hands which had started picking at her nail polish again. I pulled her closer so she was inches from me.
"I love you, Y/N," I whispered. "That's why I said he wasn't your type. I want to be your type because you're my type. You've always been my type."
"How long have you. . ."
She didn't finish her question. Y/N was still trying to wrap her head around my confession. I reached up and gently cupped her face in my hand.
"Ever since we were little," I whispered, "I have been crazily in love with you."
I slowly leaned in, wanting to give Y/N a chance to stop me. I smiled when I realized that she didn't stop me or make a move to get out of the way. She sucked in a breath when my lips gently touched hers. It only took her a beat before she started kissing me back.
The longer her lips were pressed to mine, the more comfortable she got. Eventually, she wrapped her arms around my neck. I broke the kiss and leaned my forehead against hers.
"I love you too, Steve," she whispered.
"Does this mean you're not going to say yes when Jason asks you out?"
Y/N laughed as she playfully pushed me away. I instantly grabbed her hands and pulled her back in. I was about to lean in and kiss her again but I forced myself not to.
"Promise?" I whispered. She smiled as she tightened her arms around me and pressed herself more against me.
"I promise."