~Chapter Three~
"I love you too, Mike," she said with a confused look on her face. "You're my best friend, of course I love you."
It hurt Mike's heart to hear her say that. "No," he said a little frustrated. "Ellie, I love you," he said hopefully clearifying himself.
Danielle thought for a moment, then heat rose to hear face as she put the thoughts together. Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. Tears pricked her eyes and her breath quickened. "H-how long?" she managed to ask. The lump in her throat made it almost impossible to talk.
"Since the day I met you," he admitted finally. It felt like a huge weight was being lifted off of him. He took a few steps towards her slowly.
"W-why are you telling me this? Why now?" she demanded.
Mike reached out and pressed his palm to her cheek. He could feel the warmth in her face. He stroked his thumb softly acrossed her eye and wiped away a tear. "Because it kills me to see you like this," he spoke softly to her, then reached down and took her hand in his and pressed it against his chest. "It hurts me right here."
With her free hand, Danielle covered his hand that rested on her cheek. She felt dizzy and light-headed. Everything began to spin around her. Was this real or just a dream?
Mike slipped his hand out from under hers on her cheek and tilted her chin up so that he could stare into the two beautiful emeralds he loved. Slowly, he inched his face closer to hers, making she could stop him if she wanted to. Even as she could feel his breath on her lips, she made no protest.
Her breath came in short, quick gasps. So many thoughts were racing through her mind. Should she let this happen? Did she feel that way about Mike? What would happen if she let this happen and things went wrong? Then she felt the pressure of his warm lips on hers and her mind went blank. Even her heart seemed to stop.
He released her hand on his chest and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She fell against him willingly. he savoured the feeling of his lips on hers, wet with tears. His heart raced as he felt her wrap his arms around his neck.
Danielle pulled away from him softly, fearing if they kept up, she would go into cardiac arrest. She softly nuzzled her nose on his. All the question in her head before, they all seemed irrelavent. She loved him too, and she knew that now.
"I should've waited to tell you," Mike apologized to her, his hand rubbing her back softly, the other caressing her cheek. "I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you."
Danielle smiled. "You should've told me sooner, Mike," she said softly. In the midst of their embrace, they seemed to forget they were outside, on her front porch until one of the kids that lived in her neighborhood yelled, "Get a room!" and ran off. Danielle's face went cherry red, and she nodded her head in the direction of her front door. Mike understood the motion and arm-in-arm they walked inside her house.
Mike sat comfortably on her couch and patted the cushion next to him, an invitation for Danielle to join him. She shook her head and paced in front of him.
"What are we going to do?" she asked in a low whisper.
"What do you mean, Ellie?" he asked.
"Sam and I only just broke up," she explained, "If we start dating only a day after, I'll seem like a slut and a jump-off."
"What's a jump-off?"
"A girl who jumps from one relationship to another."
"But he broke up with you, how does that make you the jump-off?"
Danielle sighed. "It's not just that. I also don't want people to call you a rebound," she stopped pacing and faced him, concern clearly written on her face.
Mike stood up and embraced her. "I don't mind waiting," he whispered into her hair. "Whatever makes you comfortable."
"Thank you,"she whispered back. She turned her head and once again, she felt the explosion of emotion of his lips on hers.
