To all those who said they're here till the end and beyond; thank you, it means a lot, this is for you.

Talk [Something to Say]

They stood facing each other, Megan and Connor; she heaving slightly after probably having run across the school and he holding his breath unconsciously, mind too high-strung to allow him to speak.

She was the first to speak, "I read your chits--er-notes."

"Okay," he said, waiting for her.

"And I want to tell you that it doesn't matter."

"Meg-"

"Just hear me out, please?" she said, softly. "I had lots of time to think these past few days and I thought about it, about us, about me, about you a lot and I think that if you had never written those notes to me, we would have still reached this moment anyway."

He could hear his blood thundering in his ears as he concentrated on her words. What was she saying?

"What you wrote was wonderful and it made me see myself in a new light. I think you're wrong, by the way-"

"I am?" he asked.

"Yeah, in thinking of me as some sort of perfection. I'm not and you should have never treated me like that. I'm usually indifferent and rude but that's not the real me either. It's a part of me though. I just am like that. I don't make friends easily because I'm scared of being left behind when they leave me. But I liked being told that someone really liked me and so I dared to like him back." She looked at him with a smile, "We all know how that turned out."

Connor gave a half-shrug, "It wasn't all your fault." He closed the distance between them, "I've had some time to think too, you know? And I realized that I couldn't blame you for my cowardice. Besides, I wasn't that likeable to begin with. I did crazy stuff to get your attention like copying off Jessica's assignment that one time."

"You did that to get my attention!? We were so angry, you idiot," she didn't know whether to scream or laugh.

"I was desperate and well, idiotic," he laughed weakly.

Megan admitted, "I did dislike you in a very offhand sort of way."

"I did love you in a very intense sort of way," he admitted.

She blushed deeply, colour spreading across her cheeks, "I got that memo kind of late."

"It got lost in the mail," he joked. "The sender wasn't very good with signing off stuff."

"That's kind of my point," she said. "I want to let you know. If I had never read those notes, if I had never found out that it was you who wrote, I would still have found myself telling you that I really like you."

"You what!?" he gasped.

"I love working at the bakery with you. I love hearing you talk. I love the way you fix your beanie when you're nervous and all cute. I love the way your eyes shine in the sunlight. I love your laugh. I love to make you smile. Knowing you has been one of the best things of my life and if knowing you was to happen only through all of this mess, I'd go through it all over again because you...you're worth it all."

"But-but-"

"Its true. Maybe I wouldn't have admitted it to you or myself anytime soon but I take the blame for that. I am not very great in that department. After all, I did ask out the guy I used to despise in front of the whole school just because I thought he was my secret admirer," she rolled her eyes.

"You wouldn't have thought that if I had told you the truth to begin with so I must take part of the blame," he said.

"No, c'mon. How about this?" she said, putting her hands on his shoulder. "We agree to not blame ourselves?"

He could feel his ears reddening and his voice was raspy when he spoke, nervous at how close they were, "Uh, yeah?"

"Yeah," she smiled.

His eyes dropped from her eyes to her lips and back to her eyes again. "Good, s-so, I came to tell you something."

"Okay," she withdrew her hands and looked at him with attention. "You're not going away, are you? Because this is the moment in cute books where one of the two protagonists suddenly announces they're going away while the other wallows in misery."

He smiled, "You'd think of us as a cute book? Who would even write such a story? We're not even that interesting. I mean, you are but me? No way."

"Dude, we'd be a bestseller," she said, happily.

"Okay, okay," he couldn't help but be infected by her happiness. "Here it is then. Megan Jackson, I love you and if you consent, I would like to take you on a date. No, scratch that, I'd like to date you and love you and kiss you and maybe, one day, if it works out I'd like to be more than just your boyfriend."

Megan whistled, "Well, shit. You just stole my heart. Again."

He looked expectantly at her.

"Oh right. I'm supposed to say something," she giggled. "Umm, you said you'd like to kiss me? I'd like to kiss you too."

To say he was shocked was an understatement. He hadn't planned more than telling her he loved her. He hadn't thought about what would come next. He hadn't thought she would say anything like this. He just hadn't thought.

But they were so close now, without even knowing how. As if the words themselves had the power to bring them closer. Connor closed his eyes once before opening them and saying, "Are you sure because--"

She rolled her eyes and pulled him into a kiss. His hands went straight to her waist, body easing as he pulled her closer while she caressed his jaw, messing his hair. Their lips fit perfectly, feverishly against each other's. Every nerve felt alighted, tingling with excitement and fire. Everything was peaceful, everything was chaos; everywhere was electric shock and warm ocean.

And when they pulled apart, smiling at each other, lips red, Megan couldn't help but comment, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

"Then you wouldn't mind this," he whispered, kissing her again.

He kissed the edge of her lips, then her jaw before reaching for her lips again. One of his hands held her in the small of her back while the other played with her curls.

He mumbled against her lips, "Why are you so beautiful?"

She would have replied with a wisecrack about how he was beautiful too but it is difficult to formulate words when your body is passionately enflamed with love and everything is both sharp focus and blurry. She kissed him back, tilting his chin towards herself.

She was breathless when they broke apart, "I forgot to say, I fucking love you, Connor Trent."

He somehow managed to blush even more. "So we're going on a date?" he asked expectantly, quietly, eyes bright from the kiss.

"As long as it isn't that pizza place," she said. "Don't get me wrong, I love pizza but I'd rather not go there for our first date."

"Not a chance," Connor took her hand in his, their fingers entwining. "It's our first date. I'm going to go all out with a surprise."

"I hate surprises," she groaned as they walked together.

"Well, you loved me."

"Oh my God, Connor, that was so cheesy, I love you."

"You got to give me some sort of warning before saying that. You'll give me a heart attack this way."

"Saying what?" she said mischievously. "I love you?"

"Yeah," he mumbled, shyly.

"Oh okay," she smirked. "I love you."

"Megan!"

"I love you, Connor."

He gave her a look, "You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"I don't know," she giggled. "All I know is that I love you."

He shook his head, laughing, "I love you too."

"But I love you times infinity," she said.

"Hmm, on second thought, I think I'm liking the sound of this," he laughed. "This better not be a dream."

She stopped and looked at him earnestly, "Connor, look at me. This is real, okay? You are wonderful and I am lucky to have you."

He closed his eyes and nodded, "Okay. This is real because it surpasses even the wildest of my dreams."

"You're soo cheesy, Con."

You remind me of waterfalls; beautiful, strong and enigmatic.

You remind me of the sun; warm and wonderful.

You remind me of fire; [you'll burn me.]

And I [will still] love you.

-Connor Trent, Editings.

***

Once upon a time, Zaara had a ship. She built it up from scratch and put her heart and soul into it. One day, after many many days of working hard at it, she could stand back and look at it with pride and love. It was complete.

She pulled off the rope and let it go.

#CONGAN HAVE NOW SAILED.

Captain Zaara out.

***

I'm so dramatic lol. There's going to be an epilogue, maybe a couple of rounding up chapters too (?) and some a/ns and other exciting news so stay tuned. Also, there is that word doing the rounds...wait for it, wait for it...sequel...hm, stay tuned is all I can say for now :) [have you checked out the sequel outlines I posted in Room of Requirement, head over if you haven't already!]

I live for the mystery.

(I also live for kind votes and lots of comments, just saying).