When I first met Laurance, I thought he was an absolute dick. He seemed to be full of himself, and I was sick of meeting guys like that. He knew he was attractive, and he wasn't afraid to show that. I felt like it made him be a dick, and his actions made me think he was ugly.

But looking back down, I'm happy that I had given him a chance. I'm glad that I decided to look past his appearance and try to dig deeper.

We've finished the half the school year and somehow Laurance has managed to make my heart skip a few beats or for my stomach to feel queasy. I tease myself saying that it is simply because he's a weirdo, but that excuse isn't getting very far anymore.

I've noticed through my conversations with Garroth that I am Laurance's confidant, and I even know things that have remained a secret from Garroth. Laurance has become best friends with Garroth, so the extent of my knowledge of Laurance astounds me.

But somehow. . . that makes me happy. It gives me a fuzzy feeling knowing that there are things about Laurance and his past that not even Garroth knows. That Laurance trusted me enough to tell me.

Now that I've talked and spent quality time with Laurance, I can't help but smile when he's around. I savor each touch I receive even if it's an accidental slip on his end. I crave for his company.

I feared about my actions and their consequences for Laurance that day at the pool. If I wouldn't have liked him, I wouldn't have taken it the way I did. If it was someone like Garroth, I would've called out the lie and taken being pulled in completely differently. I can't stay mad at Laurance. I don't think there's a bone in my body that allows me to do so.

I suppose what I thought was a small attraction years ago is now a bloomed crush. I'm not sure when these feelings became apparent to me, but it's hard to decipher his feelings towards me.

He smiles and jokes around with me just like he does with anyone else, but he acts like I'm fragile and is afraid to break me when we're alone. He trusts me with information he wouldn't dare let slip to anyone else. It's things like that that make me think he could possibly return my feelings, but I push it to the side.

That's just how Laurance is. He's kind and caring. I've seen how he treats his sisters. He treats me like he treats them, and that makes me fear that he thinks of me as a third sister.

I couldn't think of him as a brother. I wouldn't want to.

I suppose that brings us to the present time.

Laurance is with me at the park, sitting under playground equipment that was gracious enough to provide us shade from the blistering sun.

When I was a child, these playgrounds seemed so much bigger than they are now. I'd hang upside down from the monkey bars and worry my mother to death. Or, I'd play with my brothers a game of fantasy. A game where I was not a princess, but yet an equal. We'd battle against Zane to save our mother. For our mother, she was the princess. I suppose she should've been the queen, but she seemed honored to be our princess.

Garroth would lead us, but I would often be impulsive or reckless and cause our plans to unfold because of my excitement.

Younger Y/N wasn't afraid of the consequences when there was something she truly wanted, and I think I could learn something from her.

"Laurance, what are your feelings towards me?"

My words surprise us both. I'm trying to figure out whom it surprised more: me or him. But nonetheless Laurance fall quiet, his gaze falling as well.

I being to grow anxious, terrified that I had a brash mistake that I should've kept to myself. This is until he looks up at me, his cheeks a soft pink, and I realize that he's at a loss for words.

His mouth opens, but no sound comes out. He shuts it only to try once more. "U-Um, well," he says, looking over to the side. "Flirting with you is easier when I don't have to admit feelings."

"So you like me?" I ask, my eyes widening ever so slightly. I was surprised. I wasn't truly sure if his blush was embarrassment of being caught or because he didn't return feelings.

He slowly nods his head at me, sheepish as we lock eyes once more.

I can feel my own cheeks burning with a soft flame and the nervous feeling in my stomach disappearing. Instead, it's filled with glee. "I like you too."

To think that I'm a sophomore giving him silly responses like this is sad. Neither of us know how to continue the conversation, and the atmosphere around us had grown to become awkward.

"D-Does this mean?" I can't finish my question, but it appears Laurance understands what I'm trying to get at.

"Do you want to?" I nod my head. "Then it's settled. We're in a relationship."