"Levi?" Skye couldn't believe it was him, but Levi was in fact standing in front of them. She couldn't possibly think why he was here now, especially here in front of her, but all those questions would be answered soon enough.

Scott shrugged his shoulder off of Skye's grip as she tried clinging to him, eyeing Levi before turning to walk back inside the house. Skye questioned him as he walked away, reaching out for him to not leave her alone with Levi. "Dad-"

He didn't say a word, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him, leaving his daughter confused. Before Skye came outside, Levi said he just wanted to talk to Skye. Sure, Scott was mad over how his window could have broke, but since it didn't and Levi's intentions were related to Skye, he let it go as calmly as possible. It was safe to say that Levi was a very lucky man right now.

It became awfully quiet once Scott left them, almost unbearable. Skye took a chance and broke the silence, questioning Levi and his motives as to why he was here right now. "Levi, why are you here?"

"I'm here for you." He replied without hesitation. Skye reacted by quietly saying "oh" to herself, holding her notebook close to her chest, sort of pretending that it was like a shield, having built up her walls the moment she allowed Levi to slip through her fingers. "Can... can we talk?"

Skye immediately knew in her head that she wanted to talk. She had so many questions, but most importantly she had a chance to say the things she didn't say before because she was too afraid to do so. This was her second chance, and Skye knew she had to take it this time. No regrets.

"Yes."

The two sat down on the front steps, Skye tensing up as they sat close next to each other, still not ready to let her guard down. She was prepared to get her heart broken again, so she got the one big question out of the way before the conversation could go any further. "What happened with your date?"

"Megan told me to go." Levi's response took Skye by surprise, causing her to gasp as her eyes widened. She didn't know whether to be happy, angry, or confused about this, but Skye was feeling all three of these emotions all at once. After all of the drama, Skye had to know what could have possibly happened before his unexpected arrival.

"What did you do?!" She asked in an angry tone. Yeah, the anger began to take over a little. It felt as if this was all for nothing, like this entire night and her heartbreak could have been avoided, but Skye wouldn't be angry anymore once she learned the truth.

"Nothing, nothing. I just..." Levi paused. "I couldn't stop talking about you."

Oh.

Skye almost couldn't believe him, but was Levi ever known to lie? Sure, he may be hiding feelings that she was completely clueless about, but Levi wasn't a liar. She almost felt bad that the date went wrong as it seemed like it was her fault, but in reality, there was nothing to be sorry about. "Oh, um, I'm sorry."

"She doesn't want to get back together, Skye, and I feel the same way. We both wanted closure and we got it." He assured her. There were still some things that Levi was hiding about the whole date, but she didn't need to know the entire truth, or did she?

"Oh, uh, that's unfortunate." She said, part of it being a lie as a little bit of her was somewhat glad Levi was here with her right now. "That she didn't want to get together, I mean."

"No, it's for the best." Levi sighed. He then turned his attention to what Skye was holding in her hands, using it as an attempt to change the subject so he could spare himself from revealing the whole truth. "Let's not talk about it anymore though. Whatcha got there?"

"This?" Skye looked down at her notebook, holding it up for Levi to look at and falling for his smooth way of changing the subject. "It's nothing groundbreaking. It's just a notebook I've been writing in this past year about senior year and whatnot so my future self can read it however many years from now."

"Damn, that's cool. I wish I did that for myself." He said.

"Oh, well, you're in it, so..." Bad idea, Skye. Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea, bad idea, bad-

"Really?" Levi interrupted Skye's screaming thoughts, but it only got worse from there as he wanted to see what was inside. There was no going back now. "You got any parts that you can show me?"

Skye took a moment to think. Levi was here for her. Megan didn't want to get back together with him and she told him to leave the date. Knowing this, Skye knew exactly what she could show Levi from her notebook. There was no way she could possibly regret this. "Yeah, I do. Here."

She handed Levi the notebook, practically shoving it into his chest as he grabbed for it. He looked at the page Skye left her notebook on, reading out her entry aloud with a puzzled look on his face. "Dear Future Me, just tell them how you feel. You'll always regret it when you're too late... I don't understand-"

"Levi, there's something you need to know." Skye said, letting out a sigh as she looked him right in the eyes. She knew she had to do this. She would always regret it if she never did. "I should have come to terms with it a long time ago."

Levi grew worried as he wasn't sure what she was going to say, furrowing his eyebrows and giving her the chance to speak despite his fears. "Okay..."

Instead of speaking, Skye leaned in and pressed her lips against Levi's, squeezing her eyes shut as she was absolutely screaming in her head, kind of like that scene from Spongebob Squarepants when all the mini version's of him in his head were setting everything on fire. What made it worse was, just like at winter formal, she had no idea what to do with her hands, so they sat awkwardly on her lap while she made her move. Skye didn't really know how to kiss either, but she watched plenty of rom-coms to know how to live out the movie kiss of her dreams.

As she pulled away, not anticipating to kiss him for long, Levi wastes no time and leans right back in for another kiss, taking her by surprise, and takes complete control of the continuing lip lock. He ran his fingers through her curly hair, pulling her closer towards him and practically unable to contain the longing desire he's had for her. Levi had imagined this moment going many ways for a long time, and there was no way he was going to let the opportunity slip past him.

With the sudden movements shocking Skye, she grabs onto Levi's arms for some sort of leverage, eyes shot wide open for a moment before closing them once more as the kiss took an unexpected turn. Before things could get more handsy than they already were, Skye abruptly breaks off the kiss despite Levi still thirsting for more, looking back at him with widened eyes and her mouth slightly agape as her cheeks and ears burned up from the shock of that kiss. It was definitely not how she imagined that going, that's for sure.

As Levi stared at her, waiting for what was next, Skye blinks a dozen times and catches her breath as she tried her best to process what just happened while also thinking of how she was going to go about expressing her feelings for him with words. She imagined just kissing him for like a few seconds and telling him she likes him, but after that, she didn't know what to do. Knowing Levi could kiss her with such longing and passion almost left her speechless, and the words that managed to come out of her mouth showed that.

"You kissed me back."

"Yeah..."

Skye stood up and ran her hands through her hair, everything hitting her all at once as reality slapped her right across the face. This wasn't a dream or her mind playing tricks on her, and she could definitely see that now. "Oh my god, you kissed me back!"

"What, is it so crazy for me to want to kiss you back?" Levi questioned, standing up as well. The height difference between them made this all more intimidating for Skye, but she wouldn't cower down. She refused.

"Yes!" She exclaimed, taking a few steps back away from him as Levi couldn't understand what was so wrong about this.

"Why?"

"Because guys don't find me cute and kissable!" Skye yelled and put her foot down. Even when she knew Levi could kiss her like that by choice, she still remained in denial, but Skye couldn't be in denial any more. To be honest, Levi was quite sick of it, and that's when he decided to put his foot down too.

"Well, I do!" He yelled back, stepping towards Skye. She was at a loss for words by this, stumbling on her feet as Levi raised his voice at her. Skye looked up at him with questioning eyes as her face softened, eyes that screamed for him to explain further. Maybe now she could start to understand.

"What?"

"Skye, I've been crushing on you since the moment we met," Levi finally confessed, this time speaking calmly compared to the way he yelled at Skye before. "I always thought you were cute. Beautiful, even. You're perfect to me, even if you don't see it yourself."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. I didn't realize it was more than a crush until New Year's, but I didn't say anything cause I didn't think you'd feel the same." He explained further. "I would have much rather been just friends than not be in each other's lives at all if I were to ruin a good thing with my feelings. I guess it was only a matter of time that you'd realize it."

But she didn't realize it. There were always instances where Skye felt like an idiot, but this was beyond all of that. If only she had known sooner she could have been happy, happy with Levi as boyfriend and girlfriend. Most importantly, if only she had known that she was worthy of being loved. "You... like me? You've liked me this whole time and I didn't even know?"

"Really? Of course, I like you! I like everything about you! You're the best thing that has ever happened to me!" Levi exclaimed, expressing how he felt as if it were their final night alive. "And... and I've never felt this way for anyone before, but damn, Skye, you've stolen my heart completely. I feel as if my life only truly started the moment I met you. Is that so crazy for you to hear?"

Pause. "No." She shook her head, much to Levi's confusion.

"No?"

Finally, Skye could see the light. Levi wanted her just as much as she wanted him. Yes, it still blew her mind that her feelings were reciprocated, but Skye realized that she shouldn't be wasting her time anymore. Would the stares they receive in the halls matter a year from now? No. Skye couldn't dwell on these insecurities forever. If Levi liked her just the way she is, then it would be worth every stare and dirty look. She could see that now. All Skye had to do now was finally admit how she feels with her words.

"Levi, I like you too." She spoke softly. "You're, like, cool and stuff."

"Cool and stuff?" Levi furrowed his eyebrows.

"Oh my god, do I have to tell you how much I'm in love with you?" Skye laughs as she says this, making Levi let out a laugh as well. "I mean, you're way out of my league, I totally don't deserve your kindness, my heart beats like crazy whenever I'm around you, and I even wanted to kiss you back at winter formal."

It felt so good to finally let all of these feelings out. What was even better was the look of glee on Levi's face as she confessed to him. Little did she know his heart was practically ready to burst right now, but little did he know hers was ready to as well. "I'm in love with you, Levi. No matter how much it scares me."

"I'm in love with you too." He replied.

A smile crept up on Skye's face as Levi confirmed he felt the same, but Skye had to question it one last time for good measure, although it was more of a joke in this instance. "This isn't a prank, right? Ashton Kutcher better not jump out of these bushes right about now."

"Not at all." Levi chuckled. The two looked into each other's eyes for a few moments, both smiling as they took in the present and thinking in their heads how they'll never forget this specific moment.

"Levi..."

"Hm?"

Skye goes up and kisses Levi, cupping his cheeks with her hands as she stood on her tiptoes. Levi almost falls over by the surprise, wrapping an arm around Skye's waist as they stumbled to the steps and fell on their butts without breaking apart from the kiss for a single second. As they continue, the two hear a sudden noise from above and abruptly pull away, looking up to see Scott sliding Skye's bedroom window open and sticking his head out.

"I thought it wasn't like that, pumpkin?!" He yelled out, referencing words his daughter said to him before she went to Levi's house mere hours ago.

"Dad!" Skye whined, both she and Levi's cheeks burning up in embarrassment from Scott interrupting their moment.

"Sorry, Scott!" Levi chimed in. Part of him was praying Scott wouldn't come down and kick his ass, but really he couldn't wait to shut the window and jump for joy around the house like he just won the lottery.

"Don't throw rocks at my window anymore! Carry on!" Scott closes the bedroom window and walks away without saying anything else, shutting off the lights before he could have his own mini celebration. Skye and Levi share a laugh over what just happened, Skye leaning her head on Levi's shoulder while he let her.

Once the two settled down, things got quiet before Skye questioned the status of their relationship, which Levi was going to do as well but she beat him to it. They clearly weren't just friends anymore, so it was definitely about time they make it official. "So, does this mean?"

"Woah, woah, woah. Pause. I gotta do this right." Levi interrupts, standing up from where he's sitting to get down on one knee. He held up Skye's notebook that he had in his hands this whole time, pretending as if it were an engagement ring for her while she giggled. Levi had been waiting to do this for the longest time, so there wasn't a doubt about whether he would make the most out of it, and it was safe to say that he did. "Skye Amelia Simmons, will you be my girlfriend?"

Skye nods excitedly, grinning to the point where it hurt to do so. She didn't hesitate with her answer whatsoever, saying it simply as Levi stood on one knee in front of her. "Yes."

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Can you say that again?" He asked jokingly, holding his hand up to his ear while Skye grabbed his wrist and repeated her answer loudly.

"Yes!" She exclaimed, letting out a giggle while Levi chuckled. "I'll be your girlfriend, Levi."

"I heard you the first time." He said, leaning in for a kiss. Skye quietly replied with "I know" before kissing him back, then Levi sat down next to her with the notebook still in his hands. "You know, you could make a pretty damn good story out of this notebook of yours. I feel like I'm reading a romance novel."

"A romance novel, you say?" Skye raised an eyebrow. She had never considered everything she wrote to her future self as romance novel worthy, but now that Levi pointed it out to her, it made complete sense. Maybe that's what the future held. The answer had been right in front of her this whole time. "I guess that's something the future me can write about then."

•••

MARIA TALKS!

listen up!

this chapter was my original idea for the ending, but i had gotten an idea for another chapter (which takes place the next day) that i felt would be a better conclusion leading up to the epilogue, but i'm not so sure. this also feels like a satisfactory ending, so if you would like to see a chapter 52, do let me know! either way, it won't affect the epilogue whatsoever. the epilogue will remain the same and can be read with or without a chapter 52.

i haven't even completed the epilogue yet, and i desperately need everyone's patience since i very much lack the motivation to write still. an epilogue is GUARANTEED, fear not. i already have an idea for what i want to do and have some notes and organized chaos written (a bit over 1k words written), it's just a matter of actually writing thousands and thousands of words, so please, please, PLEASE be patient.

as always, don't forget to vote <3 i'll stop being annoying i swear

also, 6.66k reads? iconic lmaooo