"Hey." I sounded so dejected. I didn't see the point in faking happiness just to have to strip it away as soon as we got to the privacy of my bedroom. I turned and headed upstairs, expecting Lance to follow. A couple of days ago I'd have dared to grab his hand and pull him up with me but that wasn't a thing I could do anymore. We were just friends now. If that.

"Are you okay?" Lance asked, the concern clear in his voice. It was good to know he still cared, even if he didn't have romantic feelings for me. Maybe there was a chance we could still remain friends after my confession- even if it broke more. We both sat side by side on my bed.

"Not at all," I chuckled through the pain. He placed his hand on my knee but I pushed it away. Sending me an anxious and sorrowful expression, he frowned. I went as far as to move over on the bed so that our sides weren't touching. "That deal thing. The fake relationship. It was such a mistake."

"Oh." was all he said. I expected a little bit more but at least he hadn't started freaking out. Yet.

"I shouldn't have agreed to it. I was drunk when I suggested it and it was the stupidest thing ever," Then I just came out with it all. I poured everything that was inside of me out to my best friend whilst he just listened and nodded every so often. His hand didn't return to my knee, nor did he move closer to me in any way, and part of me wished he'd do both things. At some point, I started to cry but he didn't make any effort to comfort me. If anything, he looked like he was going to cry himself. His eyes were sparkling which was weird- why was he on the verge of crying? I was the one telling him I had secret feelings for him. "I'm so sorry," I concluded, beginning to sob into my hands. My entire body was shaking violently and I felt like I was going to be sick but I couldn't move. I needed to see his reaction.

Maybe I had a glimmer of hope that he might return the feelings. All of the loving moments we shared felt so real; he must have felt something. He must have. Unless I was just completely deluded.

"My dad is more accepting now. He genuinely believes that this isn't a phase anymore," His voice was soft as if he was testing the waters. I was all for jumping straight in the deep end to get it over and done with but I could understand that others wished for more time to ensure their own security. I brought my hands away from my face so that I could attempt to guess how he was feeling. A tear was trailing down his cheek and he was looking everywhere but my own eyes. "That's because of you. I know it was stupid to ask you to pretend to be my boyfriend but it worked out pretty well... on my side at least. If I had known you felt that way, I wouldn't have done it."

I nodded, no longer trusting my voice. Suddenly, I had forgotten how to breathe.

"You're the bestest friend I could ever ask for and I love you... alright? I never ever want to have to lose you. I'm sorry I've been such a dick and not considered your feelings. I wish I could go back in time and make this different. I wouldn't have let you offer to be my fake boyfriend at all."

"Yeah," I mumbled because I felt the same way. The entire thing was a huge mistake. It should never have happened.

"I would have asked you something else," I glanced up into his eyes with pure confusion in my expression. He continued to avoid my gaze. "I- I- Oh fuck," He let out a long, heavy breath. He was nervous. Why was he nervous? "I would have asked it a bit more like this... Keith," He let out a shaky breath. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

"What?" I was just staring at him with the widest eyes possible and an open mouth. He must be joking around. I was expecting him to laugh but he didn't. I let out a shaky chuckle myself, expecting him to join in. He didn't. The room lapsed into complete silence until I realised that he was expecting a genuine answer. It wasn't a joke; he was genuinely asking me the question.

"Answer the question, please... before I break down."

"Are you asking me for real?" I just had to check: it seemed too good to be true. Never had I imagined being in this situation.

"Yes, you doofus."

"Then... yeah. Yeah, I'll be your boyfriend." I felt so unbelievably giddy as we both stood up and hugged for what felt like forever. His embrace was warm and I had started sobbing but he didn't care. I felt like I was in the middle of a dream and none of this was real but I didn't wake up. I pinched myself when he wasn't looking and yeah, it was real.

"I've liked you for a long time too or, at least, I had my suspicions. Then we started hanging out more and pretending to be a couple and I realised I never wanted it to end. I was going to tell you last night but I wimped out at the last second."

"I was going to tell you last night too but then you broke up with me." I let out a dry chuckle because I wasn't really laughing. I had been such a mess. I was almost embarrassed.

"My mum and dad kept saying we looked so in love which I thought was hilarious since we were acting. Then I realised I wasn't acting at all and I doubted whether you were too but I was too scared to bring it up."

"It doesn't matter now but Lance?"

"Yeah?" We met eyes and the contact stayed for much longer that time. My head edged forward and, once he caught on, his did too.

"Can we kiss for real now? For us." Lance didn't even bother with a response, just pressing his soft lips onto my own. He was ever so slightly bent over because he was a bit taller than me but that just made the moment even better. I felt high but not the type you got from drugs. The type cheesy, vomit-inducing love gave you. In my head, I was freaking out, thinking things like "oh my gosh this is actually real" and "this is really happening, Lance likes me back".

"Boys?" Louise called, poking her head around my bedroom door. Luckily Lance and I had finished our moment and were just sat next to each other on the bed. We had sat there hundreds of times but that was the first time as real boyfriends. My stomach flipped just thinking about it. "What do you want for lunch?"

I glanced at the clock. It was only 11:30am. I bet she only asked to get an excuse to see what had happened. "I'm alright for now, I think. Lance?" I turned to him and he nodded. I noticed his face was bright red- I had done that- it was absolutely adorable.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Okay. Are you two alright in here? You've been awfully quiet. Usually, you're screaming at videogames or whatever you kids do for fun." Louise then winked at me and I glared at her. I think Lance must have noticed because I heard him stifle a laugh beside me.

"Yeah, Lou. We're perfect." I sent her a dreamy smile and she must have got the message because she grinned back. She looked just as happy as I felt... and I was over the moon.