Ally's POV

My head drowns with thoughts as I wait by the library.

What could Eddie possibly want to give me?

The halls begin to clear out as everyone goes home. Finally, in the distance, I catch the familiar sight of dirty converse and a fanny-pack. An instinctive smile reaches my face, but is quickly hidden when reminded of the current situation.

"Hey..." Eddie says quietly as he comes into short distance. I nod a small hello in response. He takes a deep breath and looks down at his shoes. "I know we're not exactly on the best terms right now, but I think you should know something. Something I really wish I would've said more often."

I nod curtly, not really sure where he was going with this.

"Go on."

Eddie chuckles a little.

"W-Well, I love you. And I know I said it, but I never really said it. I never expressed it enough. I-I know I have all of these weird issues– I know. Really though, I really love you. I have all this time. I loved you the first time we met. I loved you the first time we kissed. I even loved you when I kissed Evelyn." He admits, causing me to stare at the ground. I really want to cry, but I don't feel like I have a reason to.

"Then why'd you do...that?"

He looks up at me, frowning deeply.

"I was scared. I thought maybe you'd find someone better than me...that maybe I wasn't cut out to be your boyfriend. And Greta said—"

"Greta?"

"–uh, y-yeah....she said that you were gonna end up dating a football player, and that I should just leave you before you left me and made me the laughing stock of the school. S-So then I had it in my head that I should leave you before you leave me and and–....I'm sorry."

I stare blankly at him.

A small grin climbs my cheeks as I pull him into a hug. He stands stunned for a bit, before hugging me back tightly.

"Why didn't you just explain all of that before?" I ask softly. A small sniffle comes from him, before tears start falling from his eyes. "I-I don't know, I just was really scared–honest." My eyes close tightly as I listen to him cry. Soon, I'm crying too.

"I tried to kill myself."

Eddie pulls back with a look of shock.

"W-What?!"

An embarrassed frown makes its way onto my face. "Yeah. Bill found me...and stopped me." Eddie's eyes well with tears, guilt reigning in his expression.

"I....I-I'm so sorry." He says, before pulling me into another hug. "I get it–if you want to be with Bill. It's okay, I get it–he was there, and and—"

"I don't want to be with Bill." I state quickly, pulling back to look into his eyes. "I want to be with you, damn it. That's all I want. I want you, and I don't want anything to ruin us anymore. No one. Not Greta, not Evelyn, not Bill, not your mom, not me or you. I-I just want us to be okay again..."

My voice cracks as the words leave my mouth. Eddie looks hurt by the sadness straining me. He nods rapidly, kissing my cheeks, ridding my tears.

"Okay! Okay, I promise, no one will ruin us. I promise." He says, promising over and over as he kisses my cheeks. After a few minutes of him scattering kisses on my face, he finally pulls back and offers a soft smile.

"My mom likes you...by the way."

I stare blankly at the freckled boy in front me, before bursting into laughter.

"Yeah, okay Eddie! And let me guess, she also decided to start eating healthy?" I tease, clearly not buying his claim. By now it was a common thing to make jokes about Eddie's mom.

Eddie rolls his eyes.

"Oh, shut up!"

I gasp, before smirking and quoting Stand By Me.

"I don't shut up, I grow up! And when I look at you, I throw up!"

Eddie laughs at my dorkiness, taking my hand in his. "No, really she does though. She even got you back on the cheer squad– you'll still be captain, go ask Betty—" my eyes widen, and I stare at him with a growing smile.

"Are you lying? I swear if your lying—"

"I'm not lying!" He swears, tracing an 'x' shape over his heart. "Cross my heart."

Squealing, I pull him into a tight hug and kiss his cheek. "Thank you thank you thank you thank youuuu!" Laughter falls from Eddie's lips as he squirms around in my arms. "Thank my mom! She hated Evelyn so much, she practically begged me to go back to you. I-I mean, I was anyway– I swear, but she also wanted me to– but I swear I this was my choice!"

Panic fills his tone as he attempts to say the right words.

I giggle at his nervousness. "Okay, I believe you. I'm happy to know your mom likes me now!"

"Yeah, but she still forbids me from going to your house." He grumbles.

I laugh.

"a-and...what about Bill?"

My face contorts from happiness to a mixture of sadness and confusion. Suddenly I feel blank, and at war with myself. What was I gonna say or do.

What about Bill?

"Eddie...would you mind if Bill and I shared a bit of an intimate moment before parting? Listen, I really would like to have you be my boyfriend again– just not until I properly end whatever me and Bill having going on– okay?"

A small frown rests on him, yet he slowly nods.

"Yeah, okay. Just tell me when I'm allowed to properly ask you out again?"

"Of course."

We begin walking towards the exit and out of the school. Eddie wraps his hand into mine, hesitation in his movements. I give a reassuring squeeze, making him smile with relief.

We stop at the point where we're meant to go separate ways.

"Call me when I can come over?" He asks.

I nod.

"Yeah. See ya then!"

Letting go of his hand, I slowly begin to walk away from him, towards my house.

"Wait, Ally!" Eddie calls, causing me to turn around.

"Yeah?" I shout back.

"I love you!"

His smile his large, and proud. A blush swoops my face at the words. He doesn't wait for me to respond, quickly he runs the other direction towards his house. I stand in the street dumbfounded.

A small smile makes its way onto my face as I watch him disappear in the distance.

"I love you too."