Confession time.

Tension built in the air as we finished our dinner. The beautiful woman sat across from me, deep in silent thought. What would she decide? By the time we finished eating, I knew that I had to say my piece.

"Talia, you said that you love me."

"What? I did? I mean, yeah, I do. You're kind, and considerate, and you're fun to be around. Don't get weird on me."

There's no going back, now.

"I love you, too. I didn't realize it until it was time for prom. You were already in a relationship, and I didn't want to break you guys up. But...I hoped that I could be a part of it, somehow. Every part of me wanted to be around you, all the time. There's this magic you create, wherever you are, that makes it seem like anything's possible. If you left, I'd have to follow."

My face flushed as I spoke, but in the end I felt proud of myself for finally voicing the little speech that I'd worked up so many times over the years. No matter how she reacted, at least I'd know, now.

"Jeez, Ian. You're so corny." She rolled her eyes, then paused. We kissed.

After some time spent drinking in the silence, she spoke at a whisper, "I've lived my life making my own path. Rachel's the same way. I guess...I never thought that we'd end up going different ways."

She got up and sat on the bed, and I joined her. We laid down, and held each other for a long time. Talia fell asleep in my arms, exhausted from the evening's emotional ordeal. I stared at the ceiling. Her warm body against mine, and she looked more peaceful than I'd ever seen her. Steady breath, lips slightly parted. I pressed my nose into her dark hair, and savored her scent. It wasn't long before I fell asleep, too.

When I woke up, she was stirring on me. It was the middle of the night. I got up to turn off the light and undressed to my boxers. Talia removed her bottoms, and crawled under the covers. I joined her. We spooned until sleep overcame us again.

Morning came, and Talia explained that she needed to go back to Berkeley and get things straight with Rachel.

"Do you want me to come with you?" I offered.

"I need some time, and a little space. But...call me, after commencement, and we'll see where this goes."

We paused after I walked her to car, awkward for a moment. To hell with it, I thought. I grabbed her roughly about the waist and crushed my lips on hers. She returned the kiss, parted my lips with her tongue. I squeezed her small waist against my hips as we explored each other. It felt like the first time. We parted, and she smiled, and drove away.