With a confession

“HOLY SHIT! It’s true,” Zack exclaimed.

A million and one thoughts raced through the boy’s head as he lay there with his roommate. He slid closer to the brunette and made eye contact with her. Where there should have been happiness, Zack could only see sorrow as Heather’s eyes filled with tears.

“I…I’m sorry, Zack,” she broke down.

“Aww, Heather, why?” he asked as he draped one arm over his sobbing friend’s shoulder.

“Because I’ve ruined your vacation plans. I know you were going to ask Victoria out this week, and I messed that up,” the girl continued to cry.

“Shh! It’s okay,” Zack told her.

“No, it isn’t. She’s a good girl and she’d be lucky to have you. If you want, I could put in a good word for you,” Heather told him as she tried to leave again. Just like the last time, Zack stopped her.

“Come here, girl. Talk to me. Tell me, how long have you felt this way?” Zack asked her as he dried her eyes.

“About a year,” she informed her secret crush, “Do you remember when we went to the mall last year on Spring Break? We were going to the movies when you found that little girl crying?”

“Oh yeah. Amanda. She’s a cute kid. I’ve babysat for her a couple of times,” he informed her.

“Well, she wouldn’t talk to any of us, but then you got down on the floor with her and showed her a magic trick. She stopped crying, and started talking to you like you were old friends. When we brought her to the security office, she wouldn’t let go of your hand so you told us to go without you. I didn’t want to leave you there by yourself, so I stayed, too. It was so cute watching you play games with her while we waited for her parents to come. And when they did, she still didn’t want to let go of you,” Heather smiled.

“Hehe! We had to walk out to their car with them,” Zack laughed.

“That’s when I started hoping that I could find a guy like you. But the more I thought about someone like you, the more the thought of being with you crept into my head. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t shake it. You’re going to be such a good daddy, Zack. Not many people go above and beyond like that for their own kids, and you did it for someone else’s,” the brunette admitted.

“Thank you Heather,” Zack said.

“Now, let me go talk to Victoria and set things right,” Heather said meekly.

“Don’t bother,” Zack stated as he held Heather to the bed.

“But Zack, she’s the one you want,” she reminded him.

“Not anymore,” he corrected.

“WHAT? WHY? Why would you give up on her for me?” Heather cried.

“Simple. First, you paid me the best compliment anyone’s ever given me when you told me I’d ‘make a great daddy’. That’s a HUGE ego boost for a guy. Second, over the past few days, you’ve made me feel comfortable with being me. You got me to open up more and be more confident. And third, and most importantly, you were willing to give up your happiness for mine. That’s the definition of love, right there, Heather. No way could I let a woman that devoted go. I’d be a damned fool for it, and my old man would haunt me forever,” Zack told her as he shed his own tears.

“Aww, Zack! Tell me you're not teasing me right now!” Heather exclaimed as she wiped his eyes.

“"Wouldn't dream of it ,” he told her, “I so want to kiss you right now. But I’m not going to.”

“Why not?” the brunette panicked.

“Because you didn’t give me permission,” Zack grinned.

“Oh, Zack,” Heather smiled through her tears, “Kiss me.”

“Gladly!” he replied.

With that, the distance between the two teens closed. Zack looked into Heather’s eyes, smiled, and pressed his lips to hers.