**This is a continuation from the story named, 'Following Your Heart is Hard To Do'. I really didn't think that was a good title, so I changed it. I believe this one is much better, right? As always, critque honestly. I love to hear what you guys have to say. Also, does anyone think I should keep going, making it more in depth, or end it quickly?**
I sat next to Joel, watching his hands glide across the black and white keys effortlessly.
As he played, I thought of how I was going to tell him. I hope he still wants to go out. I wiggled around in my seat, until his hands stopped on the keys, and his ocean blue eyes gazed into mine.
“Yes, Kate?” he asked, a smile playing around his lips.
“Well-um. .I was just going to say,” suck it up and just tell him. “I really like you and I would love to take our relationship to the next level if you still want to.” The words were blurted out. I couldn’t force my eyes to look at him. For some reason, I felt like I was saying something bad. I fidgeted with a string on my sweater.
“Are you sure?” his voice was a whisper. “I really don’t want to force you to do anything.”
“I know,” I began, still not able to look at him. “I do like you.” What am I talking about? I love you. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, and pulled me off the wooden bench.
“Where are we going?” I asked, struggling to pull up my hood up to block the freezing, cold snow falling down from the gray, star streaked sky.
“You’ll see.” He turned to flash me the most brilliant smile. He seemed to catch my awestruck expression, and burst into a booming laugh.
I narrowed my eyes to see down the dirt road. Where is he taking me? The snow made a soft crunch as our feet carried us away. Moments later, Joel turned into the woods.
“What are we doing, Joel? You know I am afraid of these woods.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here. And you’ll just have to wait and see.” his voice was excited, and his body movements proved something had made him very happy. I refused to think that maybe I had made him happy. He hasn’t told me anything.
Finally, there was a break from the trees that let the moonlight pore onto a beautiful waterfall. The water gently flowed down the side of the mountain, and swirled around the moss laden rocks. Tear filled my eyes, but I reached up and wiped them away.
“Here we are!” Joel said, sliding his hand out of mine to push a few branches out of the way. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful! How’d you know it was here?”
“My dad use to bring me here to fish every Sunday. See where it pools?” he pointed down into the woods. I searched for the pool, but the trees blocked my view.
“Wow, Joel.” I really didn’t know what to say. I was getting really cold now, and impatient. Was he trying to delay responding to me?
“Come here,” he slid his arm around my waist, and pulled me down onto a rock beside him. “I am so extremely happy, Kate. I have waited for you to accept my request-me- since the first day I saw you. Do you remember the first time I asked you?”
“Of course. Your parents invited my family and I to eat over at your house. You asked me when I was about to get in the car.”
“Yes, and do you remember what you did?” I was about to reply, but he began again. “You looked at me like I was a crazy man, and just laughed.” his cold fingers were stroking my cheek, and his eyes were far away, remembering the moment.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” Again, I felt as though I couldn’t look into his eyes. I turned my head, and let it rest on his shoulder.
“No-that’s not why I’m telling you this. I guess, I’m hoping you’ll understand how happy-no, ecstatic-I am to hear you say that you will actually go out with me.” He chuckled, and hugged me tightly.
“I’m glad your so patient. I have liked you too- for a long time. I was just too big of a wimp to tell you so.” I chuckled now, relieved that I had finally told him how I felt; accepted the fact that someone like him could actually like me.
“So, I think this counts as our first date.” his lips were at my ear, making my skin tingle at his every touch, like there was a fire burning between us. Did he feel it too? Slowly, he made his way to my lips.
“I love it.”
