Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me.

-Sixpence None the Richer

Sara was on the brink of exhaustion. She barely had the strength to fish for her keys.

“Sara?”

Sara looked around, trying to find the owner of the voice. Finally, her vision became focused.

“Ryan.” She barely managed before her instincts kicked in and she raced over to him, all of her fatigue suddenly forgotten. He hardly had a chance to react before she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Ryan almost fell backwards, but caught himself just in time. His hands tangled in her soft hair, and he rested his chin on her head.

“I missed you.” He muttered.

Sara pulled back abruptly. “What are you doing here?”

Ryan was startled. Her eyes were soft, but she was looking at him strangely. Ryan was stuttering. “I-I came he-here to see you.” He took a deep breath when it was done.

Her eyes lit up. Ryan continued. “Look, Sara, I’ve tried to get over you, but it’s impossible. You’re all I’ve thought about for the last six months. Trust me, I’ve tried to forget you, but it was impossible, you know that? You’re unforgettable.”

Sara wasn’t saying anything, just looking at him. Ryan kept going, against his better judgment.

“Ever since I met you, I’ve been crazy about you. You’re smart, you’re beautiful, you’re just incredible. Maybe it’s weird for you to be hearing this after six months, and I’m sorry. I tried, but I don’t think I can go one more day without you. Whatever it takes, I want to make this work.”

Sara smiled. “Wow.”

Ryan looked confused. “Wow what?” Oh, crap, he realized. He still didn’t know if she cared about him. “One last thing.” He gasped, before he lost his nerve. “Sara, I’m in love with you.” He held his breath. Please say it back, he thought silently.

“Two things.” She breathed. “One, you are the most incredible person I have ever met.” Her smile was beautiful. “And two…Ryan, I’m in love with you.”

Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. And Sara did what she had wanted to do for so long.

She kissed him.

It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own.

-The Fray

Isobel pulled on her favorite jeans and a pink top. She combed out her long wavy hair and let it fall around her shoulders. She even threw on some mascara and lip gloss for good measure.

She was going to go see Alex. And she was going to look damn good doing it.

Isobel didn’t have much of a plan, but she did know that she was going to march across the street and ask Alex out. Katherine was right, she would never know until she tried. Isobel really liked him, so what the hell? Sometimes you just had to take a chance.

She threw open the front door, mustering up her courage.

“Hi.”

On seeing Alex at her front porch, Isobel took a step backwards and tripped over the couch. Alex tried to keep a straight face, but let a small laugh escape. Eventually, they were both in hysterics.
Isobel regained her composure. “Hi.” She said back.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go get some ice cream with me.”

“Definitely.” Isobel smiled, taking secret delight in the faintly surprised expression on Alex’s face. “I would love to.”

He got Cookie Dough, she got Strawberry. He paid for all of it, without any cost limitations. He told jokes that actually made her laugh. He told her she looked beautiful. He was easy to talk to. When they got back, he walked her to her door.

“Come to dinner with me. On Friday.” He even used the puppy dog eyes.

“Well…” She said, playing with him.

“Please?” He pretended to beg.

“I guess I could fit you in somewhere.” she said, giggling.

“I should probably be grateful. I’m sure there are lots of people vying for your attention.” He said jokingly.

“Friday. So it’s a date?”

“God, I hope so.” He retorted.

“I’m going inside now.” She said sarcastically.

“Wait.” He said, grabbing her arm. He leaned up and kissed her softly on the cheek.

Without warning, Isobel cupped his cheek and kissed him passionately on the lips. She pulled away and walked inside, leaving Alex in shock. “Bye.” She called out.

You only get one life. And Isobel was making the most of it.

If I told you you were right
Would you take my hand tonight?
If I told you the reasons why
Would you leave your life and ride?

-Cary Brothers

Mia knew where Luke lived. They had lived on the same main stretch of road since they were kids. It was raining, but Mia didn’t care. She had to find Luke. She wasn’t even sure what she would say.

She knocked softly on the door. If she left, she would hate herself. Mia never backed down if she could help it. Luke answered. He was silent, just taking in her appearance. She was soaked, her hair matted to her head and her makeup smeared. Still, he thought she was stunning.

Mia blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “You were right.”

Luke looked utterly puzzled. “About what?”

“About me, about love, about everything. Everything I thought was wrong. I was just too stubborn to admit it.” She said softly.

“No. You weren’t wrong about everything. Sometimes, love doesn’t work out. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You just have to make it work.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sorry. That I was so horrible to you. I didn’t mean to be, you know. I was just scared.” She spoke hurriedly. “Look, I’m just going to go. I’ll see you later.”

“Wait.” Luke called after her. Mia turned around slowly. “Is that all you came here to say?” He questioned.

“Yes. No. Crap. I don’t know.” She mumbled.

Luke look amused. “Just answer the question, Mia.”

“No. Okay? That’s not all I came here to say. Happy?”

“Not until you tell me everything.” Luke said, crossing his arms.

“Fine. You want to know? Here it is.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “After my parent’s divorce, I was so scared of love. When their love ended, my family broke up, and my life was shattered. I was the one holding everything together. I figured that if I never let myself fall in love, I would never get hurt.” She was breathing hard. “That night, when you came for dinner, you scared me. Everything had been perfect, and you messed it all up. You changed everything, Luke. I tried to go back to the way it was before, but I never quite managed it. I thought if I could ignore everything, it would all just go away. I thought that if I ignored you, I wouldn’t get hurt, but I got hurt anyway.”

Luke wanted to ask if this meant what he thought it did, but he refrained. He wanted to hear everything she had to say.

“So, Luke, here’s the truth. I’m messed up. I have issues. I don’t know how to love people in the right way. But I’m sick of hiding. I need you to help me. I need you to know how I feel about you.” Luke reached out his hand, and Mia took it. He pulled her close to him. “Yes.” He whispered, and he kissed her. It took her breath away.

When the truth is,
I miss you.
Yeah the truth is,
That I miss you so.
And I'm tired,
I should not have let you go.
So I crawl back into your open arms.

-Coldplay

He was still there.

After everything Rose had said and done to him, Seth was still there, sitting in her computer chair. He was unaware of her presence in the door.

“Seth…” She started.

He stood up suddenly, embarrassed. “I’m sorry.” He said quietly. “I’ll leave.”

Rose grabbed his hand. “Don’t go. I have something to say.”

Seth looked stunned. He lowered himself back into the chair.

Rose never let go of his hand. “I know you, Seth. I know that you play Crash Bandicoot when no one’s around to make fun of you. I know that you’re still hiding that D in Pre-Calc from your mom. I know that you tap your foot when you’re bored. I know that you’ve seen This Is Spinal Tap exactly thirty-six times. I know that you secretly love Peter Gabriel. I know that you read to that lady down the street, and watch her kittens when she’s at the hospital. I know you, Seth. And I know that I love you more than anybody else could.” She let out the breath she’d be holding. Seth still looked stunned.

Finally, he found words. “Why did you run away, then?”

Rose stared at the floor, afraid to look him in the eye. “I don’t know. I was so scared, I guess. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to be with you until I thought I had lost you.”

“You’d never lose me, Rose.” He said kindly.

“I didn’t know that then.” She whispered.

“I guess you know it now.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

Seth stood up, squeezing Rose’s small hand in his. He wrapped his arms and held her next to him. He leaned down and touched her forehead with his.

Rose could barely breathe. This was what she had always wanted. She just didn’t know it. “Do you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive you for, Rose. Nothing.” He said. Rose could feel his breath on her neck.”

“I love you, Seth.” Rose said delicately.

“I always knew you would come around, Rose.” Seth responded. And he kissed her.

That was the day that Rose realized that love was never quite what you expected, but it was everything you could ask for.