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John entered the room as quietly as he could, not wanting to wake Charlie. He sat on the chair next to her bed, and after a moment brushed a strand of hair away from her face. She didn't push him away, but instead she moved an inch close in his direction- so he took a step forward and sat on the bed next to her. He was still far enough from her to make sure she's not uncomfortable, but also close enough to stroke her hair lightly.
She woke up after a while and looked up at him. "John?" She asked softly, and he smiled at her. "Yeah, it's me." He continued stroking her hair, and the two just looked into each other's eyes for a moment. It was perfect, for both of them- he could see the girl he loves is alive and well, and she felt his warm presence so close to her. Charlie didn't realize how much she missed John until he was so close to her- his warmth made everything else go away, including the pain she felt almost all the time. John kept her grounded now, kept her from drifting back to sleep.
"is what I'm doing okay?" John asked nervously, and Charlie nodded. "Yeah. I like that." John smiled at her response, and continued stroking her hair.
Charlie slowly moved close to him, and sat up, leaning on his shoulder. She has never let herself be so vulnerable in front of someone, but John.... John was different. She felt safe with him- safe enough to show him how weak she was in this moment. John's arm was wrapped around her shoulders, holding her tightly to his side. "It'll be okay, I promise" he whispered, rubbing her arm a little. She nodded and curled a little closer to him- she wanted to feel his warmth as close as possible.
They set there for a long moment, just the two of them, and it was.... perfect.
After a while, Charlie finally sat up straight, but didn't shrug John's arm off. She looked into his eyes for a moment. "That night... You know, before that thing trapped me..." she hesitated for a second, but the look in John's eyes encouraged her to continue. "...I remember what you told me then."
John's cheeks turned pink. "What do you remember?" he asked, looking down so he won't meet her eyes.
"You told me you loved me" she replied softly, and he looked back at her. She had a soft, loving look in her eyes, and a small smile on her lips. John smiled back, but then he looked away again, afraid of her next words.
"I just wanted to say... I love you too, John."
John looked up at her, surprised. The look in her eyes told him one thing- she was being honest with him now. She didn't mean it in a platonic way, or just said that to make him feel better- she truly, honestly meant it. His arm was still on her shoulders, and he now let it go down and hug her waist, drawing her a little closer to him. He smiled widely now, reflecting the look on Charlie's face. "Really? You love me?" He asked softly, and she nodded. John then turned his body to face her, and she did the same, so now they were facing each other on his bed. He looked into her eyes, then down at her lips, then into her eyes again, silently asking for permission. She nodded quickly, and they both leaned forward towards each other. John's arm was still wrapped around Charlie's waist, so he cupped Charlie's face in his free hand, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. She lay her hand on his shoulder, drawing him a little closer until their lips met.
The kiss they shared was nothing like what they have ever experienced or imagined. Their lips moved in sync for a long moment, but they didn't take it further. Each of them enjoyed the feeling of the other's lips against theirs, and they didn't need anything else. Charlie placed her free hand on John's other shoulder and draw herself closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as her lips kept moving against his. John kept his hand on her cheek, but wrapped his other arm tighter around her waist. They pulled away to breath after a long moment, their eyes closed and their foreheads touching. Charlie opened her eyes and found John already looking at her, and the look in his eyes made a few butterflies start fluttering in her stomach. He smiled at her and more butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she smiled back. "Will you be my girlfriend?" John asked suddenly, then blushed, a little embarrassed. "I know it's a little too early, but I've been in love with you for so long now, and now that I know you feel the same way... Well, I don't want to be just friends with you anymore."
Charlie blushed, too, as she responded. "I would love to be your girlfriend, John. Sometimes it feels like you're the only person who can keep me here. And honestly, I don't want you to ever let go of me, ever again." She paused, then added, "except for when it's necessary, of course."
John chuckled, and moved his hand from her cheek to hug her waist with both his arms. "I promise you I will never let you go, ever again" he said, then leaned forward to kiss her again.
Marla entered John's bedroom with a cup of water and some medicines, and smiled at the sight before her. The couple didn't even notice when she set what she held on the dresser and left, closing the door quietly behind her. "Finally," she whispered to herself, smiling widely. She waited for them to get together for what seemed like forever, and now she hoped nothing will split them apart. Although she knew it won't be easy to separate them again- Charlie never let go of something when she finally got it, and John would fight anyone who tries to take away the girl he loves. Marla could feel they were going to be happy together, and she was thrilled of the thought about her childhood friends being together. She always saw their potential, and it seemed as if they finally saw it, too.
Meanwhile, Charlie and John finally pulled away to breath, smiling widely at each other. "I love you" they whispered to each other at the same time, then laughed, blushing. Charlie was tired, so she laid back on John's bed, and John watched her as she drifted back to sleep, his expression changing to something between sad and happy; he was glad they shared this moment, but his heart ached when he saw how tiring it was for her. His expression now changed to a soft smile when he looked at her. She was so incredible, it felt unreal to him that she was truly his now. "I can't believe you're here, Charlie" he whispered. "I'm so glad you're alive and safe with me. I'll protect you from anything and anyone. I promise." Charlie mumbled something in her sleep, something thatsounded like, "I can protect myself," and John couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course you can," he told her with an amused tone, then moved to lay close to her and fell asleep, finally with the love of his life in his arms.
This was the best thing that happened to him, and he felt the happiest he have ever been. Things couldn't get any better.