Chapter 17

"Yes, El?" Joey ask, our eyes still locked with one another.

My heart continues to beat faster as the butterflies inside of me continue to dance wilder. My mind is lost staring into his beautiful eyes. Never before did I imagine to stood in front of my house at night, staring into the eyes of the guy who I grew to care for all my life, which I eventually fell in love with.

"Joey, I..."

I shift my gaze to the ground when I noticed him raised his left eyebrow at me, while waiting for me to say whatever I have to say. I could feel my body suddenly feel nervous at just the sight of his present. I want to express how I feel so badly, but my lips doesn't seem to have the courage to do so.

"Eleanor, are you ok?"

"I....li.."

My lips still seemed like coward, especially when it comes to that one simple word. How I wish it would betray me this time by letting those words slip through my tongue, fighting the fear that's been battling with me. If I keep thinking of my fear, I knew I wouldn't be able to say it out loud. As much as I'm afraid his reaction would disappoint me, it's worse to feel curious than to feel disappointed. I had to take a step.

I sigh, "I like you."

Silence filled the air. I didn't hear Joey let out any answer. Slowly, I shift my gaze up to see his eyes, still staring at me, but this time, his eyes looked rather surprised. His lips slightly open, making him look speechless. Yet, he seems to look more speechless than he is surprised. We continue to stood in silence, with Joey now shifting his gaze to ground, completely avoiding my eyes.

Unsatisfied with his action, I thought I must have did a mistake. Did I just scared him with my confession? Did he not see it coming that he could only stood in silence tonight? Did I surprised him in a bad way that he could only be speechless? I'm starting to think that maybe my action was a mistake.

"I'm sorry, Joe," I say. Slowly, I felt tears in my eyes, yet I instantly wipe them away, since I didn't want him to notice.

With all these emotional silence, I turned around to walk back inside my house, when I felt a strong grip on my right arm, stopping me with my steps. I turn around to see Joey, slowly walking closer to me, until our bodies are only inches a part.

Suddenly, Joey pulls me into a big hug, closing the inches between us. I hug him back as I rest my head on his shoulder, letting myself get lost in this beautiful moment as the memories of our childhood starts surfacing in my mind. I remember how he had always been caring and protective towards Taylor and I. From helping out with our homework, bringing us his homemade peanut butter and jelly overnight oats when we're sick, to protecting us from anyone who wants to mess with us. Though in his embrace I feel safe, my heart couldn't lie that tonight it felt sad as well. I feel the tears in my eyes slide down my eyes, staining his shoulder.

I let go of my arms from him, releasing myself from the embrace. I stare at him in the eyes.

Slowly, my hands finds its ways to his cheeks. I pull his face closer to mine. I noticed his eyes slowly closing, giving me hope that a miracle could happen tonight as my heart's desire. In a moment of emotions, I slowly close my eyes as well while I continue to pull his face closer.

My hands lose its strenght and dropped to his shoulders, when I finally felt a pair of soft lips touch mine. Like the heart's desire, an impulsive move was done at the right time. I felt his hands around my waist. I follow with locking my arms around his neck as we continue to share our first kiss together tonight. Even though this action only made the butterflies inside of me more crazy, yet it brings a comforting in my heart. It's an amazing realization that how a guy that got me falling head over heals, could make me feel these two different feelings in one action. Honestly, now that I am experiencing this beautiful moment, I wonder how did Taylor not fell for Joe after their accidental kiss during the play. It didn't took me a kiss to fall for him, but kissing him tonight made me realize that I really had fallen in love with him.

Slowly, we break the kiss to catch our breaths. I feel my cheeks suddenly blushing. I didn't need a mirror to know how red it probably looks like. I noticed Joey also blushing, making his cheeks look like tomatoes. I thought it's very cute.

"Umm...ok. I should go now," Joey says. His voice sounded a bit awkward. "Goodnight, El."

I form a small yet shy smile, "Goodnight, Joey."

With that final word, Joey enters his car drives off, leaving the quiet neighborhood, and me who still stood while watching as his car disappears in sight.

The next day...

10 AM...

Taylor's POV...

I woke up with my head still lightly spinning. I scratched my head with my hair being messy at this point, before stretching out my arms and legs. My body felt exhausted even after some sleep. I must have drank too much of Tim's cocktails last night. Damn, never again will I have a taste of his creations. I should have known better that he was not even bartender material in the first place. Just as I continue to stretch my arms out, the door suddenly opens.

"Rise and shine, Tay," Eleanor chirps. Her usually cheerful voice starts echoing through my ears. I bet she didn't get drunk last night, because if she did, she wouldn't have been this cheerful today.

"Breakfast is ready, and waiting," Eleanor says. "By the way, mom and dad left earlier to visit grandma. I told them that we were tired so we'll skip."

"I see," I say as I get up from my bed and head to my dressing table. I still had last night's make-up on, complete with my messy hair. I quickly grab a random scrunchie from the table and tie my hair into a high ponytail.

A few minutes later....

Downstairs...

After I removed my make-up and wash my face, I walked downstairs to see a bowl of corn and mushroom soup along with a cup of coffee already waiting for me in the dining room.

"Since when did you know my favorite combo?" I ask Eleanor, who had just return from the kitchen with a bowl of sliced fruits.

"Since I became your sister," Eleanor says as she takes a seat a cross me.

I gave my sister a small smile, before I take a sip of my coffee. I start to take a spoon of the corn soup, which taste very good. Man, I wish I could a corn soup this good.

Meanwhile, Eleanor is enjoying her bowl of fruits, when her phone suddenly rings a notification of a new message. She quickly grabs her phone from beside her. I noticed her lips formed a small smile while staring at the screen. Hmm..did she met someone at the party last night?

"New boy on the block?" I tease her in a playful manner.

"No," Eleanor answers while putting her phone back on the table.

"You didn't meet someone new at the party last night?" I ask, before taking another spoon of my soup.

"Actually I did," Eleanor says. "Surprisingly, he's Anderson's cousin."

"Ohh," I say. "And did he caught your interest?"

"I wouldn't say it that way. He's kinda cool, but I don't think I'm into him," Eleanor says. "Besides, I think I like someone else."

I raise my left eyebrow at her. My face looking all confused with wonders. Hmm...she didn't tell me about her recent crush. In fact, the last time we even had the crush talk was back in middle school, when both of us were fangirling over a new boyband. Well, that was more of a celebrity crush thing. We eventually grew out of it.

"I see. Who is he?" I ask her.

To be continue...