It's been so long since she felt like this. Most days, she feels older than she is. Aged and bending over all the responsibility and hardship she's endured. But right now, she feels young and almost silly. Just a girl standing in front of the boy she likes hoping he'll return her feelings and give her a kiss. Simpler feelings hearkening back to simpler times. All her worries and frustrations aren't gone, but rather left at the door, and she's all too happy to just get lost in the present and see where this leads.

She shudders out a breath when he takes her hand in his. His hand's warm over hers, and she so wants to twine her fingers in his. But before she can even consider it further, she looks up just in time to see him lean in and kiss her. She sighs into the kiss, exhaling relief and joy as she leans closer to him, kissing him eagerly in return. She's sure her heart's going to burst, but that's all right. There are worse ways to go.

After a long, wonderful moment, she pulls back just a bit to catch her breath. And she's smiling like a loon. Her free hand reaches up and tenderly brushes some of the hair from his face. "I was really hoping you'd do that," she murmurs.