50

How much could things change in just a few weeks? A lot, turned out.

For the better or the worse? The better, surprisingly.

George started taking me out on dates. In public. I still enjoyed our stay-at-home dates more, but being outside together was different - it felt like a big step forward. It meant he didn't care about being spotted with me and that meant he was pretty serious about us.

Some things didn't change.

Knowing I had a massive sweet tooth, he'd bring me my favorite sweets almost every single day. There wasn’t a day when he knocked without his hands being occupied with something.

It was almost a routine for our lazy dates. He'd finish working, go to the store, come knocking at my door with something to snack on all night long.

Until one day, he showed up with flowers. I didn't know what type of flowers they were, but they were blue and gorgeous.

"What's the occasion?" I giggled, taking the flowers from his hand and filling in the empty spot with my own hand. I pulled lightly, getting on my tip toes to kiss his cheek, "Thank you, they're so pretty."

"There's no occasion, really. Just wanted to get them for you," he shrugged slightly, "thought the colour was pretty."

"It is so very pretty," I smiled brightly. It was especially cute because anything he would see and think it's pretty, he'd get it for me.

"Almost as pretty as you," and not only that, but he'd also associate the pretty things with me.

He followed me inside, closing the door behind him. Today was supposed to be one of our lazy days inside, so I wasn't in a hurry. I took my time to take care of the flowers before we could do anything.

George watched silently as I carefully placed the flowers in a vase, making sure to use my time to arrange them perfectly. There was something endearing about the way he was looking at me handle the flowers, smiling at the way my fingers took their time to gently adjust each and every flower until they looked just right.

George walked towards me slowly until he was standing close behind me. His arms encircled my waist, head dipping down to my neck and making me giggle. His chin perched on my shoulder, warm breath gently grazing my neck as he spoke.

"You smell so good," he murmured, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck, "good enough to scoop with a spoon and eat."

A shiver ran down my spine at the feeling of his face pressed against my neck. His words sent a flutter through my stomach, and I couldn't help the small giggle that escaped my lips.

"That's an interesting way to put it," I leaned back into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his chest against my back, "and a cannibalistic one."

George chuckled softly, his chest vibrating against my back. He tightened his arms around my waist, pulling me even closer to him.

"Come on, I wanna show you something."

Before I could react, he was already leading me to the balcony. When he pulled out the keys to my balcony from his pocket and started unlocking the door, I frowned.

"Why do you have the keys?" I laughed with confusion until he pushed the door open.

Oh.

A soft gasp escaped my lips as I took in the sight before me.

The balcony was filled with a variety of flowers decorating every corner. Even the floor was covered in petals, and everything was illuminated by the warm yellow glow of fairy lights draped across the railing.

How had this even been arranged, and how hadn't I noticed? I had been home all day and didn't even notice. Well he did steal the keys, so I couldn't go to the balcony even if I wanted to, but weirdly enough, I didn't even attempt to.

"George, what..." I was speechless, not daring to step past the entrance, "How did you?"

"I tried," he chuckled, a nervous smile on his face. The cool night air hit us both immediately, the gentle breeze rustling through my hair and my flowy dress, reminding me of the times he would take smoke breaks on his balcony, and I would come to my balcony exclusively to see him.

He had quit, and the smoke breaks were long gone in the past, so instead of the usual smell of smoke in the breeze, I could smell flowers.

He walked over to the railing, gesturing for me to join him.

"Come here," he said, pulling me closer until I was standing right in front of him, our bodies just inches apart. He was still holding my hands, his thumbs gently stroking over my knuckles; something he seemed to do when he was nervous. Which made me wonder what was happening.

"How did you do this? This is unreal." I was still struggling to figure out how this whole thing could be possible, but I guess it didn't matter anymore. He was looking at me, and his gaze was burning into my skin.

I took in the sight of him, the soft glow of the fairy lights reflecting in his soft eyes that were now filled with tension.

"I've wanted to tell you something for a long time, and I almost did the night I had to leave. You stopped me that night, and I'm so glad you did because you gave me the chance to make it a bit more special and memorable. I'd been looking for the perfect spot and perfect occasion to make it as special as it could be, but realized this place means more to us than anywhere else ever could."

My heart started galloping when I realized what was happening, my hands trembling slightly in his.

"I found the perfect place but I don't think there is a perfect time. What I felt that night was so powerful, that I wouldn't regret my words even back then. And it's even stronger now, and I know it will keep growing, so I don't want to wait anymore. I want to tell you now so I can keep telling you every day," he squeezed my hands and took a deep breath.

My eyes were wide open, my mouth slightly parted. Even though I knew it was coming, I was still unprepared. My heart was beating so loud. It felt like it was beating for him.

"Aria, I love you. I'm so in love with you. I love you in a way I've never loved anyone or anything before. Every time I look at you, I can't believe something so beautiful can exist. It's like I wish I could engrave you in my vision forever, and I feel privileged that I'm allowed to touch something so beautiful. You're like a ray of sunshine, you make me feel so alive," he said, taking another shaky breath. His hands started to shake as he held mine tightly. "You're all I need to be happy. I truly love you. And I'm.. and I'm asking you to be my girl."

The moment the words left his mouth, it felt like my whole body paused for a second, reprogrammed, and started working again. For him.

"George, I..."

This was it. This was the moment. I felt a rush of warmth and happiness flood my chest, making my heart feel like it was about to burst.

"I love you, George. I-I'm too dumb to give you a speech, but I love you too. So much."

Time seemed to stand still as he laughed softly, relief evident on his face. He cupped my face and kissed me, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist and pulling me even closer to his body.

Both of us melted into the kiss, and all the memories leading to this moment flashed before me. The first glance I caught of him on this very same balcony, the first time I heard his voice, the first jump of my heart when he jumped from his balcony to mine, the first dream I had of us kissing, our first kiss, all the nights we spent sleeping in each other's arms, almost losing him, the dream of him confessing his love to me.

And there I was, standing on the same balcony, living out my dream come true. Literally. All of my dreams came true and I was with my dream boy. With my pretty boy.

There was only one thing that I had so many dreams about but it hasn't happened yet.

"I wanna show you something," I smiled against his lips, giggling as he kept stealing kisses even after I tried to pull away.

"Can't it wait?" George reluctantly broke away from the kiss, showing a hint of resistance as I pulled him back inside. I took him to my room as if I was about to show him something truly unbelievable.

"It waited long enough," I chuckled.

He glanced at me, his eyes filled with curiosity, which vanished away almost immediately as I playfully pushed him to the bed.

"Whoa," he let out a soft gasp of surprise as he landed on the bed, using his elbows to support his body up, "what are you-"

One of the straps of my dress had already fallen down, so I slid the other one off as well, smirking at him as my dress fell to the floor.

He watched me approach, a surprised smile tugging at the corners of his lips. When his eyes roamed over my body, as I slowly got closer to him, I noticed the lust and hunger in them.

"I must say, I'm impressed by your patience." Teasing, I refused to close the gap between us.

But George's hands momentarily grasped my hips, a small sound of surprise leaving my mouth as he pulled me down and pinned me under him on the bed, "Me too, but you're already testing it, darling."

~The end~