College AU

"Okay, wow, I didn't expect that." He rubbed the back of his neck and took a moment to think. This was probably the moment he was supposed to do some sort of big romantic gesture, but his lack experience in this sort of thing made him settle for, "Oh. I like that. I mean, I like you too. A lot."

Preslea stood up and shoved her hand in her pockets. "I mean, you like me..as your best friend.When we graduated, I had to accept the fact that we were leaving and I was going to be your friend and only that." She said and rubbed her head. "I'm sorry Mal."

"No, wait." He didn't want her to go and was worried that she was going to leave. He grabbed her wrist to stop her, but gently enough that if she was set on leaving, she could just shake him off. "I never said that." He stood up too, and let go of her wrist, placing his finger under her chin and tilting her head upwards to meet his eyes. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears and he did his best to ignore it. "Okay, maybe I used to wrong words. Pres, I love you too. I have for years now."

Preslea looked up at him and sadly smiled. "Really? Mal, are you sure...?" She whispered and held his hand.

He squeezed her hand and smiled at her, reassuringly. "As sure as I can be," he said after a moment of thought. He was sure she could hear his heart pounding in his chest, but he tried so hard to look confident. He'd only ever been in one relationship, when he was just a kid it seemed, and so this whole 'romantic-gesture' thing was new and foreign to him.

Preslea smiled and wrapped her arms around him while she kissed him softly. She pulled away after awhile and looked at him, surprised. "Wow...That felt nice." She nodded.

"Nice. Yes, definitely nice." Mal's only experience with kissing had, once again, been when he was only fourteen, with Nessa. Back then, her kisses had felt like an addiction, but Preslea's weren't like that. They felt nice, yes, but also right. Like something he wanted to savor. He grinned. "You know, we should do that again sometime."

Preslea grinned and kissed him quickly. She loved kissing him, it was just like in the movies. It was lovely, almost magical. "I agree. We should do that a lot."

"Yes. We have a lot of time to make up for." He kissed her again, letting his lips linger on her's for a few seconds longer this time. He liked this, holding her closer than he ever had. It felt right in every sense of the word.

(Is it wrong I'm naming their kids? No..GREAT!)

Preslea grinned and pressed her forehead against his...Well, after she stood on her toes because she was that short. She hugged him tightly and held onto him. "Hey Mal...Guess what?" She whispered.

(what are you naming them? xD
and i better get a say in some of them bro :p)

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist to help her keep her balance while up on her toes. "What?" he asked.

(For a girl: Wendy because they both love Peter Pan
Boy: Blake, Peter, or Flynn)

Preslea blushed and kissed his nose. "I really love you and I have ever since you stayed with me that one night I got food poisoning." She giggled and brushed her lips against him, teasing him. It was completely true. All those nights he stayed with her when she cramped, threw up, or cried all night, she fell more an more in love with him. Like a movie or a beautifully written book. Malachi Byrd was the boy she loved first. Loved more than Roses or white chocolate from the candy store. She reached for the ground and looked up at him. "That's the complete truth."

(I approve ^-^)

"Ah, yes, I remember that night. Good times, good times," he teased, wrapping his arms tighter around her. This was a moment he never would have imagined would ever happen, and he knew now that he never wanted it to end. He would stay there forever, if he could, but instead he just chose to savor the moment for as long as possible, and be sure to keep it with him forever. "I wouldn't doubt for a second that that's the truth." He smiled and thought, trying to pin-point the exact second he'd fallen in love with her, when he'd felt love the way she'd described it just a few minutes ago, but he couldn't. It was something that had happened slowly over time. Every little thing she did, every laugh, every smile, had made him fall deeper in love with her up and led up to this moment.

Preslea shook her head and remembered that long night where Mal stood next to her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep on the tile floor. She loved that moment with him, mostly because all of his attention was on her. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped his arms around her so he was hugging her from behind. "Mal, how do you feel about going out on our official first date?"

He rested his chin on her head and, even though he knew she couldn't see his expression, widened his eyes in surprise and let out an auditory gasp. "You mean the food poisoning thing didn't count as our first date?" he joked, then released her from the hug and turned her to face him. He held out his hand to her and bowed. "In that case, I would be honored."

"Yes, you goober!" She giggled and shook her head. Pres turned around and took his hand. Her usually rosy cheeks were now a crimson color. "As would I...Frozen yogurt date?" she suggested and poked his side.

He grinned, standing up straight and squeezing her hand gently. "Frozen yogurt sounds perfect," he said. He pouted when she poked his side and, using his free hand, playfully batted her hand away. "Don't poke meeeee!" he whined.

Preslea squealed and pouted too. "Ouchieee!"

(Sorry if posts sucks. At miss texas)

"Don't poke me!" He repeated, grinning at her and taking her hand in his, the hand that he'd batted away. "I didn't actually hurt you, did I?" He studied her hand, and then lightly kissed the back of it. "There, all better!"

"I actually think you broke my hand.." she pouted and then turned her frown into a big grin. "Thank you, Mal." she whispered and walked with him, hand in hand.

"Come on, I'm not nearly that strong," he joked, squeezing her hand in his and swinging them back and forth as they walked. "So, where can we get frozen yogurt in this place?"

(Sorry, I didn't see your post till now >.< )

"In the commons area. They have the best!" Preslea grinned and hugged him as they walked. She couldn't be any happier with him right then.

"Really?" He actually hadn't noticed before, which was surprising seeing as he could usually spot a food place miles away. Though that may have been because of how little time he'd spent in the commons area thus far. "Since you're such an expert then, I'll have to ask what flavors are the best." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her close as they walked and wishing he never had to let go.

"White chocolate and Caramel are amazing." She suggested and looked up at him. She locked eyes with him for a moment then blushed softly. "Which dorm hall are you in? I'm in The Riverview dorms."

He thought for a second, then nodded his approval. "I like chocolate," he said with a grin. He had to think a few more seconds before recalling the name of his dorm hall. He was still fairly new there and had gotten lost a few times. "Lockhart Hall," he said when he remembered.