Without Warning

It struck him without warning when he was sitting across from her at their usual table in the cafeteria. How it hadn't occurred to him up until that point had him more than a little confused and rather overwhelmed and the emotions running through his mind must have showed because she gave him an amused smirk.

One did not suddenly realize that they were in love with their best friend every day and so he ignored the gesture rather than replying back with his usual sarcastic response or his clearly fabricated excuse.

She raised an eyebrow at him (as if to say 'what's up?') but still he refused to answer.

He chose to study her instead. His eyes roamed over her sapphire blue ones as they sparkled back at him curiously. He took in the quiet gleam of her hair. It looked softer and fluffier than usual and he was much more tempted to run his fingers through it.

He followed the curve of her neck down to her shoulder, her arm, her wrist and then her slender fingers. The nails were cut short but still were able to look beautiful to him. Hell. All of her looked beautiful to him.

He gulped as his eyes met hers once more.

Amusement gone, her eyes were wide with realization as he imagined his own were.

He cleared his throat and rapped his fingers over the tabletop. Smiling tentatively at her, he ran his tongue over his lips.

"I think I'm in trouble," he told her. "Big trouble."

She smiled almost shyly back and his heart skipped a beat. "I think you're not alone in that."

fin.