At dismissal, I hurriedly walked home. But just my luck, the guy I've been avoiding crossed my path again.

"Hi, Leigh," Bob smiled. I missed that smile.Well, he doesn't give up so easily. "Let me help you with that." He came to my rescue, carrying my load of Physics and Trigo books.

"No, I could handle these," I said, snapping him, so, he would back off.

"Oh, Leigh, don't be shy. Just like old times, remember?" Bob insisted. I have no choice, so, I let him carry my books.

Then, we walked side by side, quietly. It felt so uneasy walking with him again after what just happened last Saturday night.

Does he still remember? It keeps on bugging my mind.

"Hey, tell me, what's on your mind?" Bob asked, looking at me.

I just raised my eyebrows. He tickled me at the sides. I remembered the days we used to walk to school together. I can't believe after three months, we've outgrown it.

"Come on," Bob laughed. "What's bothering you? I don't want to see you looking like that."

It's just that I'm in love with you. "Bob, please stop it," I said seriously. Then, Bob stopped, saying 'sorry.'

Then, we walked again. Silence.

"You know, I miss the times such as this, you know, when we walk home together before and after school," Bob replied.

Do I ever? Yeah, I sure do. I silently told myself. "Me, too." Bob looked at me.

"So, you missed this, too?"

I just nodded. I can feel tears forming at the side of my eyes. I'm so confused with this guy who used to be my best friend.

"Oh, Leigh," he just mumbled. He looked down as we walked. After a few moments, we reached our neighborhood. Bob handed me my books as we stopped by our block.

"Thanks," I replied as I carried my load, when we were at the front door of our house.

"Anytime, Leigh," he smiled. He started to walk behind my back.

Then, I also started walking but deep in my heart, someone told me that we should talk. I looked back. "Bob?"

"Yes?" Bob looked back. We looked at each other at the eyes.

"I think we need to talk," The words came out of my mouth.

I saw the sigh of relief in Bob's eyes. Maybe he also wanted to talk. "Ok," he just said. "I thought you'd never ask."

Then, I let him inside the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom, Dad, Carl,  I'm home," I replied. Nobody answered. Maybe they went out shopping. Oh, well. Atleast, it's a good time for me and Bob to talk. So, I lead him to our den like it used to be when we're still hanging by our house, together.

"So?" Bob asked as we were settled on the couch.

"Oh, Bob," I shook my head. Tears springing down my eyes. "I'm so plain confused."

"Leigh," he hugged me. "Why? Tell me about it."

"Oh, after all these times, I finally came up to my senses," I gushed. It felt so good to hug him again.

"What's that?"

"Are you naive?" I asked him. He looked at me. I can see the twinkle in his eyes. He gave me a tissue from our tissue box at the table beside him.

I choked, "I don't know what happened last Saturday night." I shook my head.

"Oh, that," Bob blushed as we untangled from the embrace. "Let me explain that. You don't think I'm really drunk, do you?"

"Kind of," I looked at him as I wiped my tears away. "You almost threw up on my shoes."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "But let me tell you on one thing..." I gazed up at him with teary eyes. "It's TrUe. I'm really falling in love with you. I hope you'll not get mad at me but I feel that it's true."

My eyes grew big. "Tell me, you're not lying."

"I am not lying," Bob said without a blink. " I do, I do... love you more than a... best friend." Then, he sighed, hoping I would answer.

I just looked at him, lost in space. "Well, Bob, you're my best friend, but I love you, too... more than that."

"Oh, Leigh, wow, that's great!" Bob said excitedly. He hugged me, again. "That's the sweetest words I've heard from you since we're back."

"Bob, that's the understatement of the year!" I laughed. I felt so happy for both of us.

Then, he stopped. "No kidding. But why have you been avoiding me so lately?"

"Well," I explained. "I'm sorry if I have been avoiding you lately, coz you know, there are so many things that have gotten around since you've been gone. I met new friends, you're in another country, there's Ray, I think I have changed and I think you have changed. But I guess I was wrong. I think , yeah, I 'sort of' changed but for the better. And I guess you, you're still the same Bob I've ever known since..." we've known each other.

"Leigh," he smiled and placed his index finger on my lips. I stopped talking, My heartbeat moved faster. He closed his eyes, then, he placed down his hand and started kissing me on the lips. A spark of electricity went down my spine and arms. I'm really in love. I closed my eyes and kissed him back. Oh, it was such a wonderful experience. His lips touching my own lips.

"Oh, Bob," I murmurred in between kisses, as I placed my arms around his shoulders. "I missed you so badly."

"I missed you, too," he replied as we still make out on the couch. "You're always in my mind and heart."

"Oh, Bob, I love you..." It felt so good to be in his arms. After all these years, I, Leigh Fritzgerald, didn't know that we would eventually end up together. Bob Moffatt and me. This time, this love is for real. Yep. He's for real.

"Believe me, Leigh, I really love you, too. Promise," he mumbled in between kisses as we lay down. ; }