FEELINGS

Life is unpredictable. Sometimes, we laugh...sometimes, we are sad...sometimes, we love. The first day my eyes landed on Caroline Ann Wright, I found her extremely beautiful. Her beauty is pure, effortless, with a spike of innocence that is so hard to miss. That day, I got lost in her eyes.

Getting to know her, I realize she's just as I thought—-different. Three months of knowing her, I know her story to an extent, and life hasn't been exactly nice to her. Her parents passed away when she was seven. She lived with her Aunt. She was bullied in school, she didn't have friends, and she had to live on the streets at eighteen.

When I see her smile, or hear her laughter fill the room, it brightens my day...and I feel a strong need to keep making her laugh, protecting her beautiful smile at all cost. Caroline has become so important to me. I don't think she knows just how much she means to me. When she's happy...I'm happy too. When she's troubled...so am I.

While she lays on top of me in her living room, my eyes land on the mess we've made with the white paint and I burst into laughter. She also laughs...her head right on my chest. Actually, this reminds me of the first time I ever saw her. How time flies.

My hand goes to her hair, patting it gently. She turns to look at me and I feel my chest tighten. My heart hammers loudly in my chest, I wonder if she heard. Her pretty brown eyes hold mine gently, making my lips part...but nothing comes out of my mouth. She rolls her eyes, getting off my chest to stand on her feet.

'Okay...up, up now you playful thing.' She says cheerfully like she's a child again, giggling. She extends her hand to help me up.

My eyes linger on her, memorizing her happy face...the corners of her lips that curls into a smile, the joy reflecting in her pretty brown eyes...my heart starts to beat fast.

This feeling...I think I'm in love with Caroline Ann Wright.

We finish painting by the time night falls. I help her arrange her things where she wants them. By the time we finish unpacking, and arranging, the doorbell rings. I take the empty boxes to the storeroom beside the kitchen, while Caroline gets the door.

'Pizza is here.' I heard her sing like a song and I start to chuckle.

Sometimes, she can be so free like a child...it rubs on me.

We sit side by side on the floor, in the living room eating pizza.

'Thanks to you, I can sleep happily tonight. We did everything already...thank you Miles. I appreciate you a lot.' She says, smiling.

Whenever she smiles, I get lost in her smile—-like now.

I shake my head and smile. 'No, don't thank me Carol. I'm always happy to help whenever you need me. After all, it's what friends do right?'

She smiles, pulling me into a tight hug. My eyes shut on their own. This feels really good. I wonder when will be the right time...when I can finally tell her exactly how I feel about her. When I can say to her what's on my mind...I love Caroline Ann Wright, it is clear now. The sudden change in the rhythm of my heartbeat when she's around, the way I get lost in her eyes, how I steal glances at her lips and wish I could kiss her...I am in love with her. There is no doubt—-I've never been more sure.

'Miles?' her soft voice pulls me away from my train of thoughts.

She pulls away gently, her smaller hands holding my larger ones. I stare at our hands...joined together, and my heart starts to beat fast...hammering loudly against my chest.

I look up to see her eyes smiling, just like her full lips. For some reason, I smile too...she's so beautiful, and even more beautiful when she smiles. She looks so unreal.

'Will you be my best friend?'

What did I expect? She pouts her lips, waiting for me to reply. I find her facial expression humoring...and cute. A half grin forms on my face and I nod slowly.

'Yay!' She screams out, pulling me in for a tight hug.

When she pulls away and her eyes land on the pizza box, her eyes widen. She looks up at me, and I shoot her a quizzical look.

'The pizza...it's all gone!'

I start chuckling, but Caroline isn't finding it funny. She shrugs, and her lips purses into a thin line.

'Okay, fine. Should we order another?'

I heard her sigh and she leans back against the sofa.

'No, it's all good.'

Caroline is more of a foodie than she admits. I burst into laughter when she made a sad face and she nudges me, her lips twitching before she bursts out laughing.

'The weekend is here and the weather is really nice tonight...maybe we can go to the club?' I mutter.

Her lips purses in a thin line, and then she sucks on her lower lip...something I notice she tends to do often.

'Not the club. I haven't shopped yet. I don't think I have anything suitable for that now.'

I smile. 'Let's go see a movie?'

While the movie plays in the dark room, my eyes remain on her. Often, she finds humor in the movie and a huge grin will appear on her face. Her bucketful of popcorn not leaving her grasp...time to time, she pops a handful in her mouth and grins, her eyes glued to the screen. I can watch her all night long.

She goes on and on about the movie while we walk back outside. Her laughter is music to my ears, and I can't just stop looking at her.

'Hello...Miles are you listening?' she snaps her fingers, and my eyes twitch. Her face is just few inches away from mine. She rolls her eyes, and starts to walk away.

'What's on your mind?'

You...I wanted to say. Walking to her, I sigh. 'Wait here, let me get the car.'

She catches my hand and I pause. 'Miles...it's late, you don't have to drop me home. I can take the bus.'

I open my mouth to disagree, but she purses her lips, folding her arms around her chest in disapproval. 'I stressed you a lot today. I can't even thank you enough. Please, go home and get some rest. I'll just take the bus.'

This woman in front me won't take no for an answer. My hands go up in surrender, and she hugs me briefly. 'Thank you for every single thing, for every moment, Miles...'

She pulls away, I look at her smiling face and it took everything in me to not pull her close for a kiss.

'You are welcome, Caroline Ann Wright.'