As much as I could see that she loved him, I just couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't over between us. Not for me, at least. I wanted her to be happy more than anything, but there was just something in my gut that told me that her and I were meant to be together.

Maybe not right now, but one day.

And when that one day finally came, that would be it.

I know I had always been an optimist, sometimes too much for my own good, but this time felt different. I couldn't push her, I just had to let our story unfold in the way it was always supposed to. And if she truly was meant for me, she would come back.

And it would be effortless.

I then jumped at the sound of quiet knocking at my door, despite hoping it was her, coming to tell me that she had changed her mind, I knew it wasn't. I forced myself out of bed, making my way over and slowly opening the door, just praying it wasn't Jake.

"Hey." Sam whispered. "You okay?" I shrugged, opening the door for him and plopping back down onto my bed. He made his way in, quietly shutting the door behind him before sitting down at my desk, spinning around in my chair.

"So what happened?" He asked. I shrugged, keeping my eyes up at the ceiling.

"I let her go." I sighed. He was quiet for a minute.

"What do you mean you let her go?"

"I mean.. I let her go. She was never going to do it, and.. I saw the way she looked at him."

"You know she looks at you that way too." He said. I shook my head.

"No she doesn't."

Despite wanting to be alone at a time like this, I always appreciated that Sam would be the first one to come and check up on me.

"W-what did you guys talk about?" I asked, still unsure if I actually wanted the answer. He shrugged, shifting back and forth in his seat.

"A lot of stuff." He muttered.

"Did she talk about him?"

"Is that really what you want to talk about?" He asked. I sighed, rolling over.

"No."

"You know, if you told her to be with him, you really can't be upset with her for.. being with him." I knew he was right, but still, there was a part of me, deep down, that hoped she would come back on her own. Not because she felt bad for me, or because she felt guilty, just because she wanted me.

"I know. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

"Can I.. tell you something?" He asked, his voice now unsure. I sat back up, turning to face him.

"Okay."

"But.. you can't tell Jake I said this." I nodded, rolling my eyes, smirking back at him.

"I don't see Jake and I talking about this for a long time." I laughed. He nodded, his smile growing.

"Well.. okay, but.. you know I've always been rooting for you two." He said. I nodded, trying to hide my grin. I did appreciate having at least one person on my side, whatever that meant.

"I know."

"And.. as someone who's actually been in relationships before-"

"Alright, if you're gonna be like that-"

"Just listen." He groaned. "As someone who's actually dated people before.. there are.. different types of relationships, and.. I just.. I don't see them lasting. She's had a crush on him her whole life, but.. we all know she's always loved you, even if she doesn't realize it."

I felt my heart start to beat faster, trying my best to contain my smile.

"Yeah, well, it's kind of important that she realizes it."

"And.. I think she will."

"Oh, so.. what? I just have to wait until they're done?" I scoffed. He shook his head, smirking back at me.

"No." He said. "You just need to wait long enough for her to realize that he's not you. She has this idea of him that.. most likely doesn't exist. Because that's just what happens with the first person you ever have feelings for. You spend so long wondering what it would be like to finally be with them, where if you finally get the opportunity, they can never live up to the person you've made them out to be in your head."

I bit down on my lip, feeling my face get hot.

"Yeah, but.. but to me.. well, Jaime was-"

"You guys are different." He said simply.

"W-why?"

"Because.." He sighed, smirking back over at me, spinning around in his seat again. "You two have always been in love. We've all seen it. So, there was no time for you two to fall into that. It's always been real with you two so.. I don't know. I guess.. when you know, you know, right? And you two have always known."

"I just.. I don't want her to feel like she's settling for me." I said softly. He held his stare on me, his face dropping.

"I don't think she'd ever feel like she's settling for you. If anything.. I think she feels like she doesn't deserve you. And that's not your fault. So.. all you can do is show her that she does."

I sat down on the edge of the bed as Jake went over to his dresser, pulling out an old t-shirt and handing it over to me with a tired smile.

"Oh, am I staying over?" I asked, giggling to myself. He shot me a look, playfully rolling his eyes.

"Of course you're staying over." He said, leaning in, gently kissing my forehead. "I don't want to spend another night without my girlfriend, ever again." My heart jumped, a giddy grin escaping my lips.

I then got up, turning away from him.

"Can you help me?" I asked, motioning towards my zipper. I instantly felt his hands on my back, his fingers slowly gliding down my spine as my dress slid right off onto the floor. Turning back around to face him, his eyes didn't once stray away from mine, holding his stare on me as he moved in closer, gently caressing my face and pulling me into a deep, gentle kiss.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back as I felt his hands move down to my waist, slowly pushing me back towards the bed, letting out a giddy laugh as we fell back, him doing his best to hold himself up over me before leaning into another passionate kiss.

"Come here." He sighed, sitting up, reaching back over for his t-shirt. I sat across from him, holding my arms up as he carefully pulled it over my head, gently grabbing my waist again, pulling me in towards him as he lifted up the blankets, positioning himself underneath. I didn't hesitate to join him, cuddling closer, losing track of time as our tired kisses grew needier despite our obvious exhaustion.

I felt my heart beat faster as his hands slowly moved up my chest, his fingers gently crazing my neck, stopping as they hooked onto the necklace I still wore; my locket.

"You're.. still wearing his?" He whispered. I bit down on my lip, peeking up at him, eventually nodding.

"But.. you took off mine?"

"I.. I was upset about us." I muttered, feeling my face get hot. The last thing I wanted was anything ruining this. This was all I wanted again, but even still..

I just wasn't ready to take off my locket.

"Jaime, I want us to do this right." He said, his hand moving back up to my face, his thumb gently brushing against my cheek. I cuddled closer, wrapping my arm around him.

"So do I." I whispered.

"Then.. the only two people in this relationship should be you and me." He sighed. And he was right. I knew he was right. But I couldn't just erase a lifetime of feelings either, nor was I able to just take it off like it was nothing.

"I'll wear yours again, I promise." I said, peeking up at him, feeling my eye lids get heavier. I cuddled closer, hiding my face in his neck as I felt him wrap his arm around me, pulling me up against him.

"Okay." He managed, his breaths getting slower and slower, gently blowing against my neck.

"I love you, Jaime." He whispered, his fingers tangling themselves in my hair as he pulled me in, kissing my forehead and letting his lips linger, pressed against it. And before I knew it, everything went black.