i want to know what love is
tags : shy!eric, shy!reader, female!reader, highschool crush, confession, first kiss, hand holding, EVERYTHING SIMPLY SOFT
a/n : GIRL ILY FOR THIS đđŤśđź YOU KNOW ME SO WELL
from the prompt list : 3. âi mean⌠i-iâm cool with sharing the bed if you areâ
It was the last trip with your class before graduation. The weather was warm, sun was out, and the wind rippled through your clothes as you walked down the beach.
Free time was nearly over, so you decided to use it well and spend some time on the shore. You loved the beach, the waves, the sand, how the sun illuminated the earth as it travelled down the horizon. Being in nature was your way of finding peace, and you didnât know any other better way to relieve stress than to enjoy the sound of waves along with the softness underneath your feet.
Eric wasnât too far from you. You could see him in the distance sitting on a blanket, scribbling or writing something in a notebook.
You have always adored him as much as everyone else did. His presence always lit up the room once he stepped foot in it, he was everyoneâs sunshine, people loved him for his kindness and his talents. Eric never said no to helping others, there was not a single time you wouldnât find him lending a hand. But there was a different feeling that he gave you. Once those brown eyes met yours, you felt like the world stopped spinning, like time didnât exist, like you were in a dream. His voluminous fluffy hair reminded you of a doll, almost surreal how beautiful it was. You always wanted to touch it, wondering how his curls would feel like in between your fingers, probably so smooth and nice to touch ; bouncy like a cloud. You had so many visions and thoughts, yet no courage to make the first move. And itâs been like that for three years already, but you always found yourself chickening out and running away from any opportunity that stood in front of you. It made you sad knowing this is the very last trip with your class, which only means one thing - you most likely wonât see Eric ever again. And you didnât want to part ways, you really didnât. The boy has your heart.
Eric has always had his eyes on you. Maybe he was a bit too good at hiding it, since he was so generous and kind to all of his classmates and teachers. No one would have ever guessed that the sweetest boy with the widest smile and a soulful heart, was in love with a girl who was the quietest of all, always sitting at the very back on her own, doodling in her notes and barely ever answering the teacherâs questions. But thatâs exactly what he liked about you. You never were a show-off, always in your place, shy, silent and also, super pretty. While the other girls in school were trying to get his attention in all ways possible, from leaving letters to asking him out, he would only think about you and was interested in nobody else. Whenever you felt lonely he always approached you, talked to you, even if those were small conversations they mattered to him like nothing else. He was quite a shy guy himself, so itâs not like it was easy for him either. But throughout the years, heâs learned a lot about you and you did too. Thatâs why you both fell for each other without even knowing you both felt that way.
As you sat down on the sand, you pulled your knees to your chest as you watched the sunset. So many thoughts ran through your mind, starting from all the years spent in school, to all the fun times, to falling for Eric, and last but not least - this night being the last with your classmates and him. It made you emotional, you never wanted this to come to an end, but all things do, so either way, you were going to have to accept it.
Lost in your head, you didnât hear the footsteps that approached you. A low, husky voice snapped you back into reality.
The tall, beautiful boy stood in front of you.
âOh, no, I donâtâ you replied, shying away as he painted a smile on your face. He took a seat next to you, shoulders inches apart.
âWhat are you doing here by yourself?â
âI⌠I thought it would be nice to sit here and enjoy the view. Itâs a good way to relieve stressâ
Eric smiled softly, his chest rising up and down slowly as he took a deep breath.
âIt really is. Am I not bothering your alone time?â
Your free time was soon over after you spent it together with Eric, talking about everything and sharing your thoughts, agreeing and disagreeing on different things, laughing it off instead of arguing about it. It was a surprise because you have never spoken this much with him, but at the back of your mind you knew it was all due to this last trip. And you knew you had to enjoy every moment.
Everyone already got back and found their rooms, some already in beds, some getting ready to sleep. Meanwhile, the teacher who arranged the rooms, made a little mistake and booked one room with just one bed for two people instead of two seperate beds. And so it happened to be the room which you and Eric were staying at.
âUmâ you stood in the middle of the room, not sure what to say or do. Eric looked just as confused as you were.
âWhat do we do?â you asked, fidgeting your fingers as anxiety crept upon you.
âI mean⌠I-Iâm cool with sharing the bed if you areâ
This couldnât be any more awkward. Are you even going to be able to sleep if Ericâs right next to you?
âWe have no other choice, I guessâ you awkwardly giggled as you walked to the side of the bed, sitting on it, pulling the covers over yourself with shaky hands. Eric noticed it.
Sheâs nervous. So am I.
âIf you feel uncomfortable, let me know. Iâll sleep on the floorâ
âNo, no. Itâs fineâ a little smile on your face, you rolled on your side, mumbling a good night to the curlyhead.
âGoodnightâ he said, turning the light off and getting into bed. The ruffling sheets made you even more nervous, you knew he was right next to you, and it made your heart go bonkers. You most definitely werenât going to fall asleep like this. Having Eric so close under the same bedsheets, made your head spin.
After what seemed like forever, you rolled on your back. With the corner of your eye, you could see the outlines of his silhouette, white fabric covering his body. You closed your eyes, trying your best to fall asleep, but still failed to do that.
So did he. Eric rolled on his back, glancing over at you, your face barely visible, but enough for him to make out your features. He wasnât sure if you were asleep or not, but he took a deep breath and carefully, slowly, moved his hand towards yours, his pinky finger coming in contact with your skin. You froze, unable to believe what was happening right now. At first you thought he was doing that while dreaming, but quickly realised he was awake just like you. His hand moved even closer, now laying atop of yours, pads of his fingers brushing against your knuckles upwards. He squeezed your hand gently as he intertwined your hands, both of your breathing becoming unsteady and shaky.
Not a single word said, you answered to him by squeezing your hand, eyes opening to be glued to the ceiling.
âYou okay?â he whispered sweetly, hoping this wasnât a stupid move to pull.
âYeahâ you said, laying still. He could feel how tense you were and it was eating him up inside. Eric only wanted to make you feel relaxed and comfortable.
âYou know,â he paused, âI donât even know how and why this happened right now, but⌠Iâve always found you mesmerizing, youâre so shy, quiet, on your own all the time. I always wanted to tell you this, but never had the courage to. I first began feeling something a few years ago, but that feeling never left, it only grew stronger. And maybe this trip is a kick to the butt for me, because this is the time I decide to tell you how I feel. Right when weâre about to go separate ways, I get to finally speak my mind. I⌠I love you, you know?â a small giggle slipped from his lips after the last three words, his grip on your palm tightening. You were so nervous you thought your heart was going to jump out of the chest.
âEricâŚâ you whispered, âI⌠I never knew you felt that wayâ
âItâs okay if you donât feel the sameâ he said, a slight sadness in his tone. But you quickly killed the negative feeling, confessing your own feelings.
âI do. I love you tooâ
His eyes began to water, an unbelievably strong adrenaline washing over him when he heard those words. He shifted on his side, waiting for you to do the same to face him.
You mirrored him, now laying face to face. He lifted your hand that he was still holding so tight, kissing the back of it softly. He slowly put it down, then reaching to cup your face in the dark.
âIâm not going to go away. Not when I know you feel the same. I want to see you every single day, I want to have you in my life, I want to love you foreverâ he admitted, leaning in to plant his lips on yours in a passionate kiss, no more distance between you. He held you close, his hand resting on your waist as he smiled to himself. You smiled back, playing with his dark curls that you always wanted to feel.
âThen love me foreverâ
