Love Takes Time

Her heart fluttered. How could he put butterflies in her stomach with just a little smile? It was almost unfair, the way he made her heart melt. She felt like putty in his hands whenever he touched her. And at the moment, he was hugging her. Mattie's face was bright red, but she hugged him back. It was terrible, the reason she had even finally gotten a hug from him.

"I promise I'll come visit, okay Mattie? Don't worry about it." He let go of her and smiled those smiles that made her weak in the knees. "Okay. I'll miss you, Jake." She knew it was safe to say that. After all, it was normally what people said to someone who was moving. Even so, his response made her heart ache with sadness. "I'll miss you too, Mattie. But I'll come visit, don't worry."

He got in the car, and fifteen year old Mattie Daniels watched as her first crush moved away.

~~~~~   

"Mattie, you never told me you have a boyfriend!" Nineteen year old Mattie Daniels turned away from the mirror, where she was putting on some make-up, and looked at her roommate in a rather confused manner. "What are you talking about, Ann? I don't have a boyfriend." She put down her lip gloss and looked back to the mirror to put the finishing touches on her hair. "Well there's one damn hot guy at the door, and he's asking for you."

Mattie turned to face Ann once again. "What? Is it another stalker? Did he give you a name, Ann?" She sighed wearily. To think that she would have stalkers in college! It was ridiculous. Ann glanced towards the door of their bedroom. "Uh, yeah, he did. Jake something or other." Mattie froze. "Carnigan? Jake Carnigan?" Her heart almost stopped. Could he possibly be here? "Yeah, that's it. Carnigan."

Mattie raced out of the room and to the door of their apartment, throwing it open. In the years that they had been apart, he'd grown even more handsome. Nicely cut dark black hair, those deep, intimate green eyes, broad shoulders, toned and athletic body…Mattie could swear that her heart had stopped beating, up until the male spoke.

"Hey, Mattie. Long time no see."

Mattie's mind drew a complete blank. She gave a slight, breathless little chuckle. "Yeah. Hey. Long time. What…what are you doing here, Jake? I thought you were going to college like, twelve hours away." Or even more. She knew he had been debating on switching colleges the last time she talked to him. "Yeah, well, I decided to switch. Y'know, see some new faces. And an old one. Now are you gonna make me stand in the hall all day or are you gonna let me in?" Those lips curved into a heart-melting smirk, and Mattie stepped aside instantly. "Oh! Right, sorry. I'm just…really surprised. I never expected to see you here."

Jake sauntered into the room and settled himself down upon the couch. Mattie sat down beside him. "Wait…when you said about seeing an old face, did you mean me? Are you saying…that you're coming to my college now??" That was rather unbelievable. Mattie noticed Ann peering in from the door of the bedroom and she glared. Ann giggled and quickly ducked back in, shutting the door and giving the two some privacy.

"Yep, that's right. It's got a really good program. You chose well, Mattie." Mattie blushed at his praise and fidgeted in his seat. "It's been such a long time….I'm really glad to see you, Jake." He nodded and tapped a finger to her nose. "You've grown up, Mattie. Since when did you wear make-up? Unless you had a date today, in which case I don't want to hold you up."

Mattie looked cross-eyed as she tried to gaze at his finger. "Date? What? No! No, I don't have a date. I just like to look nice, you know?" Jake removed his finger and settled his hand upon hers. Mattie definitely wasn't expecting that. "You look nice even when you're not wearing make-up, Mattie." Jake smiled sheepishly and looked away, the sudden change in his attitude confusing her. He was suddenly so shy. What was that all about? "Jake? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just…I gotta tell you something. You know four years ago, when I moved? Well…I should've told you then, but I didn't. You see, Mattie…I had a crush on you. And I had it for so long, I felt like I just couldn't move on until I told you. I know, it's stupid. We were kids back then. But I just like…had to get it off my chest, yeah?"

He finally looked at her, giving a little chuckle and rubbing the back of his neck. "It's stupid, isn't it?" Mattie sighed, pulled her hand away and bopped him on the head with her fist. "Dummy. It's not stupid at all, 'cause I felt the same way. I don't think I've ever seen you act shy before! It's kinda funny." She giggled and smiled at him. Her heart felt so much more relieved. He had had a crush on her, too! That was great! But…was it too late?

"Hey Jake…when you say you had a crush on me…did you mean had, or have?" She blushed, embarrassed to ask the question so straight-forward. It seemed to have caught Jake off guard too, because all he did was stare at her for a few moments. "Well…have, I guess. I mean, I guess both are true." He smirked and poked her cheek. "Okay, okay, you caught me, Mattie. Mattie Daniels, will you go out with me?"

Mattie grinned and poked his cheek back. "Took you long enough to ask."

"Yeah yeah, I know. So, will you go out with me or what?"
"Yes, Jake. I'll go out with you. Let's just hope it doesn't take you four years to ask any other important questions."

Jake grinned. "You never know."