Chapter 22: The First Step

A lot had changed over the past few months, and I could feel it in the air—like something had shifted between us. It wasn't just about love anymore. It was trust. It was the kind of understanding you don't get from anyone else. Amir and I had been through our share of ups and downs, but every single moment had made us stronger. I couldn't deny it—I was falling deeper for him every day. And I wasn't scared of it anymore.

One afternoon, after school, we decided to grab lunch at this little spot by the water that we used to visit back when things weren't so serious. It was one of those hidden gems you don't find unless you're looking. The kind of place where time seemed to slow down and everything felt easy.

We sat outside at a table under the shade of a large tree, the air warm and comfortable. The day was quiet, peaceful. Just the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the distant murmur of other people walking by.

Amir took a bite of his sandwich, his eyes flicking up to meet mine, and for a moment, we just sat there, smiling.

"You know, I never thought I'd be here," Amir said, his voice soft. He wiped his mouth with a napkin before continuing. "I never thought I'd be in a place where I could just... be myself. With someone."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What do you mean? Like with me?"

He nodded slowly, chewing thoughtfully. "Yeah. I used to be so guarded. I thought if I let people get too close, they'd leave. But with you, it feels different. I don't feel like I have to hide parts of myself anymore."

The weight of his words settled between us, and I felt a tightness in my chest. Amir had come so far—more than I ever thought possible when we first started this. I didn't know what I'd done to deserve someone like him, but I sure as hell wasn't going to let it go.

"I'm glad we're here," I said quietly, my hand reaching for his across the table. "I'm glad you're here."

Amir smiled, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "Yeah, me too."

For the rest of lunch, we didn't talk much. We didn't need to. There was an unspoken understanding between us, something solid and real. As we finished our meal and made our way back to the car, I realized that no matter what the future held, we were already building something worth fighting for.