"Hey."

I looked up from where I was beside my bed, pulling the thick blue covers away and getting ready to go to sleep.

Carson was standing in the doorway, his blonde hair tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it several times, and his emerald eyes were staring at the floor.

I took a moment to study him.

Even though he was only wearing a black athletic shirt, I couldn't help but feel my face turn red. I loved that he wasn't so muscular it was gross, but was still fit, with a flat stomach, abs, and toned biceps.

But that wasn't the most attractive thing about him by far.

I loved his smile.

The way his lips pulled away from his white teeth, the slight crinkle of his eyes that made it even more genuine, and the devilish dimples that took my breath away for no reason.

I loved making him smile.

Wow, I just got very distracted.

Clearing my throat to regain focus, I cocked my head and asked, "What's up?"

He walked into the room and closed the door behind him, cutting us off from the rest of the world.

Then he turned and leaned against it, crossing his arms. "Just wanted to see how you were doing."

I looked away, a little flustered. Being caught staring was embarrassing.

He watched me and laughed, "Don't feel bad for checking me out, I do it to you all the time."

I looked back up at him and couldn't help but smile at that. "Wow, you must get all the girls with those quips."

He shrugged. "There's only one girl I'm hoping they work on."

"I'll take that as a yes," I responded. Then I realized something. "Wait, did you just admit to checking me out?"

"Shamelessly," He grinned without blinking an eye. "If I told you that you had a gorgeous body, would you hold it against me?"

This time I laughed out loud.

Where did he come up with this stuff?

As soon as I began laughing, his eyes lit up and began sparkling.

"I love your laugh," He told me, another large smile lighting up face. "It's the most pure, wholesome sound."

"You're making me blush," I said, fanning myself. "You better stop before things get out of control."

"I'll be crossing my fingers," He winked.

God, it was like he was TRYING to give me a heart attack.

I rolled my eyes playfully, trying not to let on how much he affected me.

"No need, nothing's going to happen," I told him, only half-believing it.

He staggered back dramatically, crashing back into the door and putting a hand over his heart.

He looked down at it, then looked back up at me and said accusingly, "My heart! I think it may be broken."

I couldn't stifle my snort at his antics, and asked., "Is this really all you came for?"

Carson paused. Then sighed, dropping his hand from his heart and instead wringing his fingers together.

"There's something else," He admitted. "I wanted to talk to you before you leave tomorrow. About something that's been on my mind for a long time."

"Oh?" I said. Wonder what this is about?

He nodded, and took a deep breath. This was going to be good. "Well, I just really wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed these last few weeks."

"Go on," I urged.

"And I hope you've felt a little of the same."

"And?" I prompted.

He broke off to glare at me. "Stop interrupting, you're making me lose my place."

I laughed again, "You have this memorized?"

"Yes, and it took a long tome," He replied with narrowed eyes. "Anyway, where was I? Ah- Before you left, I want you to also know that I hope you've enjoyed it at least a little. In addition- screw it."

He stopped mid-sentence, pushing away from the wall and walking over to me.

Carson closed the gap between us quickly and looked into my eyes.

"There was a lot more to that speech, but it's not important," He told me. "I've come to realize something over these weeks. Actually, it kind of hit me like a bus one day."

I stayed silent obediently, but my heart was as loud as ever, cashing into the sides of my chest.

He peered down at me, my blue eyes meeting his green ones. "From the moment I met you, I think I knew I was going to fall in love you. For some reason, I thought I could stop it. But I had absolutely no chance."

He reached a hand up to cup my cheek tenderly, before continuing. "I thought I was in control. But you and your clumsy, genuine, beautiful self has proved me completely wrong."

Wow.

His thumb then began stroking my cheek, making it extremely hard to focus on the beautiful words he was weaving.

"Little by little, you've broken me down. Finally, the night you came to my room and fell asleep in my bed, I finally accepted it."

His eyes then fell down to my lips, which unconsciously parted as he ran his thumb across the soft pink skin of my bottom lip.

Then, he looked deep into my eyes, and said, "Hayley, I think I'm in love with you."

I hadn't even realized I had holding my breath until it was finally let out.

"Really?" I said pathetically.

He smiled slightly at that.

Then, Carson leaned over and rested his forehead against mine, closing his eyes.

"Really. I have fallen utterly, hopelessly, ridiculously in love with you."

Words were stolen off of the tip of my tongue, and for some reason all I could get out was, again, "Really?"

He laughed, and then his eyebrows drew together as if he were in pain.

Then, he opened his eyes to look at me.

Finally, he breathed, staring right into my eyes, "Hayley, You absolutely wreck me."

And that was it for my self control.

I grabbed his face in my hands and pulled his mouth down on top of mine.

He made a surprised noise in the back of his throat, and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer.

Then, he backed us against the wall, picking me up as I wrapped my long legs around him.

Our mouths worked together passionately as I began to lift his shirt up over his head.

He obediently lifted his arms up and tore the rest of it off impatiently.

I broke away to study him.

His chest was toned, tan, beautiful.

I ran my fingers up his stomach, up his chest, and up to his face, tracing his dimples with a finger as he grinned back at me.

I loved his dimples.

He took my finger away from his cheek and kissed it intimately, making my heart skip a beat.

I took it back, using my hands to explore his hair.

It was the kind girls would die for, thick, wavy, and impossibly soft.

I smiled to myself at this.

If I'm being honest with myself, I think I've been in love with Carson this whole time. But this is the first time I've really acknowledged it.

He watched me and his face lit up at my smile.

Carson set me back on my feet, freeing his hands to spread across my shoulders, as his face dipped down to my neck, kissing the side of it.

I kissed the top of his head, right on his blonde waves, as he kissed his way back up to my mouth, leaving a trail of heat.

He then brought his lips next to my ear and whispered, "You have no idea what you do to me."

I shuddered involuntarily, and pulled him closer.

His lips met mine again, but this time it was soft, slow. Burning like a fire.

Then he pulled back and breathed, "We should probably stop before we do anything too crazy."

I raised my eyebrows. "That doesn't sound like you."

He laughed lightly, and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ears.

"I guess being in love makes you more responsible," He responded.

"I guess we'll have to fix that," I teased. "But you're right. Tomorrow's going to be crazy, and days will only get crazier after."

It was his turn to raise his eyebrows. "Does that mean I get to see you after all this?"

I looked down at his lips. This full, beautiful lips.

"What do you think?" I whispered, looking up into his mesmerizing eyes.

A slow smile spread across his face.

He leaned in once more to kiss my cheek, then took a step back.

"Goodnight," He whispered lowly.

"Goodnight," I responded creatively.

He smiled, and turned around, walking out of my room with his arms raised and resting on the back of his neck.

I watched him go, and I couldn't keep the ridiculous smile off of my face.