Diana

As Tom and I run down another street, I feel his eyes on me. I keep trying to avoid his gaze, but it's like a magnetic field keep pulling my eyes towards his; it makes it difficult to focus on where we're going. I keep leading us down the wrong street and at this point it will take forever to get back to the gym I work at.

I spot a small park and decide that it's the perfect time to take a break. It will give me time to figure out how to get back.

When we make it into the park we sit on a blue painted park bench; Tom rests his elbows on his knees and catches his breath while I pull up the map on my phone. I type in the address to the gym and find several paths back that would—

"I really like you, Diana," Tom blurts out. "I was really nervous to tell you because not only are we such good friends but also I felt like you never felt the same way and then I worried I was coming on too strong and was pushing you away but—"

Taking a deep breath I lean forward and plant my lips on his. He freezes, probably not knowing what to do with the situation I just put him in, so I bring my hand up to his face and deepen the kiss further. This action relaxes him a bit and he starts kissing me back; pretty enthusiastically actually. By the time I pull back from him—very reluctantly—I'm out of breath.

"You remember I was in a relationship with a woman named Adrianna? I was with her for about three years?"

Tom—who is also out of breath—nods.

"And you remember I told you we broke up, and I never really talked about it again?"

He nods again.

"Well the reason why is because I was so ashamed. It was a really bad relationship, and I knew it was unhealthy, but I stuck around anyways and for that I felt so stupid. She had a really hard home life, and because of that she was so distant, so angry, and very manipulative. I kept thinking that I could help make her better, help change her, so I let her take out all her anger on me."

Tom's expression turns from dazed to angered. "Did she ever—"

I shake my head. "No she never hit me or anything physical, but she did abuse me with her words. I don't know if you remember, but I started taking days off of work because I felt sick and I started getting anxiety and I was just in a really bad place. I finally opened up about it to my Mom, and she listened to what I had to say, and she helped me end things. I haven't seen or heard from her in a year, and after months of therapy, I have felt so much happier. But ever since I started training you for this new movie...I've developed feelings for you and that really scares me."

Realization and clarity dawns on Tom's face, and he looks at me very seriously as he says: "You were scared I would hurt you." Not a question, just stating it as a fact.

Guilt goes through me, but I promised myself I would be honest, so I nod. "Not you specifically, I was just scared of getting into another relationship; I was afraid of getting hurt and manipulated again."

Tom nods, clasping his hand with mine. "That makes sense...now I just need some clarification here: that kiss means you like me too right?"

I let out a small laugh, nodding my head. "Yes, Tom, I like you."

Tom leans his head foreword and connects it with mine. "If you don't want to get into a relationship now and you just want to wait, I'm all for it. I just want you to be happy."

I smile, bringing my free hand up to cup his nape. "I want to be with you, and I'm not going to let my fear of getting hurt stop me from doing anything anymore."

"You positive?"

I nod. "Yes I'm positive."

"So does that make us....girlfriend and boyfriend?"

I can't help but laugh. "Yes that makes us girlfriend and boyfriend."

Tom smiles widely, leaning forward again and kissing me enthusiastically, only pausing briefly to say: "Awesome."

That comment makes me laugh, but when he reconnects his lips with mine, every thought slips from my mind and it just becomes me and him; all my nerves and worries blown away like the wind.