Anne starts analysing what is currently happening. After all, her long time crush has kissed her without warning! Her mind went completely blank with confusion, and her face is beet red. Out of instincts, she pulls away and just exclaims.
"Y-Your just sick...surely you don't mean anything about what you said..." Anne announced with a shaky voice.
When she went to take another glance at him, he was asleep, as if nothing ever happened.
"So he really didn't mean it after all..." Anne whispered with both relief and disappointment.
She decided to prepare soup before she was going to extend their stay. After she made his soup, he placed it on the table next to him and left a note saying:
"If it's cold, just reheat it. I left to extend our stay."
Anne decided to use the emergency money that her parents gave. She got to the counter and while arranging their prolonged stay, she kept remembering the kiss. I mean, who wouldn't? Just think about it, your crush for years has kissed you, with no warning. This is the things that only happen in your fantasies! The more Anne thought of it, the more her face turned visibly red that the employee noticed and offered to take her to the infirmary, but Anne insisted since she isn't really sick. When she got back to their room, she saw Stan sitting upright. He also looked a bit better.
"Are you feeling better?" Anne inquired, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Yeah...are you? You seem kinda red." Stan remarked.
It seemed as if Stan doesn't remember. So she asked, and he responded that he doesn't recall anything. Anne sighs with relief but also with disappointment. To avoid awkwardness, she just buried the whole incident, even though she wanted to burst out with questions.
Stan seemed all better now, considering that he was full of energy. At lunch they went to the dining hall, and Stan was too invested in his food, because he just regained his appetite, that he didn't realise the awkward vibe that was being emitted by Anne.
"You ok Anne? You've barely touched your food." Stan commented.
"Y-Yeah I'm alright. I'm just thinking about how we can get another bus goin home." Anne answered with a shaky voice.
"Ok, but u still gotta eat." Stan reminded her.
After they ate, they went on one last, long walk. They walked down the coast with the sand between their toes since they decided to walk on the beach barefooted. The awkwardness was soon drowned out by the amazing view they were currently witnessing. They sat at a cliff that was secured by fences that was overlooking the entire town. The orange colour that was being emitted by the gorgeous sunset. It was shining so much that it was blinding, but that didn't stop them from watching the sunset. Stan takes a glance at Anne, and slightly smiles as he turns his attention back to the view.
Although not intended, Stan slowly moves his hand towards her's, but before he holds her hand, he catches his hand and immediately, his hand retreats to its original spot. Stan breathes a sigh of relief and continues to watch, and when it ended they both agreed to go on a walk to the restaurant they wanted to try. The walk was filled with voices and laughter since by this time, they both forgot about the awkwardness that once filled the air. Along the way to the restaurant, they saw a crying child in the middle of the busy crowd, he was alone and possibly lost, we both thought. Anne was about to help him but I stopped her and told her that we might lose a spot to eat at.
"Wow, you're a real jerk aren't ya?" Anne remarked jokingly as she stooped down to help, and comfort the boy.
"She's really kind and caring, this is why I think I have fallen for her, and I'm certain, she's the one I want to marry." Stan thought to himself.
It may seem too quick for someone to switch their love interest, but you gotta understand dear viewer, that Stan and Anne have been together practically since birth! So Stan has seen all her sides and he seems to have yet to see her bad side, not that she has one though. Stan just stood there, mesmerised at the sight of her. It took a solid 15 minutes before the mother of the boy found him.
"Are you ok?! Thank you very much for helping my little boy! How may I repay you?" The mother said.
"There's no need for a payment, I'm just glad to help him." Anne declined with a lit up face.
Anne just kept walking to the venue, without saying a word to Stan.
"What did I do?" Stan broke the silence with a confused tone.
"You would've just left the kid there! That's mean you know!" Anne remarked teasingly.
They both laughed and joked for the rest of the walk. They get to the restaurant and there was actually almost no customers anymore since they arrived late. Anne gave a smug face the whole time while waiting for the food. They finish eating, and they get back to their hotel room, and before they went to bed they packed their stuff which surprisingly got bigger. Before long, they both fell asleep.
The next day, they both woke up early to check and make sure if they had everything in their luggages, and also so that they can have time to have a stroll around the gift shop, not that they had any money left. They checked out, and stopped at a nearby cafe for some brunch. They got on their bus, and left for home. They got comfy in their seats which was the seat at the very back. The bus ride was just as enjoyable as the actual trip.
The bus ride totalled to almost 5 hours, and they arrived at 5 pm. They were both exhausted, but Stan still made sure Anne was able to get home safely, and after a while of walking, they arrive to her house.
"Thanks for everything, it really got rid of a lot of stress." Anne says with a smile.
"No problem. Plus, I didn't do it for you, I did it for me. I just knew that you'd get jealous." Stan said mockingly.
"Oh, shut up!" Laughed Anne.
"Well, see you tomorrow then." Stan said.
"Yeah. Tomorrow...OH CRAP I FORGOT MY HOMEWORK!" Anne exclaimed
They both laughed as Anne rushed inside the door, which made Stan forget to repay her. Stan just stood there at her door listening to the joyful noises her family were making at their reunion with their daughter. This saddened Stan since he never met his father, and he rarely spends time with his mom, not that he is ungrateful or anything, he just wishes that his mom would spend time with him. Because at the end of each day, he comes home to a dark, quiet, and void-like apartment. He felt as if Anne's family accepted him as their own. He walks home smiling from ear to ear reminiscing on the fun trip they just had and this was enough to mask the longing of a real parent. He goes home and sure enough it's empty. He unpacks and goes straight to bed.
The next day rolls in, and the both of them get ready for school, and they meet up and enter in the backside of the school, partially so that the scenery would change, and partially cause they didn't want to see Kate or Isaac. They both go on with their classes with joy, and once more, the school felt lively just like how it was before. Life felt bliss; the sadness, negative emotions, they were all gone.
It had been 3 months since Stan's confession, and everyone was going about their days normally now, Stan still talks to Kate, but not willingly, only by requirement. He held no grudges toward her.
"See you tomorrow Stan-man."
"See ya." They both said while parting ways.
Stan watches as Anne disappears into a corner, only then does he walk home. He continued to walk along the familiar summer streets, the sun as hot as ever. School was nearing its end.
"Should I confess my feelings for Anne?" Stan thought.
The school year is about to come to a close. Stan thought that this would be a good way to end the school year. He rode on the fact that it might end horribly just like what happened with Kate. He decided that whatever happened, they would still be friends, considering the fact that they've gone through many problems and their friendship still came out victorious. It was decided, he would confess his feelings for Anne.
The day has come, the day of reckoning, the day he always thought of, at the back of his mind. Stan walks into the building, waiting for Anne. He looks around for his friend to appear around the corner, when... SLAP! He turns around to see who slapped the back of his head. He turned to see Anne, but there was something different about her, she had short hair, instead of her long brown hair.
"How do I look?" Anne asked boastfully.
"Y-You look great!" Stan responded, although he was out of words.
They both walk into their classes as they chatter about how the school year was already ending, and their plans for their summer break. Time felt slower than usual, as if something was making him fall behind. The thought of them together made his heart pound, his face red, and his smile was ear to ear.
The final bell finally rang, and Stan rushed towards Anne's classroom. THUD. He bumped into someone, he looked up to see who it was, and it was Kate.
"Ow, oh, it's just you Stan... Where you off to in such a hurry?" Kate asked while trying to pick up her stuff.
"Uhhh, just somewhere." Stan replied whilst hurriedly picking up the stuff that was on the floor.
He stormed off and disappeared into the crowd. Kate stood up with a sigh wiping off the dirt from her skirt, when she noticed something, something shine in the light.
"Hm? Isn't that...Stan's phone?" Kate picked up the phone and sure enough, it was.
She looked around for a bit waiting for Stan to come back for his phone, but he didn't come. She resorted to looking for him.
On the other side of the school, Stan was waiting for Anne at her classroom behind the door, attempting to surprise her. When Anne got up to leave she was blocked by Stan.
"Oh hey! Why were you just sitting there?" Anne teasingly asked.
"There's something I need to tell you, please come with me to the back of the school." Stan said trying to not sound creepy or awkward.
"Oh sure!" Anne replied all confused. Not another word left either their mouths due to confusion and worry. Finally they arrive, and Stan stood opposite of Anne's position.
"S-So what did you bring me out here for? You're not gonna kill-" Anne was cut off with Stan's voice overlapping her's.
"I brought you here, to tell you something important." Stan said with a straight face. Anne's body was shaking, worried that it was his way of telling her that he was moving or something along those lines.
"W-What is it?" Anne replied with a shaky voice.
"Ever since I was rejected, you were always there for me, and all I did was push you away."
Kate's footsteps echo in the empty halls, she soon finds Stan but before she approaches her, she hears talking, and so she decides to eavesdrop on the confession.
"You were still with me after all the trouble you've been through because of me, and yet I didn't pay attention to you, and I was only blinded by Kate that I didn't realise...." Stan continues.
Is this it? Is this the confession that Anne was waiting for since the start of high school? Is this the moment she has longed for? Anne's heart was pounding in excitement.
"That's why, I need to tell you that." Stan's words broke Anne's train of thought. Her knees weak from excitement, her smile was now visible, her heart pounding.
"I love you, and I was wondering if you felt the same? But I can't imagine the you like me back." Stan murmered under his breath.
After the words were said, neither of them knew what to do. They were both still, like marble statues. Nothing was said, the silence was deafening. Not even Kate moved a muscle, she was too shocked to even move her body. She clenched the phone that was in her hand. Her knees buckled, and her legs were weak. Her tears flowed like a waterfall. She wondered why was she feeling this way. Hadn't she moved on? Before she was able to answer that, she heard footsteps behind her, she hastily wiped her tears and turned her head to see, Isaac. He took her away while talking to her.
Meanwhile, Anne and Stan were standing quietly when Stan's voice broke the silence.
"I-I'll let you think about it." Stan said while turning around and walking away. Anne had to do something, or at least say something, she tried moving, but she was petrified. She finally was able to move. She walked swiftly towards Stan, pulling his arm.
"W-What is it?" Stan replied with an embarrassed face. Anne knew what she wanted. Although she wasn't thinking straight, she knew what she wanted. And in knowing this, she looked at his beet red face with determination. Stan was very much confused, his mind was in shambles.
It was a good 2 minutes of non-stop eye contact, when Anne decided to do something that can project her feelings. She decided, to kiss him, and with that she swiftly moves but then stops in hesitation, with her face closer to his, their faces were mere centimetres from each other. And Anne slowly moved their lips close together, until they meet.
They move away from each other as Anne confirms her feelings. Stan's face lights up with joy, finally, he was able to get a load of worry off his chest. They decide to start heading for home. On their way, the atmosphere was awkward, and when they get to the point of the road where they part ways, Stan offers her coffee as their first official date. They agree to the location, and they wave good bye to each other. Before leaving though, Anne gave Stan a peck on the cheek as she disappears into a corner. Stan goes home happy. After all, whatever went wrong 3 months ago, finally took a turn for the best.