*What happened before...*

'Are you going to change schools?' Morrow asked.

'I might. I'm not sure yet, though.' He scratched the bandaid on his face as it started to come loose. 'My mom and I talked about it, and she said I could choose if I wanted to. I haven't decided yet.'

Morrow didn't answer right away. She looked at his face and smiled with a hint of sadness. 'Well, I can't stop you from going, but I would miss you a great deal. So yeah, just so that you know.'

Felix laughed. 'You're doing an awful job at not stopping me, you know?'

'I know.' She just replied. 'It's because it's true. I don't want you to go, 'cause it would be very boring without you.'

He smirked, and he could feel the bandages pull on his skin. 'Boring, huh? Well, I might stay then.'

*We continue...*

It had been a few months since Felix's stay in the hospital. After a week, he was discharged by the doctor because he was not allowed to do anything and that he should rest plenty. So, instead of visiting the hospital, she went by his house often. Sometimes his mother would be home, and she had wholesome chats with her whenever Felix slept. Morrow often played with Ethan as well, and in turn, Ethan liked Morrow and her pink hair. It made her a "real-life princess".

Of course, she mostly went for Felix. With his blond hair and often sleepy and tired eyes, she had to avert her eyes often. He was way too cute but also way too fragile. And she wouldn't do anything unless he specifically told her. So, for now, they were friends. And it was good. Just good. Her friends teased her about it, but what do they know?

Turns out a lot. The whole situation surrounding Felix, Ben, Theodore, and Oliver spread like wildfire, and soon enough, Morrow's friends came to her to demand answers. She politely declined to give them any. Gossiping was the root of all the problems, and she wasn't going to fuel it again.

Luckily for her, things started to quiet down again, and other things were more important again. School happened like usual, and classes had to be followed again. Ben, T, and Oliver didn't return. But neither did Felix. When Morrow confronted him with the fact he hadn't shown up to class, but he was all better again, he said his mother had talked to the dean. Felix was going to transfer to another school, and that school was lenient enough to let him stay home for the rest of the year. He could take online classes if he wanted, but because the school only lasted a few more weeks, he wasn't going to do that.

'Hi!' Morrow greeted Felix when he opened his front door.

He immediately smiled and welcomed her in. 'Hey, how are you doing?'

'Good, good.' She said, going past him into his hallway and house. 'I'm a bit jealous.'

He snickered. 'Why? Because I have early summer break?'

'Yes! So nice... I wish I had that as well.'

'Nah, it's nothing special. I'm not doing anything special all day long. So, yeah. Don't be jealous.' He walked behind her through the living room and watched her sink into the couch. 'You want some tea?' she heard him asking.

This has become their routine. After school, Morrow would go to her house first, do her last things for school, and after dinner she would go over to his house, hang out and drink some tea. Often they'd watch movies or play some games. Or talk. Talking was Morrow's favorite thing to do.

'Actually,' she responded. 'do you want to grab some drinks from that café we last went to?'

For a second, Felix was confused about what she meant by "that cafe", but then he seemed to remember. And turn a little redder than usual? That was an odd thing, Morrow thought. She wondered what was going on, and as she heard him agree and head on to the hallway to grab his shoes, she tried to backtrack her steps.

What happened the evening they went for drinks? He was beaten up before that, she took him out of the house for some drinks and to cheer him up a little (also Morrow's favorite thing to do) and they'd just talked. About what… ah. Yes. Now she remembered. The moment her "identity" was revealed, and she saw the puzzle pieces click into place.

'Let's go.' Felix waved her over. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't even noticed him putting on his shoes.

'Yeah, let's go.' For some reason, she could feel her cheeks warming up as well.

'I can't believe you picked an iced caramel macchiato. There's barely even coffee in it.'

'I never said we were going out for coffee. Just drinks.' Morrow sipped at her "coffee", according to Felix. He had ordered an espresso Lungo or a "normal" coffee, as Morrow had put it.

They were sitting on the bench they sat on just a few months ago. Morrow liked the banter that was going on. It was fun, and Felix was the first person with who she ever felt safe enough to do so. She also felt safe enough to talk to him about anything. 'Can I ask you something?'

'Sure.' He glanced toward her while sipping his coffee.

'It's more like telling you something first and then asking you something.'

He snickered. 'Sure, take your time.'

'Alright, so.' She started. 'You remember that night where we first met, right? On the rooftop?'

He nodded. 'Yeah, of course.' He stopped sipping his coffee and now turned fully towards her, sensing the more serious tone in her voice.

'You know, you helped me out that time. I remember, vividly, what you told me. About my bullies, and my "inner demons", so to say.' She smiled fondly at his words. How strong he had looked at that time. 'You were great, and well, saved my life that time. But I wonder, and here's my question: if you were so strong for me, why weren't you so strong for yourself and stood up for yourself?'

He looked down for a second before he answered and stirred his coffee. 'I don't know. The thing is, I don't like being treated like that. I mean who does, right?' Felix chuckled awkwardly. 'But Ben had me in a tight spot. With my mom working for his father and all. And I know, I know,' he began, seeing the look on Morrow's face. 'I could have gone to the teachers, but well, you know how teachers are, especially at our school. So...'

'So you decided to just bear with it?' She finished his sentence. Felix just shrugged his shoulders. 'I understand why you would accept all the things that happened, but don't forget that they waited for you and put you in the hospital.'

'Yeah, on second thought: I should've said something earlier.' He smiled at her. 'Thank you, though. For everything, really.'

For a second there, the world was all quiet and fuzzy around the edges but in a good way. All of Morrow's world was focused on Felix.

'Okay, you're welcome. But we need to have a different discussion.' Morrow broke the silence first and broke off the intense eye contact.

He chuckled. 'Okay... Go ahead.'

'So you know how I'm always there for you, right?'

'Right, and I appreciate that.'

'Yeah, yeah, I know.' Morrow said hastily. 'The thing is, I don't do that for just anyone.'

'Okay, what does that mean?' He sipped his coffee and continued. 'You're secretly a horrible person?'

'What? No!'

'Nah, I know you're not.' Oblivious as he was, he stood up and began walking. 'Are you coming, or are you just going to sit there all day?'

Morrow was dumbfounded for a second, not knowing how to handle all the emotions, and excitement coursing through her.

'Well?'

'Ah, yes. No, of course.' She scrambled all of her things together and hurried after him.

Felix laughed. 'What's up with you? You're acting so... nervous? Which is ridiculous cause you have no reason to be.'

Oh boy. How wrong could Felix get?

Felix continued. 'I mean it's just me, you know?'

'Yeah, that's the thing.' The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She clasped her hands before her mouth, which made her look even more suspicious.

They were in a park now. The trees were softly moving in the wind, and there was no one. Felix had stopped walking a few steps ahead of her. She could feel him stare at her, but she didn't have to guts yet to look up at him.

'What do you mean by that? You're kinda freaking me out, Mor.'

She now looked up at him, her eyes determined. 'You know what I mean.' And before he could mutter a sound, Morrow continued: 'I'm sorry if I'm too forward or if I'm freaking you out, but I've come to the conclusion that I like you. And I mean more than friends.' Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she was sure that not only Felix could hear it, but the entire town as well.

'What?'

'Yeah, so. You make me nervous, and trust me: no one does. Not even someone with a gun, or let's say a famous person. Okay, maybe my dad makes me nervous but not in the same way!' She hastily added. 'You make me nervous in a good way if that even makes sense. And I know I'm rambling right now, but you're not saying anything and I wish you would because I'm kinda losing my mind here.'

Her cheeks were burning, her heart was going way too quickly, and if Felix didn't say anything soon, she would for sure pass out.

'Why?' His answer came.

And for a second, that was the most ridiculous answer ever. 'Why? What do you mean why? You do know that you are very likable, right? You're kind, caring, gentle, strong, resilient, honest, and handsome as hell. Who would not like you?'

'Thanks, but I don't think I'm that likable honestly.'

'Are you kidding me? Yeah, for sure. Your bullies didn't like you for some reason, but other than those three, I'm sure everyone likes you. Not in the way I do, of course, but you know they think you're nice. Why are we even arguing about this?' She shook her head. 'This is the least important part of this. What's your answer?'

'Morrow, I-'

'Look, if the answer is a "no" then you can walk away. I'll be fine either way.'

'Okay.' For some reason, he started to chuckle, which Morrow didn't get because there was nothing funny about this whole situation. Just nervewracking. 'Can I talk now?' Felix said, grinning, effectively quieting her mind.

'Yes. Yes, of course. Sorry.'

Felix laughed again. 'I shouldn't be finding this so funny, but the fact you're stressing about whether I like you or not is just funny when you think that I probably liked you way earlier than the other way around. Also, you're the one confessing to me first, which I didn't see coming.'

'Wait a minute. You like me too?'

'...yeah. Yeah, I do.' His smile turned shy, and he started to blush, which was a weird reaction, Morrow thought, not an unpleasant one, just odd.

'Really?'

Felix now laughed with his whole body, easing the awkward tension between them. Morrow made a mental note to thank him later for easing the tension.

'Don't tell me you didn't notice?'

'No?'

'No? gosh, I feel like I was so obvious.'

'Not to me, you weren't.'

'Yeah, apparently.'

For a few heartbeats, there was just silence. Not the awkward kind where you want to disappear but the kind where you can look at a person and see them in a completely different way.

'So... Now what?' Morrow asked. She had never felt this way about someone else, and everything she knew was from the movies, which often didn't reflect real life.

'Well, I don't know about you, but I would like to at least hug you if that's okay with you? And after that, we can walk and talk some more?' Felix looked hopeful, and who was she to refuse him?

'Yes, please.' She smiled as well, all the tension flooding away when she accepted his hug, and she buried her head in his chest. She could hear Felix's heartbeat, which was going just as fast as hers. Morrow inhaled, exhaled, and after all that tension and excitement, just a hug felt like a "welcome home".