The Royal Love Triangle

2: Mutual Feelings?

Tessa’s POV

I could feel my face turn hot. I now stood in front of my best friend, mouth open and eyes wide. I couldn't move. Nor could I remove the pure shock that I'm sure was written all over my face. I watched at her lips moved, but I didn't hear a sound. Her eyes were locked on my face, gauging for reaction, for anything I'm sure. I felt like I was in a movie or something! You know, when someone's talking, and the sound slowly starts fading. You can hear a heartbeat as it slowly starts increasing and getting louder. How did we even get here?

It started when Callie was 14 and I was 16. I remember she got her first boyfriend. I was so jealous, and I guess you could say upset. I’ve always had feelings for Callie. I was just not ready to admit that to anyone because I couldn’t accept it myself. Of course, I agreed to help her get ready. It was her first date and I wanted to help her feel confident in herself. She was always putting herself down. That afternoon, before she left for the movies, I went over to her house and she was in her room, throwing clothes everywhere. She was panicked. I walked over to her door way and stood for a few minutes just watching her. Gosh, was she adorable, even when she was freaking out?

"Cal. Calm down. It's just a guy..." I felt my words fall as she turned around. She'd been crying. Her face was red, and her eyes were puffy and full of tears. I ran over to her! I pulled her into my arms and carried her over to the bed. My poor, little Callie! I could feel my heart break as she held onto me, crying. I sat down and held her in my lap. That was the day she told me she thought she liked girls too. I sat her on her bed and told her I would handle this and get her out of the date tonight. I smiled at her and she beamed up at me. She gave me her phone and I left the room. I called her date, whatever his name was, and told him that she didn't want to see him anymore and that things weren't going to work between them. I was bombarded with question after question. I told him not to bother her again. That if he did, he'd have to deal with me, and it wouldn't be pretty. He hung up and never said another word to her again. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure that he moved shortly after that anyway.

When I got back to her room, I smiled at her. "He won't be bothering you anymore." She looked up at me with those big blue eyes. I could feel my heart melt. She was so special, and she didn't even know it! "What did you tell him? You didn't tell him that I...." I could see the worry and panic creep onto her face. "Sweetie, I would NEVER do that to you! You should know that. I told him that you were sick. I also told him that you dad didn't want you dating just yet." I smiled at her and pushed her hair out of her face. I could feel her body relax as she leaned into me. She let out a big sigh and I smiled. "Feeling any better love?" She sat up and nodded. "Good. Now how about we both throw on some sweat pants and hoodies and go to Matt's Diner for some pancakes? You can get anything you want. My treat." Her eyes locked with mine and her face lit up. She squealed as she ran to the closet. Just as I was standing up, I was quickly knocked back down on the bed by Callie as she tackled and hugged me. She was on top of me, giggling. I could tell that neither one of us wanted to move. We locked eyes, it was heaven, and I really wanted it to last a life time. We both laughed and she squealed with glee. Her smile, her eyes and her little giggle, meant absolutely everything to me.

After we had both eaten our weight in pancakes and hash browns, we headed back to my house. My mom and dad were on a business trip, again. We spent the evening watching movies, playing games and yes, eating more food. I called Cal's parents and they agreed to let her spend the night. It was a Saturday after all. We built a fort out of blankets and spent the night talking about everything: what we wanted to do with our lives, who we wanted to be, we even planned our double wedding. I smiled. I knew I didn't want a double wedding. I wanted a wedding with Callie. But I wasn't just ready to tell Callie, or anyone else for that matter. Not yet atleast.

I felt a light pressure on my wrist. I snapped out of my day dream and looked down to my hand. I saw Callie's small hand wrapped around my wrist. I looked at her face, she'd been crying and looked panicked. "Tess? Tess! Can you hear me?" I looked away for a moment and blinked a few times. I looked back at Cal and we locked eyes. "Tess, did you hear what I just said? I'm in love with you. Our entire childhood, that crush, it's been you." I could see her face turn red and tears welled up in her eyes. She broke our eye contact first. She looked down at the ground and dropped her hand from my wrist. "I... I…" I held my finger up to her lips to get her to stop talking. I grabbed her chin with my other hand and bent down so I was eye level with her. She stared at me with those big blue eyes and I couldn't deny my feelings for her any more. "Tess... I'm..."

Just like that, our lips connected. I could have sworn I saw fireworks. I felt her arms wrap around my waist and I did the same. I held her close to me, praying that this moment would never end. I pulled my face away from hers, so I could try and read her face. She looked up at me and bit her lower lip. I think she knew how crazy that drove me. She looked down, but I knew there was a smile on her face. I grabbed her chin with my hand again, pointing her face up so that I could look her in the eyes. Those big, beautiful blue eyes.

"Cals, I love you too."

She couldn't hide the shock and pure joy from her face. A huge smile spread across her face and her eyes lit up. I started to giggle. She was so freaking adorable. I bent down and kissed her again. Her lips were soft, and sweet from the cotton candy Chapstick that she stole from me. I pulled her as close to me as I could. I broke the kiss, just so I could look at her beautiful face. Our eyes locked and she bit her lower lip. I wanted nothing more than to be the one that was biting her lip. Her face flushed a brighter face of red, like she could read my mind. It was adorable.

She grabbed my hand and I gave it a quick squeeze. She looked up at a me and smiled. "Can we sit down? This is a lot to process and you make my knees weak." I squeezed her hand again and lead her over to the bed. We sat across from each other, but she wouldn't meet my gaze. She was staring off into space and absent mindedly picking her finger nails. She was thinking. That could be very dangerous.

"What are you thinking about Cals?" I c****d my head to the side. She side-glanced at me and blushed. I put my hands over hers, so she would stop picking at her nails.

“I just... I... Could you not do that? I can't think… uh… straight when you do. The way you do that... it... well, it drives me crazy." She blushed again. I sat up straight at looked towards the door. I watched her in my peripherals. I don't think it was obvious. "So... like... what are we? What does this mean for us? I mean..." Her voice trailed off. I could feel her expectant gaze watching me closely. She was expecting an answer. I couldn’t give her one. Not right now at least.