Tell me how to love you

The mall around them buzzed with its usual chaotic energy--the sounds of children laughing, the low murmur of voices, the clinking of coins, and the faint jingle of cash registers ringing. But to Emma, none of it seemed real anymore. The noise felt distant, like a hum in the background that couldn't quite reach her. All that existed in this moment was the steady rhythm of her heart thudding in her chest and the quiet tension building between her and Mark.

They walked side by side, their steps in sync, but the space between them felt impossibly large. Emma could feel the weight of it--the closeness, the silence. She had always been bold, quick to speak her mind, to make her presence known. But with Mark, today… today was different. The words didn't come as easily. The silence felt heavy, and each breath she took seemed to add another layer of complexity to the situation.

She stole another glance at him, trying to be discreet, but he was so close she couldn't help but notice everything. His profile, the way his eyes darted from store window to store window, the faint nervousness in his posture that he never seemed to be able to hide. He was fidgeting with his watch, as he always did when he was anxious, and it was almost endearing, how out of place he seemed in the bustling environment around them.

Mark had always been awkward, a bit unsure of himself, and that was part of what made him so... well, lovable. But today, there was something more. She could feel it, like an invisible thread pulling her closer to him. And for some reason, the more she tried to ignore it, the stronger the pull became.

Her breath caught when she realized how close they were now. His shoulder brushed hers, just a fleeting touch, but it made her heart stutter in her chest. She had been walking at a steady pace, but now, without thinking, she slowed down, just a little. She didn't want to rush this. She didn't want to run away from the feeling that had quietly taken root inside her.

She could hear her pulse in her ears, louder than the surrounding sounds of the mall. The distance between them was closing, inch by inch, and Emma couldn't tell if it was her own movements bringing them closer or if it was something unspoken, something deeper between them that was guiding them toward each other. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her purse, and she felt an odd mixture of warmth and nervousness that had nothing to do with the crowded mall or the mundane routine of shopping.

The last few days had felt different. There had been glances exchanged--lingering moments that stretched a little too long. Moments where she had caught Mark looking at her, his gaze a little softer, a little warmer than usual. She had always thought of him as a friend, but now… now, it was as though a veil had been lifted, and everything she had once overlooked had become painfully obvious.

Her heart ached as she thought about the kiss she had seen earlier. The couples, standing so close, their lips meeting in that quiet, intimate way. It hadn't been rushed. It hadn't been filled with the frenetic energy of youthful passion. No, it had been soft, gentle, tender. Emma could still feel the yearning it had sparked inside her, the quiet ache in her chest, the longing for something real, something that mattered.

She tried to push the thought aside. This was Mark, her boyfriend. Nothing had changed. Nothing had shifted. She couldn't let herself do it so early. It would ruin everything. But the closer they walked, the more she felt that longing rising to the surface, threatening to spill over. She could feel the weight of it pressing down on her chest, and the harder she tried to suppress it, the stronger it grew.

And then, as though the universe itself was pushing them closer, their hands brushed together. It wasn't an accident. Not this time. She felt the warmth of his palm against hers, the solid, comforting pressure that seemed to say, I'm here. I'm right here with you. The touch was so simple, so small, but it felt monumental, like it was more than just a fleeting contact between Them. It was a quiet invitation. A question without words.

Emma's breath caught in her throat. She didn't pull away. She couldn't. Her heart seemed to stop for a second, suspended in time as the simple touch of his hand against hers rippled through her entire being. Her fingertips tingled, and for a moment, all she could think about was how badly she wanted to close the distance between them. She wanted to feel him--really feel him--in a way that went beyond friendship, beyond casual touches. She wanted the kiss, the intimacy she had seen earlier, the closeness that had sent a rush of longing through her chest.

Her chest tightened, a knot forming deep inside her. She could feel the heat radiating from Mark's body, his hand still gently pressed against hers, the faintest squeeze that sent a jolt through her. She could feel the tension between them. It was quiet, but it was undeniable. Her body was speaking a language she didn't understand, urging her to do something, to close the gap, to take a leap she wasn't sure she was ready for.

She stole a glance at him again, her heart racing as their eyes met. She saw the same uncertainty there, the same confusion. Mark was just as unsure as she was. He was still the same awkward, shy guy he had always been, but there was something different now. Something in the way he looked at her that she couldn't quite place. It was as if he, too, felt the shift, felt the growing tension between them that neither of them had ever allowed to surface.

For a long moment, neither of them said anything. The world around them seemed to fade, the noise, the movement, the bustle of people--everything became secondary. The only thing Emma could hear was the thumping of her own heart, and the only thing she could feel was the soft warmth of Mark's hand in hers, and the subtle pulse of something growing inside her.

Her breath became shallow, and without thinking, she took a slow, deliberate step closer to him. She didn't know why. She didn't know what was driving her, but her body seemed to know before her mind did. The distance between them was almost nonexistent now, and with each small step, Emma felt the magnetic pull between them growing stronger, the air around them thickening with something else--something far deeper than either of them could have anticipated.

And then, in one fluid motion, Mark moved closer too. It wasn't sudden. It wasn't dramatic. It was slow, almost hesitant, but in that moment, Emma could feel him just as drawn to her as she was to him. His shoulder brushed against hers, and she felt the heat of his body like an anchor pulling her in, urging her to give in to whatever this was, whatever was happening between them.

Emma's pulse raced. She felt her chest tighten, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of them in that small bubble, that shared space between their bodies. Her hand was still in his, their fingers entwined just slightly, as though both of them were unsure of how to move forward, but unwilling to pull away.

Their eyes met again, and this time, neither of them looked away. It was as if the world outside them had ceased to exist, leaving only the raw, undeniable connection between them. Emma's heart was hammering now, and she could feel the tremor in her hands, the tightness in her chest. She wanted to speak, to say something, but the words wouldn't come. All she could think about was how close he was now, how everything around them had become so still, so quiet. It was just them. Nothing else mattered.

She could feel her breath hitching as she leaned in, just slightly, her lips parting, almost without realizing it. Her fingers tightened around his hand as she took another slow step toward him. Mark's eyes flickered to her lips for the briefest moment, and the world seemed to freeze. There was no going back now.

And then, finally, without any more hesitation, she leaned in. Their lips met--tentative at first, a soft, almost shy brush of contact that sent a jolt of warmth through her entire body. It was nothing like she had imagined. It was slow, soft, a question and an answer all at once. But it was real. It was everything she had been waiting for without knowing it.

The kiss deepened slowly, and she could feel Mark's uncertainty, his nervousness, but there was something else there too--a quiet yearning, a tenderness that spoke volumes without words. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't urgent. It was just… right.

For that one perfect moment, nothing else existed. Not the crowded mall, not the noise, not the questions swirling in her mind. Just the simple, gentle connection between them.

Mark's face was flushed, his eyes wide with surprise, but there was a softness in them that told her everything she needed to know. They didn't need to say anything. They didn't need words to explain.

Because in that kiss, in that shared moment, everything had changed. They both knew it. And for the first time, Emma felt like she was standing on the edge of something new--something wonderful. Something real.

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A/N: they finally kissed.

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