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Tough Love

Weeks went by as Ethan and Keera's relationship blossomed. They were closer now more than ever. You could say they were falling in love but Ethan dared to say it first.
"I love you, Keera."
She looked at him and blushed, "What?"
"I said, I love you."
She cleared her throat and said, "Yeah, I heard you--I mean--You love me?" she sounded suprised.
"Well," he chuckled, "yeah, what's not to love?"
"How can you love someone after being with them for only a couple of weeks?"
"...I just know."
"Oh."
"It's okay if you don't feel the same way for me--I understand."
"Uh-huh."
There was silence and awkwardness. Ethan nodded his head and waited for her to say something else, but she froze.
"Keera?" he said.
She looked at him, "Yeah?"
"Is this too much?"
"A little...I mean," she sighed heavily and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ethan...I--"
"It's okay."
"No, it's not--it's not that I don't love you--I mean," she sighed again and tried to collect her thoughts. "I...have never felt this way...for anyone before."
"Okay..." he smiled.
"I mean, the first man to walk out of my life was my dad, then my step-father, followed by every guy my mom has ever dated and the guys I've dated as well."
"Yeah, but I'm not them, Keera, you keep forgetting that..."
"It's not that I forget...I just--" she sighed again. "I just don't love easily."
"And I'm willing to accept the kind of love you're willing to offer."
"Are you?" she chuckled, "I don't think you're ready."
"How bad can it be?"
"Well," she tsked her tongue and laughed, "I'm pretty tough when it comes to relationships."
"All right, then, bring it."

Ethan, Karen, Denise and Amanda were sitting in the cafeteria for lunch. Their friend Jackson joined them shortly after they sat down. They began to talk about their night before and Karen asks about Ethan's night.
To which he replies with, "Oh, the usual."
Karen scoffed and said, "Another night with Ms. Keera?"
He sighed and said, "She's my girlfriend, Karen."
"Yeah," Denise said, "but that doesn't mean you should spend every single moment of the day with her."
"I know, but when you love someone, you want to spend every second of your day with that person."
Karen eyes him suspiciously and asks him, "Do you want to spend every second of your day with her? I mean, she can get a little bitchy."
Ethan looks suprised and says, "What are you talking about?"
"Dude," Jackson said, "don't tell me you haven't noticed how Keera can be whenever you talk to another girl--in fact--anyone."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's possessive!" Karen yelled and Ethan laughed. "You find this s**t funny, Ethan?"
"I think you're all overreacting...I don't think Keera is possessive at all."
"Well, when she comes for lunch, we'll see what happens." Karen smirked at Ethan, who shook his head.
"She's not coming to lunch, she's in class right now."
"Oh," Amanda said, "is that why you're sitting with us right now?"
"Ooh," Karen and Jackson teased.
Ethan rolled his eyes and stood up, saying, "I'm gonna go."
"Oh, come on, Ethan," Jackson said, "we're just teasing, sit down."
"No, it's okay. You guys finish your lunch. I'll catch you guys later."
Ethan grabbed his tray and backpack and walked downstairs to the cafe.
Karen and Jackson rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Denise smacked her lips and said, "How does Keera does it?"
"I don't know," Karen replied, "but she's beginning to piss me off."

Ethan walked down the stairs and saw Keera sitting in the lobby outside of the cafe. He smiled to himself and walked to her. He sat next to her, on the couch, and rested his arm on her thigh.
"What are you doing down here?" he asked her with a smile.
"Oh," she chuckled, "my class got cancelled."
"Oh...why didn't you go upstairs?"
"I saw you with the girls and Jackson; I didn't wanna bother you."
He chuckled, "Silly, you don't bother me, you know that."
"Don't call me that, please."
"Sorry."
They remained seated and smiled at each other.