Happy Valentine's fam!! This is a special present just for x_justafangirl_x ;)

...

(Dan's pov)

I'm sitting in front of the TV on the couch on a typical evening with my parents.

Dad's watching the news and mum's folding the clothes while I'm daydreaming about my best friend and crush, Alexandra.

"Mid February brings heavy rain falls and storms to the country. This year's Valentine's day isn't an exception. A terrible winter storm caused a blackout in the city of Sheffield, Southampton, half of Liverpool, and parts of Peterborough and Huntingdon."
I listen to the weather reports come in from the TV.

We live in Huntingdon, but our house isn't affected.
Thank God.

I text Alex and ask her if she's heard the report and if her house has been affected.

But she doesn't text back immediately like usual. So I send another text.

Dan: are you okay?

Now I start to worry. What if the blackout hit her house? What if she's not okay? What if she's freezing to death cause the heaters aren't working? Her parents are away for a conference this week... She'll be home alone.

Oh no...If the power in her house is out, it might explain why she didn't get my text if her phone died and she couldn't charge it!

Wait no, maybe she's alright. Maybe she's just busy. Stop being paranoid and crazy. You're being too overprotective of her.

Well it's only cause I care.

Yeah, too much...Stop thinking about her cause she probably isn't thinking about you.

While I'm having a silent argument, Dad leaves the room to go rest up for he has work early tomorrow and mum is staring at me as if I was Max Whitlock.

'What?' I ask her unasked question.

'Why are you frowning?'

'Nothing. I'm just thinking.'

'Yeah sure. Overthinking more like.'

My head turns to my sassy mother.
'Again, what?'

'Please, don't think you can hide it from your mother. You're thinking about Alex, aren't you? You're worrying about her cause of the blackout. She's always on your mind. You can't seem to get her out of your head. Everything just leads back to her. She's the first thing you think about in the morning and your last thoughts before you go to sleep.' My eyes widen as I watch my mum analyse my thoughts.

I'm speechless because no matter how much I deny it, I know she's right. And she knows it. I do think about Alex way too much. I'm starting to think it's an unhealthy obsession. But I'm not being dirty or horny, I just want to be with her.

'You're in love with her.' Mum finally finished, establishing her conclusion from all that observation and analysis.

I can't deny it so I just look away and grab my phone, checking if she replied.

Mum speaks up again after sighing, 'dont ignore me, son. You know I'm right.'

Irritated that I seem to be an open book in terms of my feelings, I walk out of the house, partially because I'm really worried about Alex now and I want to check on her.

Mum calls out behind me, 'Come back before dark!'

I walk in the direction of Alex's house. I need to know she's okay. But is that being too needy? Urgh, God I hate feelings. I hate having crushes. Especially on my best friend. My oblivious and blunt best friend who can't seem to see the signs of my crush on her. If only she was like my mum and could read my feelings. If only she loved me too. If only...

When I reach her front door, I raise my hand to knock but then stop in mid air, wondering what I should say to cover up my neediness if it turns out that she's actually alright.

But then I realize all the lights are out from her house and her neighbours houses, so she can't be alright, and that thought disappears as worry takes over my mind again.

When no one answers, I open the door which apparently isn't locked.

'Alex?'

At first there's no reply and I wonder if I'm really overthinking this and maybe she went to stay at Caitlin's house instead or something.

'Alex! Are you home? Where are you!' I shout again.

Then I here barely audible mumbles.

I think it's coming form upstairs so I make my way up in the darkness with only the soft orange fade of the sunset shining through the window, illuminating the floorboards.

As I step closer, I hear the mumbles more clearly.

'No, it can't be Dan. I must be so delusional that I'm hearing his voice in my head. There's no way he came for me...'

'Except that I did.' I declare, loud and clear.

And I find her hiding by the fireplace with blankets wrapped around her as she shivers in the cold air.

'Alex! Oh my gosh, are you okay? You must be freezing! Come here!' I find her body through all those layers of blankets and wrap my arms around them.

She cries softly, still mumbling.
'Dan...'

'It's okay, I'm here. I'll take you to my house. We still have heating there. You can stay for the night.' I soothe her.

'How did you know to come find me?'

'I had a gut feeling you were in trouble and you didn't reply my text.'

'My phone died. Sorry.'

'Why didn't you come over to my house when the blackout occured? You know you can always come to me for anything. Why?'

She looks down, 'I'm sorry for making you worry.'

'No, I'm not angry. I just wish you'd lean on me when you have to. That's what friends are for. Stop being so damn independent and rely on me anytime you want, okay?'

'Okay...'

'Promise you will?'

'...'

'Promise???'

'Promise...'

After we pull away, she grabs her coat and we walk back to my house.

But when I get back, dad and mum's already asleep so I make Alex hot chocolate.

'You can go sleep on my bed. I know you're tired.' I offer.

'Eh? No! It's your bed. I can sleep on the couch.'

When I open my mouth to protest she answers back, 'Besides, it's right by the fireplace. I'll be warmer. Now stop being such a gentleman and go to sleep. You must be tired too, running all the way to my house.'

'Alright. You sure you're gonna be okay?'

'Yeah. And thank you.' She smiles charmingly like usual and I reciprocate that feeling.

As I head off to bed, my tired body refuses to let me get the rest I need. So I decide to have a glass of milk.

But instead of walking to the kitchen, my feet take me to the living room where she's sleeping soundly instead.

I glance over at her sleeping self. All curled up on the couch looking so adorable.

Even my cat, Moon, has curled up at her feet.
I glare it to move so as not to disturb her but it just looks at me with its bright yellow eyes and ignores me, looking snobbish.
I could almost feel it smirking.

I spent hours before just tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. My mind keeps flashing back to her and I've just realized that this is the first time I'm sleeping in the same house as a non family girl...

It's past midnight so I decide to put her on my bed so she can sleep properly.

As I go to lift her up, I look at her peaceful face again and decide that she's in a deep enough sleep to not feel this, so I bent down and gently kiss her forehead. I just couldn't resist the urge.

'Don't show such a defenseless face to a guy.' I whisper.

And in that process, my heart explodes as well as my stomach.

But as I suspected, that little contact between my lips and her skin has awoken her.

I curse silently, praying that she didn't feel that. If she did, she'll most definitely reject me or something and I'll have blown the already very slim chance I had with her.

'Dan?' She mumbles softly and it makes my heart melt.

'I'm here.' I reply, still staring straight at the floor, afraid to make eye contact with her.

'Did you just...?' She stares at me puzzled, for a while, before reaching up with her hand to touch the spot where I kissed her.

Oh no...

'What is it?' I ask, pretending not to know anything.

'Nothing. I was probably just dreaming.'

So she dreams about me? And she didn't seem disgusted by it. Maybe she likes me too?

I pick her up from the couch, bridal style, carefully, and head towards my room.

From the surprise of my action, she falls forward onto my chest and wraps both arms around me so she doesn't fall.
And when I sense how close we are, I have to try my hardest to hide my blush and my sweating face.

But naturally, she protests loudly, insisting that I put her down.

'No, Dan. I'm serious! Put me-'

I cut her sentence off by pressing my mouth to hers.

When we pull away, she's stopped talking and is blushing extremely hard that it's so easy to tell even in this dim night light.

I continue to make my way to my room, still carrying her.

Still silent, I set her down on my bed when she opens her mouth for the first time in those three awkward minutes.

'I'm not sure if I feel like slapping you or kissing you back.'

A crooked smile appears on my face.

Maybe she does like me?

As I start to turn and leave, she speaks again.

'No, wait. Don't go.'

I turn around to face her and my mind is running wild.

Don't go? So what? Stay? With you? All night?!!??!

'Stay here.'

'What do you mean?' I blurt out, my mind still racing with both unpleasant and strange thoughts.

I'm not ready for this yet.

'I can scooch over. Here, sit.' She moves over on my double bed and sits by the side.

My heart rate decreases once I know that THAT is not what she meant.

'So do you just go around kissing girls to shut them up?'

Is she insecure? Well, I'll reassure her that I'm not the hit and run type. But...what if she doesn't like me? Right, and she's just lying her head on your shoulder, and invited you to sit beside her on your bed, and blushed when you kissed her because she completely hates you and has absolutely no feelings for you whatsoever...

Okay, continue denying the truth to yourself.

Sucking all my courage, I explain.
'No, I go around kissing the girl I like to show her I'm in love with her.' I put my arm around her shoulder and her head moves and rests on my chest. It feels strangely calming and warm. 'But, as she's kinda ditzy, blunt and tactless sometimes, she still hasn't figured it out yet.' I add.

'Well, she is ditzy, tactless and blunt, so maybe you need to tell it right to her face before she gets it.'

'Yeah, I know. I'm still waiting for the right time. I hope she'll wait for me.'

'I think she will. She's been waiting for a while already. I'm pretty sure she can wait a little while longer.'

'That's good then. Cause it took me a while to figure it out myself. And telling it face to face is quite a tall order.'

'I'm sure she understands.'

As she falls in deeper sleep and dozes off, I'm wide awake staring at her sleeping face.

So she's loved me all this time? Even after that time when I sorta friendzoned her, she still loves me? Wow, I'm a jerk. I don't deserve her.

'Here I am with all my heart, I hope you understand. I know I let you down but I'm never gonna make that mistake again. You brought me closer to who I really am. And I want the world to see what you mean to me.' I whisper to her softly before kissing her forehead and dozing off myself.

...

Once again, Happy Valentine's :)) hope you enjoyed it, Lexi! #Alanwillbereal