Chapter Twenty Eight-3

"Okay, you're just making this worse!" Everett growled out, his hands bunching into fists. He didn't particularly like thinking about the many times he tried to get rid of her. "No, you're making this worse!" Jesse fired back, equally as riled up. "My point is that Lizzie has seen you at your absolute worst. I just don't get why you would be so nervous now!" And with that, he turned around and stomped to the front door. He barely heard his brother saying, "But it matters now." Jesse looked at Everett over his shoulder and smiled, even if he couldn't see it; he knew Everett would hear it in his voice. Despite how unsure Everett looked at the moment, he wouldn't in a few minutes. "You'll be okay. I promise." * * * * * * * * Everett could practically feel his heart beating right out of his chest. As Jesse sent greetings towards Lizzie, he backed up into the couch, falling backwards onto it and heaving out a sigh. He could do this. He could totally do this. Right? This was no big deal - they spoke only two days ago. Surely nothing changes in that small amount of time. Everett forced himself to believe if. He and Lizzie needed to discuss this and he needed to be an adult and not panic. Besides, Jesse was totally right; Everett had done so much worse before they started to date or do what ever it was they were doing at the moment. "Yeah, he's in the living room," Jesse said from behind Everett, footsteps growing closer. "I'm going to go get something to eat. I'll bring back drinks for you guys." And then it was just Lizzie and Everett. "Hey," Lizzie said softly; rustling followed and so Everett moved around a bit, adjusting himself so she could sit on the couch as well. The couch dipped and silence lingered. Not exactly the comfortable kind either. It was sort of awkward and unusual and just - "If you two don't start talking, I'll start singing Brand New Key," Jesse shouted from the kitchen. Everett groaned and rubbed his face a little. Jesse should mind his own - "I've got a brand new pair of roller skates - " one very off key voice penetrated the air and shrilled out the lyrics of the song Everett hated most. He cringed and started counting off the different ways he could make Jesse miserable in revenge. "Okay, okay - alright, OKAY!" Lizzie shouted, amusement laced in her voice. The singing stopped and Everett could just feel the smug. "We're being weird - aren't we?" Everett asked with a sigh. "The absolute weirdest," Lizzie replied. "I'm just nervous, is all." She confessed quietly. Everett felt his eyes grow wide and his forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Wait, why would you be nervous? Shouldn't that be my role here? Stay in your lane, Baldwin!" He joked, attempting to ease some of the tension. It worked. Lizzie chuckled a bit before sobering up. "Well, in case you haven't noticed, Ev, I have a bit of a crush on you." Everett felt his entire body heat up and he's pretty sure that his face turned red at the confession. He bit his lip and scooted a little closer to Lizzie. "Yeah, well ... in case you haven't noticed," he laid his hand out, palm facing up and waited for her. In a few seconds, her fingers laced with his own  and he smiled. "I'm really, really in like with you." Everett felt Lizzie squeeze his hand a bit. "So...I like you." Everett nodded in agreement. "And you like me?" Once again, he nodded - this time with a smile growing. "Which means...what, for us?" Lizzie threw the ball in his court and he had no problem with that. "I think it means something along the lines of..." he paused to collect the eighth words, before grinning and letting go of her hand. He instead wrapped his arm around her shoulders, saying, "I think that makes you my human." Lizzie burst out laughing and buried her face in his shoulder, head shaking. "You're such a dork, you know that?" She told him fondly. "But hey...you're my dork." Everett couldn't keep the smile off his face and he couldn't imagine Lizzie not having one. He could just feel the happy in the room. No tension, no awkward - just sheer happiness. Which made it only slightly easier to ask the next question. "So ... does that mean I can kiss you now?" The question came out super quiet and shy. Everett bit his lip in anticipation of her answer. And then soft lips were pressing against his cheek and he just melted into a puddle of fond and happiness and gooey marshmallow fluff. Lizzie pulled away, replying, "Absolutely. Just not now. When your idiotic brother is eavesdropping on our conversation." And yeah, to be honest, Everett could get behind that. "Hey! I eavesdrop out of love!" Everett shook his head and grinned, flopping backwards on the couch. "Besides," Jesse continued, walking into the room. "I had to make sure you two didn't screw this up. I've been waiting for this moment for forever you know." He plopped down on the other side of Lizzie and gave both of them a drink and chucked a bag of chips in Everett's lap. "Okay, so if you guys are game, I'd like to continue with my marathon." "Little House, huh?" Lizzie teased, truly settled in beside Everett and giving Jesse a but of room. "Hey," Jesse sounded affronted. But no doubt he was smiling. "I'll have you know this is a timeless series and you peasants should be honored that I invited you to watch." So they settled in. Lizzie nudged her shoes off and snuggled into Everett, legs tucked up underneath while Jesse mockingly supervised ("I'll have you know I won't be dealing with any of your lovers nonsense - hands where I can see them!") and Lizzie threw a pillow in return. But Everett could honestly say he felt extremely satisfied with his life; very little felt as wonderful as this moment. With Jesse grumbling about the characters, and his girl tucked comfortably under his arm while bickering with the aforementioned individual, Everett felt absolutely wonderful.