FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES

There was something about her that drew him in like a magnet. She was all he could think about. As the rain poured down outside, he tried to shake the thoughts from his head, but they kept coming back. Her drenched body, her wet hair, her smile. He felt the heat rising in his body, and he knew he had to get away from her.

He tried to play it cool when she took off her wet shirt. But seeing her like that made him feel things he had never felt before. His mind started racing, and he felt his body temperature rising. He had to get out of there. He knew he had to leave the room before he did something he would regret.

He excused himself from her room, saying he needed to freshen up. As soon as he closed the door, he leaned against it, trying to catch his breath. He didn't know what to do. He had never felt this way before. All he knew was that he had to figure out what was going on, and fast.

What is happening to me? Why am I feeling this way? He said in his thoughts.

"Althea," he whispered to himself, his mind racing. He could still see her face, as if she was right in front of him. He tried to focus on something else but her image was burned into his mind. He felt his body temperature rise and his heart beating faster.

As he walked back to his room, he tried to focus on anything else but her. But it was impossible to get her out of his head. The more he tried to ignore his feelings, the stronger they became. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way.

He turned on the shower, hoping the water would cool him down. But as he stood under the spray, he couldn't shake the image of her from his mind. He felt his heart racing, and he was filled with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name. He got out and got dressed, heading for the window for some breeze to help him calm down.

He told himself that they were just friends, and that's all they could ever be. But he couldn't deny the fact that he wanted more. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and it was driving him crazy. He tried to control his thoughts, but they kept coming back to her.

"Just friends," he repeated to himself, hoping that it would help him calm down. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't want to be just friends. He wanted something more.

He turned away from the window, trying to clear his head. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He felt like he was losing control, and he didn't know what to do.The image of her was burned into his brain, and he couldn't shake it. He felt a surge of desire, and he knew he had to do something about it. He had to get out of the room, away from the window, away from the temptation. He couldn't take it anymore. He was aching for her.

But before he could move, he heard a knock at the door. His heart pounded as he tried to calm himself. He took a deep breath and opened the door. There she stood, her eyes filled with concern.

"Adam?" It was Althea. "Are you okay?"

He didn't know what to say. Should he tell her the truth? Or should he try to play it cool? He didn't know what to do.

He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. He stood there, frozen, unable to speak.

She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "Talk to me," she said gently. "What's going on?"

He took another deep breath, and the words began to flow. "I am not okay," he began. "I don't know what's happening to me. I can't control my thoughts. Every time I close my eyes, I see you. I can't get you out of my head. I feel like I'm losing control."

He paused, his heart racing. "I know we're just friends, but I can't help the way I feel. I need to tell you the truth, even if it ruins everything."

He looked into her eyes, afraid of what he would see there. But instead of anger or disgust, he saw compassion and understanding.

"I want to be more than friends," he said, his voice shaking. "I want to be with you, not just as friends, but as something more. I know this is sudden, and I don't expect you to feel the same way. But I had to tell you. I'm sorry if this changes things between us, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. I want you so badly, Althea."

She stood there, silent, her eyes searching his.

"Althea, please say something," Adam pleaded. "Your silence is killing me!"

She took a deep breath, not out of nervousness, but because she wanted to savor this moment. She had been waiting for this for so long, for Adam to finally admit that he wanted more than friendship. She had been holding herself back, but now she knew that he felt the same way, and it was a feeling she could hardly describe. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She knew what she had to say next, and she was nervous, but she was also excited. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell him how she really felt.

She took a step closer to Adam while his body flowed with nervousness and anticipation for what she was about to say.

Finally, she spoke.

"Adam, I feel the same way," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I don't want to be just friends either. I want more than that. I want us to be together."

Adam's eyes lit up with happiness and relief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You really mean that?" he asked, a little breathless.

She nodded, smiling at him. "I really mean it," she said. "I want to be with you, more than anything. I want you so badly too!"

And in that moment, they both knew that everything was about to change.