Part 2 begin!

Universe*

~Nikki's POV

It's been 2 weeks since Sam and Lily finally started dating. I'm so happy for them! Though I know my cousin is going to have a tough time convincing Lily's dad that he's right for her; despite being close friends for a decade at this point. But I know the feeling, Lily, my dad and my uncles are super protective too. Not Uncle Trevor though, I think Aunt Sunny convinced him to be lenient about it. Of course there was a reason why I was thinking about such things.

I'm 16 and I'm still not allowed to date... at least according to my dad.

Mom doesn't mind, probably because she and dad got together at 15 back in the day. But I guess just because you did it doesn't mean you can't change your mind about it later. The thing is, junior prom is coming up soon, and I do technically have a date. My friend Drake asked me. (And even before they got together officially, Sam and Lily were going as each other's dates too) Mom and I talked Dad into allowing it on the grounds that I just wanted the experience of going to the party, rather than a romantic event.

Of course I know the truth: I intended to make it more than that. I've developed strong feelings for Drake. He's not only a musician, he's also a talented musical theatre guy, and he's very handsome and charming. I love his smile, and his blue eyes, and his messy black hair. He's also supportive and caring, and he's adorable when he gets excited about stuff. I don't know when I fell for him, but those feelings are here now.

And today he was doing some backstage work after school, while I was sitting in my house working on my art. Of course, since Drake wasn't going to avoid talking to me just because he was busy, we were texting each other during this time. (Thank goodness I wasn't working with paint this time.)

"So what are you up to Nik?"

"Drawing a picture of you of course."

"Ha, ok I'll take your word for it but I know you're joking."

"You'll have to find out next time you see my sketchbook."

"Right I'll remember that. I wish you were here to help out. Everybody else is just talking and I've already finished what I was told to do! I'm bored..."

"You're talking to me, aren't you? Or is talking to me worse?"

"No I like talking to you."

"Thank you!"

"But I do still only have you to talk to until we're dismissed."

"I'll be happy to keep you company; you know since you're thinking about me and all."

"Of course, I tend to always think highly of you."

I paused when I read that. He thinks highly of me? Now I'm curious, what did that mean?

"You think highly of me? Why?"

There was a pause before he responded. Maybe he was mistaken and wants to correct himself.

"Uh so what are you doing now?"

He already asked me that. He's avoiding the question. Ok dig deeper and figure it out.

"The same thing I was doing before... you didn't answer my question..."

"What question?"

"I asked you why you think highly of me, Drake, please tell me!"

He didn't reply for another few minutes. Part of me wanted to think that he was busy with something but another part of me said he was stalling to figure out an answer to the question. After several tense minutes of waiting I got a reply, and I can't believe what I saw.

"Ok... the reason I think so highly of you is because... I have feelings for you."

Did he just... oh my god! He feels the same way! Oh god if my mom wasn't down in her inventing studio right now I would squeal with joy.

"There... I said it..."

I could practically see his face right now as he said it. He was probably a nervous wreck! But I knew my answer and I've never been happier to finally be able to say it.

"I feel the same way..."

"You do?!"

"Yes!"

"You have no idea how happy that makes me... I wish I could have said it person though."

"It makes me happy too, and I don't care... I've wanted to say it for a long time..."

"I love you, Nikki."

"I love you too, Drake."

I sent him a few cute emojis with that, and he returned them. We made some plans for a proper first date, before our prom night plans. I told him I would be back because I was going to go tell my mom the news.

I went downstairs to find my mother working on some kind of machine in her studio. I got her attention and she set aside her tools.

"Need something Nik?"

I hope I wasn't smiling like a fool or that would have given it away. "So I have some news..."

"What kind?"

"Drake just asked me out... for real."

She blinked at me and smiled. "Finally, it's about time!" She then gave me a hug and said. "I'm so happy for you Nikki, he's a good guy and I know he'll treat you right."

"Thank you mom... so what do we do about dad?"

I saw her roll her eyes. "I'll handle your father. He's known your friend for the same amount of time that you have and I'm sure that you're perfectly old enough to make this decision. Duncan is stubborn but I'll wear him down eventually. But for now I need to get back to working on my project."

I nodded and went back to my room to continue my conversation with Drake. Tomorrow I would meet up with him so we could walk to school and have a proper first romantic meeting. We're together at last, and I had a feeling we were always meant to be. We've come so far since we met, but we're here now. I know my dad will accept him in time. I know the rest of my family approves of him as a person so they'll be happy for me too.

Now I just have to hope that Lizzie and Lucas can fess up their own feelings for each other on prom night...

~End of Chapter!

Yay for Drikki! And congratulations; you guys now know how my fiancé and I got together! It was a little altered for the characters' personalities, but the same confession-conversation happened in the same way and wording. The part about talking to Violet was not based on reality. One more part!