The only thing I could do was laugh it off to hide my raw terror at my revelation "To think people say that I am the conniving and scheming one."

She made her way over to me and grabbed my shoulder "Now you know. What are you going to do about it?"

"Run away. Leave the country." I answered her "I have heard Antarctica is nice this time of year."

"Be serious." She told me off.

"Okay fine. That is a bit drastic." I admitted before changing my plans "I just need to isolate myself. Just stop speaking to him until it goes away."

"Ella!"

My panicked state had not disappeared and I scowled at Lana "Why did you not tell me that I was in love with him?"

"Everyone knows. I think you are the last person to realise that you are crazy about him." She informed me "It is not just going to go away, and I know you do not want to stop feeling for him."

I hated how she could tell what I was feeling better than myself.

"What am I going to do? I cannot just tell him." I ranted "What would I say? That I am so madly in love with him, and I probably have been since I met him, but I was too scared to let myself feel."

That the thought of potentially losing someone else I loved just like I had with my parents scared the hell out of me.

"Why not tell him that?" She asked.

"I can’t say that." I argued, "It would give him enough material to tease me forever."

Lana went all gooey-eyed and dreamy "Also madly in love? You have become such a romantic in your old age."

"Shut up!"

She smiled wickedly "Nothing has actually changed. It has always been you two. You are just realising it. For someone as intelligent as you are, you sure are slow."

"Working out people has never really been my thing." I replied, trying to defend my ignorance.

Her smile turned warm, and her eyes held a bit of sadness as she spoke “I don't think it is that. I think it is your self-esteem. For some reason, I think you think you are unloveable. I don't know if it has to do with your mom or if it is something else, but you need to know that you are amazing."

I kept quiet. I could not think of an excuse.

"All my life, you have built me up and kept my chin high. Now it is my turn to repay the favour." Lana smiled at me as she continued her speech "You are beautiful and smart and so funny. Stone knows that. You need to have some confidence. You need to tell him."

I could feel my lip start to tremble. That is why I shook my head and let out a small giggle "This is far too mushy. All this feelings and stuff."