15 Chapter 15: Clarification

The coffee shop was bustling with activity as Connor and Ellie found a quiet corner to sit and talk. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, adding a sense of warmth and comfort to the atmosphere.

As they settled into their seats, Connor couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. He knew that Ellie had feelings for him, but he had always been unsure about his own feelings in return.

"Thanks for meeting me, Ellie," Connor said, breaking the silence. "I've been meaning to catch up with you for a while now."

Ellie offered him a warm smile. "Of course, Connor. It's nice to see you again. It's been too long."

"Yeah, it has," Connor agreed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Despite the uncertainty of their reunion, there was a familiarity in Ellie's presence that put him at ease, unlike what he felt about Meg. This made him question if he was a scumbag.

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, sipping their coffee and exchanging small talk about their lives since they last saw each other. But as the conversation flowed, Connor knew that there was something more they needed to address.

"Ellie," he began, hesitating slightly, "I wanted to talk to you about...us."

Ellie's expression softened, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of curiosity, expectation, and apprehension. "What about us, Connor?"

Connor took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking. "I know you've had feelings for me for a while now, and I want you to know that I've always valued our friendship more than anything."

Ellie nodded, a hint of sadness flickering across her features. "I understand, Connor. I never wanted to make things awkward between us."

Connor reached across the table, taking Ellie's hand in his own. "But lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking. And I realize that maybe I've been...blind to certain feelings that I have for you."

Ellie's eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat. "You mean..."

Connor smiled softly, his heart pounding in his chest. "I mean that maybe I've been too afraid to admit it especially since I have been in a relationship with Meg, but I care about you, Ellie. More than I've ever cared about anyone else."

Tears welled up in Ellie's eyes as she looked into Connor's gaze, her heart overflowing with emotion. "Connor, I...I never thought you felt the same way. I've been fantasizing about this moment since the first time I saw you."

In that moment, everything else faded away as Connor and Ellie leaned in to share a tender kiss, their hearts finally finding the courage to embrace what they had been uncertain about for so long.

As they pulled away, a sense of peace settled over them, knowing that whatever the future held, they would face it together.

Ellie immediately felt a little bit shy after calming down; after all, that was her first kiss.

Connor was also smiling a little, happy to see Ellie's reaction. Although he was not sure about the future, he understood that they had feelings for each other.

What Connor and Ellie didn't know, or Connor didn't really care about, was that all of this was filmed by a civilian holding a camera. Upon seeing Connor, the civilian was surprised and planned to take a picture that he could sell to the newspaper, but he didn't expect that it would be even more significant since it became a picture of Connor embracing his new girlfriend.

After clarifying things, Connor accompanied Ellie to her home. He didn't plan to do anything with her, even though he had already been with Meg. That's because he is not really a minor,but things are different when it comes to Ellie, as she is a minor, so this basic rule should be respected.