[ As flustered as she is by the teasing, she does appreciate it -- deep down, somewhere, when her ears are burning less and she can pull herself out of the mire of feeling foolish. Many of these other feelings are still new, and not anything that could be rationalized, and ultimately... she needs to find a way to talk to to him to see where he truly stands.

Even speaking of it now was just -- a fluttery, helpless sensation she could do little about. The teasing was never too unkind as much as it ever was a wakeup call. Knowing that there's something of a spark in these insinuations even if she dares not trust it yet. ]

... it is my hope for us to be happier. He and I struggle a lot in similar ways... and dwell on that too often. If we can learn to be comfortable with these feelings... if that sentiment is something shared... then I hope the time will be spent wisely. That we do not waste too much of it on... this. Uncertainty.