Unknown Feelings

      I woke with a start, bolting into an upright position. I had passed out.
 "Dad-!"
 "Whoa, easy there kiddo," Felix said gently as his hands grabbed my shoulders, forcing me back down.
 "Your dad is with your brother and the others, trying to keep everyone calm, Seems you weren't the only one to overhear the transmission. You scared the s**t out of us Sky."
My stomach lurched at the mention of the transmission. That poor man.
  "H-how long have I been out for?," I asked him, trying to focus. I was feeling a little disoriented.
I focused my eyes on Felix's familiar face. I knew every detail of it, the deep set of his chocolate brown eyes, the thick black lashes that framed them. How many times I had studied the curve of his jaw, traced the slight cleft in his chin or intently watched the constantly moving shape of his lips. It was silly, but I had the hugest crush on Felix Benivides, my father's young deputy.
Felix shrugged, "No more than five minutes. You feelin' okay, you look a little lost."
I nodded slowly, "I'm fine. Felix?"
 "Yeah?"
 "That man from the radio, he's... isn't he?"
 "Yeah, it sounded like it. But don't worry, we're safe here," Felix said, iron determination shinning in his chocolate eyes. "I'd never let anything happen to you."
My face flamed with color. Felix had that affect on me.
 "Or your father would seriously kill me," Felix added quickly, his own face looking a little flushed.
  Impulsively, I threw my arms around him. He stiffened in my embrace for only a moment before he returned it, squeezing me as he were trying to force us into one body. With his arms locked securely around me,there was a quick and fleeting sense of serenity amid this nightmare that had suddenly became my life. Butterflies the size of bowling balls took flight in my lower belly as Felix and I sat on the lumpy old couch, locked in each other's embrace.
Felix stroked a hand over my curly red hair as he buried his face against the top of my head. I shivered and Felix pulled me closer.
 "Oh, Skyler," he breathed.
 "I'm scared Felix," I whispered against his chest, his heartbeat real, and thundering against my ear.
 "Shh baby," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "Everything will be alright. There's no need to be scared."
Oh! How I wanted to believe him, but something in me knew that nothing would be.
  "Thank you," I murmured softly, "I needed that."
He chuckled. "Me too. I've wanted to do that for so long Skyler. To hold you I mean."
At a sudden loss for words, I could only look up at him in awe. He had wanted to... hold me?
Did he have feelings for me? My heart leapt in my chest. For years I had harbored a crush on Felix Benivides and here he was telling me that he had wanted to hold me for so long. But for how long? Oh, it really didn't matter how long, only that he did.
 "D****t Sky, don't look at me like that," Felix growled.
 "Like what?," I asked, perplexed.
 "Like your surprised. You cant possibly be. Girl, I have wanted you for years. I thought it was obvious."
I shook my head. "I never knew."
Felix threw his head back and laughed. A smile spread across my face.
"I was so sure you and everyone else knew. God, I was terrified your father knew. He'd skin me alive if he knew I had feelings for you," Felix laughed.
"You-you like me?," I blurted.
He laughed again, the sound turning my insides to mush.
"No, I don't like you Skyler," he said, taking my hands between his, "I love you. I've been in love with you since the first time I laid eyes on you. I've had eyes for no one but you since."
I stared blankly at him, barely registering his words. Felix waited for me to reply.
 "Did you hear me Skyler?"
I blinked. "I heard you. I...Iloveyoutoo," I said as one word.
A goofy grin split his face, his teeth white and perfectly straight, a stark contrast to his dark features.
I felt shocked after the words left my mouth. Had I really just admitted that to him?
Yup, I had.