They couldn't do anything about it, at least not until they were adults and Nova finished college. She had already mentioned applying for a scholarship to a prestigious design school. That was so far off, it wasn't worth thinking about.

Aiden figured, for now, they could continue as they always had. He told her so, and she looked at him incredulously.

"You really think I don't know that? That's why I waited to say anything. Liking you is pointless, but I can't help my feelings. You're the coolest guy I know, Aiden."

He was flattered. Most people considered him a loser who didn't try hard enough. He wasn't a complete outcast only because he was the class clown. The cool kids found him funny and were friendly in the hallways.

"What a coincidence. I feel the same way about you," he replied, touching the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Stop avoiding me, then," Nova said, as if it were obvious.

So he did. Their relationship continued as usual, except they sometimes switched from in-game chat to video calls via their email service. It was nice seeing her face.

They remained friends with mutual feelings until the end of Aiden's senior year, when a girl from his science class asked him to prom. He felt bad turning her down, even though he wasn't interested, so he agreed.

Nova was furious when he told her he couldn't meet up online the night of the prom. She refused to speak to him for weeks, accusing him of not caring about her feelings.

What was he supposed to do? He always spent weekends with her; he'd never even asked another girl out. But he didn't want to hurt his classmate's feelings. When he explained this, she became even angrier, believing a random classmate's feelings mattered more than hers.

He hadn't looked forward to the prom, but it was even more miserable knowing Nova was upset. When he finally reached her online, she was curt. Only when he promised not to date other girls did she respond.

"You can't date other girls," she said haughtily. "You have to promise me, Aiden."

"Okay, I promise." He wasn't interested in anyone else anyway. He spent most of his free time with her.

Aiden forgot that conversation until a few months before Aaron met Keeley again. Someone in Nova's college course asked her out, and she refused because she had a boyfriend.

He was startled. They hadn't discussed their feelings much since their initial confession; they remained mostly gaming buddies.

He figured a label wouldn't change their dynamic, so he agreed to make it Facebook official.

Explaining his long-distance online relationship to his mother was awkward, but better than dealing with a pouty Nova. Over the next few months, they talked more about their feelings and had virtual dates.

The more he dated her long-distance, the more he craved more from the relationship. So, when Aaron offered him an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden in exchange for a terrible favor, he jumped at the chance. The rest is history.

Aiden sighed, checking the clock. Six more hours until he could go home and meet Nova in their game. The next couple of months would be agonizingly slow.

Aiden's mom wasn't thrilled her oldest son wouldn't be home for Christmas (neither was Sophie), but they liked Nova, so they didn't complain much—at least not to his face.

After an eight-and-a-half-hour flight, he felt like death warmed over. The child behind him had kicked his seat most of the flight, and he was exhausted despite it being a red-eye.

All his exhaustion vanished when Nova rushed at him, clinging to him like a koala. He stumbled back slightly from her weight as her legs wrapped around his waist.

"'Älskling, I missed you so much!" she cried, kissing his face.

She used a Swedish term of endearment similar to "darling" or "honey." Nova had called him that since they jokingly (or so she claimed) got married in Final Fantasy XI years ago.

When they officially started dating, he looked up more Swedish words and learned "'älskling" came from "älska," meaning "to love." After visiting Sweden, he learned people rarely use it unless the relationship is serious.

Aiden chuckled at his own naiveté in not realizing how much she cared sooner. Nova had essentially claimed him at fourteen, and now she was twenty-two.

"I missed you too," he said sincerely. "But can you get off me? People are staring, and I need my luggage."

She pouted but obeyed, climbing off and taking his hand. She excitedly chattered about their plans, and he responded with equal enthusiasm. He really had missed her. It would be wonderful having her with him all the time.