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Sophia used her fork to scrape the last bite of pesto sauce off her plate and slid it into her mouth. Standing up, she skipped up the stairs to get ready for the evening event. She was going to a friend’s party, and it was time to dress appropriately. She flipped through the dresses in her closet. Her clothing rack was stocked full of different dresses. She danced and played piano, so she had dresses for the appropriate occasion. Long and flowy? No, too formal. A short blue strapless dress with jewels lining the bust line begged to be worn. It was certainly fitting for the occasion, but maybe it was too short.

A dress hanging with the price tag caught her attention. She forgot she had it, but she now remembered buying it on sale at the store. It was light pink, which would go nicely with her fair skin and flowing brown hair. The straps showed off her shoulders, and the length above her knee was perfect. After a shower, she slipped it on and proceeded to curl her long locks of hair. She braided a part of her hair at the front and pinned it back. All that was needed was a layer of gloss and mascara. Sophia was never into makeup that much, but a little touch of it was all she needed for her smoothly-textured skin.

She slipped into some nice heels and walked downstairs.

“Okay, Mom, Dad, I’m heading out.”

"Okay, honey, drive safely,” Mrs. Brown answered.

“I will. Love you mom,” Sophia replied.

“Hey don’t be out past curfew, ‘kay?” Mr. Brown hugged Sophia.

“I’ll be home by eleven. See ya,” Sophia waved as she stepped out the door.

She slipped into the driver’s seat of her Honda CRV and drove down to her friend’s house. She knocked on the door and was greeted with exclamations of, “Hello, how are you?” “I haven’t seen you in forever!” “What’s your plans for the summer?” “Nice to see you again!” Finding a plastic plate, Sophia snatched some snacks and picked at them as she mingled around.

After awhile, the noise got to her and she stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. She sat on the steps of the front porch and let her mind wander as she nibbled on the chocolate-covered strawberries sitting on her plate. She closed her eyes and explored future plans, past memories, lost hopes, and new ambitions. The air was clear and the sun was setting. Cars were flying down the road returning home from work. Voices from inside drifted like smoke into the open air. She could hear Katy Larson laughing and she imagined her flirting with the adored Jonathan Dunn.

“Hey,” a voice behind her cheerfully said. “What are you doing out here?”

“M, just enjoying the air. What’s up?”

"Nothing, just came to see what you were up to, since you’re being all anti-social.”

“Nah, just noise got to me.” She smiled as the speaker sat down next to her. “So what’s your plans for the summer, Andy?”

“Eh, I dunno yet. Probaly do nothing. Watch TV, do stuff with the boys, try not to think about what Ima do after highschool,” he replied.

“What do you wanna do in college?”

“Dunno yet.” He took a drink of the soda in his hand. “That’s the problem. I think Dad wants me to do engineering, but I dunno, math isn’t my thing. I pretty much suck at it.”

She smiled. “Me too.”

They were comfortably silent for a few minutes.

“Wanna walk?” He asked.

“Sure, that’d be fun.”

They strolled down the driveway and out into the road. The neighborhood was quiet for the most part except for the occasional car now, and bedroom lights shone through blinded windows. They walked for some time, sometimes quiet, sometimes talking. Sophia sneaked a glance at the man-boy beside her, remembering all their escapades and memories together. They’d always been great friends, and she liked that. He was one of her closest friends, and they shared countless memories through laughter and tears. She couldn’t help noticing how he had grown since she had known him. She remembered when his hair was still cut short, before he grew self-aware, or when his voice was changing. She burst out laughing.

“What’re you laughing at?”

“Nothing, just remembered when your voice was changing. It was really funny, hahaha.”

“Oh was it now?” He smirked.

“Yesss, because you’re pitch was all over the place, hahaha.”

He smiled. “Mmm.”

He stopped and looked at her. She looked at him and smiled. He took a step forward and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m so glad we’re best friends,” she said, feeling a new sensation she’d never felt before. Some kind of tug was pulling at her heart, and she felt it beat faster.

He stepped back ever so slightly but still held her. “Sophia, you’re so much more than that to me. You mean everything to me.”

In that moment a hundred thoughts crowded themselves into her brain. She realized how much she cared about the person holding her. He was no longer what he used to be—just a friend. She realized she never wanted to lose this man in front of her. She wanted to be forever his. She had entertained these thoughts before but suppressed them. Now he had confessed to her. There was no reason to hold back any longer.

“You mean the world to me, Andy. I love you so much.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You mean even more to me, Sophia.” He looked down at her and caressed her face. “You’re beautiful.”

She giggled. “I’m glad you think that.”

He smiled. Bending his head down, Andy pulled Sophia close, and their lips met. Sophia closed her eyes and reveled in this new feeling that fluttered in her heart like a bird flying high into the clear blue sky. This was not pure lust. It wasn’t pure physical attraction and instinctive desire. This was love expressing itself in the way it knew how. She returned his kiss, meanwhile vowing to always be his. Forever. Until death do them part.

He released her and smiled. “I will always love you, Sophia Laurence.”

“And I will always love you, Andy Baker.”

He laced his finger through hers, and they strolled back towards the house, content and happy in their own revolving world.

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