Tough Love

"Move over!" I said, while pushing Justin away. It was upper school week at my school (a week where all the middle schooler's and high schooler's got to go to a camp, and there are basketball games, football games, cheerleading, games, everything) and my friends and I were playing a game of hide-an-seek. Justin and I, accidently of course, both ended up hiding in a small storage bin, outside one of the 6th graders cabins. Let's just say, it probably wasn't mean to hold a 16 year old boy, and a 15 year old girl.

"Owe!" Justin whispered, as I "accidently" kicked him.

"Oh, stop being such a baby!" I teased him.

"Okay, I'm getting out of this box. I know a way better place to hide. Follow me."

He quickly, but quietly lifted up the lid of the bin and hoped out. I followed just as slickly as he had been. The cool evening air felt good against my face, after being in that stuffy box for so long. He gave me a "shh" sign as he motioned me across the soccer field. The grass felt good against my bare feet. It was still wet from the night before when it had rained. Justin peered across the other 6th grade cabin, and then bolted straight for the woods.

"Of course, the woods! Why didn't I think of this? This is the last place she'll look!" I jokingly exclaimed.

"No, there's a certain spot in the woods. Just trust me with this one, okay?"

"Kay."

We walked about 5 minutes in the woods, every step hurt my feet. Rocks, twigs, dirt scraping against the bottom of my foot. But eventually we made it to this certain spot, and like he said, it was perfect. 6 huge trees were enclosed tightly together, big bushes surrounding them.

"Come on," he urged me to follow. I instinctively did.

"Be careful, some of these are sticker bu-"

"Owe! Crap!" I yelled, as a thorn poked me in the leg.

"Too late..." he sighed, trying to hold back laughter. When we got in between the trees, there was a perfect rock that I sat on, while Justin leaned up against the tree opposite of me.

"Whoa," he blurted out.

"What?"

"N-nothing"

"No, tell me. Why the "whoa"?"

"You just look really pr-nice right now. That's all," he spoke fast

"Umm... thanks?" I didn't know whether or not it was a compliment. But either way I couldn't help but blush a little. There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Oh! Guess what I learned to do in cheer practice yesterday!" I exclaimed, while quickly trying to break the silence.

"What!? Crystal Jones finally learning something! This I got to see!" Now it was his turn to do the teasing.

"Shut up and watch boy," I stated, while getting ready to show off my moves. "5.6.7.8!" I yelled while I clapped my hands. I then proceeded to do my move. This involved a front flip, and a high kick. I may have messed up on my high kick a little. How? I may have kicked Justin in the face.

"Owe! What the-"he yelled, while grabbing his eye.

"Ohmygod! Are you okay!?" I ran over to look at his eye. "Move your hand and let me see!" Ouch! That was going to be a bruise tomorrow. Too bad my stupid kick had to mess up his perfect jade green eyes. Then for a split second I realized, we haven't broken eye contact in over a minute. But in that minute I felt something, something- Stop it Crystal! I mentally kicked myself for feeling this way. He was Madison's boyfriend, and JUST my friend. I wasn't supposed to feel this way about him, I couldn't do that to Madison; she was like a sister to me. Madison, Holly, and I have been best friends since in diapers, I was not about to ruin our friendship over some stupid feelings.

I immediately broke eye contact and looked down.

"I-umm-"I started, but couldn't find the right words to finish. "It's getting dark out, maybe we should head back and get you an ice pack. The football games about to start soon too." I said. I couldn't be around him for much longer, if I am, I'm afraid I'm going to end up doing something stupid that ill 

regret. I turned around, but in one swift moment he grabbed ahold of my arm, turned me back around, tilted my head up, and kissed me. The kissed lasted for only a second, but it felt like an 

eternity to me, I never wanted it to end. It felt like heaven on earth, the best thing that has ever happened. It wasn't my first kiss no, I've had plenty before, but none of them have ever felt like this. So much for just friends, 

I thought.