His little eyes stared into her's. A smile flashed as he placed his arm on the table. "Arm wrestle?" he offered.
"Joe, you're a cheater!" She snapped.
"No I'm not, Emily. You're just afraid that I'll win."
Her eyes squinted as she placed here arm on the table and grabbed his hand. "What do I get if I win?"
"If you win, I'll be your friend forever." Joe's eyes widened, "And if I win, you have to kiss my cheek." An evil grin pulled at his lips.
"Ew, Joe!" She made a sour face.
They looked at each other, "1. 2. 3!" Their little hands clenched tighter as their little muscles popped.
"I win!" Emily hollered as she pulled her arm away.
Joe smiled, "Now you get to be my friend forever!"
Joe looked back at the picture of his childhood friend. Chills ran down his spine, "Such a beautiful face." He smiled as he slid it back in his drawer. He grabbed his laptop from the desk and sat on the couch. His phone buzzed in his pocket. "Hey," he answered.
"What's up, Jonas?" The girl replied.
"Nothing. You still up for dinner?"
She sighed followed by a little giggle. "I guess so, Joseph."
"Well gee, don't be too excited." He chuckled.
"Pick me up around 6?"
"Sure! Hey Emily?"
"Yes?"
"See you soon."
"Alright? Bye."
"Bye." He hung up the phone and threw it beside him.
Emily smiled as he walked up her driveway. She opened the door right before he stepped up the last stair. "What's that?" She asked, pointing to the bag under his arm.
"Oh, I figured I'd make us dinner for a change."
Her eyes widened. "You? Make us dinner?" She smiled. "What's the occasion?"
"I know you like my awesome cooking skills. I just thought maybe I'd make dinner tonight instead of us going out again."
"Oh okay," she smiled. "You're not trying to poison me are you?"
He laughed, "You caught me." They laughed together. "Want to know what I was thinking about earlier?"
"What?"
"When we were kids and I tried to get you to arm wrestle me. Do you remember that?"
"Of course I do. That game is why we're still friends."
"What do you say we play another round?" He gave a half smile as he sat at the table and placed his arm on the table.
"Joe, you're a cheater!"
"What? Are you scared?"
"Of you? Not so much."
"What do you have to lose?"
"What do I get if I win?"
"Let's switch this up. If you win, I have to kiss your cheek and if I win, you have to be my friend forever!"
She placed her arm on the table and gripped my hand. "1. 2. 3!"
They both forced their muscles to work against each other's.
"I win!" Joe said as he jumped up. "I guess you have to be my friend forever."
Emily giggled. "Man, I guess I really did lose there," she winked.
Joe's mouth dropped. "Well technically, you won."
"Ehhhhh," she laughed. "So what are you making for dinner?"
"A surprise."
"Alright. Am I allowed to help?"
Joe shook his head.
"Well I made brownies earlier. We can have those for desert. Unless you're making that, too."
"Brownies are fine." Joe grabbed a wooden spoon and turned towards Emily. "Can I ask you a question?" Her curious eyes stared into his. "How do you know when you find the one?" His eyes looked deep into her's as he waited for an answer.
"I guess you would just know. Your heart gets that funny, warm feeling every time you hear their voice or see their face. You get butterflies and they take your breath away. And that person always make you feel like your perfect," she paused, "Or something like that." She shrugged and looked down.
His hand reached for her face as he pulled it back up. "Kinda like the feeling I have with you?" Joe watched as a smile formed on her lips. "Emily. I don't think there is anyone like you. You are the only person in this entire world that knows everything about me and still stayed by my side. I've always been in love with you." He paused, "You know, the one? She could be you," he said.
She threw her arms around his neck as she pressed her lips into his.
