The Bucket List of Georgina Reed

Chapter 1 - One Hell of a Specie

"Can you at least give him a chance? At least you know him!"

Natalie is just being my annoying best friend everyone just happens to tolerate. It was after school hours, and I've always wanted to read a good book just to lift my mood, after 8 boring hours in class. She never goes inside the library and yet, she decided to come up here today to annoy me. While were sitting somewhere far across the library, she leans over and her voice is surprisingly as begging as it sounds.

"Nat, you know I can't date him. He's my guy best friend for heaven's sake! And we will never go beyond that. Period." I whispered with clarity.

"No, you're just scared to date anyone who wants to go out with you. You probably turned down half of the guys in this school who wants to take you out and yet, you still succumb here in your own little nerd world," she murmurs breathlessly while I'm reading a book, trying not to pay attention. But I failed and face her instead. Sighing, I put my head in my hands, trying to make her understand my side.

"Look Nat. I am trying to avoid these guys, no exception to anyone, as far as possible because I don't want to go there again, and feel shittier about myself than I am now."

She looks at me with concern and clasps my hand tightly, and I dropped the book.

"I know you've been feeling that way since... 'you-know-what', but come on. It's been a year. That guy probably knows what he's lost and now know the difference between his balls and his brain," she says dryly. I shrugged and looked away from her.

Yeah. She maybe is right. Well, I hope so.

Glancing from afar, it all comes back to me. The heartbreak, the love I had for him, and how I went through just to erase him from my life. I gave him everything. Especially that 'one thing' I cherished and every woman knows that. I regretted it. Big time. At that time, We were perfect. He was perfect. He looks like an Adonis that came down from heaven. Can you blame me? I fell in love. Who wouldn't, right? Every girl desires to have that guy who will sweep her off her feet. He did that. Then in just a matter of moments, it's over. We're over, and it crushed me.

"Hey, you still listening?" she suddenly pats my back, and made me jump out of my reverie.

"Uh, yeah." I shifted my head towards her. She regards me shrewdly.

"Come on, George. I think it's time to step out and live a little. Maxwell's a good guy."

A giggle escaped from my lips and I can't help but scoff. "Really? A good guy? You hate him," I raised an eyebrow at her. She rolls her eyes, "When he's not pestering me everyday with his Convincing Tactics 101," she added quickly. "Anyway, I know he's already ask you, like, a gazillion times already for him to take you out, and you rejected him countless times. I think he's perfectly serious about you, and he wouldn't pest me everyday if he is not. He probably knows what I'd do to him. But I know the guy, that's why I agreed to do this for him. He's smitten." Her voice is full sincerity.

I don't exactly know what to say. I just don't get the idea of me, dating my best friend. It feels like an awkward situation. Thus, I don't want to get our friendship at stake here, just because of the romantic feelings involved. I stare down at my knotted fingers, resting on my lap under the table.

"I, uh, I don't know if it's..." I stutter.

"Oh, stop." She interrupted me quickly. "Just try. It's not like you're going to deliver a speech or something. Just try. That's all I'm asking." She says with her most convincing voice. I grinned at her.