The sky was dark, the sun having set an hour ago. Moon light filtered through the canopy above me creating illuminating patterns on the forest floor beneath me. The wind whispered its secrets to me, playing with my hair. I watched as my strawberry waves danced in the cool breeze that sent a shiver up my spine. I knew I should’ve worn sleeves. Rubbing my hands up and down my arms in attempt to warm myself up, I leant against the thick trunk of the tree next to me. I watched the figure standing in front of me in the clearing while I stayed concealed in the shadows of the trees and shrubs.
“I didn’t think that you would actually come.”
I stayed silent. The light from the moon lit his golden hair up like the halo of an angel. His green eyes shone.
“Can you please hear me out before you say anything? I just really need to get this off my chest.” He shuffles around a bit; a nervous habit of his. Before speaking he takes a big breath, “I’ve known you since first grade with your cute little pig-tails and chubby cheeks.” Smiling at the memory his face lights up and his nervousness is quickly forgotten. I smile at his sudden mood change.
“When you stood up to those two boys who were picking on that little girl even though they were twice your size, I knew then at that moment even though I was only six that we were going to be best friends forever.” Lifting his hand to run it through his hair, another nervous habit of his, he looked to the sky.
He sighed. “Gosh I’m going to really sound like a stalker with what I’m about to say, but it’s the truth. These past few months all I can think about, all I notice is you. Your silk like hair, your graceful movement, your bright baby blue eyes, the way you talk all has me following you around like a little puppy. You probably think that I’m pathetic but it’s the truth.”
“You’re anything but pathetic. You’re all I notice as well.” I say so quietly so that I can only hear.
Taking another deep breath he continues. “You were my first and only best friend, but now I want to be more than that. I know you probably only see me as a best friend but this is me hoping that you can see me as more than that.”
He just stood there waiting for a response. Finally when he couldn’t wait any longer he dropped his head in defeat.
“That’s ok I knew you could never love me more than an older brother or best friend.” With his shoulders slumped, Mason turned to walk away. Before he could take another step, a figure emerged out of the tree line and ran across the clearing towards him. Through the darkness with aid from the full moon above me I could make out waist long brown hair which I could only describe as a chocolate brown given the limited amount of light. In that moment I wish I was the one he was talking to. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist laying her head on his shoulder blade.
“Mason, dude, you couldn’t be more wrong. Here I was actually thinking that you’re the smartest person I knew.” Her voice was muffled by his shirt.
She both looked and sounded familiar to me. Mason’s best friend Trinity; of course! Why didn’t I see this before? The crack in my heart got bigger.
“Hey what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you can’t be that smart if you thought I only saw you as my older brother or best friend. Dude I’ve been waiting around for you to realize that for ages now.” She nuzzled her nose in between his two shoulder blades tightening her grip around his waist. “I mean I’m pretty sure that even your little sister…”
“She’s my step sister.” Mason interrupted her.
“…Step sister knows and I’m meant to be the clueless one; no offense to her or anything. Asha’s really nice by the way and to be honest I’m really jealous of her violet eyes. They are so pretty and her hair; those strawberry blonde waves … well let’s just say I wish I was her sometimes.”
I touch my hair. She thinks I’m pretty.
“Why?” Mason turns around in her embrace so that he could caress her cheek lovingly with the back of his hand.
“Well she’s so pretty and I’m so, well me; all boyish and … not pretty.” She looked down ashamed. Her hair fell down covering her face like a silk curtain.
“Did you not hear all I just said?!” I’ve never seen Mason so passionate about anything before. My heart sank as it wasn’t me he was so passionate about. He reached out running his fingers through her hair before laying it behind her shoulders so that it didn’t conceal her face.
Straining my eyes I could see that she was blushing. “Well yeah I did; it was really sweet by the way, but still…”
“Still nothing, you’re beautiful, inside and out.” By the last word Mason himself was blushing.
Aww he’s so cute when he blushes.
Trinity looks up at him, huge smile illuminating her face. Moving her hands from around his waist she slipped her arms around his neck. His arms wound around her tiny waist pulling her closer. I watched as their faces got closer and closer together. Not being able to handle anymore I turned away. I heard Trinity whisper, “And just for the record you’re not pathetic.” Then there was silence. Mason may not be the pathetic one, but I am; the girl who’s in love with her step brother. I slipped away silently with tears flowing down my cheeks with my shattered heart in my hands.
