Welcome to the Family

🍂ADMIT ONE 🍃

STEPHANEE'S POV:

The orange and yellow leaves were falling in the late fall. The annual Carter's Carnival was in town and my best friend, Cole asked me to go with him. I've always thought he was so cute and that our friendship was VERY platonic.

He has short, black hair and a small baby face. His lips are always curved into a smile and when I say something funny, his laugh sounds like angels. Like in those cartoons where the angels are coming down from heaven and singing- that's Cole's laugh.

"Stephanee? Are you alright?", Cole asked. I forgot we were on the top of the ferris wheel at the carnival. I think I was staring at him for too long.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about something.", I ever so slyly responded and I felt that I had dodged a massive bullet. He smiled as he put his hand on my shoulder in a friendly way. I loved the way my skin tingled when his hand touched my arm.

"It's OK, Steph. But what's going on in your mind right now?", Cole asked and I shiverd. I couldn't tell him what I had been thinking. He can't know. But I want him to. He put his arm back down into his lap and my shoulder longed for his touch again.

"Cole, we have been best friends for 13 years, now. I don't know how to say this- but I think I kinda like you as more than a friend." I immediately put my hands over my mouth. I wish I had just kept my fat,ugly mouth shut.

But Cole smiled and took a while to respond. He looked over at the building in the distance and sighed. "Steph, those buildings over there- ", he pointed at two buildings that were closest in height when compared to the other buildings, " they are like us. We are the two tallest buildings in this place and our foundation is what holds us together. We have this strong foundation that is holding us up and it is our bond. Builders aren't able to just move us apart without taking one apart, first. They have no reason to, though. So we remain in the center of the town, admired by all and disregarded by those who don't feel like our foundations will stand for much longer. But our foundations have been formulated to withstand all types of weather. These buildings are forever."

He looked at me under the starry night sky. I had no words. I want to know exactly what he means before he tries anything.

"What do you mean, Cole?" I asked, trying to sound genuinely confused. But I do know what he means.

He turned his lips into a soft smile and began his soft talk, "That means that I also like you and I feel that there could be more to us than just friendship."

Without even thinking, I swiftly kissed him on the cheek and blushed as I pulled away.

"I'm so sorry, I couldn't help myself and I just-" he stopped me by pressing his soft, baby lips on mine.

His left hand found it's way up and to my face and his right hand went to my long, black hair.

I had never kissed anyone before. But, I never would've thought my first kiss would be with Cole. Sure, he's had many girlfriends, before but could there truly be more to our friendship than just being my first kiss? Is there a whole other side of Cole I've never seen before?

We sat there for a while, kissing, before he pulled away. The cart was moving down and we needed to get out soon.

We both blushed and looked opposite ways as we slowly came closer to the ground.

Cole opened the cart's door and allowed me out, first. He was acting different, now. I wonder what he thought about the kiss. Was I okay?

We smiled at the worker who had taken our tickets, earlier and walked away. He still hasn't talked to me since being on the ferris wheel. What's wrong with him?