"Sure. What's up?"
"I just wanted to apologize for acting the way I did earlier. I was so rude to you, and all you've done today is make sure I had an amazing birthday, which it was. It's just," he sighs, "I know today was amazing, but I just miss my dad," he says, walking outside and sitting down on the steps. I sit next to him, and hug him.
"I know you do. But I also know that he's in heaven right now, watching you, and smiling. I know that he's so proud of the person you've become, Chance. You're an amazing father to Brooklyn, an amazing son, and the best friend I could ever ask for."
"Yeah, you're right," he says, hugging me back.
We sit there, hugging for a few seconds, before he pulls away and looks at me, smiling. I laugh, trying to cover up the fact that I'm blushing.
"What? Do I have something on my face," I ask, wiping my cheek.
Now it's his turn to laugh, as he grabs my hands, holding them in his.
"No, it's just, I'm about to say something I'm going to regret. I think."
"Which is what, Chance?"
"Don't kill me."
"Why would I want to kill you," I laugh. "Wait, what did you break now?"
"Nothing, I swear. It's just... Never mind."
"Come on, Chance. I promise whatever you say, I won't be mad at you."
"Promise," he asks, holding out his pinky finger.
"Promise," I say, linking our pinky fingers together. Yes, we still make promises like this, but oh well.
"I don't know," he says, searching my eyes with his, as if I have the answer to something.
"Chance, I promised. You can tell me." He sighs.
"Okay, well, do you remember when we were twelve and we wrote that song at the park," he asks.
I laugh, "How could I forget that? It's still hanging up on my mirror."
He smiles. "Well, can you keep a secret?"
"Yeah, why?"
"The parts that I wrote, I wrote about the girl that I'm in love with."
I feel my heart beginning to shatter. I know it's stupid, but a part of me always wished he wrote it about me. I try not to let the fact that I'm hurting, show.
"Who's that?"
"You."
"Me?"
"No, Samantha, the wall next to you. Yes, you," he says, rubbing the back of his neck, "I've been in love with you since the sixth grade. I know I've dated other girls, but its always been you that I've liked. I just thought that you would never like me, so I tried to get over you," he looks down at his feet, looking embarrassed," Is that bad?"
I grab his arm, and he looks up.
"Chance Perez, I've been in love with you since the sixth grade, also," I laugh.
He smiles, and I blush. "Well, I have something for you."
"For me? It's your birthday though, I should give you a gift."
"Just close your eyes, and hold out your hands."
I smile, and do exactly that.
A second later, I feel a pair of lips crash into mine. It was the perfect kiss. When I open my eyes, Chance wraps me into another hug.
"Will you be my girlfriend," he asks, smiling.
I pretend to think about it for a moment, and Chance starts to look nervous. I laugh.
"Of course. I've only been waiting, like, seven years for that question," He smiles and we kiss again, before getting into my car, and leaving to go to his house. That night, I fall asleep with Chance singing to me on FaceTime.
I wake up to my alarm clock screaming at me to wake up. I hit the snooze button, and jump out of bed, ready to see Chance for our date. I decide to wear a blue oversized sweater, black leggings, with black converse. I braid my hair into a side braid, and run downstairs.
"Good morning, Samantha," my mom says.
"Good morning," I say, excitedly.
"Wow, you really are excited for your first day of school," she laughs. I look at her, confused.
"Please tell me you didn't forget your first day of school is today. Come on, Sam, it's your first day of senior year at this school!"
"I guess I did. I was going to hang out with Chance today," I say, thinking about last night.
"Sweetie, who's Chance?"
"Mom, it's Chance. My best friend since forever."
"Sam, honey, you've never had a friend named Chance. We just moved here, and you've been hiding in your room since we've moved in. How could you have already met someone?"
I think about yesterday. Don't tell me it was a dream, no, please no.
