My Best Friend

It was the first day of preschool when a girl was being separated from her mom and dad with a screaming battle. “No Mommy, Daddy! I don’t want to go, I want to stay with you!” she cried out. Her eyes were now red as the tears continued to pour.

“Hey Steph, you need to go, you’ll make some friends here and you will learn something new.” Mom said.

“I don’t care, I want you and Daddy!” she said in between whimpers.

Dad picked her up and held her close to him. “You need to go, Jackson and Melissa went, Ethan is going to have to go in two years. It’s just your turn,” Stephanie pouted.

“I just don’t want to be alone, I don’t want friends, I want you instead,” her mom looked at her ready to cry. She put her arms out so her daughter could transfer over.

“We’ll come back to you, now you need to go, you’ll be in class with one of your friends already.” Mom said. Stephanie stopped crying and gave her a confused look.

“Which one?” she asked curious.

“That’s my girl, do you remember Daniel?” she had a smile on her face.

“Where Dan-Dan, where Dan-Dan?” she yelled squirming in her mother’s arms. Her mom pointed over to the side to reveal her daughter’s friend with his blonde hair. She jumped out her mom’s arms before running as fast as her little legs could carry her.

“They grow up so fast.” Mom said. She watched as her daughter jumped into the boy’s arms.

“Dan-Dan!” she yelled. He smiled before pulling back from her.

“Stephie!” he yelled to her. They held hands and walked into the building slowly while talking to each other. After that day the two of them had been best friends.

Exactly Ten Years Later

The summer had just ended and it was now the first day of Stephanie and Daniel’s school year. They hung out at least twice every single day of the summer. The thoughts were going through Stephanie’s head before they began to stir and disperse.

“Stephanie, it’s time to wake up, the first day of your sophomore year!” Mom yelled excitedly. She flipped back over and ignored her. “Stephanie, wake up before I have Melissa rip you out of bed!” she instantly jumped out the bed at that.

“I’m up Mom, let me go back to sleep.” Stephanie groaned.

“No Stephanie, get up!” she stomped herself out her bed and to the bathroom. “Dan called saying he’ll be here in twenty minutes.” Stephanie huffed before quickly washing up and throwing on some short shorts, a blue Nike tank top, and a pair of blue converse since it was still warm outside. She could hear an engine being revved outside and grabbed her bag before checking it out.

“Daniel!” she yelled running over to him. He jumped off his bike before lifting her into his arms and spinning her around.

“Hey Stephy, happy to see me?” he asked. She placed a kiss on his cheek before letting go.

“I always miss you Dan-Dan,” she said bringing back the old nickname. When she said she always missed him it was true, he’s always on her mind. Not because they’re best friends but because of how much she loved him and wanted to be with him, but he didn’t know this and she didn’t plan on telling him.

“Same here, now let’s go.” Dan said as he handed her an extra helmet. She grabbed onto his waist and snuggled into him as he pulled off down the road. They were silent and both got lost in their thoughts. They both had feelings for each other but were just too afraid of admitting that.

When they pulled up to the school she slowly pulled the helmet off and placed it on the seat. Her golden blonde hair was like a wave as she pulled it off and Daniel couldn’t help but stare. When she turned her attention back to him he looked in the other direction. “You barely give me a ride on the motorcycle,” she told him.

“I just felt in the mood for a motorcycle ride, thought you’d like it too.” Daniel told her with smiling.

“I did, it was relaxing,” she told him. Just then the bell decided to ring so they headed in. “Go to my locker after you get your books.” she told him before walking over to her assigned locker for the year.

“Will do,” he said before walking over to his locker which was down the hall.

“Hey Coleson,” a boy said from behind him.

“What up Jason, barely saw you this whole summer, did you run into Steph yet?” Jason shook his head.

“Nope, but I saw you two together earlier when you pulled up, everyone saw how you couldn’t keep your eyes off her.” Daniel’s eyes went wide as he turned to his friend.

“That’s not true,” he said quickly.

“Everyone knows you like her, why don’t you just tell her?” Jason asked.

“You don’t understand Jason, we’ve been best friends since we were babies, me liking her would ruin everything. I’m not jeopardizing our friendship over this, plus, she probably doesn’t even feel the same way. Now it’s the first day, please talk about anything else, I have to meet up with Stephie at her locker so we can talk.”

At Stephanie’s locker she was standing there with her friend Eve. “How was your summer?” Eve asked. Stephanie smiled before looking at her.

“It was pretty good, I hang out with Daniel for the majority of it and then I visited some family in New York so that was cool.” Eve smiled before pulling her into a hug.

“That’s great, so did you tell him how you feel?” she asked curiously.

“Wh-who are you talking about?” Stephanie asked scared.

“Who else, your best friend Daniel, the boy you’ve liked since the seventh grade.” Stephanie placed the last of her things in her locker.

“I don’t like Daniel like that, he’s been my best friend since we were babies so things would be too awkward, I don’t have feelings for him.” she denied.

“We all know that you’re lying right now, you should tell him though,” Eve said.

“That would change the friendship, and he probably doesn’t even like me so why should I try? It’s the first day of school so I can’t do this right now, plus, Daniel should be here soon.” Eve smiled at her.

“So now you admit it,” Stephanie gave her a look.

“Okay yes, I like him, like a lot and I don’t know what to do, works for you?” Eve smiled to her as the guys walked over.

“Who do you like?” Daniel asked walking over. Stephanie bit her lip as him and Jason stepped closer to them.

“N-Nobody at all,” she shouted. Jason walked up to Eve before placing his hand on her cheek.

“Hey babe, you miss me?” he asked her. She stood on her tip toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips before pulling him into a hug.

“I will always miss you when you’re not around,” Eve told him before pulling back.

“Good to know you feel the same,” he said before looking at Daniel. “I don’t know who you like but I know who Danny Boy over here does, her name is-” Daniel cut him off by throwing a hand over his mouth.

“It’s quiet time Jason, please, shut up,” Daniel pleaded.

“Wait Daniel, who do you like?” Stephanie asked.

“I don’t like anyone,” he lied.

“You know as well as I do that’s a lie. I’ve known you my whole life, that doesn’t work.” Daniel grabbed her hand.

“I’ll tell you at lunch,” she gave him a look, “I promise I’ll tell the truth,” she smiled as the bell rang. “Bye, I’ll see you next period in math.” she smiled before they walked in separate directions.

“Are you really going to tell her about your feelings?” Jason asked since they had the same first period.

“I’ve got no choice, I refuse to lie to her about it because it’ll come up sooner than later, plus, she’s my best friend, she should understand that and we should stay friends after.” Jason nodded.

“I remember when Eve and I told each other how we feel, both of us were best friends and it brought us closer. Just have the thought of how much you love her on your mind and you’ll forget about how scared and anxious you are.” Daniel nodded to him.

“Thanks Jason, I’ll keep that in mind,” he nodded before paying attention to the teacher’s rules and regulations.

“No problem,” he told him. The time went by super fast and the final bell rang before lunch time. When it rang they each ran to their lockers and put everything away. Daniel leaned with his back against his locker as he watched Jason from the side as his locker was only three down.

“I’m not ready, I’m not ready,” he whispered to himself. Jason was by his side after he was done and stared at Daniel.

“Are you ready to go to lunch, it’s almost time.” Jason asked. Daniel narrowed his eyes and stared. His dirty blonde hair began to fall in his face so he couldn’t really stay looking at him too long. Jason looked like he was enjoying his friend’s distress which kept annoying Daniel even worse than before.

“From what you heard before, why in the hell would I be ready for that?” Jason laughed before clapping his hand to his shoulder. He was stressing over nothing at all.