Nothing could really have perfected this moment and I give all credit to my best friend in the world.

Richard.

It was enough that the sky was a lovely backdrop to the glow of the ball of fire that was the sun. Maroon, yellow, red, dancing on the horizon while Richard and I gazed upon it, sitting side by side on a log of driftwood.

Unfortunately, we weren’t alone; many other people surrounded us, all watching the sunset, chattering excitedly, taking photos of one another…so it wasn’t exactly the ideal place for either of us to tell our feelings to one another.

Okay, so maybe I was only fantasizing when I was thinking about that.

Admittedly, I had done what many other girls would have done if they had a guy best friend. I fell in love with him. We had known each other for so long and were basically inseparable, how could I not? Even our moms like the idea.

Either way, I had been dreaming of the day he’d take my hand look dreamily into my eyes (which actually could mean that he was just plain gorgeous) and say, “Bethany, I’ve liked you since the day you spilled chocolate milk over me and laughed when I recited its ingredients.”

It wasn’t too romantic, just like Richard, it would be romantic but it wouldn’t be at the same time, so as you can see it was ideal for both of us.

There was nothing wrong if we hooked up, we were of the same social standing after all. Borderline popular. Nothing stood in our way.

I was sort of popular, for a girl who hasn’t linked hands, hugged or kissed a guy romantically except Richard. The only problem was he didn’t really know that. We held hands on roller coaster rides; when I would scream my head off while he would calculate the speed we were going at. We hugged when I was crying over my beloved pet’s death. We kissed on the lips thrice a week when I was in first grade. Just to clear things up, I was seven and we were practising.

Oh and about my chances with Richard, I would have used him as a calculator for the chances, but it was about him so I couldn’t. Instead, I had to sluggishly calculate what I think was his ideal girl. To make things quick I made—forced him to do a quick survey about the kind of girl he liked. I ran it up on the computer against all the girls in school and I was placed as the two hundred and thirty second girl he’d choose in our school.

There are two hundred and thirty-two girls in our school.

I didn’t know how I wound up there. I mean he had a 4.0 GPA and so did I. We had so much in common and enough differences.

So, I concluded it could never happen.

A wise person (no, seriously, she is) once told me, “Computers make mistakes, get it off your head and stop bugging me about it!”

Having another brain child as a friend really does help. She ran up the numbers in her head (I swear, I don’t know how she does it) and concluded with a ‘bing’, “You’re pretty likely to be chosen Bethany, but I give it a fifty-fifty chance, give or take.”

Richard shifted in his seat.

“Bethany,” he began, “do you like me?”

No, no, no, he's gotten it all wrong, he’s supposed to tell me that he likes me, not ask me!

“Define like,” I replied flatly.

He heaved a long sigh. “Like, I define as love romantically in the context of this sentence.”

HE DIDN’T!

I haven’t even prepared a reply.

“Well, I love you as a brother,” I said weakly.

Yes, I was doing what every other girl would have done.

I hope.

“And I most definitely love you as a friend,” I continued, my voice faltering.

“But I most definitely do not love you romantically,” I finished, my voice breaking off at the end.

“Oh,” he mouthed. “That’s nice. So who do you like?”

I smiled and punched him lightly on the shoulder. “You’ll find out.”

---

Main gossip in my school is mainly who likes who. Lame, isn't it? But hey, that’s my school for you.

Currently sound waves crashed against my ears, a chorus of voice echoing in my brain, all asking the same question: “Who do you like Bethany?” as soon as the 'Truth and Dare' bottle selected me.

Apparently one of the nosiest girls in my school, Sandy Jenkins (who had suggested the game in the first place), heard Richard asking who I like. Thank God she only heard that part.

Either way, she got all of the students in the camp, all sixty-eight of them, to play truth and dare and I swear she knew that I was going to pick truth. There was no way I could pick dare.

I never liked to lose.

“JUST TELL US BETH!” a few girls chorused. The guys who played raised their eyebrows in interest.

Blankly I looked around, hoping to spot a face I actually liked but heck, Crystal, my advisor wasn’t here.

Then something struck, that pierced into my heart. Feelings of queasiness, upset filled my mind. My best friend had his arms hooked with Kelly’s. Gorgeous, perfect Kelly.

Why didn’t I just keep my eyes on him?

Too late.

I scanned through the room, hoping to see a guy I knew the name of that wasn’t there.

“Five…four…” Sandy began.

“Three…two…” the rest finished.

“Fine,” I resigned quietly, “I like Chris.”

It was somewhat of a truth. I did like him – in Second Grade.

I looked at Richard’s face.

Nothing.

I didn’t care about the echoes around me of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ or shouts of ‘I KNEW IT!’. They didn’t care if they knew me. They just wanted a piece to satisfy them.

Chris walked in at the moment.

The irony of it all hurt.

The ‘Truth and Dare’ bottle spun again.

Landing on me again, I felt brave. They couldn’t think of anything worse than having the person you like so much suddenly frozen with an emotionless expression.

The bottle didn’t like me at all.

Some protested. “She shouldn’t have a turn again!” they said. I agreed but they hushed up and looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to speak.

“Dare,” I whispered.

Kelly seated herself in the circle. “Kiss him, kiss the guy you like.”

I looked up at Richard, at Chris.

My lids closed in frustration. Kelly never knew what the word ‘empathy’ meant.

I had my chance to tell Richard.

I missed and now I’m in this predicament. Joy.

---

I know, I know, CBH&M was supposed to be up by now but somehow I ended up writing this. Ahem, anyway, no promises this time but this time I want at least five chapters churned out to make sure I'm committed to it instead of leaving my readers dangling.

Anyway, I know how lame this one-shot may be but I do want feedback. Please tell me what's wrong with this story and what's right. So, read and review and I'll reply.

Disclaimer: It depends on the time I have but I'll most definitely reply!