Vanessa

I let out a loud sigh as I stared longingly at the book opened in front of me. It was the next day and Addison was at my house as we worked on our homework. Correction, I was completing homework; she was just painting her nails. Alright, even that was a lie. The truth was that I had given up on mine too as soon as I discovered that I couldn't focus on Chemistry or Literature and I could always get absorbed in an intriguing book so I knew that the thoughts that plagued my mind were serious.

Addison looked up from swiping gold glitter polish over her toenails. "What are you moping about?" She squinted her eyes at what I was doing before pushing herself off the mattress and hobbling across the carpet towards me. "Is that our yearbook from sophomore year? What's got you all sad face over that? I mean, besides the picture they snapped of me mid-yell at the homecoming football game. That was just horrendously tragic that they even allowed that photo to make it into the final cut." She pointed a ring-clad finger at me. "I'm telling you, that Mindy bitch from the yearbook club was behind that. She's always had it out for me after I kissed her crush."

I frowned up at her. "You do have a tendency of kissing other girls' crushes, Addie."

She continued to shake her finger at me. "Those three times with Matt were purely accidental." Leaning forward, she swiped the book off the desk in front of me, immediately glancing back up at me with an arched brow. "Really, Vanessa? You've been sitting here this whole time gazing at Matt's photo?" She shoved the book against my chest, her licorice hair bouncing as she shook her head. "Honestly, V. I'm worried about you. Your obsession with him has gone too far and I'm afraid that I might walk into your room one day and find you kneeling in front of a shrine with candles and his picture at the center."

I turned away from her as I set the book back down on my desk, my sights immediately jumping to the 107th page, left hand side, fourth row, third picture in. "I'm not obsessed with him," I mumbled.

Addison glanced over my shoulder, making a face. "God, he's not even smiling in that photo. Does he have to be so damn depressing all the time? It's almost as if he's afraid that if he shows any signs of happiness, he will get dragged back to the underworld for having a little bit too much fun with us mere mortals."

I glared at her. "He smiles and laughs, sometimes."

She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything further on the matter instead, hopping back onto the bed and kicking out her legs in front of her. "So what has you all upset then?"

Shrugging, I pushed away the yearbook. "I don't know. Something weird happened yesterday with Matt during the water balloon fight and I'm not quite sure what to make of it."

Addison waved me off. "V, if he does something weird, just ignore it. How many times do I have to tell you, that's his normal?" She picked up the nail polish bottle, furrowing her brows as she concentrated on painting her pinky finger.

"Except, I'm pretty sure he tried to kiss me."

The bottle slipped out from Addison's fingers, falling to the floor and gold sparkles seeping out onto the beige carpet. Her green eyes widened as she clutched her chest and gasped. "Lover boy did what now?"

I nodded my head; more certain that's exactly what had happened. "Yea, we were on the porch and he tried to grab the balloon from my hand and were touching like this," I pressed my palms together and Addison's mouth parted slightly. "Then he brushed my hair out of my face and moved in really close-"

"And then what?" She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling.

I sat back in my chair, sighing. "And then, nothing. That's when you came around the corner announcing that you nearly died and whatever he was about to do, he stopped."

Addison winced. "Oof. I'm sorry, V. You all must hate me for that one." She tapped her chin with one half-painted fingernail. "So you really think he was going for it, huh?"

"I do. He even pressed his hands against my cheeks." I demonstrated the act on my face and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Oh my god," she squealed as she fanned herself. "I know that move. That's definitely a be prepared because I'm about to shove my tongue down your throat kind of signal." She flopped herself down against the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. "So what are you going to do about it next? Did he say anything to you in school?" She pulled herself back up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Or maybe he didn't say anything at all. Perhaps he tossed a casual lick of the lips in your direction before making a kissy face at you? "

I laughed as I came over to join her on the bed. "Well...you see that's where I'm hoping you come in." She arched an eyebrow at me. "I was wondering if you could maybe do your Addison thing and fish for information from him?"

She rolled her eyes. "Vanessa, honestly. Why can't you just ask him? Just be upfront. Say something like 'so it seemed like you were about to kiss me the other day, were you?'"

I stared at her, my eyes growing wide. "You know I could never be that bold. That's your thing." I squeezed her hand. "Please Addison? Can you just see what you can find out?" I pouted my lips at her and gave her the saddest puppy dog eyes that I could muster. "You're really good at wearing him down until eventually he just gets so angry and frustrated with you that he finally spits out the truth."

Addison bent over to scoop the now near-empty bottle of polish off the carpet, ignoring the giant splotch of glittering liquid gold. "Ah, my secret power. Annoy matt until he caves." She sighed. "Alright, if it means that much to you, I'll try feeling him out." She pointed at the carpet. "You're cleaning that up though."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you," I exclaimed throwing my arms around my best friend's neck. "I love you so much."

She held up her hands. "Just promise that you won't get mad at me if you don't like the answer."

"Yes, yes, of course." I bounced on the mattress as I let out an excited squeal. Time to find out how Matt truly felt.

***

Matt

What had I been thinking attempting to kiss Vanessa? Maybe I was no less insane than Aimee was. I bounded up the stairs to Addison's house wondering why I always had to be such an idiot. This would be the first time I had been in close vicinity to V since the almost kiss. I hadn't said a word to her on the matter during school and neither had she. Maybe if I just pretended as if nothing had ever happened, I wouldn't have to confront it.

Perhaps that made me seem like a jerk but Addison and Vanessa were the only friends I had ever known and I was starting to finally believe that they actually cared about me.

I couldn't risk that for a little bit of romance. Even if I was lucky and there was a chance of Vanessa returning my feelings, the odds that our high school relationship would last much further than the end of senior year were slim. I knew she had dreams of going off to NYU whereas I was fated to stay in Connecticut, living with my dad as I struggled my way through community college. I knew I could be dumb sometimes but I was at least smart enough to know that long-distance relationships rarely ever worked out. No matter how our relationship progressed, it would always end with us breaking up.

At least our friendship would have a chance of lasting and that's why I would keep quiet on how much I wanted to be with her, even if it did bum me out not to be able to kiss her or have her fall asleep in my arms after hours spent talking about any and everything in the dark of my room.

A/N It's a little on the shorter side but I needed to split the chapter up into two parts otherwise it was crazy long. So look for the next update 01/28 (tomorrow)