I've become quite popular with my blog and gained a lot of readers, especially women. Boy did they love the drama and it made me feel better to know I wasn't the only one out there with insecurities and with little to no experience in the dating world. Some people got lucky, they found their sweetheart early in life and married. I felt so weird seeing stories of a married couple in their early to mid-twenties, it made me feel out and more importantly...behind. Lucky bitches.

What I wouldn't give to answer all of these women with their questions and stories but being a local newsletter I could only select five, one for every day of the workweek. That was extremely weak considering the number of emails you get a day. I was really drawn to one young woman who calls herself Tessa523. She's sent me small messages in the past but her newest one popped out to me.

Dear Roseate91,

I'm 24, living on the Southside of California and have been a reader of yours for a few weeks now and follow your art projects. I hope you get accepted to your gallery!

Anyways, I'm writing again to ask for advice. There this guy I like, have liked since middle school, and he's just now showing signs that he may be into me too and asked me out to a movie. However, there's this really sweet guy who has been my friend for years and completely supportive he just confessed he has strong feelings for me. This has never happened before, and he's completely unaware of my crush asking me out just a week prior. What should I do? I care deeply about both guys and don't want to lose any of them.

-Tessa

"Ugh," I groaned and rubbed my face as I leaned back in my office chair. I want to pick her request and answer it, but what could I do seeing I was in that same position weeks ago. Well, sort of. I know the feeling of having your crush admit their affection for you let alone having your best friend admit it.

My heart hummed when I Beckett fumbled his hands and struggled to make eye contact just to confess and ask me out, even after knowing him for over a decade. Then the following date led to a hidden rejection. It made me feel like Cinderella when the prince held the glass slipper in his hand, only to throw it against the wall on the other side of the room. There really was no right answer to this.

Even with Riley, I feel so disconnected from my own heart it scares me. I was afraid of hearing that glass shatter again, but rejection is a part of life I guess. This girl had a choice to make but I don't think I could give her a correct answer without the slight chance of losing someone. It would be a rocky one for sure, so instead of advice, all I could offer was my honesty.

Dear Tessa523,

I can only imagine what you must be feeling right now, having those bubbles in your chest that completely render you of breathing. That feeling like your heart is floating in a loving sigh as your crush falls for you.- A dream come true. I took the risk and went out with my crush when he confessed to me, as you probably read in earlier blogs, it didn't last long. If this is what you are afraid of please don't use my experience to damper yours. This could be exciting for you!

As for your best friend. How do you feel about him? Do you have feelings for him in return despite this other crush? I can't tell you who to pick because honestly, I would be screaming in a pillow right now if I were you, but the most important thing is communication. Talk to your friend, tell him your situation, express your feelings that you don't want to lose him but may want to try something with this crush. I'm sure he will understand. It would be better than finding out the way I did. Secrets have a way of coming back and biting you in the ass.

Be open, express yourself. – Roseate91

I probably just sent that girl to an early grave, but there are risks that everyone must take. 

Since being on my own I learned quickly about one thing and that is love fucking sucks! Watching a familiar British blonde come from his office and into the copy room made me realize that although it did suck, love did have its perks.

It's been over a week know and Riley and I had successfully conquered four dates. Now when I say successful I mean that nobody died or had a blender thrown at them, I am still a virgin, despite Andrew's desperate efforts to change that. I literally caught that guy trying to sneak and pass me hints during a day out at the market with Riley. He proudly showed me his stalker level photos the day after and told me I should have worn a shorter skirt. One of these days I'm going to kill that one, but it was refreshing to see him back to his goofy...somewhat harassing self.

Pressing send, I slithered out of my chair, grabbing my decoy papers along the way and waltz myself right into the copy room. Riley was the only one there, busy as usual as he fumbled the buttons on the scanner. Biting my lower lip I stalked my prey, jungle cat was on the move. Getting right up behind him and playful stuck my nails into his ribs and roared.

"Bloody fucking hell!" Riley jumped. I had to throw my hands over my mouth to keep from bursting with laughter. "What's the matter with you...you could have given me a heart attack."

"Is your heart pounding?" I said seductively taking him by his tie and pulling into a kiss.

I loved how firm he was when kissing me. Like that classic gentlemen had a bit of a wild side dying to claw its way out. His hands never left my waist, occasionally snaking up my back and shoulder to pull me into him.

"We're in the copy room," Riley snickered as he pulled away.

"Yes, you're very observant."

I pressed my lips to him again and wrapped my arms around my neck, deepening the kiss. An invitation he didn't refuse. I could feel that heat inside him, as his kisses become more hungry. I'm sure if we were the only two at work and wasn't keep our relationship as a secret he'd already have me up on the copy machine. His was always exciting in a new way but even in the comforts of privacy, I could sense him holding back for some reason.

Healing the clicking of shoes closing in was another one of those reasons. Both of us pulled away and turned a heel like nothing ever happened. A new skill I've been becoming quite an expert at. Kim came casually waltzing in like the sneaky boss he was, mumbling to himself as he passed us.

"So, Pinky and the Brain being up to no good at work again?" Kim stopped and looked at me. "You in my office, now!"

Once our boss spun around Riley gave me a worried look, had he caught us making out in the copy room? Why not call us both to the office like a pair of heat deprived teenagers. Shameless I followed him and shut the office door behind me with a light thud. I was less intimidated by this guy than he thought.

"Now," He began as he pulled up a large and long canvas from behind my desk and gestured it to the empty space on his wall. "This needs to go right here!"

I stood there dumbfounded. Not only did he call me in here for that, but it was also my painting I had secured by my cubicle set to be delivered to the gallery with my portfolio for example.

"You took that from my work desk."

"I found it at your work desk." He said hooked it on a small tack before taking a few steps back. "Ooh yes, it complements the room and my goldfish love it."

It was a golden abstract piece I liked to call The Rising Sun. With its bold streaks and thick colors of warmth, it would have been the perfect center piece. As usual, someone has spotted it, loved it, and has taken it to call their own.

"I need that painting for my application to the gallery."

"Paint another."

"It's more complicated than you think," I growled.

"Here I pay you!" Kim beamed with his solution as he ran back to his desk. "How much? Three hundred? Four hundred?"

"Dollars?" I asked stunned who would pay that much for one of my paintings. I mean, it's good but not that good.

"In chocolate-covered peanuts," Kim spoke sarcastically. "Yes, dollars!"

Unlocking the top drawer and fishing out his wallet. I watched as my boss pulled out hundreds in cash....raw cash. My jaw almost hit the floor and it was like another dream come true to think of the paint I could get with that. Looking over at the corner of his desk on his personal laptop I saw a prize more worth.

They were a pair of black headphones with a tiny line of glowing red running through the design. Slender in style and not at all gaudy.

"What about a trade?" I spoke up, and pointed at the headphones "My painting for those!"

"My Beats?" Kim snarled his nose in confusion.

"Those are the sound canceling type right?"

"Are you kidding? You couldn't hear a bomb drop in those things. I love them."

They were perfect.

Kim snatched them up and unhooked it from his PC. Still looking at them with an amusing consideration that I would choose that over money. "But, with three hundred dollars you could buy something even nicer... Why you want these silly things?"

"Why do you want my painting when you could buy something much more exquisite." I counter attacked. "A worthy exchange if I must say so myself."

"Ooh, reverse psychology." Kim murmured. I got him. "Fine, you may have them and take the three hundred as well and buy you some better clothes. Every time I see you your clothes are wrinkled and out of place. Now shoo."

He wrapped the Beats around my neck and handed me the money before turned me away and shoving me out of the office.

Woo, Cora finally getting some action - even if it is making out in the copy room LMAO!

Plus her art work is beginning to shine and showing that they are indeed worth more than chocolate-covered peanuts.