"Lucas?"

"Hm?" I breathe out.

"Do you love me?" butterflies erupt in my stomach making a lump form in the back of my throat and a tingly feeling spreads all throughout my body. This is my chance. This is my chance to tell her that I love her more than anything in the world. That every time she says my name, I feel drunk with every syllable that slips off her tongue. With every touch, a feeling of wildfire envelops my entire body that makes me have to hold myself back from grabbing her and kissing her till we're both out of breath. That every time we tell each other 'I love you' I can not just mean it as a friend.

But, instead, out of fear, I say, "Yeah, you're my best friend," she shakes her head a small frown appearing on her lips.

"No, I mean as more than friends," hope coursed through my veins. As I look at her wide-eyed, my heart thumping a hundred beats per minute, I say the words I've been dreaming of saying since we were eight.

"Stella Ivory Chevalier, I love you more than anything in the world," as each word slipped from my lips her smile grew wider and wider.

"That's what I was wanting to here." I look at her as my heart swelled.Was that her trying to say she loved me too? How long has she felt this way? I try to find the words to make that smile stay there, but nothing would come.

"You know, I had this whole speech planned out, but I just can't think of the words to say. Anything that I come up with just seems lame and cliché," her smile grew even wider and her ocean blue eyes were lit afire. She grabs my hand and pulls me towards the swirly slide that was opposite the swing set.

As we go up the steps she says, " You know, love is a feeling you cannot describe with words. If you can't explain it, chances are its real love. When you told me that couldn't find the words to explain how much you love me, I knew right then that you really loved me. So, Lucas Grey, I love you too," she reaches for my hand and they interlock as we kiss tentatively, passionately then, tenderly. She then giggles and sits down at the mouth of the slide and pats the spot behind her. I obey and sit down behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. The slide groans under my weight as I sat down.

I lean in and whisper in her ear, "You know you're wrapped around my finger," she giggles in response and says," Promise me, no matter what happens that we'll remain best friends and travel the world together," I smile and say, "I promise that we'll alwa—" Crrreeeeeeeeak "I've got you, Lucas!"

**********************************************

"I'm sorry, she didn't make it. Her injuries were too severe," at that moment my whole world shattered. I just could believe she was gone. Just when I had gotten her, she's slipped through my fingers. "I promise," I whisper, "I promise."