Although the river might be where all cool kids go for a little late-night fun, there were plenty of other spots around town. Some were more alluring and superior to others, but none were quite as clandestine as the river. Certainly not the place that Tiffany brought Tim to after dropping Maggie and the guys off at Maggie's car. The girl had practically volunteered to take the boys home so she could have some unchaperoned fun before curfew.

"Of all the places on earth, why the hell do you insist on always coming here? There are literally houses at the end of this street. There's nothing discreet about this place," Tim complained.

Tiffany's great low-key spot, the back loading dock area of a local Madia's tire and auto shop, sat on the edge of a small neighborhood just off the main road.

"You say that every time and yet you never actually stop me," she said, smirking. "Besides, I thought maybe tonight we could..." Pausing for a moment, she reached into her purse and pulled out a condom. Smiling, she looked at the condom, then gazed up at him.

Completely confounded, he stared at her hand. His mind raced, trying to find something to say, anything in order to get out of it.

The first thought that came into his mind was, Just do it, what's the worst-case scenario? Then his mind took him on a roller coaster ride of what could happen. Sitting there silently, eyes locked on the blue wrapper now sitting on the dash, he was non-responsive to her suggestive gesture, and she continued with her moves. His mind grew dizzy, thoughts spiraling, and her advances didn't go as planned.

"What is wrong with you? And don't say it's the location. No matter how much you bitch about it, let's be honest—it's never been an issue before." Her voice was raised, though not quite yelling. Not yet.

Tim's emotionless eyes locked onto hers, lost in thought, in what could be. What should be.

She tried her best to keep it together. To stay lusty, but the tears were on the brink of escaping her eyes and unlocking the floodgates in the process. "I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry," she blurted, withholding her emotions.

"Can't do what? I haven't asked you about having sex, since the first time I asked you which was over a year ago." The first time was when they'd rented Saved from Blockbuster and had a pizza and movie date night.

"Yeah, I know, and I loved you for that. Although over the last few months you also have been drifting away from me... So who was it? Who is it? Who are you sleeping with since I wasn't ready?" Her eyes began to fill, the tears trickling down her face. "Do you have feelings for her?"

"No one. What are you talking about? I love you. You're my best friend and have been since the fifth grade. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you like that." Every word was more truthful than the last. He put his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. He placed his hand flat on the top back of her shoulder, gentle and in no way amorous.

"That's just it, you're right! We've been attached at the hip since the fifth grade, I know you better than I know myself. Since the seventh grade, I thought you would be the one. The one I would marry and have kids with... I'm not stupid, I know compared to other people we are practically moving backwards in that department. Why do you think I've been trying so hard the past couple months to advance things?"

Tiffany stared at him for a moment, waiting for a response. Tim was unsure if it was rhetorical or if she'd been actually expecting a response. Either way, it honestly didn't matter. He couldn't possibly conjure an answer that would remedy the situation now.

"I was scared of losing you! You might think it's stupid for me to feel that way, but I know you're not that naïve to believe it doesn't happen. The girlfriend isn't ready, boyfriend waits until he doesn't. Then somehow the girlfriend gets labeled as a prude and the boyfriend is a victim of his own desires. Even other girls give me grief. 'You guys have been together forever, I thought you would have done the deed long ago.' You were the only one not pressuring me, it felt like."

Tim sat silent and still, so still Tiffany didn't know what to make of it. He didn't react how she'd pictured in her head. No outlandish responses, or grand declarations of affection. Not a single word or muscle spasm. But she didn't want to believe it—she yearned for something greater.

"I can't do this anymore," she finally declared. "I can't keep on feeling as if you're only with me because we're us. It's over, we're over." Voice cracking, her eyes became red and puffy from the tears streaming down her face.

"You really are my best friend, and I'll always love you," he said before pausing for a moment. "No matter what happens, good or bad. Your my best friend first and foremost, always will be..." His voice had turned reminiscent as he recited their promise, word for word. Flawless, smooth, and without missing a beat, it was fresh in his mind, as if they'd just made it.

Tiffany ogled him as he spoke, judging not the words but the lack of infatuation.

"Please. Just. Get Out." She said each word with her jaw clenched. Tim didn't move at first. "Please. Just get the fuck out!"

Getting out and closing the door behind him, Tim said nothing as he closed the door. He peered through the window, eyes wide with a glassy haze.

Tiffany sighed, rolling the window down. "Stay here... I'm going to call Maggie to come pick you up."