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I returned home from Kyle's house feeling doubtful about our friendship. We both agreed that we wanted to stay friends, right? Well, he hadn't really showed me what exactly he wanted; I just assumed that he would agree with me that our friendship was more important.

I was getting confused at what I wanted; I knew that staying friends will be better for us even though I longed for him in many ways than I thought I would. The whole situation was getting into my head. I needed a breather. I needed to get my mind out of our situation before I exploded.

When I got home, my parents weren't there so I decided to go for a jog around the area. So for the next hour or so that's what I had done.

After showering the sweat from jogging, I was surprised to get a phone call from Sav demanding that we meet in front of the Cinema since there was a movie she wanted to watch.

I got ready for that. I wore a small navy blue skirt with lace stockings, along with a white sleeveless blouse. I met her precisely on time in front of the theatre. She squealed when she saw me, running to give me a brief hug as if we hadn't seen each other since forever.

"What movie are we gonna watch?" I asked as we got inside the theatre, instantly queuing for the tickets.

"You'll see. It's awesome. Vin Diesel is in it." She replied.

"Don't tell me its fast and furious 11 or something." I frowned.

She smacked my arm. "No. Ryland watched it the other day and couldn't stop talking about it. So I need to watch it."

I rolled my eyes, "Aren't you the doting girlfriend."

She gave a look that could kill.

I held my hands up as if in surrender.

"It better be good." I muttered low for her not to hear.

She caught on it anyway when she responded with, "You won't regret it. Trust me."

So for the next two hours or so, Sav forced me to watch this action/fantasy movie that had Vin Diesel as the main character. The movie was basic in my opinion, but because he was in it, it made everything hype.

We got out of the theatre and Sav was still aweing over the movie. We decided to hit Mccay's D for lunch.

I ordered a big mac because I missed eating a burger. I was slurping on milkshake and Sav was dipping her fries in ketchup, looking slightly anxious, when all of the sudden she blurted out,

"I kissed Ned yesterday."

I almost choked on the milkshake; my eyes bulged out as I stared at her in utter shock. "What?"

"Well, he kissed me." She slumped back in her seat and suddenly I saw the frustration she'd been holding.

"What?" I couldn't help but repeat. The shock of her statement was still ringing in my head.

"It just happened, okay." She sighed. "I was out shopping with Ryland yesterday and I saw Ned. I went up to him to ask him why he was so rude around me. So one minute we were arguing again and the next he was kissing me."

I gaped at her. "Savannah Biers!" I exclaimed her full name.

"I know." She buried her face in her hands.

"What about Ryland?"

"He didn't see. He was in the game store when it happened."

"Wow." I shook my head, still shocked.

She placed her arms on the table, her head falling in her arms. "The worst part is that...I liked the kiss."

"Are you serious?"

"I am, Key. I never knew Ned could kiss like that." She groaned. "Ugh, he was better than anyone I kissed."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Even Ryland?"

"Even Ryland." She muffled a groan again. "I'm so confused. I really like Ryland and Ned is one of my good friends. Why did he have to ruin it?"

I didn't have her answers. For some odd reason, her dilemma made me feel so much better. It sort of eclipsed my situation with Kyle.

"So have you've been fantasising about Ned?" I decided to tease her.

Sav threw a fry at me which I managed to block. She sighed in indignation and this told me very well that she had.

At that I couldn't hold in my sudden burst of laughter.

"It's not funny, Keya. This is serious. I mean right now I don't even know how to act around Ned. I don't even know if I should tell Ryland."

"Are you stupid? Don't tell Ryland. Do you want them to fight over you?" I shook my head at her suggestion.

She was considering my last sentence. I threw my own fries at her. "Sav, it will only end ugly. This isn't a movie or one of those fake reality TV-shows." I warned her.

"You're right, you're right." She inhaled. "But it still doesn't help my situation, Key."

"I know."

She sighed again. I tried to hide my amusement as I stared at her. It was really comical.

Suddenly my phone pinged and buzzed somewhere in my purse. I dug it out and saw that it was a text from Kyle. He was asking me if I knew about Ryland's camping trip next weekend.

"Um...Sav? Does Ryland have a camping trip next weekend?" I asked her.

She sat up suddenly. "Oh crap! I completely forgot about that. He asked me to come but I haven't told him if I was going to go. How do you know about it?"

"Kyle just texted me asking if I knew about it." I replied.

Sav nodded as if she understood. "Ryland must've invited him. He invited anyone who would go."

"Hmm."

"So do you want to go. I cannot go without you. If I tell Ryland that I'm going you have to come too." She pleaded.

"I don't know Sav. I'm not sure I want to." I frowned in mid-air.

"Why?" She whined. "James is definitely going and Kyle might be going too—"

"The more reason I really shouldn't." I interrupted her sentence.

She scowled at me, her look turning suspicious. "Why? You still haven't told about the date yesterday. What happened?"

I sighed in indignation. I really didn't want to. But, I told her all about yesterday's double date from hell. I told her about how James started hitting on Mandy, completely brushing me off. I told her all about Mandy's family issues. The only part I left out was that it had been Kyle's plan all along.

"What a douchebag!" Sav exclaimed. "I can't believe James. I thought he was one of the good guys."

"I know me too."

"And Mandy too. I mean it's sad about her parents, but, she just fell for him just like that!"

I nodded.

"They sort of deserve each other."

"Yup. So if they're going to go to that trip, you can imagine how awkward it will be for me." I told her. This was mostly a lie. I didn't really care about James or Mandy. It was the thought that Kyle will be there that made me hesitant.

Sav pressed her lips. "But—"

"No, Sav. I won't go."

"But Kyle might be going too." She suggested, not knowing that he was the main reason why I was choosing not to.

Suddenly the images of last might resurfaced in my cognitive vision. I groaned in frustration.

"C'mon, Key. Please." She begged.

I shook my head violently.

"Why though? Why are you so reluctant? Did you and Kyle get into another fight? I mean, I know you guys haven't been talking. But, you're guys are so tight Keya." She was really pressing it. It made things even worse when she mentioned our friendship.

She sensed my uncertainty as I chewed on my lower lip.

"Key—"

"I slept with him, okay!" I blurted out before she could finish her sentence.

Her reaction suddenly made me regret my words. She gasped out so loud, I was certain her breathing momentarily stopped.

"Come again?" She asked as if she didn't hear me correctly.

I stared at her, giving her a look that told her I wasn't joking.

Her eyes bulged. "Sleep with him as in in have sex with him?" She was still incredulous.

"Yes!"

Her jaw dropped and for a while she remained shocked this way. "When? How did this happen?"

It was my turn to sigh in frustration. "Last night. Right after the date."

Her mouth closed but her eyes were still wide. "How Keya? You have to spill!"

I shrugged. "It just happened Sav. I can't tell you how."

She gaped again. "But he's your best friend."

"I know." I whined.

"Wow. Just, wow. I mean, I know you guys are close but this..." She shook her head. "...I guess I'm not that surprised if think about it more."

I ignored her last sentence, really not wanting to elaborate more at what she meant by that.

"You can't tell anyone Sav, not Ryland and you can't mention this to Kyle. You have to promise me." My tone was serious, my eyes holding her gaze steadily.

"Alright-alright. I promise."

We pinky swore on it.

"Are you in love with him?" She asked me out of a sudden.

I scoffed. "No way." I denied it. "I mean, I love Kyle really, but—"

"Not in that way?" Her eyebrows shot up, finishing the sentence for me.

"Yeah." I nodded.

She looked sceptical as if she didn't believe my words. To be honest, I doubted myself too.

She shook her head. "Can't believe you lost your virginity to your best friend."

From that, I knew she wasn't going to let this slide off. I was regretting my outburst. But really, knowing Sav, she would have found out eventually.

I shrugged.

"Well, congrats. You have officially escaped from the virgin club." She held her drink out.

I rolled my eyes and clunk my milkshake cup with her soda cup.

"So, what's he like? How's was it like?" She wagged her eyebrows.

I glared. "I am not telling you that. Gosh, you don't hear me asking about your sex life with Ryland."

"Well, Ryland is amazing. He's well-endowed and when he—"

"Ugh Sav! Please no!" I cut her off, instantly pressing my hands to ears. "I really don't want to hear it."

She laughed for a while, smirking at me before we continued eating. She began texting someone on her phone—probably Ryland—and I tried to ignore Kyle's demanding texts asking whether I was going to the trip or not.

It wasn't long ago that I left his house with him looking as if he didn't want to speak with me for a long time. I mean, he had completely given me a cold shoulder when I told him goodbye.

So, I didn't understand his change of attitude towards me. I certainly wasn't going to act on it by replying his texts.

Mccay's D got crowded by afternoon. It was filled with high schoolers as well as college students. I examined the interior as I ate. I was busy watching a young couple—probably freshmen—feeding each other fries and whatnot. I thought about how in love they were and how I was going to be eighteen in two months and still haven't experienced my first love.

Sav suddenly burst out, "Okay I'm in. I just told Ryland that I was going."

I nodded, smiling. "Good for you."

"Keya, please you have to—" She was interrupted by movement in our table.

I looked up to find piercing pale green eyes staring right through me. My body was suspended in shock and the fact that he surprised me had my heart beating wildly in my chest.

Kyle and Ned slumped themselves into our booth. Their matching grey t-shirts, stained with sweat told me that they have just came from the gym.

I cleared my sudden dry throat as Kyle sat next to me. Instantly, I began to shift away from him. But, he still took up the whole space.

The fact that the side of my body was against his, made me very much aware of how close we were. A rush of heat settled beneath my belly. I tried not to picture images of how naked he was yesterday when my eyes locked with the taut muscles tensing from his t-shirt.

"Fancy seeing guys here." He said, facing Sav who like me was trying her best to remain as still as possible when Ned shifted closer towards her.

The moment couldn't have been any more awkward.

I shared a look with Sav and our panic matched each other. I shifted my gaze away from hers to stare at Ned who hadn't left his eyes from Sav. Sav was blushing involuntarily and this surprised me.

At an attempt to look away, trying not to laugh at her, my gaze landed toward Kyle whom had been looking back and forth between us, obviously confused at why we still haven't said a word to them.

I gave him an unsure smile but the gesture was returned with his deep frown. He was still annoyed at me.

"Why didn't you return my texts?" He glowered.

I swallowed my dry throat. "What texts?" I tried to sound as if I didn't know what he was taking about.

He reached over me suddenly. I tensed at his movement. My insides clenched when his hands touched the bare skin of my thigh. His eyes were trained solely on that skin but his hands were moving to open the purse to dig out my phone.

I breathed out as he returned to his sitting position, swallowed the lust-filled lump in my throat as I watched him unlock my phone—I needed to change my password—and go through my texts.

"These texts." He waved the phone near my eyes.

I blinked. "Oh those texts." My voice was husky and small. I cleared my throat.

"Yeah, those texts." He smiled without emotion.

I shrugged, biting my lower lip. But that was a mistake because his eyes suddenly glazed with something as they watched my lips. The look he gave me made me feel hot all of a sudden.

I released my lower lip instantly, deciding to look away. My eyes landed at Sav. She was smirking at us. Her knowing look told me fully well what she thought.

I returned her smirk with my own when Ned suddenly placed a finger on top of her cheeks, just beneath her eyes, completely taking her by surprise. Her body tensed as he ran the finger with his thumb in a pinching motion.

"You had an eyelash." He explained his actions as he showed her an invisible eyelash. "Make a wish." He stared at her.

Sav was speechless as she blew on his finger, internally making a wish. She blushed afterwards, her cheeks turning tomato red. This was shocking for me to watch because the Sav I knew never blushed for anyone. Ever!

"Are you going to the camping trip?" She asked him.

"I don't see why not." He replied, grinning at her for a moment before realising that it wasn't only Sav and him there.

He looked up to find both Kyle and I staring at them. I shared a look with Kyle and I knew that he knew about the kiss Sav and Ned shared.

"What about you, Key?" Ned asked me. His eyes flickered towards Kyle as he asked this.

"Yeah...what about you Key?" Kyle echoed the question. He placed his elbow on the table and leaned his head on his fist, staring at me as if I was an interesting subject. "Unless you're scared of the woods and dark?" He challenged.

I glared at him as I blurted, "I'll go. I am not afraid of the dark!"

A grin stretched upon his lips and for a moment he looked satisfied.

Sav on the other side squeaked at my reply. "This is going to be great. I can't wait." The look she was giving me as she said those words spoke of danger.

"Yeah, can't wait." Kyle agreed in a sarcastic tone. His eyes never left mine as he frowned. Suddenly he got up from his seat and gestured with his head for me to follow him.

Sav and Ned seemed oblivious when I left my seat and followed him. He was headed over to the adjoined restrooms.

I entered the double doors and instantly he pulled me over to a corner. My breath hitched and my body froze at the contact.

"You told Sav about us?" It wasn't a question but an accusation. His hand left my arm only to be folded with his other hand across his chest.

I frowned, trying to sense his mood. "Yeah...and?" I wanted to know if he had a problem with that.

"What did she say?" His question surprised me. I didn't expect it.

"Um...nothing. She was surprised. She just congratulated me for losing my virginity." I told him, shrugging.

He frowned. "Wait...What exactly did you tell her?"

"That I slept with you!" I shouted, affected by his frown.

"Is that all? You didn't tell her about this morning? She didn't ask anything else?"

What exactly is he trying to say?

"Yeah. That's all. What do you want her to have said."

"I don't know." He shrugged, closing his eyes for a moment. "I guess, I just wanted her to talk some sense into you about—never mind." He stopped himself.

I shook my head. "What? About what?"

"Forget it." He shook his head and backed away. I was disappointed to lose his body heat. I liked being cocooned by his warmth.

"No it has to be something." I moved forwards, unconsciously following him.

"It is something. But I'm choosing not to say it." He said.

I frowned at him. I hated being left in the dark and just plainly being this confused. It wasn't agreeing with me.

"Look, Key. I don't want it to be awkward between us. You said that it will be best if we remained friends...so..." He began, closing his eyes only for him to look away as he opened them.

"As hard as it will be for me. I will try to forget about last night...but I can't always... damn...I mean you...ahh...I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't want to lose you as a friend either." It was hard for me to understand him because as he was saying this, the look he wore said the exact opposite. It was as if it was painful for him to say it.

I made a movement to touch him, but I refrained. Somehow my instincts knew it will only rub salt in the wound.

I didn't want to over analyse things and hope for something that will turn out to be the opposite, but was he implying he had thought of us being more than friends?

No. Now I was just being wishful. Wait, had I hoped for him to think about us like that? I hadn't known until now, that I had wanted to be more than friends with him. I've known the guy for more than eight years.

If you didn't count lusting over him, well, the thought of having any other relationship with Kyle other being friends was kind of scary for me.

The idea repelled against me. Suddenly I understood the route of my problem. I was scared of being hurt. Although I never loved Max, he had hurt my trust by cheating on me. But, I trusted Kyle. So what exactly was I scared of?

Oh. It suddenly struck me. I was scared to fall in love with him.

Love? We weren't even in that stage yet. Hell, I didn't even know what stage we were at. I shouldn't even be thinking like this right now, because Kyle was difficult to read. I didn't understand what he wanted, anymore.

The safeguard that was our friendship was slowly tearing apart. I knew, deep down, that even if we tried to hang onto the pieces, we were only going to end up shredding them even more.

I had to face it, our friendship was ruined. It had already been ruined the moment I first asked him to take my virginity.

What was beyond this broken friendship? I didn't know and I was frightened to explore it.

"Kyle I..." My mouth was forming words on its own.

"Yes?" He looked hopeful, his eyes drinking mine as if waiting for me to offer a solution to this mess we created.

"...Okay." I said, not really knowing what I was Okaying about.

"Okay, what?" He asked.

I glanced at him for a long while. I knew then that I was going to be always drowned by his pool of eyes.