One

I was only seven years old when I saw this boy. He was talking with his brother, and I blushed, hiding near the monkey bars that I couldn't quite reach since I was shorter than all the other kids.

My cheeks stayed warm and I kept my gaze on him. He looked my way, his warm, chocolate eyes meeting mine for the first time since we were here. He was pretty tall for a kid about my age; his spiked brown hair made him look a bit older, like he was in the fifth grade, not the second grade.

"What'cha looking at, bro?" his brother asked, turning to follow his gaze. His brother saw me and his face lit up. "Hi, Hayley!" he chirped, waving.

I waved back shyly, then looked down at my sneakers. His brother knew me because I helped him get to his class. After that, he loved me and every time he saw me, he would give me the biggest hug ever. He was cute… but not as cute as his brother.

"Hayley!" my mother called. "Time to go!" She stood up and tucked her short, blonde hair behind her ear and smiled as I walked up to her, slowly. My blonde hair was pulled back into a pony tail and my blunt bangs hung in my face. Mom frowned at me. "Hayley, dear, no one can see your green eyes with that hair in your face."

I looked up at her sadly. I didn't want to leave. What if I never saw that boy again out of school? I mean, he never looked at me in school, and now… I felt like five more minutes and I would have had so much courage and actually talked to him.

"Are you okay, Hayles?" mom asked me. "You look upset."

I gave her a fake smile. "I'm good. Can we stay for a few more minutes?"

She smiled. "Is it that boy you were staring at?" she asked, her hands on her hips.

I looked down. She said that a bit loudly and I think that he could hear that. Moms laughed softly, thinking I was cute. I thought I was really stupid and should have been more careful when I looked at guys.

"No," I lied.

Mom sighed, still wearing a smile. "Okay, dear." She picked up her purse. "Time to go, then. We have to go home and get Erica so daddy can go to work."

I nodded glumly. "Okay."

I put my hands in my jeans pockets and followed my mom out to our car, sneaking glances at him. He grinned at me, waving. I grinned back shyly, since I had an embarrassing gap-toothed smile, and waved before quickly climbing into the back seat and putting on my seat belt.

"Alright," mom sighed. "What's his name?"

I let my hair fall in my face. "Josh."

"Josh who?"

I pursed my lips, trying to act angry, but I couldn't do that. I gave in and murmured, "Farro. Josh Farro. He's in my class."

"Aww!" my mom gushed. "Hayley has a crush! I can't wait to tell your father!"

"But daddies don't like boys."

Mom laughed. "Hayley, dear, you're a good girl. I know you're picking the right guy, so your father has nothing to worry about." She started up the car and started to back out. "You wanna stop for ice cream on the way?"

I nodded, my gaze out the window. "Yeah," I said, trying not to feel a ping of jealousy because of my best friend Jenna; she was talking to Joshua Farro.