A/N:

Hello everyone! So this is my first published fanfic. I hope you like it, and forgive me for any mistakes. I did a few read-throughs and made sure to fix most of them, but a few typo's might still be there. So without further ado, I present to you chapter 1 of You Stole My Heart. Please leave some reviews, It'll only help me and won't hurt you. ^.^

Chapter 1

Today is your birthday, but I can't wish you a happy birthday and give you a gift and a hug like I used to. It hasn't been that way for years now. Ever since you got married you left my life. I don't know if you wanted it that way, or that it just happened because we drifted apart, but I miss you. I miss the times we shared. I miss you sneaking into my room late at night, I miss you taking me on adventures to escape our dull lives. I miss the way you looked at me when you didn't think I could see you. I miss the way you smelled, and how I could always talk to you about anything and you would listen intently. I miss you everyday. I remember when you told me that you met a nice guy and wanted a life and a family with him. I was happy for you because he could give you what I couldn't and much more. But then I remember when you told me you were going to marry him, it hit me like a bullet and I was forced to put on a mask, hide the anger and sadness I was really feeling with fake happiness. On your wedding day, I stayed home, even though you wanted me to be there. I was your maid of honor, but I just couldn't be there. I told you I got sudden food poisoning and couldn't even get out of bed. But I wasn't sick, I just stayed in bed and cried my eyes out until I fell asleep. I couldn't bare the thought of anyone being with you, but me. Much less see you marry them. I just wanted you to be happy and that was the only thing keeping me from telling how I really felt about you marrying Dyson. But I hope he gave you all the love he had and made you smile everyday, because that's what I would've done. I hope he let you know how much he loved you and did everything he could to make you feel like the only girl in the world, because that's what I would've done. Now, the only thing I can do is think of you, of what could've been.

I lost contact with you about a year after you got married. I think part of that was my fault, I just wanted to forget about you and him. Was I angry? Maybe, but I don't think I could've gone on pretending I was happy for you when in fact I was filled with sadness. I couldn't watch you kiss him, or hug him, or him put his hands all over you in front of me. I realized I loved you after we'd know each other for years. How could I have fallen in love with my best friend? The one who used to play fight with me and always let me win, the one who was always angry at her mother and came to me to vent. The one who watched me grow up, and vice versa. The one who dated boys, while I was always single because there was only one person I had my eye on.

Here I am looking out the window of my apartment thinking of you. I wonder what you are doing now. I wonder if you ever think

of me. My eyes wandered to my dresser where a picture of us as teenagers sat. It was taken at the carnival when we were 16, it was also the same day I realized I was in love with you. It was taken earlier in the day, before we shared out first kiss, and before I realized the extent of my feelings for you. I picked up the picture and ran my thumb over your face. My mind drifted back to the memory of that day.

It was a Saturday, just after 2 pm and I had just heard that my parents were getting a divorce. They wanted me to choose who to live with and I couldn't do it. My father gave me an hour to decide and I just ran up to my room and cried. You texted me wanting to know if you could come over. I said no that I wasn't feeling well. About 10 minutes later I heard you knock on my window. I considered not opening it so I could cry in private, but I couldn't leave you out there. When you saw me crying you asked what was wrong.

"Hey, Lauren what's wrong?" You asked softly and sat next to me on the bed.

"It's nothing, it's stupid." I said trying to suck up the tears and stop crying

.

"Lo, you can talk to me, remember? About anything. Just tell me." You pried further.

I sniffled before replying, "my parents are divorcing." And started to cry again.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry." You pulled me into a hug and let me cry against your shoulder. "It's ok."

"Looks like you need some cheering up. I know exactly where to go to completely change your mood." You looked me in the eyes and said. I was uncertain about going anywhere because usually with you, there was trouble. But that day there was no trouble, only happiness.

"W-where?" I stuttered out through the last of the tears.

"To the carnival, I love going there. It always makes me feel happy and forget about my problems. Come on, let's go!" You said excitedly pulling me off the bed towards the window.

"Bo wait, I can't go looking like this.I need to at least get cleaned up first." I tried. You complied and told me to change and wash my face which now had mascara smeared on it. I changed while you were in the room. You turned away, but I could feel your eyes on me at one point. When I finished and turned around you were looking at me and blushing, knowing you had been caught. You shook your head and looked toward the bathroom. "You should probably go clean up now."

I smiled and headed toward the sink and washed my face. I put on some foundation and mascara, and some lip gloss and made sure to look better than before. When I came out you stared at me again, mouth open a little and then you said "wow, you look great."

I offered a small smile and said thank you. Then you took me by the arm and said "now let's go." I was happy to be getting away from my parents, and if I was going somewhere with anyone, I would want it to be you. I was actually a bit excited at the idea of being somewhere, just you and I, to have fun and forget about everything, if only for a few hours. I wasn't completely sure what I was feeling at the time, but I definitely had a bit of a crush on you. Maybe it was because we were so close, but it surely wasn't a sisterly type thing.

As we climbed out the window, you gently helped me down the few feet before I hit the ground. It wasn't necessary but I didn't say so because I liked the feel of your arms around me. When I landed I was still in your embrace. The scent of your honey shampoo was filling my nose. I turned around and we stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds before you turned around and started running towards the fair saying "Come on Lo." We didn't live that far from it so we could walk to it.

When we arrived I stood there amazed. Just looking around and taking everything in. I had never been to a carnival before and being there with just you made it much more enjoyable than going on my own or even with other friends.

"So what do you want to do first?" Bo asked me. I wasn't paying attention because I was entranced by the sights and sounds around me.

"Helllooo, earth to Lauren!" She tried to snap me out of my trance.

"W-what?" I asked.

"I said what do you want to do?" You questioned again.

"Umm," I honestly didn't know what to say because I had never been here before."You pick." I simply replied.

"Ok!" You grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the haunted house. I wouldn't let Bo know it, but I actually had a terrible fear for these things. I knew it was all fake and for fun, but I was easily scared.

"I don't know,maybe something else."I tried to cop out of it.

"Nuh-uh! You said I can pick. You're not scared, are you?" You teased.

I couldn't let you see my weakness."N-no, of course not." I said trying to hide the insecurity of my tone.

"Ok then, if you're not scared, let's go on it." You pulled me onto the ride. As soon as we started moving through, I started shaking lightly. I made sure to move away from you a bit so you wouldn't know that I was.

When a fake zombie popped up I screamed, and heard you giggle. When we neared the end, a hideous monster popped out so close to me, and I shut my eyes and hugged your arm tightly. You didn't move away, but instead held me closer and said "it's ok Lauren," in a soft tone.

When we got out, I let go of your arm and regretted the decision, immediately missing your warmth.

"You were scared, I knew it!" You taunted. I looked down shyly. You put your hand under my chin and tilted my head up. "But the important thing is that you conquered your fear." You spoke. I smiled and then you grabbed my arm and pulled me towards some skill games. I stopped when my eye caught sight of a stuffed unicorn. It sounds childish, but ever since i was a little girl, I had a fancy for the mythical creatures. Bo saw me stare at it and said "I can win it for you if you want." I really wanted it, but I didn't want her to feel obliged to win it for me. So I replied, "oh, you don't have to, its ok." I think she could tell how much i wanted it and said "Lauren, it's no problem really, besides i have a pretty good arm." It was one of the games where you have you have to knock down some bottles with a baseball. Bo walked up the the man running it and gave him the money.

"Ok, knock down three bottles and win the prize of your choice." Said the mad with a freaky looking mustache.

Bo was given five baseballs and knocked down the three bottles on her first three tries. I just stood there amazed with my mouth half open. "That was amazing!" I told her.

She smiled wide at me and said thanks. Then she told the man she wanted the unicorn. When he gave it to her she presented it to me. "For you m'lady." she said.

"Thank you, Bo. You're really good at that, you should be a pitcher." She laughed and proceeded to move towards the next ride.

The rest of the day was as great as the beginning. I had long forgotten about my parents and had my mind only on Bo and how much fun I was having. It was getting dark and we ended the day with the Ferris wheel. Bo sat across from me instead of next to me.

"I had so much fun today, thank you Bo." I said and she blushed a little.

"Your welcome. I told you that you would have fun. I usually come here when I'm feeling down or angry at my mother. It always makes me forget about the bad things and turn my mood completely around." She said.

"Hey Lo, um, if you're not in a rush to get home, would you mind going to one more place with me?"

"Are you kidding me? I don't think I ever want to go back home after today. Where it it?" I replied but what I really wanted to say is "I'd go anywhere with you Bo."

"Well," she started, "it's almost sunset and I have this awesome place where I go to watch it sometimes. That's another thing that calms me. I was wondering if you would go with me to watch it.

It's really beautiful."

Not as beautiful as you, I thought. But I simply said, "Ok, I'd like that." And offered a small smile.

When our Ferris wheel ride was over, Bo walked me out of the carnival and down a dirt path that lead to the top of a hill. She was right, it had a beautiful view of the sunset. "It's starting," she said. Bo laid down her leather jacket on the grass for me to sit on. She sat down next to me, so close that our legs were touching. I could feel her body heat radiating off to me and I enjoyed the warmth it offered. We both stared towards the sun as it began to go down. I was content until I felt something on my hand, I slowly turned my head to look at it and saw Bo's hand slowly grabbing it. I let her, and we sat there for a few minutes, holding hands.

This day was great, well the part of it that I spent with Bo. I looked at her, and with the way the sun was casting a shadow over half of her face, I marveled at how beautiful she looked. I felt something in my chest, my heart started beating faster and my forehead started to sweat a little. What was happening to me? My gaze suddenly dropped to her mouth. I started thinking of what those lips would feel like pressed against mine. Then she turned to look at me. I didn't turn away, no, but instead looked into her eyes. I had never seen Bo look at me like this. I didn't know what to do in that moment, so like an idiot I just stared at her, not moving. Bo's voice broke me out of my state, "Lauren..." she whispered. Then I started to slowly lean forward. Bo didn't move away, and I saw her eyes drop to my mouth. I got closer and closer, until our lips met in a sweet, and tender kiss. And oh wow, was it amazing. The fireworks that people often talk about, I felt them. We stayed there for a few seconds letting our lips mesh together, forgetting about the sunset. It felt so...so right. Her lips were soft and I could taste her strawberry Chapstick. I felt more confident and brushed my tongue across her bottom lip and her mouth opened, our tongues meeting and exploring each other. We slowly broke away when we realized it was darker now.

"Wow." Bo simply said.

I was speechless, literally, I couldn't form a coherent sentence if i tried. Instead, I just got up and ran towards the woods. How could I have just done that? I just kissed my best friend, who I've known for eight years. Oh my god, what if she never wants to see me again? I couldn't lose my best friend. But then I thought, what if I hadn't stopped kissing her. What if things had gone further? What if there was more toughing? I felt a tingle between my legs at the thought. Ok, this is crazy. I shouldn't be thinking these things about my best friend. I leaned against a tree and slumped down with my head in my hands and started to cry softly. It was only a couple seconds before Bo found me.

"Lauren, are you okay? What's wrong?" She asked in a soothing tone.

"I-I'm sorry Bo. I shouldn't have done that." I apologized, trying to control my sobbing.

"No Lauren, you don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Actually I kinda liked it." She tried to comfort me.

"You did?" I questioned.

"Yeah." She returned softly.

"So what does this mean with our friendship, I really don't want to lose you Bo."

"And you won't. It was just a kiss Lauren. I'll always be your best friend. Through everything. Even when we're old and married, I'll still come and talk to you whenever you're feeling down, and sneak in through your window and take you places." I could tell she was joking to cheer me up, but part of me wished that it was true.

I smiled at her as my tears slowed to one or two. "You better." I said jokingly. She pulled me into a hug and said "Now I think that's enough crying for your for one day. I hate seeing you like that." In that moment, I realized I never wanted that hug to end. I wanted to stay this way, stay with you, forever. But not as just friends. I wanted to be old and married, but to you.

"Bo, I still don't want to go home. I'm not ready for my parents to ruin my mood again." I told her.

"Well, I don't think you want to stay at my place. My mother will probably come home drunk and with some stranger she met in a bar." She let out a sigh. "I don't want to expose you to that. But I know where we can go."

I look at her, confused. She took me by the hand and led me back down the path towards her house. But instead of going to it, she veered to the right. She brought me to a tree house that we used to come to as kids.

"Oh my god, I haven't been here since we were 10." I said, amazed that it was still here.

"I have." Bo spoke, that explained it. "I come here when I want to get away from my mother or when she brings home somebody and they, well ya know...even if it's really cold, it's still better than being there."

That last sentence made my heart clench. No one should want to rather sleep out in the cold than their own warm bed.

"It feels smaller now that we're older, but the bed is still good, I've been keeping it warm." She smiled.

The bed she was talking about, was only a small old mattress with a blanket and a few pillows, but it was better than the cold wood floor. She led me up the ladder to the entrance. She was right, it did feel smaller. There wasn't much else inside it besides the bed, except a few books and board games. There was still a few posters up on the walls. A memory of what we used to like when we were younger. They were mostly band posters, one or two of which I actually still listened to.

"I'll be right back, I'm gonna go get some more blankets." Bo said, all that was on it now was a single sheet and the night was getting cool.

"Ok." I smiled.

When Bo left, I sat on the bed and thought about the events that happened in the past couple hours. First I'm told that my parents are getting a divorce, then Bo saves me and brings me to the carnival for my first time ever and I had the best day of my life. Then we watch the sunset together and I kiss my best friend, and I liked it. I definitely had feelings for Bo whether I wanted to admit it or not. Bo said she liked the kiss, but what if he didn't feel the same way I did? "You're just over thinking Lauren, you always do that." I tried to tell myself. Tonight we had to sleep together seeing as there was only one bed, and neither of us would sleep on the floor. When we were younger, one of us would bring a sleeping bag and the other had the bed, and we would alternate. Tonight there would be no funny business, just sleep. Somewhere in my mind I thought of what could happen if we didn't sleep, and that sensation between my legs returned again. I can't say I wouldn't enjoy it. But I know it won't happen.

I heard Bo coming back up the ladder. "Hey Lo, help me with these" she said. I grabbed the blankets from her hand so she could make it up the ladder.

"Well, looks like everything is good here. You tired yet?" She asked me.

I looked at her for a moment. The wild side of my brain that I never knew I had, considered kissing her again and seeing where things go from there. But the majority of my mind, the sensible side, decided to respond with a simple "yeah."

"Ok, well I'll just lay out these then." Bo said pointing to the blankets.

When the bed was finished being made, we laid down side by side. We looked stiff, like planks. That was not a comfortable sleeping arrangement, so I turned on my side.

After about a minute or so Bo called my name. "Lo?"

"Yeah?" I answered.

"Can I...um, can I, hold you?" She tentatively asked me. "I mean if you're not okay with that it's fine, I just-"

"Bo," I cut her off. "It's ok, you can."

She turned on her side, facing my back and draped an arm over my side. She moved her body slightly closer to mine, and I didn't mind one bit. I fell asleep that night with a smile on my face, and had sweet dreams. A few minutes after I fell asleep, I think I felt Bo kiss the back of my neck. I could've been dreaming, but it definitely felt real.

So yes this chapter was mainly a flashback, I hope you can figure out which was the past, and which was the present. I think I made it pretty clear, and more chapters will be like this too. In case anyone was wondering, I got the title from the P!nk song "Just Give Me A Reason", I love her ;)