There were almost fifteen minutes of pure, innocent and awkward silence. I really couldn't lift my head to look at Chloe and I figured she couldn't either. It was strange how the girl who always showed a tough, strong armour was now left with nothing but embarrassment. There was once in a while a sigh, or a heavy breathing, prompting the other to say something.

"Okay," Chloe suddenly said, which took me as a surprise, "we are not gonna make this a big deal. Are you with me?" she asked.

"I-I..." I wasn't even able to formulate de sentence "yeah..."

"I-I mean, is it really a big deal?" Chloe said, exasperated, and somewhat annoyed. I knew her best, though; she was trying to brush the situation off. "How many strangers have I kissed in my life? This cannot be that bad".

"Oh..." I let go, unintentionally, finding myself being hurt. I actually didn't quite understand why would that somehow offend me, but it did felt wrong, thinking that Chloe was comparing our kiss to a strangers.

Put yourself together, Maxine. It is just a kiss. I thought to myself, which didn't really help at all. Why did that kiss... matter to me?

I lifted my eyes embarassingly, only to be met by a worried look.

"H-hey, i… didn't mean it like that..." she tried to console me, which made everything far worse.

"No, of course!" I faked a laugh. I decided that if I was gonna care, I would not show it. There is no way Chloe gives a shit, anyway. "I mean, what is so important about a kiss?" I asked innocently, although it actually stang in my stomach like a bitch.

"Totally, right?... I-I mean, I could...I could kiss you right now and it would mean n-nothing"

What?! I though. Chloe's proposal took me as a huge surprise, and out of nowhere, I found myself wanting her to accomplish what she just said. Did i actually want my best friend to kiss me?

"O-of course" I looked at every spot on the room except for Chloe's eyes. I really didn't understand my tension. I think I had never been so confused in my entire life. It was as if there were two people in my mind; the demon and the angel - or the Caulfield and the Price. The demon was encouraging me to carry out my impulses, and my angel was trying to calm me the fuck down.

You can't kiss your best friend! The angel said in my head. She's your best friend, and besides, you wou…

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a huge amount of adrenaline. I felt my lips pressed to… something. Something warm. Something sweet. Something beautiful. I suddenly felt the need to close my eyes and just never stop that something.

I followed my impulses and opened my mouth. I got closer to Chloe, got up on my knees, and grabbed her hair. Our tongues touched, and all of the sudden, Chloe leaned back, with a shocked expression, and a hand covering her mouth.

"You kissed me back" she said, "you hella kissed me back".

My cheeks were resembling tomatoes by now, and I didn't have any better ideas than to say:

"You kissed me first"

"But, you k-kissed me!" Chloe started to stutter as she looked around the room with nervousness and hesitation. She started to lean back and I felt strangely hurt. "You hella fucking kissed me!" Her tone was starting to rise.

"I…" I didn't really come up with anything. I didn't know what to say. I just wanted to hide and never face the sun again "I..."

"I think you should go" Chloe suddenly said, changing her tone into a serious one.

What?! I though, trying to avoid my eyes from watering.

"But, Chloe-"

"Seriously, Max. Just go" She reaffirmed.

Chloe's look was not offended, nor sad, nor angry. It was mysterious. She looked like she was trying to solve some math equation. She was still touching her lower lip with her index finger and was now laying on her knees on the bed.

I got up slowly, hoping that she would change her mind, but she didn't. My hangover suddenly got worse, and I had a unexpected rush to throw up. Just what i needed.

Go ahead, Maxipad. Just throw up all over her room! I'm sure she would like that better than a kiss from you, anyway. I thought to myself, making fun of me.

I felt a hurtful knot develop on my throat. Which i decided to replace with rage.

Who does she think she is? I thought. She can't just kiss me like it's nothing and then toss me out of her house like fucking garbage! Such a friend! I tried to convince myself.

I started to quicken my steps as I took out Chloe's pijamas, with an offended expression following every move, not giving a damn if she was looking at my naked body. Chloe didn't attempt to say anything. She now had this sad look staring at the floor, which made me get even angrier. As soon as I was ready, I stepped out of the room, shutting the door with a strength I didn't even know I had. I was getting madder with every step I took, and all at once, I felt my face getting salty wet. I was now incredibly grateful that Joyce and David were on their plane to Paris. I would hate to explain this situation to them.

Stop crying I though. Stop being a fucking child.

When I got out of the house, I felt a rushed punch of feelings take over myself. I started to cry my eyes out as I was walking down the street, and when I reached the bus stop, I sat on the bench to cry some more.

Strangers were looking at me, with preoccupied expression, as if i was a child who had lost her mommy. It was really not like me to cry like that in front of so many people, but i was just so hurt. Being rejected hurted so much. And the worst part is, i didn't even know why i cared that much. It was fucking terrifying.

It's ironic how a heartbreak can seem so shallow from the outside, but can feel like the end of the fucking world from the inside. Had my best friend just broken my heart? Did that mean that i was... in love with my best friend?

"Are you okay?" Someone asked me.

I think Jesus, or god, or whoever listened to my prayers, given the bus that was quickly heading to the stop bus. I thanked a god I didn't even believe in and took it. I wiped my tears with my long sleeves and was about to pay the ticket, when a sudden phone call blew my phone.

When I saw who it was, I freaked. My pulse started to rush a thousand miles per hour and my fricking hands started to sweat as if i was running a fuckingnmarathon, but i still hesitated. I wasn't just going to take it. She had been a bitch to me, and i didn't really feel like talking to her right then...

Okay, who was i kidding. There's no one i'd rather talk to. But i wanted to earn some fake pride anyway. So much for being an adult, huh?

I let the phone ring four times before i took it. She didn't even let me say anything, proceeding:

"Don't pay the ticket. I'm sorry" Chloe's voice filled my heart with joy. It was so good to hear it. I was still going to keep the drama queen acting a little longer, though. She kind of deserved it, and i wanted the attention. Heh.

"Why shouldn't I?" I asked, in an offended tone.

"Look at the window"

When I looked, I let out a giggle of joy, amongst all the tears. There goes the acting. Chloe was standing on the bus stop, with the phone facing her ear. I never realized until then how happy she could make me.

I got out of the bus, realizing I was delaying the driver, and it left without me. Chloe and I were face to face again, in silence. An arrow of pain stroke me like a lighting, and out of the blue, i found myself saying;

"I'm sorry for kissing you back. I ruined everything" I tried to look down to the ground, but Chloe raised my chin with her fingers.

"That's the problem" Chloe said, grabbing my face. "I hella fucking loved it".