I sat at my computer in Media Immersion, staring into cyber-space.
"Paige?" Craig's voice came from behind me.
I turned to see him. "Yeah?"
"I was wondering if you would like to go to the park after school?" he asked. "I kind of need to talk to you?"
"Sure," I said.
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I met up with Craig at the park. He was leaning against the slide, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket. His head was hung, strands of curls hung around his eyes. As I approached him, he glanced up and forced a smile. I could tell he was upset.
"What's wrong, Craig?" I asked him, standing in front of him.
He wiped a tear from his eye. "I was just thinking about my dad, and how he used to be," he stopped to take a breath. "And I remember that he used to cheat on my mom all the time," tears were pouring down his cheeks now. "I don't want to be like my dad, Paige."
"You're not like your dad," I told him, gently wiping the tears away.
"When I think of how much it used to hurt my mom, I always swore that I would never do that to a woman. But I did. I'm exactly like him. I hate it...I look in the mirror and I see him."
"Craig," I said. "You aren't like him. You are the kindest, sweetest, most gifted person I have ever met. No one like that could be cruel."
Our eyes met and I saw for the first time...the compassion he held, the love in his eyes.
I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him. I wanted to take his pain away, I wanted to make sure he would never hurt again.
We held eye contact for a moment, and I could feel us drawing closer and closer. He kissed me...or had I kissed him? I'm not sure but it didn't matter.
He pulled back suddenly. "I'm sorry," he stammered.
"Sorry....for what?" I asked.
"I have to go..." he said, running off.
"Craig!" I called after him, but he didn't stop or slow down. He just kept running. That's when I realized...he didn't feel anything for me. I might as well be his sister, despite my feelings for him. But then I had to ask myself...what was I feeling for him?

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When I got home that day, I picked up the phone to call Craig. I dialed the number, but nobody answered. Hanging up, I sighed and flopped down on my bed.
"What's wrong?" Dylan asked from the doorway.
"I wish I knew," I said.
"Something happen with Craig?" He grabbed the chair from my desk, turned it around and sat in it backwards, his head resting on the back of the chair.
"Yeah," I said. "I just don't know what."
"Why don't you tell me? I'll try to help," he said.
"Craig and I went to the park after school today because he was upset and he wanted to talk. I was trying to comfort him...and then something weird happened. We kissed. Then he ran off," I explained.
"He just ran off?" he asked.
"Yeah, he ran off. I tried calling him and he wont answer the phone."
"Maybe he's embarrassed about what he did. Maybe he thinks you aren't into him that way," Dylan suggested.
I sighed.
"Are you into him that way?"
I searched my brain for an answer. "I don't know. He's my best friend, I can tell him anything. But at the same time, he's sweet and funny and serious....everything that I need in a guy right now."
"Aw," Dylan mocked. "My sissy's in love!"
"Dylan, I'm serious. I don't know what to do."
"Talk to him about it. You're a great person, any guy would be lucky to have you."

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I knocked on the door of Craig's house. Craig answered. "Can we talk?" I asked.
"I don't think there's really anything to talk about..." he said.
"Craig," I narrowed my eyes at him. "We need to talk."
"Let's go to the garage," he said. "We can have privacy in there."
I followed him to the garage. There was a sort of lime green couch on one side. A set of drums was in another part of the room, and a guitar sat on the couch. He turned the light on and the room was illuminated. We sat on the couch.
"I'm sorry," Craig said.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"For attacking you."
"What? You didn't attack me."
"Maybe not...but I feel like a jerk. Like I forced myself on you," he hung his head.
"Craig, you didn't...why would you think that?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"Craig, listen to me," I took my hand and lifted his chin, making him look me in the eye. "You are the best friend I have found and I don't want to lose that. You are a really sweet, sensitive and funny guy...and earlier, when I saw you cry, I wanted to hold you. I wanted to make it go away, like you have done for me. I don't know what I'm feeling...but I don't want it to leave."
"Neither do I," he said after a few moments of silence. "Paige...I don't know what's going on."
"I don't know either," I said. "But I do know that I care about you. I'm not willing to lose our friendship."
He took a deep breath. "Paige? I was wondering...if well, if you're not doing anything on Friday night, I was sort of hoping we could do something together?"
I smiled. "I would love to."