Confession:

It would be an ordinary day, the wind tickled her legs as she walked side by side with her best friend on her way home but it didn't feel like an ordinary day. Her stomach was in knots, something the usually confident Abby Archer wasn't used to.

She had decided to ask Chester the question once school was over, that way they wouldn't have to mull it over during class and instead could go home and brood about it. She had sent a text to him, asking to see him after school which he readily agreed to but when she saw him step out thru high school's entrance with that honest smile that made her heart melt she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

They had instead headed home to her place. Chester didn't bring up her message, probably cause he followed her home on a daily basis nowadays. Chester's apartment wasn't even on her way home, he just did it to prolong his time with her.

He was her best friend.

They'd been thru so much together. Freshman year had been her first without the company of her little brother Ty but Chester was there so she never felt alone. Even Paige didn't get to her as much anymore since Chester was always there and together they stood up to the blonde queen bee. Chester even joined the bureau of Grossology and while he's said it was to make amends, a selfish part of Abby wanted to believe he did it to be close to her. He was her best friend, her partner and her confidante. He didn't have to be more than that so why did she have this nagging need for him to be even close?

Damn it. Why did he have to be Chester; the gentle sweetheart today? Couldn't he have been Chester; the frustrating pessimist that drove her crazy? If he'd been in that mood she would probably just have forgotten the question entirely and moved on. Why was she so frustrated anyway? She had no such problems when she hooked up with Greg a couple of years ago.

"Abby? Where you going girl?" Chester's voice brought Abby back to the present and she realized her blonde friend was no longer by her side. Turning around she saw him standing a few feet away. With a mischievous smirk, Chester pointed to his left. "Um, your house is right here."

Abby suddenly realized that she had been so deep in thought and so frustrated that she hadn't even noticed when she walked right past her home. "Oh, right…" Her cheeks turned to roses as she stared at him.

Chester tilted his head a little, his long hair cascading over his shoulder. "Are you okay? You've been quieter than usual today."

"No, I'm-I'm fine." Abby reassured him.

Chester gave her a friendly smile. "You know you can tell me if something is wrong, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Good. See you tomorrow."

Chester was about to turn around and walk away when Abby called out to him. "Chester, wait."

True to his loyalty, Chester turned his gaze to her.

Anxiously, Abby chewed her lip. She decided to ask him. Like ripping off a band-aid. Just get it over with. "Chester…are you in love with me?"

The silence that followed was overwhelming, one could hear a pin drop. Abby then witnessed Chester shrinking. His eyes dilated in fear before his gaze fell in shame and his entire body shriveled. He suddenly looked like he did to two years ago when he was alone, scared and miserable, before Abby made him realize he had value.

"Abby, I…" He started but his words died in his throat. He managed to raise his gaze to look at her, right in her soulful compassionate eyes. He swallowed. "Abby…you were my first real friend," he smiled, probably reminiscing, "and you came into my life when I needed one the most bu-but things are different now. I'm not as reliant on you anymore. I have LabRat and the guys in the band. Your family has been good to me, better than my own ever was so you don't have to feel obligated to be around me."

Abby scowled. "What are you saying? That I had to be with you cause you were so alone? That I only hang out with you cause I feel sorry for you?"

Chester flinched a bit at her accusation. Abby rarely yelled at him. "No." He shook his head and straightened his posture just a little. "It's just that," he bit his lip, trying to find the right words, "I know that compassion can make people do things they don't actually want to do and you're the most compassionate person I know so I guess I just wanted to you know, give you a heads up."

Abby blinked. "So you're saying that you used to have feelings for me but not anymore."

A sad smile graced Chester's face. There was no point to deny it anymore. She had clearly already figured it out. She probably knew all along considering how good she was at reading him (and how bad he was at hiding his feelings from her). "No Abby, my feeling for you are stronger than they've ever been."

Abby was visible taken aback by this.

"At first it was probably just cause you were the only person who liked me and cause you were so beautiful." A rosy hue spread across his cheeks. "But as the days and years went by I realized what an amazing person you are. You're kind and smart and heroic. I feel blessed to be your friend." His sad smile now dipped into a sad frown. "I can understand if that makes you uncomfortable, having a friend with those kinds of feelings for you so if you want me to keep my distance for a bit I'll understand." Chester appeared to be in genuine pain when he said that. He then turned around and started walking away, slowly.

For a moment, Abby felt like she was in a trance. Like Chester's words had shaken her reality and she realized she didn't want him to leave. She blinked and called out, "Do you wanna go out with me?"

The blonde boy stopped in his tracks and slowly raised his head. Hesitantly, he turned around and looked at her with confused eyes. "Sorry, I didn't hear you. What did you say?"

Suddenly Abby burst out laughing. She just couldn't help it. The look on his face. He reacted like it was the first time anything good had happened to him. It was just too adorable. After slapping her knee, Abby managed to get a hold of herself and face her friend's gaze. "I said, do you want to go on a date with me?"

Chester's lips parted and his eyes blinked. "A date? Like a date-date?"

Abby nodded. "Yeah, a real date."

The smile that stretched across Chester's face was priceless. He nodded. "Yes-yes I would want that."

"Good." Abby said with her characteristic sunny grin.

"But only if I get to decide the time and place." Chester said.

That was surprising. Chester never took charge. He usually just tagged along on whatever Abby wanted. Still, Abby couldn't say she didn't like it. "Okay. You better wow me."

"You bet. I pick you up tomorrow at six." He was about to run off when he paused. "Oh and wear something comfortable. Nothing too fancy." He then ran off with an energetic sprint in his steps.

Her ponytail fluttered in the wind a little and she smiled warmly at her best friend disappearing into the distance.

She couldn't imagine how much would change going forward but she knew one thing that wouldn't. She knew she never wanted to go a day without seeing his beautiful smile.