After a long day of being out on the lake, my body was tired and my skin was a deep bronze color. Ryan had also gotten some sun, but because he has the whitest skin in the world, the color his skin turned was more reddish than brownish. When everybody was heading to bed around eleven thirty that night, Ryan asked me to go for a walk. We walked around the entire campgrounds, and after a half hour, we were sitting on the edge of the pier, Ryan's feet and ankles completely submerged in the water, my toes just barely underwater. There was a full moon and the night sky was sprinkled with billions and billions of stars. The moon lit up the lake and its reflection shimmered on the water. I couldn't take my eyes off the sky.
"You're so beautiful, Caroline," I heard Ryan tell me as I was looking up at the Big Dipper.
I looked at him. "Have I ever told you that I love every single little freckle on your face?" For emphasis, I poked at his nose.
"Have I ever told you that I love the way your laugh sounds and how I can't stand seeing other guys looking at you?" I could feel my cheeks turning red.
"I can't stand seeing other girls hang all over you, either."
"I love you."
I knew I felt a kiss coming on, but that feeling was nothing compared to what actually happened. We came together in the most romantic, passionate, perfect kiss I had ever experienced. It was slow and fast, it was soft and intense, it was totally out of control and perfectly tame. I never believed that anyone could actually take my breath away, but at that moment, I couldn't breathe. I also never believed that I, Caroline Addams, would ever fall in love with anyone. But here I was, in love with a guy who annoyed me to death but for some reason I couldn't get enough of him.