"Did you really like Sam?"

"I liked Sam," Troy told me as he threw Sasha's ball towards the water, "we had fun."

"What does that mean, you guys had fun?"

Troy took his glasses off and looked over at me, trying to see my expression more clearly I think. And I think trying to decide if I was starting a fight or not. but I wasn't. I'm not trying to. I'm just curious. It's been two weeks and I just need to know about him and Sam. I'm not worried about it, I just want to know how it was like for him... dating her. It's something I want to know and I don't want him to think it's anything I'm trying to look for.

So, I reword it a bit. "I just want to know if you miss it, I guess. If you guys got closure, or just how it was. I don't know. I'm just curious."

"By fun, I mean, we hung out at parties, we saw some movies, we went to lunch. It was simple."

"And now you guys don't talk?"

"I mean, she's in one of my classes. I don't sit next to her, but if she were to say hi to me, I'd say hi back," he shrugs, "there's nothing there anymore, if that's what you're wondering. It wasn't serious and so no, I don't miss it."

I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Maybe I just feel guilty. Like I'm the one who took him away from some girl. And I never want to be that girl, ever.

But if we're being serious, Troy was mine first.

"Okay," I give him a small smile as Sasha comes up to us dropping her ball for one of us to throw it again.

I picked it up and threw it towards the water again and she ran for it.

We were currently at the beach, enjoying a nice day with Sasha. A tiny perk to dating him is that I get to hang out with Sasha all the time. And do things like this- hang out with him, at the beach, one of my favorite places, and talk about anything and everything. It feels nice. It feels good.

And strangely, it feels like old times.

"Hey," he puts his hand on my leg which immediately gives me chills, "that was then and this is now. And now is good."

"Now is good, huh?" I turn towards him a bit and and grab his hand that's on my leg still, "sorry. I'm not... I'm not trying to talk about the past. I was just curious. Every time I see her at school, it's this like icy look and I don't really care because she wasn't this great friend to me or anything, but still... it makes me feel bad. I don't exactly know what you guys had."

"It wasn't serious and I liked her, yes, but don't worry about it," he gives me a smile, "everything is good right now. It's the way it's supposed to be."

I feel that way, too.

I've been so happy these past two weeks, I can't get over it.

We jumped right into it. We wasted no time. Everyday, we hung out. We'd walk into school, hand in hand. We'd grab ice cream after dinner and walk around, talking about anything and everything. We sat our parents down and told them everything. We laid in my bed all day last Saturday watching movie after movie because we both had a terrible cold. We'd kiss whenever, wherever. It was real. It was so real.

It's weird how this wouldn't be happening if we weren't friends before. I would never spend this much time with a guy and pretty much go all in.

But this is different. He was my best friend. I know him. I know I can trust him. I know he's kind and he'd never hurt me. I know all the most important things you need to know about someone if you're going to spend so much time with them.

So, yes, this is real.

And sooner or later, we're going to officially become boyfriend and girlfriend and it's going to feel even more real.

I want to know everything, though.

And that includes his last relationship. He saw mine, firsthand.

"Do you wanna tell me about your ex girlfriend," I tell him, looking up at him with a small smile on my face, "the one you had in Seattle..."

"Kacie?"

"Yeah, Kacie," I nod.

I want to know about her. I want to know how long they were together, why they broke up, if they broke up because he moved here, all of that. It's not like it really matters because I know he's in this with me. I know his feelings for me are real and what we have is good and it's all about us. But I'm curious about her. I'm curious about how serious they were. I mean, I'm sure you can fall in love at this age, right? So, I want to know everything. How things were.

He grabbed the ball Sasha just placed in front of him and threw it.

And then looked over at me.

"Kacie and I met freshman year. Nothing really came about it. It was a hard time being there, but by sophomore year, things were good. I made great friends, I felt like I was apart of the city and I was much more at ease. And Kacie was the beautiful, out-going cheerleader..."

"Cheerleader? I didn't expect that," I interrupt him.

"Yeah, she was a cheerleader," he laughs, once again grabbing the ball from Sasha who keeps interrupting us.

Just kidding.

He decided to just keep the ball behind him so Sasha could rest.

And then he continued. "So summer before junior year, we were all hanging out at my buddies house and she had just gotten back from Honduras with her church where she volunteered at orphanages and I wasn't shocked to hear about it, but it was a bit surprising. She was nice and everything, outgoing, but thought that was maybe it. She was the rich girl whose parents would let her have parties all the time. And it wasn't something she was throwing in your face so it was this whole other side. She didn't want to talk about it when someone asked her about it. She said it was personal and that she didn't go so she could come back and talk about it. And I thought it was so cool, like, she didn't need to make herself look good. She did it because she cares. And so I saw her in this whole new light and so for the rest of the summer, we hung out. It was really easy hanging out with her. Once school started, we were together and we dated for about seven months."

"Seven months," I whisper, "that's... a while."

"In high school, sure," he nods, "it was fun. We had a great time together. But it was just never really there between us."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugs, "I don't know, that feeling where you're just so happy, you can't think of a day where it can end. I know it's silly because we were what, 17 years old? But I just knew it probably wasn't going to be this great thing, I probably want going to fall anymore for her than I already had. So I broke up with her."

Even though I know where he stands, even though I know he's in this with me, it brings a smile knowing he's the one that broke up with her.

"It was the epitome of a high school relationship. Where things are great, you're having fun, but it just doesn't make sense to keep it going because you know it's just not going to work. And so, yeah, that's pretty much it."

"Do you guys still talk?" I don't think I would care too much, but who knows, really.

"Nah," he shakes his head, "she wasn't too thrilled. She thought I blindsided her. I felt bad, but if it's not there, it's not there."

I nod, agreeing, "same with Sam."

He smiles a bit, "same with Sam, yeah, you're right."

"You think that's going to happen with me? Four months from now, it's just not going to be there?"

"You never want that when you start dating someone," he says, "who goes into it thinking, hoping it won't work out? That's the reality of it sometimes, it just doesn't work out... it's not there. But without jinxing it, without getting ahead of ourselves, I don't think so. I think... I think this could be something great."

"I think so, too, because we're lucky enough to know that we can trust each other with our lives and there's nothing really better than that."

Troy smiles at me, "nothing better."

Sometimes it feels really weird being in this place with Troy.

We were best friends. Nothing more. We were so young when we became the best of friends. And so being here, like this, lovey dovey, cheesy and all, it's different. It's weird at times. But it feels right. It feels like we should be here. And being best friends was the stepping stone.

Who knows what we could be, what could happen between us, but I'm hopeful.

I'm hopeful it could be that great, deep love that you can't live without, that you want for the rest of your life.

I can't wait to find out if this could be it.

"Honestly, Mads, I don't think it's anything, Noah likes you," I tell her as she's laying in her bed, phone in hand, after discovering some things.

"He told me he went to his cousins in Long Beach," she reminds me.

"He could have easily went to that party afterward."

She sighs as she throws her phone to the side of her and spreads her arms wide open and just laid there for a minute.

Her and Noah are full on dating. They haven't had a conversation about being boyfriend and girlfriend, but she thinks, and I think, there doesn't need to be one. They're basically boyfriend and girlfriend. I think it was like this silent thing. They hold hands in public, they hold hands and kiss at school, letting the whole student body know that they're into each other. And they are. Noah's so into her. She's so into him. And things are good. She's happy, I know she is.

So, this picture she saw on Instagram of him and some girl at a party, I don't think is anything to worry about.

"Why would he lie, though?"

"I don't know, maybe he thought since you guys are a little more serious now, you wouldn't necessarily want him going to a party," I guess.

She sits up and sighs, "I mean, who wants a guy they really like at a party with drunken girls? But I wouldn't forbid him. I wouldn't call it quits over it. So it's just shady. And maybe this isn't as serious as I thought it was getting. Maybe it's just a fling for him."

A fling? Yeah right. "It's not a fling and you and I both know it."

"He lied to me, Gabs. that's shady. You'd be okay with Troy doing this?" She throws it back at me, "I don't think so."

"It's different. I really, really know Troy."

"I know it's been like only a month, but I like him. And I just thought things were good," she shakes her head, "he doesn't need to lie to me to go to a party."

I felt bad for my best friend.

It's the first boy she really has dated and a month in, she has doubts. She has insecurities. She thinks it might not be serious for him, like he might be playing her. And that's the worst. You never want to see your friend going through any of these things. Especially your best friend. Maybe she shouldn't be going through his tagged pictures on instagram, but I honestly don't think she has anything to worry about, I really don't.

And I don't know Noah THAT well, but I just don't think he's that dumb.

I think he's a nice guy. And I think he likes Mads and he's had a crush on her for a while and he'd be such an idiot to let her go, I know he knows that.

"Are you happy with Troy?"

"What?" We're talking about me now? "Yeah, I am."

"I'm glad," she smiles at me, "I'm sorry. I know I'm being annoying. How was San Diego?"

She's not being annoying at all. This is what friends are for. To vent to about their guys. And I want that. I want her to talk to me. "Stop, you're not being annoying. You're letting your feelings out. But San Diego was fun. I love San Diego, it's always such a good time."

Troy and I went for the weekend with our families and it was like old times... except this time we held hands and kissed. Ha.

"Is it weird with your families?"

"No, which is so weird. I thought it would be, but everything's been so easy."

"That's good," she gets up from her bed and goes over to her dresser to grab her water bottle, "that would be the worst thing if your family was like super uncomfortable or weird about it, you know? Since for the longest, all you guys were were best friends."

It really would be. "Yeah, but things are good. Honestly, I don't think life could be better. Everything's just... lining up. I'm so... happy."

Madison smiles at me as she hops back on her bed. "Awww."

"I know, I know, it's so cheesy," I laugh, "but I think that's why you shouldn't throw in the towel with Noah, I know you guys could be this happy. I know he likes you, you like him. I've seen you guys together. It's something. And you're so excited about him, Mads. You are."

"Yeah, I was. I was so excited about what could be. And now, I don't even know."

"I'm not on his side, I want you to know that, I just don't think you should jump to conclusions."

Again, she sighs. "It's hard not to. What business did I have looking at his tagged pictures? I've never done that. I've never done that to anyone. And so it makes me feel like I was supposed to see that picture. That stupid picture of him with a drink in his hand, and a girl hugging him with the stupid heart emoji caption. Like... how would that sit well with you? I don't get it Gabriella. I know you trust Troy with everything, but if that was Cole..."

Okay, okay, I get it.

I just don't want to talk about Cole. I hate hearing his name.

"Go with your gut, then. I'll support whatever you want to do. But he doesn't even know you're mad at him. How can he even defend himself over this?"

"Well, yeah, you're right, but it's definitely something I'm going to bring up. And I'm sure he knows something is wrong. I haven't texted him back all morning. And I don't know if I really want to talk to him today," she tells me.

Beofre I could even say anything, we heard a knock on her door. I looked over at her and she looked confused.

But then I got up to open it.

And there, in the flesh, was Noah Baldwin himself.

"What are you doing here?" Madison immediately asks him, sitting up a bit, looking like a ghost.

"Um, your mom let me in," he tells her before looking over at me and giving me a small smile, "I just thought I'd drop by."

Madison didn't say anything for a moment. I think she was still in shock. Probably because she was in sweats, no makeup and it's someting he's enver seen before. And also, it was all too fresh for her. She literally saw the picture this morning when she woke up and I doubt she wants to talk to him right now.

I didn't really know what to do. I was just standing here, wondering what the hell is going on. Why he's here.

"Well, I have company..."

"Yeah, sorry," he says, looking over at me, "you guys busy?"

"I can go," I offer, "we were just..."

But Madison stops me, "no. She's not leaving. You should leave. Gabriella and I were about to go grab some lunch, so."

I get it. I get why Madison is being like this. But honestly, this is the perfect opportunity to lay everything out there. He's here. She can't sit on this for too long or she'll grow resentful and she'll think all these different things and it would just be so much better if they hashed it out right here, right now.

"Did I do something?" He asks, basically ignoring her request to leave, "I don't understand."

"Yeah, you did!"

Oh fuck. Okay. I need to go. "Mads, I'm gonna..."

She shakes her head, "no, Gabriella, you're not fucking leaving."

Ummm. Okay then, I'm not.

"What did I do?" Noah asks her, walking over to her a bit, but stopping once she gets off her bed and walks over to her dresser to grab a hair tie, "I haven't seen you since yesterday afternoon and last night when I went to bed, things were good, thing were fine. I don't understand."

"You lied to me, Noah! You went to some party last night and you were taking pictures with some girl. And that just doesn't sit well with me."

"What are you talking about?" He looks so confused. Like, so confused. "I was with my cousin last night..."

Madison angrily puts her hair in a bun and walks over to her window and opens it all dramatically before turning back to him. "Then why the fuck are you tagged in some chick named Jenna's picture with a stupid heart emoji for a caption?"

I was literally sitting here, on her compute chair, trying my hardest to just not make eye contact with either of them. This was so awkward.

"Babe, no..."

"Don't call me that," she says, "it's there, Noah. I saw it."

"Yeah, no, I know it's..."

Madison once again didn't even let him finish his thought, "if you wanna date other girls, do it. Do whatever the fuck you what. But don't drag me along. Don't fucking lie to me. I can handle it, okay? I know you're Noah fucking Baldwin, but unlike every other girl, I don't think you're God's gift to earth."

Noah didn't say anything for a moment. He just stood here. Madison stood there. And I sat here... super uncomfortable.

And then he spoke up. "You're the only girl I like Madison Rose."

Gah, I'm not even into him, I don't have any feelings for him, but that made me get butterflies.

"Yeah, well..."

"And a picture of a friend and I at a party doesn't mean I don't," he interrupts her now, "and I'd apologize if it's what you were saying, but it's not. That picture was taken three weeks ago at her birthday party and she posted it randomly. There's nothing there, I don't like her, I don't like any other girl besides you and I don't want to date other girls. Only you. And if you're doubting that, I'm not doing a good job of showing you just how much I like you."

It's SO weird that I'm here, witnessing it all.

But I'm glad to be, at at the same time. Madison's face... it's priceless.

Noah takes a step towards her and at the same time, she takes one towards him. And he gives her a small smile.

"Sorry," she tells me, looking defeated. I would be, too. "I just saw it... and I just, I'm sorry. You are. You are showing me you like me and I like you, too. And I'm sorry for doubting that. But like I said, you're Noah Baldwin... you know?"

"And you're Madison Rose Hill," he tells her, "if that's your way of saying I'm great, well, then you're pretty great, too. And I want you."

Gah. I love this. I love them together.

I want them together. Madison gives him a smile and then grabs him by the neck and kisses him.

And I pray to God she doesn't forget I'm here because I really don't want to see them make out. How awkward and uncomfortable. But all they do is kiss each other. A couple of times. And then they break up and Madison looks over at me and so does Noah and it's just so awkward that I have to laugh. We all have to laugh about it. But I am glad I was here to witness this all.

Noah asked if we wanted to grab lunch with him and I was more than happy to leave and give them some time alone.

So, Madison walked me out.

"I'm sorry," she tells me as we're on her front porch, "I just didn't want to be by myself."

"It's fine," I tell her, "it was uncomfortable, but in a weird way, I was glad to see that. And you know what? We have some really great guys and I'm so glad I'm on this journey with you, you know? We're both dating, we're both experiencing the same things right now and I love that we're doing it together."

"Me too," Mads tells me, "we do have some pretty great guys, huh?"

I nod. We really do. And I'm rooting for her and Noah.

For me and Troy, too.

For so long, Madison was the one that would hear me vent about anything and everything... which included Troy. How badly he hurt me. How much I hated him and the way he left me and didn't talk to me. And I listened to her vent when she had the biggest crush on Justin Walker, but he had absolutely no idea and overlooked her like she didn't exist. We were here for each other. We love each other hard. We're the best of friends.

And right now, things are so good for us. We're so content with everything going on in our lives and it's so exciting that we're in this together.

I really wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm so happy for her. And I know she's just as happy for me.

Life is just so good.