"I've never even had my first kiss," says Misty. She eyes you hopefully, getting up on her knees and plopping her hands in her lap. "I don't think I've ever hugged anybody that wasn't a family member." She laughs but you can immediately pick up on the sadness behind it.

You nod along and give her an awkward smile. "I haven't kissed anyone either." You turn your head away from her, looking at how the sunlight streams down and hits the leaves perfectly as you pick at your nails.

There's an awkward silence, well, maybe just for you, but you feel your body tense as Misty doesn't speak for a few minutes and hums along to a song you can't decipher. You don’t understand why you still feel so shy around her—and around all the girls, actually. You've known them since middle school but you were always the shy one. Still are. You're thankful that they kept you around and encouraged you to join the soccer team with them because, without it, you'd probably have no friends. Maybe Misty would still be there. You think you'd want her to be.

"We could be each other's first kiss maybe?" She blurts out, almost like she was holding it in this whole time. She gives you a shy, soft smile and adjusts her glasses with her hand. You always picked up on the specific way she moves them up her face. You found it endearing.

Misty crawls closer to you, and you remind yourself she doesn't understand personal space when she nearly settles between your legs. "Only if you want to. You don't have to if you don't want to. I just thought it would be a good idea because we're both friends and we've known each other a long time and-"

"Sure."

"What?"

"I'll kiss you," you mumble, scooting up the tree and sitting up straighter. "Why not?"

"Okay!" she exclaims breathlessly. Her gums show as she grins wide and she's nearly buzzing with excitement as you move onto your knees and match her height. She could faint right now, but she can't; she needs to feel your lips on hers. "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited."