Just friends don’t look at each other like that.

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It was never meant to be more than an innocent crush. Friends by proxy, best friends by choice, and the feelings for you came after— what more could Kevin ask for?

Too much. Way too much.

Before long, his feelings for you grew into something more than just a playground infatuation. He found himself finding things you would like as gifts, sending you articles about things he likes in hopes that he may find just another thing to love about you.

Love, huh? That’s what this was then. Love. And it wasn’t long after that revelation that his feelings bubbled to the surface.

New Years festivities in your town were in full swing, with food carts and vendors filling the streets. He normally didn’t like the big crowds, but you wanted to go. “Fine, fine, but you owe me something from one of the food stalls as compensation,” he chided, as if he could ever say no to you.

With his camera in tow, the two of you found the perfect spot on the edge of the river for the fireworks, settling together on the blanket you had brought with. It was beautiful— the backdrop of the waterfront, the sounds of festive music in the air, and as the fireworks started, he saw it.

The perfect picture, you with that smile on your face. His smile.