I’m grinning ear-to-ear.

It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but this boy in front of me seems to get ME. Not the facade we all expect and see at first glance. I’m just…

Just standing there.

Grinning.

Like an idiot.

I notice the cute little spark in his eyes and wonder if it’s because of me.

Is it?

His words make me blush.

Wait, since when?

This is my friend. My friend… how could his words make me blush? How could he make my heart skip an immeasurable amount of beats? How could he start a grin-fest that didn’t stop for like eight minutes?

“Are you okay?”

My heart did it again.

This time, my stomach’s in on it. Skipping beats and fluttering butterflies.

He cares.

As soon as he walks away, it’s like I fell into a deep hole of despair. The pretty butterflies have flown away. The skipping beats have slowed to a walk. The pink across my cheeks has turned back to the pale ghost-like glow. The smile has been replaced with a grimace.

I hope he likes me back.

What?

What am I saying?