"Celeste, are we going to be friends forever?" ten-year-old Leo asked, his voice small but certain.
"Best friends," I replied without hesitation.
"I promise if you promise. Promise?" He held out his pinky, eyes wide with sincerity.
"Promise," I said, then quickly leaned in, pressing a small kiss to his cheek. My heart thudded. I had a little crush on Leo for as long as I could remember, and I thought—maybe—just maybe, he’d kiss me back.
Instead, he stiffened, his eyes blinking in shock. "Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to," I admitted, suddenly shy. My face burned.
His turned even redder. "Then I will give you one too." He jolted forward, placed a quick peck on my cheek, then shot back like he’d just touched fire. "Do you want to go play in the pond?"
I nodded excitedly, and
