�Hey Kate, can you come over later?� Stevie Brock asked his friend.
�I have cheerleading until five. What�s up?� she asked.
�Not much. I just wanted to hang with you.� He said.
�Don�t you have football practice today?� she questioned.
�Yeah until four thirty. So by time as I get home and shower, you would be at my house.� He replied.
�Sounds like fun. So I�ll have my mom drive me over to your house for dinner.� She agreed.
�Great. See you later then.� He said running off to practice.
�Katelyn! There you are, we�ve been looking for you.� Katelyn�s friend Monica said walking over.
�Sorry Mon, I was talking to Stevie.� Katelyn replied.
�Oh, that�s okay. He�s so cute!� Monica sighed.
�If you say so. He�s been my best friend since I was born.� Katelyn replied.
�Well then you�re the lucky one.� Monica supposed
�Again, if you say so. Come on, we�re gonna be late.� Katelyn said, dragging Monica away.
The two girls walked over to the gym where their cheerleading practice was held. When they got there, their friend Tori came skipping over to them.
�I was worried you�d be late.� She said.
�Sorry. I got held up talking to Stevie.� Katelyn said.
�It�s okay. Stevie Brock is so cute!� Tori sighed.
�Ugh, not again!� Katelyn exclaimed.
�What?� Tori asked
�Why does everybody think Stevie is so cute? He�s just a boy, nothing special.� Katelyn said
�Have you seen him lately? Puberty is definitely his friend.� Monica replied.
�Ew you guys. He�s been my best friend since I was like months old. Our moms used to give us baths together.� Katelyn informed them
�Really? What I would give to see Stevie Brock naked�� Tori sighed
�Tor! Snap out of it! God!� Katelyn cried.
�Sorry! I can�t help it!� Tori exclaimed.
Katelyn sighed. She didn�t understand why everyone thought Stevie was so cute. To her, he was still the same little kid he had always been. They were inseparable until they turned 10 when Stevie got into football and Katelyn got into cheerleading. They were still close and she cheered at all his games. Practice started and Katelyn worked her butt off. She was ready to pass out once practice was over.
�Man, that was so tough.� Monica said, taking a sip of water.
�Tell me about it. I�ve never sweat so much in my life.� Katelyn said, lying down on the floor
�So, what are you gals doing now?� Tori asked
�I�m going home to take a nap and a shower.� Monica replied
�Going to Stevie�s. But first I�m going to shower cuz I feel gross.� Katelyn said
�Ooh! You�re going over to Stevie�s?� Monica asked
�Gosh, you people act like you�re not friends with him too!� Katelyn exclaimed
�We are but you know how it is. We like him.� Monica said
�I don�t know why but okay.� Katelyn said.
�Come on y�all. I gotta go.� Tori said, pulling her friends up.
The three friends got up and grabbed their things. They went outside and waited for their parents. Katelyn�s mom came and got her.
�Hey mom. Is it cool that I told Stevie I�d come over for dinner?� Katelyn asked
�No problem sweetheart. Do you want me to drop you off on the way home?� her mom asked
�No! I need to shower and change first.� Katelyn replied
�You need to shower and change first? This is coming from the same girl who goes over there in her pajamas first thing in the morning?� her mom teased
�I feel gross. My clothes are sticking to me right now I�m so sweaty.� Katelyn replied
�Okay. Well hurry up because it�s getting dark.� Her mom warned
�Okay Mom. I�ll be done in ten minutes.� Katelyn said running into the house.
She took a quick shower and threw on jeans and a shirt. She brushed her long hair and put it in a ponytail. Her eyes had been irritated so she changed her contacts for glasses. When she was finished, she went back downstairs.
�Okay Mom, I�m going now.� Katelyn said, putting on her sneakers.
�Did you call and say you were on your way?� her mom asked
�No, I told Stevie when I�d be over.� Katelyn replied
�Okay, call me when you get there so I know you made it.� Her mom said
�Mom, I�m going around the corner.� Katelyn reminded
�But you never know what could happen nowadays.� Her mom replied
�Okay Mom. I�ll call you in a few minutes. Bye!� she said kissing her mom�s cheek and leaving the house.
She walked around the corner and to Stevie�s house. She rang the bell and his mom let her in.
�Hi Kate. Stevie�s up in his room, go ahead.�
�Thanks!� Katelyn said and walked upstairs
�Took you long enough.� Stevie said as she opened the door
�Forgive me for having to shower.� Katelyn said, sitting on his bed
�You actually showered to come over here? I�m shocked.� Stevie joked
�I was all sweaty from practice.� Katelyn replied
�Well thank you for not smelling like hot ass.� Stevie said.
�Ha ha. Shut up Stephen.� She teased
�Don�t call me that. So, how was practice?� he asked
�Lovely. Tori and Monica drove me crazy as usual.� She replied
�About what?� he asked
�You, duh! �Stevie�s so cute!� God, if I hear that one more time, I�m going to puke.� She replied, grimacing
�Sorry I�m so irresistible.� He said laughing
�Bite me Brock, bite me.� She replied.
�Nah, that�s okay. You�d probably taste weird.� He said
�Whatever. I taste like roses.� She joked.
�Sure ya do pal o� mine.� He said slinging his arm around her shoulders.
�Kids! Dinner�s ready!� Stevie�s mom called.
They went downstairs to eat. After dinner, Katelyn helped Stevie with his homework and they hung out for a bit longer. Soon, it was time for Katelyn to go home.
�So I guess I�ll see you tomorrow in school� Stevie said, standing awkwardly in front of the door.
�Well duh. We�re in the same homeroom.� Katelyn replied, trying to break the tension.
�Yeah. Bye Katie.� He said, kissing her cheek
�Later Stevo.� She said hugging him
She got home and got ready for bed. As she was getting ready, she thought about what Monica and Tori had been saying. Was Stevie really cute? She had noticed that he was looking cuter than usual. She shook her head. He was just her best friend and even if she wanted him to be more, he wouldn�t be. He didn�t like her like that and she knew it.
The next day in class, Stevie passed Katelyn a note:
Katie,
What are you doing later? Wanna go to the movies, just us? I need to talk to you.
Stevie
She looked at the note. He needed to talk to her? What was that all about? She wrote back:
Stevo,
Sure thing buddy. What do you need to talk about?
Katie
She gave him back the note. He shook his head as if to say �not till later�. She got worried. Did he not want to be friends anymore? No, that couldn�t be it. They had been friends since their moms were pregnant, he couldn�t just ditch her after 13 years of friendship.
After school, Stevie�s dad picked them up and drove them to the movies. Afterward, they were going to get pizza at the nearby pizzeria. And then they were back home. First, they went to see �The Prince and Me�.
�That movie was so cute!� Katelyn gushed
�Yeah, it was such a chick flick.� Stevie complained.
�Shut up. You should have known when you told me I could pick the movie dork.� Katelyn replied, pushing him
�Your hands are cold.� Stevie said grabbing her hand.
�It�s a little chilly out here buddy.� She said, holding his hand.
They walked to the pizzeria and say down in a booth.
�It�s warmer in here.� He said
�Yes I�ve noticed.� She said. They didn�t let go of each other�s hand though.
They agreed on what to get and then fell into an awkward silence.
�So, what did you want to talk about?� Katelyn asked
�Umm, about something�� he replied
�Steve? Just spill it already. You�re so bad at hiding things from me.� She said
�Katie, you know I love you right?� he asked
�Yeah I do. I love you too.� She said
�And umm, I was wondering�� he said
�Yes? Ask me before we�re in college here.� She replied
�Will you go out with me?� he asked hurriedly
�We are out.� She pointed out
�I mean, as in will you be my girlfriend?� he asked again
�Oh! You want me to be your girlfriend? Are you sure?� she asked
�Yes Katelyn. You�re my best friend and I care about you a lot. I think we�d make a cut couple. What do you think?� he asked
�I think that Tori and Monica are either going to love me because we�re dating or hate me because we�re dating.� She said smiling
�So that�s a yes?� he asked
�Duh Brock! Get it together!� she joked
�Okay! I was just checking!� he laughed
She kissed him. �You�re a goof.�
�But you love me anyways.� He said kissing her.