Page 2 of The Kissing Challenge

She was right. Most of the time I did. I mean, it's not like the challenges were that difficult anyway. Some involved dance or makeup, of course. I'd even done the occasional lip sync video. But this was so not up my alley.

I kept concentrating on my nails. "Well, I don't think I need to do this one."

"Is this because of Captain?"

The mention of my BFF's name made my heart flutter.

"Because you know he would let you do it in a heartbeat," she said and waggled her eyebrows. "Who knows? He might even enjoy it."

"As if." I forced a laugh. "Captain only sees me as a friend."

Gemma nodded. "Yeah, Anne, that's the whole point of this challenge. To kiss your best friend. It doesn’t have to be a big deal unless you make it one."

How could kissing Captain not be a big deal, though?

There was no way I could do that challenge.

No way.

"It might even help you get over that gigantic crush you've had on him since second grade."

"Gemma," I hissed. My hand slipped, and I got pink all over my rug. "Darn it. I thought we agreed not to speak of that aloud. Ever."

She went back to scrolling on her phone. "It's not like you're in love with him or anything. Right?"

My pulse started to pound. To lie or not to lie? That was the question.

"I-I…can't believe you just said that," I finished lamely.

Her eyes snapped to my face. "OMG, you are! Anne, wow, I only thought that maybe you were. That's what my gut was saying. But I was never sure."

Curse Gemma and her good instincts.

"Well," I said, "at least now, you understand why I can't do that challenge."

She was shaking her head before I even finished.

"No, no, no," Gemma said and grabbed my hands. "Don't you see? That's why you totally have to do it."

"But I'm afraid Captain won't feel the same—or worse, that he'll hate me for it."

"One," she said, "that boy could never hate you. He lets you practice putting makeup on him for goodness sake. And yeah, yeah, I know he's a wanna-be-rockstar. But Anne, you have to know that's not normal."

I sniffed. "Captain is very open-minded and said he wants to help me achieve my dreams. Plus, the guy looks amazing in charcoal eyeliner. It really brings out the gray of his eyes."

"Two," she went on as if I hadn't spoken, "what if he loves you, too?"

"He does love me." I shrugged, avoiding her eyes as I tried my best to wipe up the spilled pink polish. It was going to stain, though. I could already tell. "I know he does. Just…not in that way."

Gemma just shook her head. "And three, again, it might help you get over him."

I didn't think that was possible. Captain wasn't just any guy. He was the love of my life. I'd tried so many times to stop loving him, tried to like different guys, but no one could ever compare. He was my penguin.

"It's only a kiss, Anne."

No such thing, I thought.

There was no such thing asonlya kiss. Orjusta kiss. At least not to me. And there was no way I could make Gemma understand. She was a wonderful girl BF. Gemma supported me like I supported her. We told each other things like real sisters would. Besides Captain, I didn't think I was closer to anyone in my life.

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