I twirled my tongue around the cold spoon, licking off the cool chocolate chip ice cream. I closed my eyes, letting it slowly melt on my tongue. Equally slowly I withdrew the spoon from my pink-tinted lips, my made up eyes opening slowly. My blue orbs locked with laughing caramel ones. I giggled sheepishly, and his deep voice rumbled with laughter: "Good ice cream?"

"The best," I smiled, chipping off a piece of the waffle cone and popping it in my mouth. I glanced down at my prom dress, careful not to drip. It was sapphire colored, deep blue with delicate silver accents. There was a heart-shaped bodice, and a big full skirt. It was like sitting on a cloud, and the fabric swished around my legs like a soft caress. I loved this dress.

Truth be told, the only reason I had gone to the prom (only an hour ago) was because of this gorgeous dress.

I hadn't even picked this dress out - it had been Ryder (my best friend's) doing. He was a notorious player, and said he had undressed enough girls to know the perfect dress for any girl. I had blushed at the thought of all the girls he'd undressed. It was a week later when he surprised me with this gown. He refused to tell me how much it had cost, and refused to allow me to pay him back. I wasn't even his date. In fact, I hadn't had a date - he'd set me up with his friend (Bradley).

Bradley was hot in the stereotypical jock (he's a basketball player) fashion: blonde hair, blue eyes (he looked like he could be my brother), a great smile, and perfect tan. He was tall and thin, with a six-pack and muscles and "swagger".

I preferred Ryder, to be honest.

Ryder was a basketball player, too. He was probably an inch taller than Bradley, with floppy dark hair (the bed head style, I guess you'd say), with the lightest brown eyes I'd ever had the pleasure of looking into. He had a wicked smile, and a nice tan. He had muscles that rippled when he walked, played sports, or moved. He had thin, precise hands (perfect for the surgeon's career he was hoping for) and an easy grace. He was sarcastic and a bit of jackass. He was a total player and loved sex. He took sports seriously and got good grades effortlessly. He loved his pets (three dogs, two cats, and a gerbil). And his niece and nephew were his favorite kids in the world.

...I spend a lot of time thinking about my best friend.

And I'll be honest; I have no idea when I fell in love with him. Because, I've always loved Ryder - he's my best friend. I just don't know when I made the shift from love to in love. I do know that it's been a while. And I've been trying to not love him for just about that long - I've been doing pretty well, too. I mean...I'm the exact opposite from all the girls he usually goes for. I don't flaunt my physical attributes (in fact, I'm "big boned," as they say), I'm blunt and sarcastic, I prefer commitment and I'm a virgin. I wear glasses and don't party. I study.

Anyways, I long ago decided Ryder and I were only meant to be best friends. I gave up because...I'm not his type.

Right now both of our dates are in the bathroom. Victoria, Ryder's girl of the moment, dismissed herself to the powder room ten minutes ago. She was wearing a tight red dress that barely covered her butt. Her chocolate-colored hair was in a fancy up do, stray pieces dangling down her neck. She wore matching heels and carried a clutch.

Bradley had dismissed himself two minutes ago, wearing his classic, clean-cut tuxedo.

Ryder was slouched across from me, fiddling with his spoon. He wore an all black tuxedo and boy did he look ten times sexier than he usually did - and it wasn't fair. He stared at me from under his eyelashes, making me melt.

"Where do you think our dates ran off to?" I wondered, tilting my head to look over to the hallway leading to the bathrooms slightly. My blonde curls falling across my bare shoulder and brushing my cheeks lightly.

"Shall we go find out?"

He was out of the booth and holding his hand out to me in a flash. Why the fuck is he so fast? I wondered in my head. I nodded and stood on my own, passing his hand. I could hear him chuckle lightly behind me as we made our way to the hallway.

And there, before our eyes, were our dates, completely tangled in each other. My jaw dropped to the floor. They were really into each other. Then Bradley looked up, his cheeks going pink slightly, he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Oh, uh, hey Ryder, hey Emma," he grinned sheepishly.

Victoria turned around to look at us and she rolled her eyes, "Ryder," she snorted.

Behind me he chuckled, "Nice one guys." He looped his arm around my waist, pulling me to him and then away from the scene: "Catch you Monday," he called back to them.

"Get your bag. They'll get the bill," Ryder commanded, sensing my shocked state. I picked up my always-with-me-sort-of-ratty messenger bag and allowed him to guide me out of the ice cream shop. When the cool air hit my face, my thoughts caught up with each other. We stood outside of the door, and I started to giggle uncontrollably bringing my manicured hands up to cover my flushed face and subsequent toothy grin. Next to me, Ryder chuckled and looped his arm through mine: "There's my Emma."

He started to steer me towards his car when I pulled him back and said: "Lets walk." He smiled at me and nodded.

I pulled my arm away from his to secure my messenger bag across my body, the moonlight guiding our path. As soon as it was secured, Ryder grabbed my hand and begun swinging our arms back and forth between us.

I was still grinning uncontrollably as we walked, arriving at a park.

"You never really liked him, huh?" he chuckled, squeezing my hand slightly.

"Not one bit. The only reason I even went to prom, Ryder, was because of this ridiculously gorgeous dress," I shoved him with my shoulder slightly. He chuckled, and twirled me around his finger, "I'm a genius Emma, you can admit it."

I giggled as he twirled me.

And then he stopped, and scowled at me. "What?" I growled. He crossed his arms: "I'm a genius, you look fucking gorgeous in that dress, and you're ruining it."

I pushed through the blush that swarmed my cheeks at the compliment and crossed my arms defiantly, "What's that supposed to mean?"

He stepped really close to me, my breath hitching slightly, and he demanded: "Give me the bag." He hooked his fingers under the strap. I grinned, "And if I don't?" I stealthily began to slip off my dreadful silver heels; I thought it was stealthy, however my sudden loss of five inches might've tipped him off…

He raised his eyebrows.

I chewed on my bottom lip, containing a grin. Finally slipping my shoes off, I bolted. Letting my toes slip through the slick grass, running as fast as I possibly could, my bulky bag banging my side repeatedly. I could hear him chuckle behind me.

It took just about three and a half seconds for him to catch up to me. And at this point he wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me backwards and to his chest. Swiftly he pulled on the bag and flung it to the right. "Gotcha!" he said grinning, not even phased by the quick sprint, while I was breathing heavily.

I glared at him: "Why do you have to be so fucking fast?" He just chuckled in response.

"Now," he grinned, "Spin." And he pushed me away with a gentle shove, so I was maybe a foot in front of him. He raised his eyebrows, and made a twirling motion with his right pointer finger. I rolled my eyes and began twirling slowly for him. I stood on my tiptoes and let the dress flare out at the edges slightly.

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around my waist and pushed my flush against a warm body. While one hand secured me to his body, the other hand wove its way into my blonde curls and locked my lips with his. I gasped, and he took that as an invitation to dart his tongue into my mouth and make me melt completely. Any defense I before had was lost, I stood on my tiptoes, and my arms went up and wrapped around his neck, playing with the hair there.

When we pulled apart, I lowered myself down to the pads of my feet and his forehead followed mine, his back curved and his forehead rested on mine. "I'm sorry," he breathed, "I...you looked...I couldn't..." he looked down, his cheeks looking slightly pink, but he didn't pull away.

I chewed on my bottom lip and pulled away, "Ryder..." I whispered. His eyes snapped to my face, and I looked down to my fingers fiddling with them.

"What?" he demanded.

"Am I...I just...but the others...I don't want..." I couldn't form a coherent thought. Somehow he knew what I was saying: "You," he gripped my shoulders roughly, making me look at him: "Are not like the others." It was a practically a growl, and his eyes held a passion I'd never seen, "Don't ever compare yourself to them." I blushed, looking down.

"I have loved you since the day I met you, Emma."

"B-but..."

"No," he cut me off, "I'm done suffering. I want you and I'm going to have you. And you're not like the other girls and you never will be."

"But what about..." I chewed on my lips and looked at him, scared, "...sex? I'm not…" I whispered.

He furrowed his eyebrows, and scowled at me. He matched my height, locking his eyes with mine, "I will never pressure you into anything, Emma, do you understand? I love you and I'm not going to sacrifice that for sex." It was a growl again.

I rubbed my lips together.

He seemed to sense my hesitance, "Now look Emma. Either you accept my offer now, or everyday for the rest of my life I will try, with every fiber of my being, to get you to be mine," he paused, taking a breath, "I will be annoying as fuck."

I giggled and grinned, "Well when you put it that way," I grinned and stood on my tiptoes and kissed him again, letting my lips linger on his for as long as I could until my legs groaned at the effort. "You're so fucking tall." He chuckled, picked me up, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissed me long and hard.

Best prom ever.