Peter felt very uncomfortable...but fortunately, it wasn't exactly in a bad way. This was something that he'd wanted to do, but couldn't bring himself to do so, at least not without a proper push. Luckily, his best friend Paul was just the kind of guy to give Peter that little push, and it was now because of Paul that Peter was where he was tonight - in the local park, sitting on a wooden bench. As for why he was there, I'm getting to that.
It wasn't long before someone else was approaching the same bench. It was a young woman, slightly shorter than Peter, with hazel hair, nice green eyes, and usually went around in an elegant white dress with a blue trim that looked like it had some sort of flower motif. She had actually been called here to meet with Peter...by Paul, no less. Paul was actually hiding nearby, in a spot that the girl wouldn't be able to see but that Peter could if he stared past his immediate line of vision.
Anyway, this girl's name was Grace, and she took a seat next to Peter on the park bench. "You wanted to see me, Peter?"
Peter was initially at a loss for words. See, Grace was one of Peter's closest friends, and although they'd only known each other for a few months, they'd gotten to know each other extremely well at the time. And yet, though Peter would never call his feelings a sort of romantic attraction, he was drawn to her in the sense that a brother is drawn to his sister. Grace, on the other hand, was head over heels in love with Peter, and though she never outright stated this, her actions heavily implied it.
"Yeah, I did, Grace. Thanks for coming."
"Of course, Petey!" A term of endearment, of course. "So, you wanted to tell me something?"
"I did. Grace, we've known each other for a while, and yet I feel like there's something getting in the way between us. It's not your fault; it's more so my own pre-conceived notions and all that...and it's getting in the way of what I think about you."
"You don't need to worry, Petey. I like you just the way you are." She could feel like Peter was on the cusp of saying 'I love you', and all he needed was that little push. Paul, off in the distance, was motioning to Peter to keep talking, as if to get it over with.
"Truth be told, Grace, I can feel the way you think about me and I know how genuine it is, and it's beginning to rub off on me, and has been for the past few months. I wouldn't believe it myself unless I said it, but..."
Peter faltered slightly and gulped, as if there was something stuck in his throat. Paul urged him to keep going, mouthing out 'Say it already!' to his friend.
"Grace, I...I love you."
She gasped abruptly, then threw her arms around Peter's neck, leaning on his shoulder. "Oh, Petey, you don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that! I love you too, Petey, more than words can express."
"Truly now?"
"Of course!"
Peter wasn't sure what to do next, so he looked past Grace (discreetly, of course) to Paul, who at this point had two finger puppets over his hands, and was rubbing the puppets together slowly. The intent of his message was clear: 'Kiss her already!' Peter was unsure, but he knew that Paul knew what he was doing...so he hoped. He looked back at Grace, who still had her head buried in his chest, overcome with happiness.
"Grace?"
"Yes, Petey?" She looked up at him.
"Before I leave, there's one thing I want to do."
"Oh?"
And then Peter leaned his head down slowly and locked his lips with those of Grace. A moment was exchanged that, although it lasted only a scant eight seconds, seemed to last an eternity - and Peter and Grace both wished it did. Paul was watching all this unfold and was desperately holding back an urge to wolf-whistle.
"Thanks so much, Grace," Peter said after he drew his head back, "for being there."
"And thank you too, Petey, for finally working up the guts to say that. Paul didn't put you up to this, did he?"
"No, of course not."
"You silly boy; you're too shy to have said that on your own. He's probably hiding in some tree in this park, isn't he?"
I could have told you what happened after that, but that's a story for another day.
