Hope.

My heart leapt at the sight of the shooting star, hoping against hope that my wish would be granted. It flew across the sky, lighting it up with its burning glow. It soared perfectly, leaving behind a near invisible arc of light.
'So, said a voice behind me.'What did you wish for?'
I was so immersed in watching the path of the shooting star that I jumped, startled. I didn't even realize who it was until I turned around and saw the lean figure, golden brown hair flowing in the slight wind. I smiled slightly at Dan, my best friend, who had his hands in his pockets and was looking at me for an answer.
'I don't believe that a shooting star can grant any of my wishes' I chose my words carefully.
'Don't we all?' He was looking at the now empty sky with no trace of the star. He turned to me again. 'But you still wished, didn't you Tara?'
He was smirking.
And I was reminded of Graduation day, all those months ago, of him hugging me tight saying "WE DID IT". Even then he'd smirked the same way. I tried not to think about what happened next and how I'd broken his heart.
I turned then, started walking down the path. It led to a lake near the farmhouse where Dan, Maddie and I had learned to swim.
So many memories tonight.
'Don't we all?, I copied him. 'We humans like to believe in fictional things like wishes.
'Even if we don't say them out loud'
'What?'
'Even if we don't actually say the words,' he explained, 'our hearts just hope, you know?'
I did know. And I wanted to tell him that but I knew that it would bring on a whole round of questions so I opted for teasing.
'When did you become so philosophical?' I nudged him with my elbow.
'I've always been the wise one in our little trio, you've just been unaware of it.'
His tone was teasing but he looked at the lake, thoughtful.
He went and sat at the little hill beside the lake and patted the ground next to him.
I sat and thought of Maddie.
'If you're the wise one and Maddie's the energetic one - he laughed at that - then what does that make me?'
He looked over at me and I almost gasped. The moonlight fell on his face making his eyes glow, his whole face was glowing. His lips pulled up at the corners and he said a single word.
Beautiful.
At first I was confused,  thinking that he knew what word I wanted to describe him with but then I remembered the question I had asked.
And then I did gasp, realizing that he meant it truly.
Instantly his expression changed to one of embarrassment.
'I'm... I am sorry,' he said, rubbing his hands over his face. 'I shouldn't have said that. I know that what we should... I mean what I want us to be is totally new to you. And it... it... I really don't know how you feel about being more than friends. I know I promised that I'd give you time and that slipup. I just hope... Just. Sorry.'
His shoulders sagged then and he went entirely still. He still had his face in his hands and I knew he was distressed.
For a moment we were both quite.
'Dan,' I began. 'I could never... I don't know how to say this but you shouldn't apologize to me. It's my fault that we're in this mess. I'm the reason you're hurt and I am sorry. I really am -'
'Don't.' He was looking at me again, with the beautiful gold of his eyes. 'What we're going through is no one's fault. Somethings just happened at the wrong time and I wouldn't go back to change it if I could.'
'No?' I was surprised.
'No. If anything, I just know now that I care for you more than I thought I did.'
I gave him a sad smile and he grinned.
'Damn,' he said as he got up. 'I thought high school put enough drama in my life. Now I gotta deal with college drama too?'
I grasped his outstretched hand and he pulled me up. I dusted off my jeans and looked up at him. And I couldn't help it - looking at him smiling and happy, trying to lighten my mood when I should've been the one to do that for him - I burst into laughter.
Dan looked shocked. 'What's so funny?'
'You.' I managed to choke out between giggles.
'You think I'm funny, huh?'
There was something in the tone of his voice, something playful, that compelled me to look up. He grabbed my hands twirling me around as I screamed with dizziness. And I let him. Knowing that my objections would hurt him. And I enjoyed this. This joy and these carefree moments that only he brought. We laughed, dancing and singing out of tune. All the way back.