"Kaye, you alright?" Gio asks me.

Stupid thing to ask, Gio. Of course, I wasn't okay. The girl I have always loved, the girl who held my heart, the girl who made my world spin, was kissing someone else. Locked lips, not parting. It pained me to see it and I know she knows how much it hurt me but she still did it. Yet, I couldn't tell Gio that.

"Hmm," I looked over at him mindlessly, as if I wasn't stuck in my own thoughts. "Why wouldn't I be? It's just another idiot who's going to break her heart. If she's up for that again, then I'm not stopping her."

Yes, I did. I wanted to stop her. I wanted to rip him off her and yell out that she was mine but she isn't. Who was I to do that in the first place? I was just her best friend. The one who supported her when no one else would, the one who stayed up to keep her company, the one who would do anything to keep her happy, and the one who loved her even when she couldn't love herself.

"I know you more than that, Kaye." Gio pulled me away from the scene in front of us. "C'mon you need fresh air."

I was thankful for the guy beside me. He always knew just what to say. Gio then led me to the garden at the back of the school before he passed me my camera. He gave me a smile as if encouraging me to go on. He always knew just what I needed.

Gio watched me as I began taking different shots around the garden. Sure, I had taken pictures around the garden a thousand times before but the seasons always differ, the flowers bloom and fade away, and I, the person behind the camera will always have different intentions and feel different emotions. Yet somehow the garden always knew how I felt.

Why would she choose me anyways? It's not like I made a move or gave her a reason to believe that I loved her like that? She doesn't even know that I swung that way. As usual, I'm only fooling myself and letting myself believe that something could be between us when there never was.

After a spin around the garden, Gio asked me if I was feeling better. I didn't know what to answer honestly, but as I looked at the flowers, I see them brighten with the sunlight and I know it was going to be okay. I nodded to Gio and he led me back to the classroom, giving him a slight smile for thanks.

I was thankful though, I didn't have any classes with her because seeing her right now could possibly kill the flickering light in me. Everyone's eyes were on me and I could feel their stares bare through my skin but I didn't care about that, I couldn't care what they think at all. They were judging me for who I am but who I am made me, me, and no one could take that away from me.

Classes soared by and the stares lessened after a hard glare from Gio. When the final class ended, Gio accompanied me to my locker and she stood there waiting.

"Are you up for that?" Gio asked me, knowing that I wasn't as okay. "I could always get the stuff you need."

"Thanks for the offer, Gio," I told him as I gave him a hug. "But I have to face her sooner or later."

"You don't need to, not unless you're ready," Gio argued back.

"I'm still her best friend. I'll always be there for her, even if it hurts me." I explained to him.

"And I'll be there for you, but will she? She doesn't see that; she doesn't deserve you." Gio held me back before I could head to my locker, to her waiting. "You're friendly and thoughtful and quite awfully pretty..."

"But she needed more than me." I finished Gio's words. "She needed more, and so do you,"

I'm not gonna lie, I know Gio likes me. It's quite obvious and adorable if I must say. Yet, I can't make myself fall for him. He knows me like the back of his hand, every quirk, every fault, and every single flaw, but he doesn't care about what makes me different. He loves it all the same.

"Gio, I know you as well." I brought my hand up to his face and he leaned into my touch. "You're funny and adorable, and so kind-hearted, and not mention handsome. You can make any girl's heart jump even with a simple smile but you can't make mine."

"Just let me try then." Gio pleaded with me. "Kaye, I will never find a girl like you, and seeing you hurt over her, kills me because the glimmer in your eyes has dimmed and I just want to see them shine again."

I couldn't help but smile at his kind words and I was sure that for the first time in a while the glimmer was back. Hopefully, that will be enough for him. He smiled back at me as we stared into each other's eyes but I knew I couldn't keep her waiting for long. I slipped him my keychain, giving him something to remember me, something that will always connect us both.

"Thank you for loving me..." I told him as I wiped a tear away. "Even when I couldn't love you back."

"I will always love the girl behind the camera." He said as he kissed my cheek before letting me go.

I headed over to my locker where she was waiting. When I got there she started talking all about the guy she started dating. I pretended to be interested in what she was saying but I couldn't help but wonder what could be if I fell for Gio too. Speaking of Gio, I saw him talking to a girl in our class and I could see how nervous he was talking to her. I smiled because if Gio can move on from me, maybe I can move on from her too but as I turned back to her, I could see the brightness in her eyes, one that was almost gone so long ago, and I knew that I made the right choice.

As long as she's happy, I'll be okay where I am.