Date: August 16
   Frank felt his stomach knot up as he got ready. He had enjoyed going over to Hazel's house to work on his school project. She was kind and smart and provided great hospitality, but her boyfriend was the opposite of her in every way. While she was sweet and shy, he was arrogant and loud.
    Frank wondered why Jacob has kissed Hazel so conspicuously in front of him. Was he trying to show Frank that Hazel was his girlfriend? Well, that wasn't necessary. Did he see Frank as a threat? Or was he just obnoxious?
    It doesn't matter, Frank told himself. You have a date tonight at the YMCA. He and Piper were going to practice archery. Frank supposed he was ok at archery, but the real reason he liked it was because it reminded him of his mother. She had told him that Zhang meant master of bows and Frank had set out to prove her right.
     Frank looked in the mirror. He still was not used to what stared at him back. Frank had always been self-conscious about being taller and bulkier than other guys his age. Over the last summer, he had only grown more so and though he was glad that no one called him a "baby man" anymore, he felt even more like an ox than before.
    He dabbed on some cologne and combed his hair. Hopefully he would at least look and smell decent. He knew he wasn't going to smell like cotton candy like Butch did (rumor was that he wore Pinky Pie perfume), but he sure hoped he didn't smell like Bryce after gym class.
     Frank was early to the YMCA, but not by much. Piper arrived three minutes after him. She looked pretty, but in a way that made Frank think she wasn't trying hard. Her choppy hair was loose and she had no makeup on. Piper was wearing a tee shirt and shorts and she smiled when she saw Frank.
    "I haven't shot an arrow since middle school," Piper confessed.
     "It's not difficult," Frank told her.
     He showed her the correct stance and how to shoot an arrow. Her first shot hit the target. Her second one missed, but her third hit the bull's eye.
    "That's the best I've ever done," Piper said as she retrieved her arrows. "I want to see you shoot."
    Despite his nerves, Frank managed to hit the target all three times. Two of the shots hit the bull's eye and the other shot hit the ring right outside it. Piper clapped as he retrieved his arrows.
     They continued shooting for an hour and then bought some Chex mix from the vending machine to share.
    "I had fun," Piper said, "but can I be real with you?"
    Frank nodded.
    "I don't think you like me," Piper said.
     Frank sputtered, but Piper held up one hand to silence him and added, "As more than a friend. It's alright. I feel the same way. Besides, I can tell your eye is on someone else, but we both seem to like others that are in relationships."
     "Perhaps you're right," Frank said, his shoulders slumping.
     "Cheer up, Frank," Piper said. "I'm glad to call you my friend."
     Frank smiled. What a wonderful thing to have a friend.