Born To Lead.

@ skeletons.
Sage took a minute to think, for some reason she couldn't recall, "Honestly, I don't remember much..." She hated to admit that she had been a bit drunk at their prom.

---

Max made a face when she pinched his cheek, "I just don't think she would. She knows the real me and how I have been with girls, I think she might assume that I'll treat her the same, but I won't, because she's different."

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie chuckled, "you kissed me." he said. Okay, he kissed her but he did remember her being somewhat drunk so stretching the truth now wasn't that bad. He grabbed his drink and turned around, looking at her.

--

Zoey thought for a moment, "do I know her?" she asked, going over and sitting down underneath the tree. She patted the spot beside her for Max to join her.

@ skeletons.
Sage's eyes widened at what Ronnie said, she was thankful that she wasn't facing him. "I kissed you? You know I was pretty drunk, right?" She hoped she hadn't ruined their friendship because her feelings decided to come out when she was drunk.

---

Max walked over and sat down next to her, "Actually, you're probably the only person that knows her better than I do, or I used to." He said, looking over at her and admiring her face.

@ foREVerYours.
"Nah, I enjoyed it...I've um...I've kind of had a crush on you since ninth grade and so when you kissed me, I felt like my heart was going to explode." Ronnie admitted, looking at the floor. He was wondering if he should have said that.

--

"Used too? What do you mean?" Zoey asked. She noticed he was still wearing the friendship bracelet she made for him for his tenth birthday. "You kept that thing on all this time?" she asked.

@ skeletons.
Hearing those words, Sage turned and looked at him, "You had a crush on me? Since ninth grade? Why didn't you tell me before, Ronnie?" She asked, her attention completely on him now.

---

"Of course, you gave me it, so it's special to me." Max told her, "Yeah, it's been awhile since I've been able to hangout with her, but I'm really glad I've been able to spend time with her today."

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie nodded, "uh yeah...I didn't...I didn't want to ruin our friendship." he said, looking at her. "Are you mad at me?" he asked, chewing on his lip.

--

Zoey was about to speak before she caught what he said, "what? Me? You like me?" she was shocked and flattered. "Max...why didn't you tell me before?"

@ skeletons.
Sage shook her head, "I have no reason to be mad at you, Ronnie. I honestly wish you had told me sooner, I've liked you for a long time."

---

Max shrugged, "I was nervous you wouldn't see me that way." He looked at her, "But I do like you, a lot."

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie was surprised by her response, "really? How long have you liked me?" he asked, getting up and moving to stand next to her.

--

Zoey reached down and took his hand, lacing their fingers together, "Max...I've liked you since we were thirteen." she said, over ten years ago.

@ skeletons.
Sage shrugged, "I can't really point out a certain moment, I just know that one day I realized I wanted to be more than friends with you..." She said honestly.

---

Max stared at her, looking for any Trace of a lie, he trusted Zoey, but this was unbelievable, "Wow, if I had known that then, things could have been so much different, Zoe."

@ foREVerYours.
"Wow, well, shit...you should have told me, Sage." Ronnie said, looking at her. "We're okay though, right? Like, I didn't make it awkward, did I?" he asked.

--

"I know but...at the time you were always hanging out with Ronnie and I felt...left out...and then you started dating Saskia and...and I just didn't know what to say because you seemed so happy with her..." Zoey said, looking down.

@ skeletons.
Sage shook her head, "It doesn't really make it awkward unless I don't like you back." She told him.

---

Max reached over and made her look at him, "Zoey, I might have been hanging out with Ronnie and dating Saskia, but you were always on my mind, that's part if what ended my relationship with her actually."

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie smiled and hugged her. He wanted to kiss her but wasn't sure.

--

Zoey smiled, "you mean that?" she hugged him tightly.

@ skeletons.
Sage smiled, feeling Ronnie's arms around her. She cuddled close to him, loving how safe she felt.

---

Max nodded, "I mean every word, Zoe." He smiled at her, kissing her forehead.

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie smiled and decided to take the chance to kiss her. He lifted her face up and pressed his lips to hers.

--

Zoey looked at him before kissing him.

@ skeletons.
Sage was slightly surprised by the kiss, but she quickly returned the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

---

Max kissed back, pulling her close, after a moment, he pulled away, "Zoey, I've wanted to kiss you for a long time."

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie smiled and pulled back, placing his forehead against hers, "I've wanted to do that forever."

--

Zoey blushed, "really? You should have just done it." she giggled.

@ skeletons.
Sage smiled up at him, "You should have done that a long time ago, Ronnie." She laughed softly, "I would have been okay with it."

---

Max nodded, "Really, I got nervous because, well, it's you and I didn't want to make a complete fool of myself."

@ foREVerYours.
Ronnie laughed, "I should have...I didn't think you liked me that way." he said, looking down at her.

--

Zoey smiled, "I'm nothing special, Max. I'm just a normal girl."

@ skeletons.
Sage smiled, "Really? Because everyone else was pretty certain I liked you for a long time."

---

Max shook his head, "Not to me, the other girls I've dated we're normal, you're special to me."

@ foREVerYours.
"Really? They never told me that." Ronnie chuckled. He flipped the burgers before they started burning.

--

"I am?" Zoey asked, blushing slightly. She looked at him, "do you want to go back to my house?"