The Misplaced Love of Childhood Sweethearts

After the SATs, Owen decided he wanted to confess his feelings to my best friend, Kate Winslet.

He bribed me with a promise of fondue, asking me to bring Kate to a location he'd set up for his big confession.

I didn't want the fondue; I wanted him to introduce me to his good friend, Bruce Green, whom I had been crushing on for a while.

Prior to the SATs, I had been too scared to date, but now I was ready to make my move!

After some brainstorming, Owen and I finally agreed to bury the hatchet and help each other out to snag our crushes.

So that day, I arranged to take Kate out shopping and then brought her to the movie theater where Owen had planned his big moment.

Everything was falling into place perfectly.

As the film reached a pivotal scene where the male lead confessed his love to the female lead, I couldn't help but notice Owen behind us, clutching a bouquet of flowers and looking like he was about to burst.

He had put in the effort to dress up for this moment, and as he strutted confidently toward Kate, I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of my long-time nemesis being so nervous.

"Kate," he began, kneeling in front of her with all the hope in the world visible in his eyes. "From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I liked you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

I was sitting right next to Kate, trying to stifle my laughter at Owen's rare display of vulnerability.

But instead of swooning, Kate seemed shocked, glancing back at me as if asking for help.

"Mia, what's your Owen doing?" she exclaimed, panic in her voice.

What? My Owen?

Just as I was about to respond, Owen was suddenly yanked to his feet, taking a solid punch right in the face.

"Bruce, what the hell?" Owen exclaimed, staring in confusion at his best friend after taking a hit.

"Owen! What exactly do you think you're doing?" Bruce shouted, standing protectively in front of Kate as if he were some kind of knight in shining armor.

"Kate is my girlfriend!"