This boy

As we walked along the deserted road, I began to realize that this boy, made of sunshine, had stolen my heart. He had taken it, along with my thoughts. He had both in the palm of his hand. He would tug my fingers, not knowing what that did to my heart. Not knowing that fireworks would explode and butterflies would dance, whenever his skin grazed mine. He would look me in the eyes, a smile exploding. Not knowing what that did, not knowing that pulled my face into a smile. He would nudge my toes when my mom was annoying, trying to get me in trouble. Knowing she liked him better, not knowing sparks raced up my legs and tickled my belly. He would tackle me in the hallway, not knowing I almost fainted every time. He never knew what he did to me. What his eyes, his smile, his touch, his laughter did to me. All he knew was that we were best friends. All he knew was that we were jokesters. All he knew was that my sisters had been in love with him since they were two and we were ten. All he knew was that I would pull his hair, and he would touch my nose. All he knew was that he could call me when his boyfriend broke his heart. All he knew was that he could hug me when my sister died and then my grandma. All he knew was that we were best friends and nothing would ever change that.  All he ever wanted was a friend, who would never leave his side. But all I ever knew was that he had a friend in me, and all I never knew was that he loved me. All that he ever knew was that I had a friend in him, and all he never knew was that I loved him.
I never knew that until one morning in late July, when the sun was shining and the breeze was almost too warm. He stepped through the door of the cafe I spent my weekends. He swept me off my feet, with his messy hair and tank top. All I ever wanted was those arms around my waist. He smiled and called to me, saying work was now over and there was nothing I could do. He drove fast, down to the sea. Reached for my hand and pulled me with him. All he ever knew was that I loved the sea, maybe more than I loved him. Not that he knew the last bit. He picked me up, in one big swish. Like I was light as a feather and threw me in. I should have been angry, I should have pushed him in too. But my heart was falling because all I ever knew was how he could smile, and make me smile too. We spent hours, falling down into the cold salty waves. Chasing our shadows down the beach. Sunset came and I was breathless. I don't know if it was him, arm on my waist, his face glowing, or the sky saying good night. But all I knew was that when his lips touched mine, I would never forget this strange day. All he ever knew was that he had been wrong, he had loved me just as long as I had loved him. All I ever knew was that we would never be just friends again. All he ever knew was that he would never be able to look at me, and not reach out.