As the final curtain fell on "The Dragon's Heart," a wave of relief washed over me. Man, I was beat, but it felt awesome. Anya and I had poured our hearts into writing and performing this play, and it totally paid off.

"Dude, can you believe we actually pulled it off?" I said to Anya, a little choked up. She was beaming, her eyes sparkling with pride and relief.

"I know, right?" she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "It was epic."

We'd spent countless hours together, crafting the story of Cressida and Garrett, two young heroes who ventured into a dragon's lair, not to steal, but to understand.

"Bro, I still can't believe we came up with that twist." I tell her enthusiastically as she pulls me into a hug. She has a flowery smell, like honeysuckle or... bluebells? Weird, but it works.

We poured our time and effort into these characters, hoping to show people that even the scariest creatures can be misunderstood.

As we stood backstage, the applause of the audience still ringing in our ears, I couldn't shake this weird feeling. It was like the adventure had just begun, even though the play was over. Maybe it's the magic of the stage, or maybe it's something more.

"We should totally have a picnic to celebrate," I suggested, breaking the silence. Anya's eyes lit up.

"That's perfect," she said, a smile spreading across her face. Our necklaces, imbued with the magic of the play, glowed a soft blue.

"Hey, check this out," I said, pointing at the necklaces. "Mine's glowing."

"Yeah, mine too," Anya replied, her voice filled with wonder. "I wonder why they're doing that."

"Maybe it's because we're so close, or maybe it's just the weird energy of the theater," I said, trying to sound casual, but feeling a strange flutter in my chest.

"Yeah, that's probably it," Anya said, her voice soft. "We should definitely go on that picnic. It'll be fun."

I nodded, trying to hide my mixed emotions. "Definitely. It'll be a great way to celebrate."

"What should we bring?" I asked, trying to play it cool. Maybe this is a sign. Maybe it means something more. But I can't risk ruining our friendship.

"Definitely some snacks," she replied. "Chips, maybe some fruit, and cookies. And we should bring a blanket to sit on."

"Good idea," I said. "And we should bring something to drink, too. Water or soda, I guess."

"Yeah, that sounds good," she said. "And we should bring a book or something to read, just in case we get bored."

"Deal," she said, smiling.

The next day, we met in the clearing by the river. The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze was blowing through the trees. As we spread out our blanket, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace.

We talked about the play, about our characters, and about our dreams for the future. As the sun began to set, we lay back on the blanket, gazing up at the star-filled sky.

"I'm so glad we wrote this play together," Anya said, her voice soft. "It was amazing."

"Me too," I replied, my heart pounding. "I'm glad we're friends."

A comfortable silence fell between us. I glanced at Anya, her face illuminated by the moonlight.

I felt a strange pull towards her, a connection that went beyond friendship. Man, she's so beautiful. I can't believe I've been such a dummy and didn't realize it sooner.

"Hey, Ben?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?" I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

"Thanks for being such a great friend," she said, smiling, our necklaces glowing brighter by the minute.

"Anytime," I said, feeling a surge of warmth in my chest. I wish I could tell her how I really feel, but... I don't want to risk it. Not yet.

As we walked home, I couldn't shake the feeling that something special was happening between us.

The glowing necklaces, the shared dreams, the late-night rehearsals - it all seemed to be leading up to this moment.

Maybe I should just take a chance and tell her how I feel. What's the worst that could happen? She rejects me and we're just friends? I can handle that. But if I don't say anything, I'll always wonder what could have been.

"Anya," I say, pausing nervously. "Yeah?" She calls out as she reaches for the doorknob for her house.

"Uhh, nothing! Thanks for hanging out with me, we should do it more often." Great.

"Totally! Ooh, I'll bring Émilie and you can bring a friend too, we can all hang out together. I'd love to meet one of your friends." She said quickly, a huge grin plastered on her face. How could I say no to her? The answer is, I didn't.

"Sounds great, catch ya' later, A!" I called out. "Bye, Ben!" She said as she opened the door and ducked inside.

Just great. Now I have a picnic to go to and I have to meet another new person. Well, Anya's the coolest girl I know so any friend of hers must be the same. In any case, I have to convince William to come with me, there's no way I'm doing this alone.

A/N: Sorry for all the different POVs and short chapters! It'll all make sense at the end! Also I apologize if I'm not writing Ben's thoughts and perspective like a guy. I'm a girl so this has been an interesting challenge. Leave suggestions in the comments here or my suggestions book. Thanks for the reads!