Lily skipped ahead, her bright red boots flashing between the tall sunflowers. Behind her, Leo, clutching a slightly wilted dandelion, tried to keep up. He was taller than Lily, but she had a bouncy, energetic way of moving that made him feel a little clumsy. They were best friends, Lily and Leo. They’d built magnificent sandcastles together on the beach, climbed the tallest oak tree in the park, and even shared a secret stash of perfectly ripe plums stolen (with permission!) from Mrs. Gable's overflowing tree. But lately, something felt… different. Today, it was the sunflower field. The sun warmed their faces, and the air hummed with the buzzing of bees. Lily stopped abruptly, her eyes sparkling. "Look, Leo!" she exclaimed, pointing to two sunflowers leaning towards each other, their faces almost touching. "Just like us!" Leo blushed. He'd noticed how Lily's laughter seemed brighter lately, how her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled at *him*. He looked at the sunflowers, then back at Lily. He felt a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling much bigger than the warmth of the sun. He carefully offered her the dandelion. "For you," he whispered, his voice a little shaky. Lily took the dandelion, her fingers brushing his. A tiny spark seemed to jump between them. She tucked the dandelion behind her ear. "Thank you, Leo," she said, her voice soft. Then, she did something unexpected. She reached up and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind *his* ear. They walked the rest of the way through the sunflower field in comfortable silence, their hands brushing occasionally. The setting sun painted the sky in fiery oranges and soft pinks, mirroring the warm feelings blossoming in their hearts. It wasn't a grand, dramatic declaration of love, but it was perfect. It was the quiet, comfortable feeling of two best friends discovering something new and wonderful together. A shared secret whispered amongst the sunflowers, a promise of summer days and adventures to come.