What is the relationship between Scout and Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird?

To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper
Lee based the Scout/Dill characters on her own real-life relationship with writer Truman
Capote, who visited Scout's hometown of Monroeville, Alabama each summer, just like
Dill. Although there was apparently no romantic relationship between Lee and Capote, the
author did create a child romance between Scout and Dill. Although Scout is not
immediately taken with Dill, both she and Jem come to regard him as their best friend,
even though he only stays in Maycomb during the summer months (Dill lives in Meridian,
Mississippi). Other friendships are noticeably missing with Jem and Scout; there are
very few instances when either of them spend much time with any neighboring children or
schoolmates. Dill and Scout become serious about each other--at least as serious as a
couple of young children can be. Dill asks Scout to marry him, and he promises to
eventually save enough money to take her away with him. (Of course, this is just another
instance of Dill's unfullfilled plans.) Scout and Dill share kisses, and on the night
when Dill appears at the Finch house after running away from home, the two innocently
share a bed. Dill is not only Jem's and Scout's partner in mischief, but also Scout's
first beau.