Just Friends | Teen Ink

Just Friends MAG

By Anonymous

Final class of the day; I’m almost done. I’ve managed to avoid him for the majority of the day, somehow escaping his attempts at conversation. Always somewhere to go, something to do. Sorry, no time to chat. If I can just stay out of sight for the next fifteen minutes, I’ll be home free.

Rushing into the crowded hall, I push through the swarm of buzzing students. I fight against the flow of bodies, the warm crush that threatens to overwhelm me. Desperate, I keep shoving, longing to reach the safety and quiet of my locker. I’m almost there, just a bit further. Finally I’ve made it, and he’s nowhere in sight.

I open my locker and lean into it, sighing with relief, when I see him. I straighten up, hurriedly shoving everything into that tiny metal box, but my hands aren’t cooperating. My nerves are making me shake, disconnecting my mind from the rest of my body. I struggle to remove myself from the impending situation, but as I start to spring away, he grabs my arm and says, “Now can I talk to you?”

And that’s when my heart sinks. My stomach starts to churn and I know nothing will be the same again.

Somehow I always knew it would come down to this moment. A silent showdown in some empty hallway, the echo of slamming lockers long since faded, but the shouts of students still lingering in the air. He stares at me, expectantly, awaiting an answer. I look at my feet, purposely not listening, not looking at him. I don’t want to hear it, don’t want to see him proclaim his love. It makes no difference; it doesn’t change the situation.

I’ve known him since first grade. I’ve seen him pick his nose and suck at kickball; I watched him grow six inches like a beanstalk and, with all the grace of a newborn calf, give himself a concussion on a shower head. We’ve been friends for what seems like always, but never ventured anywhere beyond that. To be honest, it never occurred to me that he could someday be more than a friend.

“Did you hear me? I said I like you. I like you a lot.”

Don’t say that. Anything but that. Talk to me about the weather, how horrible Mrs. Matthews is with her evil calculus equations. Even sports would be better, (and you know how much I hate sports). Just don’t say those words. Why would you say something that could irreversibly change our friendship?

“I’ve liked you for so long. Didn’t you know?”
Yes, of course I knew. I’m not stupid. I was – I don’t know – I guess I was hoping it was just a crush. Something fleeting, a passing fancy. Puppy love, if you must, but apparently not.

“Say something, anything.”

You don’t mean that, not really. I know what you’re hoping to hear, what you want me to say. I can’t and I won’t. I look at you and I see a brother, a friend, not a boyfriend. I don’t think anything could ever change that in my mind.

Everyone knew we’d end up here. That’s the rub. The whole freaking world probably knew that sooner or later we would clash at opposite ends of the spectrum. My parents, my friends. Hell, even your parents and friends knew it. They told me it was cruel to lead you on, but I never meant to. I never meant for it to go this far; it just never seemed like the right time to say, “Hey, we’ll always be best friends.” I never, ever wanted to hurt you; I just didn’t want to let you go.

I’ve deluded myself for years, lived in denial for so many summers, and now it’s senior year and you’ve finally found the courage to tell me how you feel. I’d love to blame you for this awkwardness, accuse you of letting this non-relationship charade drag on over the years. But truthfully, it’s my fault that we’ve reached this point, and I have to make things right.
I take a deep breath. This is it.

“Yeah. Me too.”



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This article has 380 comments.


on Jun. 25 2011 at 11:41 am
RhythmAndRhyme BRONZE, Rockford, Michigan
4 articles 0 photos 91 comments

Favorite Quote:
"There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva." ~~Josh Groban

Oh, my. You just captured the story of my life. This is exactly what had been going on with a friend and me from 1st grade to about the middle of 8th. Always turned him down, though. But it was good for him. I didn't want to break his heart after helping it grow.

That would just mean more pieces to pick up.


sheashea said...
on Jun. 25 2011 at 11:40 am
it's like the story of what happened between me and my best friend i loved him just not like that it didn't work well in the end he won't even look at me and it kills me beause i miss him so much i will most likely never tell him how much i miss him

on Jun. 3 2011 at 10:07 pm
A.PaigeTurner, San Antonio, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments

Favorite Quote:
You think that everybody hates you. You should really stop that.- A Good Friend

When I said it reminded me of a friend of mine, I didn't mean that's all he ever was to me.  It just didn't work out this time around.  Maybe later, when we're older, love won't burn out so quickly.  Lord, i miss him, but I'd never tell him that.  My pride won't let me. 

on Jun. 3 2011 at 1:52 pm
A.PaigeTurner, San Antonio, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments

Favorite Quote:
You think that everybody hates you. You should really stop that.- A Good Friend

I loved it!  This reminds me of a friend of mine.  It was well written. 

on Jun. 3 2011 at 12:44 pm
InsaneRoman GOLD, Savona, New York
13 articles 19 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"He's no longer living."
"What happened?"
"He died."

It's harder than it looks. Falling for a friend... Here I am in creative wrting class going through the exact same thing. Except this time, it's me who dropped the L-word.

I've known him since... god, forever. He dated my friend, and when they ended, we didn't. He became my best friend, and I never really thought about it -- becoming more than that.

Only recently, actually. As in Monday. You see, he was dating this other girl for like 2 year,s and I was totally okay being just friends. Then she dumped him for another guy out of the blue, and he's fallen into such a deep depression.

I got so worried, I couldn't take it anymoew and wrote him a note, telling him everything. A lot of it had to do with the Depression, yes, but I guess I let some things slip and what kept ringing in his mind were the words "I love you".

So now he's been saying, "I still need to talk to you", but we keep avoiding it like the palgue. I see him all the time, but we dodge it. It's awkward. I'm in love with him, and want nothing more than to be with him.

 

But it's scary to admit that, especially in person. You try looking your friend in the eye after heartbreak and tellnig him you've been in love with him for over ywo years.

It's scary puuting it all out on the line.


on Jun. 3 2011 at 10:33 am
BookFreak14 BRONZE, Grand Prairie, Texas
4 articles 1 photo 50 comments

Favorite Quote:
" We didn't invent the Chicken, just the Chicken Sandwich."--- Chick-Fil-A

WOW... That was just Wonderful... Keep writing... You are a great writer:)

on Jun. 3 2011 at 9:35 am
Neautique132 SILVER, Minneapolis, Minnesota
6 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
If I wanted antioxidants, i'd just hold my breath!

Loved it! It moved me.

Bones96 BRONZE said...
on Jun. 3 2011 at 9:08 am
Bones96 BRONZE, Charlotte, North Carolina
2 articles 0 photos 108 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life isn't about finding yourself it's about creating yourself-

Very good! Are you going to keep the story going? that would be cool. good job :)

on May. 12 2011 at 6:31 pm
twix.n.pixi.stix7 GOLD, Stewartsville, New Jersey
11 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
"you can dream big
or you can dream small
the important thing
is that you're dreaming at all"
~me! haha i wrote that :)

haha oh my potatoes... :)

Aemma SILVER said...
on May. 12 2011 at 5:43 pm
Aemma SILVER, Ellenwood, Georgia
9 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." -Einstein

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." -Cicero

Well that's going to cause a few complications in the future... why didn't she just tell him? Somethings I'll never understand. I like the story though.

klmall said...
on May. 12 2011 at 1:18 pm
This is a great story!

on Apr. 20 2011 at 10:47 pm
Goldenheartbeat SILVER, Murphy, Texas
7 articles 0 photos 31 comments
OH MY POTATOES that was brilliant. it's so sad... and so relatable, even though I've never dealt with this specific thing. This. Is. AWESOME.

on Apr. 20 2011 at 8:34 pm
WithEyesWideOpen BRONZE, Wayne, Pennsylvania
2 articles 22 photos 240 comments

Favorite Quote:
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

everything she said in her head she should have said out loud. in a way, what a sad ending, but i loved it though! keep it up !

on Apr. 20 2011 at 8:23 pm
Haley_Elizabeth GOLD, Wallingford, Vermont
12 articles 0 photos 90 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Embrace imperfection rather than hide your flaws."

Did she mean what she said or was she just saying it because she felt bad and wanted everything to be okay?

on Apr. 20 2011 at 7:05 pm
KaitlynMarie GOLD, Northborough, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be."
-Nicholas Sparks

this is so freaky how it reminds me of one of my best friends! i love it though(: great work!

on Apr. 20 2011 at 3:31 pm
SomethingLikeFire BRONZE, Mchenry, Illinois
1 article 1 photo 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Pippin: What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?" -
-- The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

i agree also....  she said she didn't like and then told him that she did. what up with that?

overall you did a great job. keep wrting !!


Carlyn said...
on Apr. 20 2011 at 2:34 pm
did she mean it?!

CraZy_OnE_1 said...
on Apr. 20 2011 at 12:24 pm
CraZy_OnE_1, Rochester, Minnesota
0 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be yourself, because everyone else is taken." I always forget who, but i think his name is Oscar Wilde

Why did she say yes!?!?!?

on Apr. 20 2011 at 11:16 am
kikigirl101 SILVER, Somewhere In, Connecticut
5 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If music is the food of love then play on" - William Shakespeare

This was really great! I enjoyed it, it kept me interested and engadged through the entire story! I loved it, really great job!

on Apr. 20 2011 at 9:22 am
jocelyn123 BRONZE, Lake Mary, Florida
4 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."
-Albert Einstein

you did a really good job!?!?!?

I love it!