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.


Adum74 BRONZE said...
on May. 3 2010 at 7:28 pm
Adum74 BRONZE, Sandy Hook, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
Big Books Little Time

Life is What you make it!

i can totally understand

JessieB SILVER said...
on May. 3 2010 at 4:55 pm
JessieB SILVER, Elkton, Maryland
7 articles 1 photo 102 comments

Favorite Quote:
an eye for an eye, and the whole world goes blind~Ghandi

i really like this(: you should check out mine(:

on May. 3 2010 at 4:48 pm
FlyingNewt BRONZE, Bloomington, Indiana
1 article 4 photos 64 comments
I love the article, amd i have a friend just like that

on May. 3 2010 at 4:33 pm
singdance7 SILVER, Davenport, Iowa
8 articles 4 photos 31 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Do what you can with what you have with where you are" Teddy Roosevelt i think
"I love life because what more is there" Unknown
"Remember, the future comes one day at a time" Unknown

Its VERY annoying when people assume your going out!!

Adum74 BRONZE said...
on May. 3 2010 at 3:31 pm
Adum74 BRONZE, Sandy Hook, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
Big Books Little Time

Life is What you make it!

I have a friend just like that and we are in the 10th grade now and we just admit now that we are best friends that are practically married in a non romantic way, but I hate it when kids say that we are going out or something else, it is so annoying!

on May. 3 2010 at 10:44 am
singdance7 SILVER, Davenport, Iowa
8 articles 4 photos 31 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Do what you can with what you have with where you are" Teddy Roosevelt i think
"I love life because what more is there" Unknown
"Remember, the future comes one day at a time" Unknown

OMG this in a way reminded me of me and my brother!! Well he isn't my brother but our relationship is the EXACT same as a siblings. Everyone (including my mom who just loves his mom! we are family friends) says that we are either gonna start going out or get married some day! Hello! we are in the 7th grade!

on May. 3 2010 at 9:59 am
chartothalatte GOLD, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
10 articles 1 photo 62 comments
not sure i like the ending; was expecting something else. well written, though! i enjoyed reading it. very suspenseful.

LuckyThree said...
on May. 3 2010 at 8:23 am
LuckyThree, Ft.Lauderdale, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 10 comments
Clearly, a lot of people can relate. Maybe that's why it ended up in the magazine? good work though! Your last line contradicted everything else in the whole thing. It's kinda confusing actually. I dunno if you said that in order not to lose him, or if you suddenly realized that you like him too. Either way, nice turn at the ending!

Notebook said...
on May. 2 2010 at 8:33 pm
Notebook, Envigado, Other
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Dont be Afraid"
Pope John Paul II

Wow really good I didnt expect the end though Good Job

on Apr. 22 2010 at 7:01 pm
wordweaver96 PLATINUM, Winchester, Kentucky
37 articles 2 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
" It is not our abilities but our choices that show who we truly are. "
Albus Dumbledore


See, we really DON'T have anything to fear but fear itself!

Hmmm...yeah. Maybe you're right!

on Apr. 22 2010 at 6:59 pm
BleedingRose PLATINUM, Frederic, Wisconsin
33 articles 1 photo 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
*The darkness holds infinite possibilities.

(mine)

Maybe it's meant for us to take it where we want it, you know?

-Rose


on Apr. 20 2010 at 2:42 am
mcpanicfanic SILVER, Cincinnati, Ohio
8 articles 0 photos 65 comments
Aw, I dont like the end. But I do like this piece alot. Good Job!

on Apr. 11 2010 at 7:01 pm
wordweaver96 PLATINUM, Winchester, Kentucky
37 articles 2 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
" It is not our abilities but our choices that show who we truly are. "
Albus Dumbledore


See, we really DON'T have anything to fear but fear itself!

Yeah the end confused me some too! But maybe you're right, BleedingRose.

on Apr. 11 2010 at 7:00 pm
wordweaver96 PLATINUM, Winchester, Kentucky
37 articles 2 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
" It is not our abilities but our choices that show who we truly are. "
Albus Dumbledore


See, we really DON'T have anything to fear but fear itself!

Wow I loved that!  I really didn't expect the turn at the end. It's really awesome and cool! Will you read what I have and give me any advice you have?

Eilatan GOLD said...
on Apr. 11 2010 at 5:17 pm
Eilatan GOLD, Old Greenwich, Connecticut
11 articles 1 photo 307 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Nobody is normal. Everybody in the world is a weirdo freak. Except you, which makes you a weirdo freak."

I like this a lot. I recently went through something similar so i know what this is like. good job, keep writing!!!!!

on Apr. 11 2010 at 1:54 pm
MaliyahP. SILVER, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
9 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
There are pirate ships and steam ships but the best ship of all is friendship.

Oh my goodness! I couldn't believe you said that! It was awesome, I thought you were going to say that you didn't like him or something wow!!! That was really good writing, and I had to keep reading to find out what you ended up saying and why you were avoiding him. Great job and keep writing.

on Apr. 11 2010 at 1:31 pm
BleedingRose PLATINUM, Frederic, Wisconsin
33 articles 1 photo 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
*The darkness holds infinite possibilities.

(mine)

I'm confuesd by that too- but I like to think she really did like him.  :)  BTW, great article Jessika!

-Rose


. said...
on Apr. 11 2010 at 12:07 pm
you had me. i thought she was going to say exactly the opposite!

miss_mt_dew said...
on Apr. 11 2010 at 4:34 am
miss_mt_dew, West Palm Beach, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
Jesus may love you, but everybody else thinks you're an a**.

what I'm not really sure about, was if she truthfully said that she like him back, or if she really did like him back.  in anycase, it was awesome and I love your style (especially the nostalgic/denial parts) :D

paiiige BRONZE said...
on Mar. 24 2010 at 8:27 pm
paiiige BRONZE, Naples, Florida
1 article 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
color my life with the chaos of trouble

i love love love this<3