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 Mar. 20 2010 at 10:30 pm
PoetLaureate07 PLATINUM, Aberdeen, Mississippi
32 articles 0 photos 246 comments

Favorite Quote:
To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing..

great poem.. keep writing... dont give up on your gift!! ;)

Striker GOLD said...
on Mar. 20 2010 at 9:24 pm
Striker GOLD, Wichita, Kansas
11 articles 0 photos 35 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who care about you and forget about those who don't."

Nice job. A very good story. Keep writing.

on Mar. 20 2010 at 6:14 pm
xhiddeninsomniax SILVER, North Syracuse, New York
7 articles 2 photos 40 comments
I love to read stories that I can relate to, and this is one of them. Great job with the story

on Mar. 20 2010 at 5:59 pm
AlyssaFama SILVER, Kunkletown, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
Most people want to be the sun that brightens your day. I'd rather be the moon that shines down on you in your darkest hour.

this was such an amazing piece of work! loved the ending, and maybe you can check out some of my stuff too. great job, though

on Mar. 20 2010 at 4:47 pm
HappySappy SILVER, Berlin Heights, Ohio
6 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality.<br /> <br /> An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind.

wow i loved that ending! it was a surprise after you kept saying how you just wanted to be friends! i love your work and i hope you can read some of mine too!

mkgirl395 GOLD said...
on Mar. 20 2010 at 1:48 pm
mkgirl395 GOLD, Coppell, Texas
10 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;My friend, let&#039;s not think of tomorrow, but let&#039;s enjoy this fleeting moment of life.&quot; <br /> -Omar Kyyam

It's always a good thing to touch on something we all can relate to. I'm no exception; this has happened to me- or at least, I see it coming :/.

Anyways, you are so eloquent! I want to read more from you!

on Mar. 20 2010 at 9:40 am
keembahhh SILVER, Fullerton, California
5 articles 2 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
the past is the past[: put it behind you and let it go and it wont come back to bite you in the ass

wow... this is what is happening to me in two different situations at the same time, but at different parts of the story. this was an amazing piece! i loved the whole thing! i liked the suspense created! hahah! brilliant!

on Mar. 20 2010 at 4:51 am
that was so supremely awesome, thats happened to me so many times before but i could never find a way to put it in poem form lol

qwop man said...
on Mar. 18 2010 at 9:26 am
nice story..loved iit

on Feb. 26 2010 at 4:05 pm
xLoVeLyCuTiEe428x PLATINUM, Nanuet, New York
24 articles 0 photos 102 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;To me, Fearless is not the absense of fear. It&#039;s not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.&quot; <br /> &mdash; Taylor Swift

Told you it was a MUST read!!

on Feb. 26 2010 at 3:53 pm
xBaByGiRrL22x PLATINUM, Pearl River, New York
22 articles 0 photos 280 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The goal isn&#039;t to live forever, but create something that will.&quot;<br /> &quot;If you wanna go, baby let&#039;s go; if you wanna rock, I&#039;m ready to roll.&#039;&#039;<br /> &quot;No one ever said it&#039;d be easy. They just said it&#039;d be worth it.&quot; &lt;3

wow. i luv this!

on Feb. 26 2010 at 2:50 pm
Ellie.M. PLATINUM, Santa Paula, California
47 articles 1 photo 133 comments
i loved this can you look at my poems.. Yesterday's tomorrow and impossible to answer are my favorites check them out and tell me how you like them :)

MeggieGal said...
on Feb. 26 2010 at 1:05 pm
MeggieGal, Houston, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
Wow. I really felt for the character. Good job at the portrayal!

BECKYwww said...
on Feb. 26 2010 at 12:04 pm
BECKYwww, 75070, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
Workin&#039; on my fitness.

I LOVED YOUR STORY! It happens a lot to people. Your story made it feel like I was in their shoes.

HADLEY said...
on Feb. 26 2010 at 12:03 pm
HADLEY, Mckinney, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
my eyes are up here foo&#039;

That was an amazing story! i felt like i was there!

on Feb. 26 2010 at 11:59 am
sidneynicole BRONZE, McKinney, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When life knock you down to your knees, just know you are in a perfect postition to pray.&quot;

i loved it! it felt like i was there,keep on writing i love your stuff you got a real talent

Petrina said...
on Feb. 26 2010 at 10:15 am
amazing yopu really have a gift

on Feb. 26 2010 at 9:36 am
alwayswriting14 SILVER, Northport, New York
7 articles 1 photo 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Everything makes sense yet nothing makes sense.&quot;

Amazing! You really have a gift for describing the scene so i really felt i was there at the very least, i might've even have been the girl.

twiwrite GOLD said...
on Feb. 16 2010 at 2:56 pm
twiwrite GOLD, Modesto, California
14 articles 0 photos 111 comments

Favorite Quote:
none :P

im confused ... did she really like him???

on Feb. 4 2010 at 11:40 pm
capemaychick GOLD, Fairfax, Virginia
11 articles 6 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Mr. Hummel: If things get serious, use protection.<br /> Brittany: Does he mean like a burglar alarm?<br /> <br /> Quotations &ldquo;If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.&rdquo; &ndash; John Quincy Adams

I really felt like I could be the girl that this story was written about. Well done!