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 Nov. 30 2009 at 6:49 pm
Sharpie96 BRONZE, Clinton Twp, Michigan
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Stay golden Ponyboy...stay golden" "Like the ways you dig sunsets" -Johnny, From THE OUTSIDERS

wooooow I really liked this peice! it's very moving!!!

on Nov. 30 2009 at 6:38 pm
LoveLikeWoe DIAMOND, LeSueur, MN, Minnesota
54 articles 2 photos 748 comments

Favorite Quote:
Whoever laughs first has the sickest mind.

i love this piece. wonderful work! :D

on Nov. 30 2009 at 6:34 pm
This is amazing...and very relatable for me which sucks but at the same time I'm glad I'm not the only one. I love the ending. The whole thing is so well put together. Great job.

on Nov. 30 2009 at 5:40 pm
ManekiNeko SILVER, Cincinnati, Ohio
8 articles 1 photo 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and prove it to be true."

Beautiful. Simply.

StarsMoon said...
on Nov. 30 2009 at 3:37 pm
StarsMoon, Lehi, Utah
0 articles 0 photos 49 comments
:DDDDDD wow!!!

that was so amazing! it was cute, it was suspensful, and i completely loved it!!! :) thnx for posting this! it gives people(and me)percpective. :) thnx again!!! :D

on Nov. 30 2009 at 3:15 pm
whisperingofdawn GOLD, Colorado City, Arizona
17 articles 12 photos 87 comments
so much suspense! love it :]

Amour3 BRONZE said...
on Nov. 30 2009 at 2:11 pm
Amour3 BRONZE, Cypress, Texas
3 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never give up."

Aw. I loved it! It's something that many girls go through and I love your writing style.

on Nov. 30 2009 at 8:54 am
dark_roses14 PLATINUM, Mazon, Illinois
20 articles 0 photos 164 comments

Favorite Quote:
play the music, turn it up loud, dance around, and drown out reality

ive read this one before lol i loved it! it reminded me of the exact thing that happened to me. i had a boy like me, and we had been friends for like, ever and i knew he liked me, but i didnt like him that way, but i decided to giv him a chance anyway. its always good to give someone a chance. everyone deserves one

reesha SILVER said...
on Nov. 30 2009 at 7:55 am
reesha SILVER, Rawalpindi, Other
6 articles 15 photos 124 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.&quot;<br /> Walt Disney<br /> <br /> &quot;Hakuna Matata!&quot;<br /> Lion King<br /> <br /> &quot;The British policy was &#039;unite and conquer&#039;. But I say &#039;unite and conquer&#039;.&quot;<br /> Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea)

it was an amazing story.. though in the end I was sure she would reject him. If she had it would have been better because this way she is just leading him on. Is there a sequel? Because I really want to know what happens next!

on Nov. 9 2009 at 3:03 pm
LeilaniLives PLATINUM, Fort Wayne, Indiana
42 articles 11 photos 128 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;They say &#039;Life&#039;s two steps forward and one step back&#039; - But what if I tripped and fell down the whole flight of stairs?&quot;

Yeah..plus, she could be getting herself into something very deep. I mean, since first grade? Around 12 years this boy has slowly fallen for her and she can't lead him the wrong way.

on Nov. 8 2009 at 9:59 pm
I mean, I understand not wanting to hurt his feelings, but wouldn't he be better off with the truth?

on Nov. 8 2009 at 9:13 pm
LeilaniLives PLATINUM, Fort Wayne, Indiana
42 articles 11 photos 128 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;They say &#039;Life&#039;s two steps forward and one step back&#039; - But what if I tripped and fell down the whole flight of stairs?&quot;

I would have to agree. If she didn't feel that way, she shouldn't have said it. It makes me want to know what happens further. Then again, the story is better left leaving the reader questioning. All I can truly ask is, was this truly what happened to you?

on Nov. 8 2009 at 8:42 pm
Wow. Great story. The ending was a little harsh, though. I mean, if she doesn't really feel that way, why say so?

on Nov. 8 2009 at 5:24 pm
t.elizabeth SILVER, Rowley, Massachusetts
5 articles 5 photos 1 comment
I loved this! Awesome story and I loved how you wrote it! :)

mcw_816 SILVER said...
on Nov. 8 2009 at 4:15 pm
mcw_816 SILVER, Short Hills, New Jersey
6 articles 0 photos 26 comments
Wow. This really made me think about my own crush-on-a-friend situation—in my case, I was rejected. It's taken me many months to recover, but this story's conclusion made me consider his side of the story.

aliasunknow said...
on Nov. 8 2009 at 3:47 pm
aww, i loved it!!! it really seemed like it could happen!!

Allie:] SILVER said...
on Nov. 8 2009 at 9:56 am
Allie:] SILVER, Pleasant Plains, Illinois
5 articles 0 photos 1 comment
that was really good. it seemed like a real senerio that we all face. amazing. truely :]

on Oct. 17 2009 at 10:16 pm
PinkPrincess GOLD, Wellington, Florida
17 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
I think therefore I am

amazing :) great ending!

RLJoy said...
on Oct. 17 2009 at 9:20 pm
This was written ver well. I loved it!

on Oct. 17 2009 at 8:58 pm
dancer4jesus BRONZE, San Marcos, California
2 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
The heart writes the words of the music that the soul dances to.

that was so sweet! I loved it... it was very relatable! awwww, I am so glad she said "Yeah. Me too." The ending totally caught me off gaurd! That was good! I thought she was actually going to tell him off, but she didn't :)