l e g e n d
♔
Everyone in our small town knows that Lane and I are close. We've been best friends since second grade, have done tons school projects together, had lots of sleepovers, and are pretty much always together.
No one was surprised when, instead of living in a dorm, we got an apartment together near campus. We were together for our first year of middle school, our first year of high school, and our first year of college.
It's October now, and both of us are slammed with school work.
It's Friday evening.
Lane looks up from his spot at the kitchen table when I come in from the store.
"How was your day?" I ask him, starting to put away the groceries.
He gets up, though. "It was okay. How was yours?" He asks me.
I shrug. "It was okay, I guess."
"Hey, since it's Halloween tomorrow, we're going to watch some Halloween movies tonight." Lane says.
"I don't like scary—" I start, but he shushes me.
"If you get scared, I'll protect you. Like the greatest best friend I am."
I laugh, shoving him. "Yeah, if you're not scared too."
He feigns being hurt. "The movies won't even be scary, bud."
♔
For dinner that evening, we order Chinese food and settle on the couch. Our first movie is "The Corpse Bride", which really isn't scary. I think next is "Coraline", and then "Beetlejuice". I have no clue what Lane has planned for after that, though.
After we finish eating, Lane cleans up our stuff, telling me to stay put. He comes back with some snacks, just in case we get hungry later.
"The Corpse Bride" just went off, and Lane just turned on Coraline.
♔
"Beetlejuice" is on now, and it's around nine o'clock. Lane looks over at me, watching my reactions, I guess.
"We can watch "The Addams Family" next, if you want." He says.
I nod, because that's a classic.
Throughout the movie, I keep noticing him looking over at and/or watching me.
"What?" I finally ask, laughing a little.
"Nothing," he says. "Can't I watch my best friend?"
"Watch me doing what? Watching a movie?"
"Maybe I just like to look at you."
My heart starts beating faster, and he leans forward.
"I know we've been friends for a really long time," he says softly, putting a finger under my chin. "But I really like you."
I swallow, looking into his eyes. I've never wanted to be kissed so bad. I mean, yeah, I like him. Who wouldn't? He's absolutely beautiful, but I never said anything or made a move because he's my best friend, and I figured he didn't feel the same.
I pull him toward me and our lips touch. My hands tangle in his hair, and he grabs my waist, pulling me forward and into his lap; he keeps his hands on my waist, touching gently.
I've never been kissed like this before.
I've never been touched like this before.
I've never felt so right in my entire life.
I gasp against his mouth, letting him slip his tongue inside and then nip at my bottom lip, making a noise that sends my pulse up and the butterflies in my stomach into high gear. I can't help it when my lips move into a smile against his, trying to get as close as I can to him.
"I love you so much," he whispers against my lips.
I brush my lips over his, the faintest touch. "I love you too," I tell him. "I've wanted this for so long,"
♔
Lane pulls my body close to his in my bed, underneath the covers.
"You're warm," he mutters.
"Well I am a human," I say.
He starts laughing, kissing my temple.
"Thank you for tonight," I say.
"The kissing or the movies?" He asks me, looking confused.
"Both," I say. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me,"
"Aww, look at you being all sappy!"
I laugh, pulling him close to me. "I have to know," I start. "How long?"
He pauses for a minute, thinking. "I— Tenth? Maybe eleventh grade? How about you?"
"Eighth grade. You remember that day you came over to my house, and it started raining and we went outside and we were playing in it?"
He nods.
"That day. That day was the day I knew I liked you. The day I fell in love with you? The day I went with you to meet your niece. You were holding her, and you just looked so happy and at peace. I fell in love with you. I wanted that for us someday, but I didn't think it would ever happen. I mean, we're best friends and... Yeah, but the way you held her and looked at her. You were so sweet and gentle..."
"Wow," he says softly. "The day I fell in love with you was graduation. I was so proud of you, and you looked so cute and proud of yourself. That smile you had on your face... I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I was so proud of you. Of us. We made it; we did it, and we did it together! And afterward, all I wanted to do when we hugged we pull away and kiss you. I wanted to kiss you so hard and I wanted to start us right there. But, I didn't because I was scared. I was scared of what would happen. What people would say— what you would say... But tonight, I couldn't take it anymore. You were so focused and cute, like always, and I just had to..."
I smile at him, putting a hand on the back of his head and pulling him in to me, kissing him hard.
"I love you, Lane," I tell him, smiling.
He smiles back. "I love you too, Legend."
I lay my head on his chest, closing my eyes and welcoming sleep.
2/13/21
Fun fact: I've never actually seen Coraline or Beetlejuice!
