The Other Side

8. Best friends

As soon as Brettany left her bedroom to take a shower, Edwin tapped on Bradleigh's  number. His Facetime call was answered immediately.

"Edwin..."

"Bradleigh...."

"OMG Edwin.. Edwin ... I'm... so.... sorry..!!"

"Bradleigh... Are you okay?"

"Yes. Edwin... I'm so.. so sorry I pushed you away like that. I'm so...."

"Hey...Bradleigh, it's okay.. you were upset. I understand."

"Edwin, that guy I slammed.. he made a threat to touch you. I had to make sure he'd think twice about even entertaining that thought ever again.. "

"OMG Bradleigh... you should have told me that you were looking out for me.... no wonder you were pissed..."

"I didn't want to scare you. I was so scared myself and I couldn't bring myself to tell you at the time.. I'm really sorry..."

"Shhhh, hey.. it's okay.. I get it..."

Edwin smiled and affectionately traced the image of his girlfriend on his screen with his finger.

"Edwin, Mr Yang said he'd keep those guys away from us, they're not allowed on the oval during breaks for next week."

"What ? Mr Yang, he did that for us?"

"Yeah. He spoke to the Deputy and got it done... He also had something to do with me not getting suspended."

"Wow."

"Yeah I know right. But my fight started in the corridor, so Edwin, please, please be careful, okay?"

"Okay... Hey Bradleigh..."

"Yeah?"

"I'm so glad you told me."

Bradleigh wiped her tears and smiled.

"Yeah, me too, I'm so glad I finally was able to bring myself to tell you..."

Edwin smiled back.

Bradleigh then raised an eyebrow.

"So... Edwin.. was your room always so... pink?"

Bradleigh broke into a smile and a giggle.

"I'm at Brettany's."

"Oh yeah, of course, I saw you two from the Deputy's office."

"You did..?"

"Yeah.. I was glad she was there for you."

Shortly after Edwin ended his call with Bradleigh, Brettany entered her room in her pyjamas and a bath towel wrapped around her head.

"Hey, Edwin. All good with Bradleigh?"

Edwin looked up and smiled.

"Yeah, all good, thanks"

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Brettany, you gotta teach me how to do that."

Brettany pointed at the towel on her head.

'What, this ?"

"Yeah. How does it stay up there looking like a beehive?"

Brettany giggled.

"Didn't you used to do this when you had long hair?  No? Well, it's your turn to go take a shower. I'll show you afterwards."

After Edwin had returned from his shower, Brettany took his towel and told him to sit down on her bed and bow his head towards her so that she could wrap the towel around the back of his head and twist it at the front.

Edwin screamed.

"Aaaaagh you're pulling my hair...!!"

"Oh, this is nothing.  It hurts more when it's longer like mine"

"Are you serious?  Why would you do this?"

"Well, you're basically wringing your hair by twisting it with the towel.  It dries faster.  I'll have to use a dryer later, of course.  There !"

Brettany pulled the twisted end of the towel towards the back of Edwin's head.

"OMG all that pulling made my eyes water."

It was true.  Edwin's eyes were twinkling in the ambient lighting of Brettany's bedroom.

"Aaaaah Edwin, you're soooooooooooo cute."

He is so cute.

Brettany leaned into Edwin and kissed him on the cheek.

Edwin giggled.

"OMG who're you callin' cute?"

"You Edwin, you're sooooo cute."

Brettany wrapped her arms around Edwin and this time she kissed him on his lips.

Edwin widened his eyes as he tried to lean backwards. Brettany had her arms around his neck so he couldn't break the kiss.

"B..Brettany..???"

He mumbled her name through the small gap he managed to make between his lips and hers.

Brettany slowly pulled away from Edwin.

"...I'm sorry Edwin..."

Edwin shrugged.

"It's okay... um.. what was that all about..?"

"I..  I think you're gorgeous, but you always were. If you say you're a boy, I accept that you are.... and I thought I was crushing on you.... but when I kissed you, I now know that ...you're still my best friend."

Edwin looked confused.

"... that's a lot of information to take in..."

"..You're a guy and you're gorgeous but I don't have a crush on you after all.  But I love you as a best friend."

Edwin broke out into a smile and hugged Brettany.

"Now that.. is the best thing you could possibly say to me.  I love you too Brettany."

They spent the rest of the night checking out their favourite Youtube channels while they had towels wrapped around their heads.