F*CK FRIEND ZONE

I'LL MISS YOU

FROM JIM'S POV

Rebecca is leaving. It's been a good couple of years with her for several reasons and her looming absence is hitting Jim more than he expected.

"I'll just be a short ride away. You can meet me anytime you visit home." Rebecca's assuring tone makes him feel a little better but he will still miss her. He will miss the random conversations over cartons of noodles and cans of root beer.

"You'll be too busy with Nate to have any time for me."

"I'll never be too busy for you." says Rebecca while wrapping him into a warm hug.

They cling onto each other for what feels like an eternity to others and only a fraction of a second to Jim.

"I'll miss you Becks" Jim wants to say don't go, take me with you but that's illogical.

"I'll miss you too." Rebecca is acting tough but Jim knows she means it. Jim knows she is fighting tears just like he is.

As he watches Rebecca drive off and fade into the bustling street, he slumps his head down, take a deep calming breath and walks off to his own dorm room.

The pockets in his jeans don't feel deep enough for him to dig in and distract himself. It's a feeling he doesn't understand. He isn't used to feeling longing like this for anyone.

Jim has always been a popular loner. He likes being the center of attraction but he seldom let's anyone truly into his life, into his heart. Maybe it's because he had a tough time in middle school and high school.

Jim was not the pretty perfect boy he is today. The delicately sculpted form was a bloated mess while growing up and he was bullied about it until he stopped loving himself and everyone else.

Maybe that's why he bonded with Rebecca so much. The morning runs, doing yoga together, going on little hikes off campus. Rebecca was like a version of him only much less hurt inside, or that's what he thought.

He eventuality got to know about how much they truly have in common and how people in their lives have disappeared them most of their youth. So they bonded over pain until they bonded over joys.

Nate seems nice. He seems to care for her. Rebecca introduced him to Nate last weekend and it's definitely an upgrade. Hector was never nice to Rebecca the way she deserves. He only used her for whatever it is he wanted to hide.

Jim suspects Hector isn't into women and Sam isn't over him. The lingering looks don't go unnoticed and Jim has seen many of them. Having to hang out with Hector became an unnecessary compulsion since Sam refuses to move on from him.

Hector is always there whenever Sam is back in town. Jim visits for obvious reasons but he genuinely has no other expectations from Sam. Things are hot, steamy and nothing else. Their feelings for each other are confined below their belts and Sam is a better option than the dramatic once on campus. Jim would rather wait a month to meet Sam than fool around with random guys who he can't avoid in his classes.

By the time he gets to his room, picks up his things and heads back home, the bus ride is not chaotic enough to cover his thoughts.

He wonders what the next semester is going to be like. Rebecca wasn't going to be there but neither was Hector. Maybe he can get more time with Sam. Maybe he can give some much needed attention to his classmates that cling onto him for dear life. They are adorable but he isn't used to being loved that way so he defensively acts aloof.

"Put your sh*t in the basement and let's go" his dad screams at him even before he can enter his home.

Jim lugs his belongings down to the basement and dumps them next to the pull out couch he calls his bed.