pink nights / sally face

we're friends

larry's pov /same day

after i had calmed down, i tried to plan out how i would navigate this. i didn't want to hurt y/n's feeling and i definitely did not want to make things awkward. i wanted her to know i cared about her and i wanted her to believe me. i didn't want to her to think i was just trying to let her down easy.

i groaned and took out my phone. my finger hovered over her name. it felt like i couldn't type even if i wanted to.

new text to y/n: hey are you busy :)

no, wait ... no smiley face. i backspaced.

new text to y/n: hey are you busy

ugh, that looks too harsh.

new text to y/n: could i stop by today?

fuck, i sent it. i exhaled sharply. fuck. i stood up and shook my hands nervously. i wished so badly i didn't have to do this.

ding! new text from y/n: yeah, i'm free. what's up?

i wished even more she hadn't asked. i can't say, oh nothing i'm just about to come over and make you sad. i just stuck my phone in my pocket and grabbed my keys.

y/n's pov

what a weird text. it had been five minutes and larry still hadn't responded. i felt nervous to see him. especially under these circumstances. being alone with larry should've sounded exciting but we haven't talked in so long and after the last solo conversation i had with him, it felt like something had shifted.

i closed my laptop and drummed my nails. being away at college was sure proving to be way more exciting than high school, but damn was it stressful.

ding! new text from larry: i'm here but i don't have a key to get inside

my heart raced. i grabbed my phone and made my way down the hall and down the stairs. i could see him waiting through the windows of the front doors.

"thanks, y/n." larry held the door open and smiled.

i smiled and nodded, "so, what's up?"

he lowered his voice, "do you think we could talk ... in private?"

if i wasn't having a heart attack before, i sure was now. "uh, yeah. just ... follow me."

we made our way up the stairs and approached the door to my hallway, at which point i reminded larry to be fast as ash lived only a couple doors down from me.

we scurried down the hallway and into my room without anyone seeing. i was relieved for our stealthy maneuvering but now i was lone with larry.

i jumped up on my bed and motioned for him to join, "okay ... so c'mon. what's up?"

his eyes were shifty and he was fidgeting with his hands. "y/n, you know i really like you. and i really really care about you. i am so happy that we met and we're gonna have a lot of fun together. i don't doubt that all."

i squinted, trying to piece together what it all meant. "but??"

"things haven't felt ... right. i've been too clammed up to talk to you. and ... that's not how things were before ... we talked alone at my apartment about us ... you know?"

i nodded slowly, "i was kind of catching that drift, yeah."

he hesitated more, "maybe ... we're just supposed to be friends."

i looked at larry, who was looking back at me with sad eyes. "larry ..."

"i'm sorry, y/n. i feel like i fucked it all up."

i put a hand on his knee, "you really don't have to be sorry. i ... i think i could sense that too."

he shook his head, "i should've been more careful with your feelings, i am so sorry." he looked down at his feet.

"larry really, it's okay. we both agreed we were inexperienced. and i mean, this isn't a fun situation but ... it's a part of learning." i sighed, "but you're right, we are friends and we are going to make a lot of good memories together."

he sniffled, "i feel so guilty."

i leaned into him and gave him a squeeze. i felt like maybe i knew why he was so upset and "guilty" but i didn't say anything. i decided to allow us both this peace. truthfully, i felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

"everything is gonna go back to normal ... you're my friend and i still like you a lot, larry."

he nodded, "i like you too, y/n. thank you."