College Days

Three. True Feelings

Michael

I decided I'm tired of holding it in. I see Isaiah every fucking day and it kills me. I see him surprise her for lunch almost everyday. She smiles more now. I try to cheer her up but it doesn't work but once he tries, she's all smiles.

"Cam we need to talk." I said and sat on her bed.

"Hold on." She said and answered her phone. "Yeah. I'll be over there tonight. You can help me with my essay. Promise? I love you too. Bye."

"Let me guess, Isaiah?" I asked and sighed.

"Yeah. What's up?" She asked, sounding like him.

"You're even starting to say the things he says. Wow." I said and shook my head.

"Is that a problem?" She asked.

"Yes. It is." I told her.

"Why?" She asked curiously.

"Because I like you. I'm in love with you." I said and took a deep breath.

"Wow. I should have known. You've always had a problem with him for no reason. Your like his friend when yall go play ball but his enemy when he's around me. Some friend you are." She told me.

"So I'm a bad friend now becauseI don't like him Cam? Wow." I said and shook my head.

"No. You're a bad friend because you can't support my relationships. Neither can Laila or Milly and it's so annoying. None of y'all have ever supported who I talked to. Ever Mike. It's always about what y'all want me to do. I hate it. I'm not happy right now in my life and y'all aren't here for me. Shad is the only one going to the extra mile to make me happy." She explained to me.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"You haven't been here for me Michael. I've been in pain and I've had to work extra hard to do homework and study, keep up with my medicine and try to figure out what I want to do with my life. Did you even know that my medicine raises my fever so high that I'm almost gasping for air? Did you know I only sleep at night because of that medicine? Did you know that I need glasses now because of how bad my headaches are now? Did you know any of that?"

"No. I'm sorry. So sorry Cam."

"You should be. You should also apologize to him because he's the one who sits in the cold shower with me until my fever goes down, he's the one who holds me until my headache goes away. He helps me with my homework and he tucks me in at night sometimes even if I'm here. None of you realize how much he's been here for me since I was diagnosed."

"Well I can change that and be here more. Help you out. I need to know how you feel about me though." I told her and grabbed her hand.

"You're my best friend, you're like my brother that I didn't want. I love you though just not in the way you love me. Isaiah has my heart and I don't want that to change. I'm sorry." She said and hugged me.

"It's okay. Thanks for telling me the truth. I needed to hear it." I said and sighed.

"You'll find someone who's way better looking, smarter and everything you want. Don't worry, you're a good guy." She told me and rubbed my arm.

"I hope so." I said and looked down.

Even though she doesn't feel the same way, I still love her. She's still everything to me. Just as a friend. I accept that. I just didn't want it to be a secret anymore.

Anthony

I was chilling, listening to music when I saw Cam. I smiled and took off my headphones before calling her over. She walked over and put her two books down before sitting.