All Because Mom Wanted Ice Cream

Sorry, In Advance, For What I Might Say When We Fight

"Yeah... Yeah, we used to be best friends, Evan. And why did that change?"

"Because- I don't know."

"Because you got so caught up in your fake friendship with Connor that you didn't even bother with me anymore, that's why."

"But-"

"But, what? It's the truth, and you know it." Jared's phone was forgotten at his side. He was truly listening and truly speaking up.

"You were... All of high school you've been a jerk who needs to hang around me so he can get his car insurance paid for by his parents. And anyways, you're always off with your camp friends, you know? Off screwing girls who are gonna be in the army, and playing video games with guys 'way cooler than me,' in your-"

"You really thought-" Jared laughed, bitter. "You thought all of that was true? You thought I had other friends? I don't! And I most certainly was not in any type of relationship, sexual or romantic, with a girl who was gonna be in the army. Or any girl at all! I like men, Evan. Men. Boys. Male beings! People with dicks and occasionally those men who do not have dicks which is totally fine! And for the record, I haven't been in any type of relationship with a guy either. I'm lonely, okay? Not that you would have ever bothered to notice! You're too caught up in your own loneliness to notice anyone else who's struggling. You just don't care! You never caught on that I was trying to be your friend. Even when I made crazy desperate attempts. HELP THE MURPHY'S, RIGHT? But what about me?"

Evan couldn't process the things Jared had said. He had heard it all, loud and clear, but couldn't contain all of the information at once. So he said probably the dumbest thing possible in a situation such as this one. 

"Wait, you're gay?"

Jared gave Evan a look. "First of all, is that seriously all you got out of that? And second, yes I am, do you have a problem with that?"

"N-no! And no! I promise I heard everything you said."

Jared rolled his eyes. He was too worked up to relax himself, so he just sat on the edge of the couch, his arms crossed. 

"Do I get a turn, or no?" Evan asked. Jared said nothing, so Evan continued. "You... You have been my best friend since we were in diapers. Since before that! We were literally born on the same day, in the same hospital, the day our parents met! Dads, remember? They were... They got chatting and found out we were being born on the same day and it's like fate decided that we had to be best friends. Back in middle school, or elementary, or preschool, I would have followed you off a cliff, or into oncoming traffic, because that's how much I wanted to prove I was good enough to stay your friend. So even when you became a jerk, I still hung around you. I felt safe. Nothing can hurt me when I'm around you, except for you. And I'd take one knife, rather than many. And then senior year comes along and you're extra jerk-ish, and I just... I found a place I could hide, where I wouldn't have to deal with any stab wounds at all. And I was so... I had to stay away from you, because the second I went back, I would be forced to remember what a weak disaster I am. And I would have to live with..."

"Live with what?" Jared demanded.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Evan shouted. "Like, this feeling... That. A feeling that I don't think I've ever felt before. Just, like, th-this pit in my stomach, but not in a bad way. It's like, filling up the hole inside of me and replacing it with a better hole. And it hurts, sometimes. Like, physically hurts. A burning in my chest. And I feel like I could watch you forever, just sitting there reading dumb memes on your phone. And I could listen to you pick me apart all day long just to hear you talk to me and it's not good for me and I didn't know how to fix it so I just avoided you entirely!"

Evan's breathing was heavy. He was half way worked up into a panic. 

"No way." Jared breathed.