"Stuck In The Friend-Zone Again and Again"

"Wanted To Tell You"

The rest of June seemed to fly by, and before I knew it school was over.

The last day had been filled with people coming over to sign my yearbook, many people (mostly girls) jotting their number down to give to the boys.
Most people, though, signed my yearbook because they wanted to.
My own arm was cramped by the end of the day from signing so many yearbooks.

I didn't think I was popular, but people generally seemed to like me.
Why, I didn't know.

The first couple days of July went smoothly and quickly, most of my time being occupied with work, my friends, and Jake.

Jake and I had really progressed as a couple; we trusted each other, and told each other everything, and best of all, when I said "I love you", he said it back.

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Luke's P.O.V.

At around 10 am, soon after I woke up, Michael showed up.

He did that, just appeared unannounced and invited himself in to eat my food and play my video games.

We decided to play FIFA together, as Michael was quite good at it, but I was better, and he never missed an opportunity to try and beat me.

He did beat me, multiple times, because I was horribly and hopelessly distracted.

"Mate!" Michael chided. "I like winning, but there's not much competition with you constantly on your phone!"
I waved him off and picked up my phone again, reading the text that was on my screen, laughing, and quickly swiping the screen to reply.
"Alright, out with it! Who're you texting?" Michael demanded.

It was Paris, obviously.
I had been texting her since around 9 (7 her time), and Michael showing up wasn't about to stop me.

"It's Paris, isn't it?"
I didn't have to answer.
Michael groaned. "Dude, you're whipped."
"We're not even dating!" I protested.
Michael shrugged. "You love her though," he said, like it was obvious.
"No I don't!" I defended.
Michael quirked his eyebrows. "Really? Then what do you feel for her?"
"She's someone I want to protect, I never want to see her hurt," I explained. "I want to make her happy and be the cause of that smile that she gets when she laughs. I want to make sure she's never be lonely. I want to make her feel like she matters. I want to shelter her from every bad thing in the world."

As I said all this, I realized something.
I did love Paris.

I looked at Michael, eye wide.
"Holy shit, I love Paris"
Michael simply smirked.

My phone dinged again, and I checked it.

Paris: Luke?

Luke: yes Paris?

Paris: I love Jake

My heart shattered in two.

"Now you just have to get rid of her boyfriend," Michael said.
"I can't," I said distantly, still staring at my phone.
"And why not?" Michael asked testily.
"Because she just told me she loves him."

A/N: OOOOOOH SHIT