Bruises (BWWM)

16

16

Ben

I went for a run tonight. To clear my mind up. And I saw her Tamra, two weeks after witnessing her kiss with Alex. I didn't plan on coming up to her and talk, but seeing her like this, without Alex's arms usually wrapped around her constantly at school, it felt like I couldn't help myself. She was running too, on the sidewalk opposite from mine, a few meters in front of me, wearing a loose gray t-shirt and some black leggings.

I caught up to her, jogging, and she seemed startled by my presence. She suddenly ripped her headphones from her ears, the loud rap music she was listening to still blasting from them. She looked at me with eyes so wide I was afraid they might've popped out of their sockets.

"What are y... W-what are you doing here?" she blurted out, eyeing me from head to toe, out of breath. I caught her stare lingering a bit too long onto my revealed arms before she looked up into my eyes.

"I went for a run," I casually said although I could feel my palms getting sweaty and it wasn't from running a few blocks down my house. Never in a million years would I have expected Tamra freaking Remway to be intimidating me by simply standing in front of me. "Oh, I didn't follow you, if it's what you were thinking. Actually, I just ran straight across the neighbourhood from my house and I ended up here."

It led me to you, were the words I was too timid to add.

She softly tucked back a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear, still staring at me intently.

"So?" was her one-worded answer. I didn't let her know I was bothered by her nonchalance. I instead simply acted cool, like I always did.

In the most laidback manner that I could achieve, I brought up my hand to squeeze hers. The contact of her warm fingers against mine made me wish I could go back to that moment, in that room filled with pictures of pain, where for a glimmer of a second, I was hers and she was mine. And it was then that I lost it and let the following words escape my mouth :

"I really really miss you and I know that I messed with your feelings, but I want to start over. You and I."

For a split second, her face softened and I felt as if it was about to lean in into mine, but she suddenly laughed, sending cold waves through my heated face. She balled her hand into a fist and playfully hit my chest, still chuckling.

"I'm sorta with Alex," she hiccuped in between two giggles. I wasn't going to let her have the last laugh though.

"You thought I was interested in a... relationship?" I smiled, bringing my thumb to my lower lip, watching her study the movement with focus, her laughing ceasing. "You helped me change for the better and having you in my life, as a friend, is all that matters to me right now."

Her eyes grew weary and I could tell she was disappointed by the lie I had just uttered and that was my confirmation. It validated the small doubtful possibility in my head that Tamra might've still liked me, somewhere deep inside of her heart.

She peered down at the ground, seemingly weighing her options before her big brown eyes looked at me and she offered me a small grin. Her arms linked behind my neck and I automatically laced my arms over her waist, holding her like this reminding myself how much I had missed her during the past month and several weeks.

"Friends," she muttered against the skin of my neck.

"Friends," I repeated, my chin resting atop of her head.

As we parted from our comfortable embrace, I noticed her stare lowering towards my lips, and I felt like I was gravitating towards her. I fought the urge to kiss her and instead simply smiled her way.