FLAMES

FRIENDS: At A Sleepover

The Present

Johnny's POV

Kookie's apartment is not very far from where I live, on my way home I keep thinking about the concert.

The song 'Hard to Hide' was actually written for her. Kookie was my first crush in high school, I realized my feelings for her when Justin almost tore my ear drums talking about everything he liked about her. I guess I was too used to her to realize it. I never really liked my first girlfriend from sixth grade, I only dated her because it was supposed to happen, 'the Prince charming charms the prettiest girl at school'.

I got nervous singing the song once again with her right in front of me, but why did I? Isn't she just a friend to me? Do I still have feelings for her? Well, even if I do I can never let her know about it. Seeing how uncomfortable she got this evening makes me scared of loosing her and her playful self. I don't want her to be so self conscious around me, I like things the way they are.

Getting home I order pizza for the night. Kookie said to call her when I get home so I put a call across to her once I settle in my bed.

"Hey kid" I clear my throat and speak immediately she picks up.

"Hey muscle man, hope you got home safe?"

"Yes I did" I pull my duvet over my legs and relax in my bed. "Hope you had a nice time at the concert tonight" I think I made her uneasy by staring at her the way I did so I have to be sure I didn't make the concert awkward for her.

"Of course I did" I could hear her smile from over the phone. "Though not as much as Dave did, he was totally engrossed" I imagine her being expressive with the 'engrossed' part.

"Yeah, I noticed you switched seats with S" those two will never find a meeting point.

"Speaking of which, have you spoken to Dave about the whole drama between them?"

"A few times, it's not a topic he enjoys discussing" even though we were once roommates, Dave never said anything to me about he and S.

"I just hope they get over it some time" I hear paper ruffle and she groans, definitely out of frustration.

"What's wrong?"

"It's a poem I'm working on about friends and I feel I'm not being expressive enough" typical Kookie, something like this will really get on her nerves.

"Don't overthink Kookie, just write as it flows naturally, it will come out great, as far as it comes from your heart and not necessarily your head" I know emotions are actually controlled by the brain in the head and the only job of the heart is to pump blood but it sounds like something that would encourage her, so I just say it.

"Thanks Johnny" she sighs a sigh of relief. "Anyways I'm looking forward to this months sleepover. I'm hosting this year and I've alot of fun things planned out" I remember I'm the one hosting right after she mentions it.

Kookie and I talk for over two hours about random stuff and a lot of throwbacks. We place a bet on the first person to sleep off and that person has to post his or her silliest pictures on their social media handles. I win the bet of course as Kookie sleeps off mid conversation and I realize I've been speaking to myself for the past ten minutes.

The guys arrive at my place at past ten and I have the place set up for a PES match. Dave helps himself to the kitchen and Mickey settles in, in front of the game controller.

"Hey man, what's up" Mickey says picking up a controller.

"I'm good, been surviving" I answer, passing a cup of grape juice to Dave.