Beside You | Jemi

Forty

Joe's body soon relaxed as he fell asleep in his best friend's arms. Demi sighed but then took in a deep breath as she continued to stroke Joe's hair. She had no idea how he found out that she liked him for so long but she was just glad he didn't know that she loved him. She knew he didn't mean a word he said, he was just hurting and was trying to blame someone for something that couldn't have been helped, the one person they could blame was dead too. Demi kissed his forehead gently moving away from him as gently as she could so he didn't wake up his head now laying on the pillow. She pulled the covers up his body it being cold in late December, Christmas and been and gone nobody up to celebrate much. She kissed his head one last time before making her way downstairs beginning to clean up a bit after her best friend.

Joe woke up about an hour later sighing when he realised that he had broke down again. He wanted to be happy and carry on his life for Emily knowing she wouldn't want him moping around the house all day but it was hard when his heart ached for her. They may have spent six years together but six years wasn't long enough for him. He was about to roll out of bed when he heard Demi's voice in the doorway telling him to stop.

"Made you some soup." Demi stated as she entered the room a tray in her hands. Joe sighed leaning back on the bed against the headboard.

"I'm not ill." He mumbled.

"I know you're not but you're not very well mentally and I want to be there for you, we'll eat together in here." Demi demanded softly laying the tray down on his lap setting the spoon in the bowl for him. She exited the room soon coming back with her own tray sitting down next to him.

"I'm sorry about earlier, I'm just trying to blame anyone I can." Joe stated stirring the soup around in the bowl. He hadn't been eating much before three in the afternoon when he would pig out on anything he could get his hands on.

"It's okay Joe, I know you didn't mean it." Demi assured him.

"I've known for a while now you know." Joe stated looking down at her.

"Known what?" She questioned avoiding eye contact.

"That you've liked me since we practically met," Joe stated. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I didn't want to ruin our friendship and then you started dating Emily and it was too late but Joe honestly it doesn't matter because I never expected anything to happen between us." Demi insisted slurping her soup.

"It's hard just to ignore the fact you have feelings for me Demi." Joe urged but Demi shrugged her shoulders gently still not giving him any eye contact.

"What do you expect me to?" Demi questioned.

"Kiss me." He demanded then Demi looked up at him.

"What no Joe." Demi answered but it was one of the hardest things she had ever said. As much as she wanted to just crash her lips on his now she knew it wasn't suitable in the situation they were in. He was hurting and didn't know what his feelings were.

"Please Demi." Joe pleaded putting his tray on the bedside table turning to her but Demi got off the bed before he could get any closer.

"Joe we can't do this, I may have feelings for you but you're hurting and confused about what your feelings are." Demi urged Joe sighing as he slumped down on the bed again.

"I hate you." Joe mumbled pulling the covers over his head. Demi sighed too running her fingers through her hair. She just wanted her best friend back, the one who was happy and who didn't have any problems. She wanted her Joe back but she didn't know how long it would take for him to come back. She knew he didn't really hate her, if he said that to her with meaning in his tone she wouldn't know if she would cope without him.

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