But We Fell Too Fast

part one: waffles&bacon

She was the girl next door, even though she had never actually lived next door to me, that wasn't the point. The point was she was the best friend- merely one of the guys for the longest time, and I had grown up with her, we were practically the same age, though she was exactly 27 days older than me and she sure as hell never let me forget that. I don't know exactly when things between Demi and I changed, but suddenly it was different, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. It was only until a few years later that I realized I had always been thinking about her, had loved her from the start, I just didn't understand the love until later. 

Too much later as it turned out, because by the time I figured out what I wanted with her, she was already with my brother (a betrayal of some sorts, though Joe had no idea of my feelings for Demi, so I really only said that to make myself feel better). Their relationship had never broken Demi and my bond though, there was something about writing love songs with someone else that made you know them- really know them like I know Demi, not just know the basics but know every emotion they've ever experienced. Well, it sounds creepy when you say it like that. Demi probably wouldn't think so if I ever told her that though, she would understand.  

"Pancakes or waffles?" I half yelled across my apartment.

"Waffles of course!" Demi replied with obvious enthusiasm and mock annoyance, "Isn't that obvious?" I just smiled and continued with my breakfast making. Waffles and bacon: possibly the greatest combination ever created in both mine and Demi's opinions. I heard the quick patter of Demi's step and turned toward the kitchen doorway just as she showed up. I couldn't help but notice that she was only wearing one of my big and ripped t-shirts that just came down to the middle of her thighs... friendly. In her hand were albums, all of them her own. 

"Jesus," she murmured, then smirked at me, "must you always buy out every store? There are other people that would enjoy having one of these things." For some strange reason I was suddenly embarrassed, even though she was obviously kidding. I felt a slight flush in my cheeks but laughed it off and simply countered, "Now what would be the fun in that?" She laughed one of her famous and irrestable giggles and put the albums on the counter to come sit next to me and "help" make the waffles- which to Demi always entailed me working and her eating, but that was okay. That was the way I liked it.

We ate breakfast together, joking and small-talking about the things going on in our lives, though both of us easily avoided the question of why she had slept over last night, which she only did when something went wrong with her much-to-old-for-her, egotistical, much-less-attractive-than-me boyfriend, Wilmer. Of course, Demi claimed she loved him. And I loved Demi.

After finishing breakfast, we brushed our teeth together, trying to make the stupidest faces possible in the mirror, mine practically causing her to spit her toothpastey saliva all over her reflection. It was so easy with Demi, conversation and laughter flowed out between us without effort. Demi skipped into my room and grabbed a casual outfit out of the single dresser she had reserved for herself, a bystander would probably think we were dating, but no, just good friends (yay for me). I don't know what came over me, but without warning words just started falling out of my mouth and I blurted out, "Why were you here last night?" I regretted asking as soon as I did. Her face reddened and her features contorted into an almost painful look, she obviously didn't want to talk about it. There was a moment of tension between us, but then she spoke.

"He came home drunk of his ass," she whispered, "again." And then she walked into the bathroom again to change with no further explanation. It wasn't really needed, I knew first hand how Wilmer could be when he was drunk. and the thought worried me, but when Demi proceeded out from the bathroom in fresh, new clothes, she had a smile plastered on her face and there was no evidence that the previous statements we made had ever occured. In a happy and light tone she simply said,

"Movies?"

Without another word we were off for the day's adventures.