Perfect Strangers [[A Short Story]]

I-B

The afternoon of the 26th of September 1995, Agloe, N.Y.

NARRATOR'S VIEW

Frank was taking a nap in his apartment when a voice shook him out of his doze

"Happy Fifth Best Friend-sary!" Jade yelled at the top of her lungs, startling him.

"Woah Jade! Happy Friend-sary too! He jumped off the couch to hug her.

After five years of friendship, Frank and Jade have gotten really close to each other. In fact, they both have feelings for each other. Feelings that are more intimate than being best friends of any other type of friend. They loved each other but they keep these feelings inside, failing to confess them in fear of being rejected. They wanted to confess their feelings, but they didn't know how to do it.

Jade really wanted to confess her feelings because of another girl in Frank's life, Amanda. This girl was a childhood friend of Frank and had recently gone back to his life. Slowly, she saw how hard Amanda was trying to get Frank to notice her. She knew that Amanda wanted to be Frank's girlfriend and this spawned an ugly feeling inside of her that she had never experienced before... jealousy. The mere fact that Jade was a person with dignity prevented her from doing unlikable things to Amanda. She knew it wasn't Amanda's fault that she fell in love. The two are racing towards the finish line, the finish line being Frank's heart and Jade was determined to win this race.

On the other end of the spectrum, Frank did not want to confess his feelings. He recognizes them, he knows he loves Jade to a greater extent than being friends, but he fears that if she rejects him, it will terminate their friendship. Besides Jade, he also fears for his other friend, Amanda. He was not blind for he could clearly see how his childhood friend behaves around him. She is clearly in love with him, but he doesn't love her. If he tells her about this then she will feel hurt and Frank doesn't want that to happen. Just because of his love, he might see two friends saying goodbye.

The afternoon of the 10th of December 1995, Agloe, N.Y.

JADE LAVENBROOKE

Years worth of gathered courage led to this moment, a moment Jade Lavenbrooke wanted to happen. She was finally ready to confess her true feelings to Frank Silversmith, her Romeo, knight in shining armour and loved one. In all honesty, she was dreaded by the thought that this might mean the end of their friendship, the mere thought sending shivers up her spine. She wanted to confess, but she feared the consequence.

It's all or nothing, Jade! You'll have to accept what happens next, whether happy or sad.

This was the only thing she focused on as she drove on the paved roads of Agloe, her sleek blue car reaching speeds that hover just the speed limit. The reason for such a hurry was that she worries that Amanda will admit her feelings to Frank and that he returns them. She won't let this happen for her love was pure and true, and this type of love will go against all odds to find its partner.

Due to her being focused on her musings and not on the road, she didn't notice that she was already driving on the wrong side of the road and was on a collision course with another car. She tried to swerve away but it was too late, the momentum her car's speed created was too great to overcome. Her car slammed into the other vehicle, the energy rocking her body forward, slamming into the steering wheel. The airbag did not open due to the damage her car received, the whole car itself looking like a crushed tin can.

With the last traces of consciousness fading away, she managed to utter the words she meant to say to Frank.

"I love you, Frank... I won't ever forget you."

If only she knew how ironic that statement was, she would've never said the latter part as the world around her faded into nothingness...