In love with my best friend

Double date

"Thanks for coming again, Zack. I really owe you one." I smile at Zack as we walked down the side walk. "It's no problem, I was actually meaning to ask you out.." He trails off, scratching the back of his neck nervously. I glanced over at Zack, almost taking him in. We'd live next to each other since I moved into my apartment. We saw each other a lot and always had small conversations.

I had to admit I never looked at Zack any other way then being my neighbor though.

He had bright blue eyes and dark brown hair, he wore black framed glasses that suited his face
Maybe Adam was right, maybe Zack really did like me. He was cute and I hardly ever paid attention to him. Perhaps that was because Adam was the only guy I ever really looked at like that. He was tall and built as well. Most girls would fall for him.. just not me. I was too in love with my best friend who only thought of me as a sister... Ugh!

"Here it is." I say as we walk up to the restaurant doors. I was lucky enough to get here before I would have to be stuck in a uncomfortable conversation. I didn't know how to respond to Zacks comment and it was better if I didn't. I appreciated him wanting to ask me out I just definitely wasn't feeling that vibe.

Zack kindly opens the door for me, letting me walk in first. Inside the restaurant it was quite. Hardly anyone was here and I can already see Adam and Nicole on a booth in the corner. Adam had his arm around her and they were laughing away, it made me flinch a little.  I felt my heart slowly fall to the pit of my stomach.

"There they are." I smile at Zack, grabbing his hand in mine and leading us to their booth. Zack immediately squeezed my hand and followed me. I gave him a  small glance and smile.

Perhaps I was purposely holding Zacks hand, but wouldn't you do the same? I mean I wasn't interest in Zack, quite frankly I was kind of using him..

"Hey." I smile at Adam and Nicole.

"Oh hey! I'm glad you guys can make it!" Adam said happily as me and Zack sat in the booth across from them.

"Nicole this is Zack, Allison's neighbor." Adam introduced Nicole and Zack.

I found it weird hearing him say my real name instead of "Bunny" as he called me. He usually called me Allison only around Nicole. Perhaps he also saw how intimate it sounded. Me and Adam are close, and it would take a idiot not to see that. "It's good to see you again Allison." Nicole smiled at me, obviously a fake smile.

No matter how much Adam denied it to me, I knew she hated me. Maybe she could tell that I was in love with Adam. Obviously he wasn't in love with me.. but if the roles were reversed- we'll I suppose I'd hate Nicole too. I couldn't blame her. But I will say that there was no reason for her to see me as a threat. Adam chose her over me every time- and he seemed to really like her.

I had spent all the years we've known each other hoping he would fall for me, but he never did.

"It's good to see you to." I smile a fake smile at her. She smiled back, almost mocking my smile in a way. She reached for her ice lemonade, taking a sip before sitting it down. She then proceeded to cock her head at me.

"So are you still a book publisher?" She asks, making me frown.

"Uh no.. I'm a assistant to a book publisher..." I trail off. She obviously had done that on purpose! She knew exactly what I was!

Ny cheeks turned red, flushed.

"Oh ya! That's right! You want to become a book publisher, right?" I nod, feeling like I was gonna explode.

"You know actually Nicole knows a lot of people, she can totally help you get more into the business." Adam says, smiling at me.

"Definitely! I know a lot of people. I can talk to a few friends see if I could get you a hire up gig. I'm sure whatever book publisher you... assist, isnt the best so yeah." I look over at Zack who was just listening to the conversation.

I already felt belittled. I felt a mixture of hate, hurt and I also wanted to run away and leave the restaurant.

"I'd like to earn it myself." It was true, what was the point of that? Having someone practically hand you the job? If I wanted that I would've let Adam help me a long time ago.

"Do you write at all?" Zack asks me, taking a sudden interest in my career.

"She's been writing practically her whole life." Adam answers for me.

"I remember when we were neighbors, I'd go outside to play some basketball and she'd be sitting on her porch writing away. " Adam says. I didn't know he knew that. In fact I didn't know he noticed me much back then.

I actually never really told him that I ever wrote, just that I read a lot. Me and Adam have known each other our whole life's, we grew up next to each other but we didn't ever become the best of friends. He was actually a huge jerk to me in high school. But it stopped when we met back in college again. It was odd that we went to the same college, but we did. We kinda relied on each other throughout college. It was like we depended on each other a bit.

"You remember that?" I ask him.

"It was practically all you did. You weren't exactly the popular kid in high school.." He chuckles. It was true, I was always a nerd but he definitely didn't need to mention it. I glance at Zack for his reaction. He smiled showing his dimples and he gave me a small wink.

That's when a bit of butterflies let out in my stomach. I furrowed my eyebrows.

~~

Dinner never seemed to end. Well Adam talked with Nicole and Zack, I felt alone in a corner, never really finding a way in the conversation. Zack would occasionally try to invite me in by turning the attention to me but somehow Nicole would drag the conversation back towards her were she'd continuously talk about herself, her rich daddy and her career.

I finally got home around 1 in the morning after we had all stopped at a 24 hour ice cream place to get some ice cream, that's where the conversation went on another hour. I felt miserable the whole time though I had to admit something about having Zack there made it a bit better. He would often defer from the main conversation at hand to start talking to me. He asked me life questions and it wasn't hard to realize he was making an effort to try and get to know me. I in return felt as if I were doing the same. I'd ask him questions too and I was actually intrigued by his life.

In fact if Nicole and Adam weren't there I think that I would've talked to Zack a lot more and I think that I would've preferred that...

Zack had walked back with me to our apartment complex and he had surprisingly kissed me good night and left me to be. I didn't think he would do that, but he did. And I would be lying if I said I didn't like it. He was actually a really good kisser.. he left me lingering for me. I stood motionless in my apartment. All I could hear were the busy city streets.

I think I actually liked Zack a bit.