While You Where Sleeping

Chapter 7

"So," I begin "Eric I have a question for you."

"I hope I have an answer for you." He says.

"Do you like me?" I ask.

"Well... honestly... Yeah. Yeah I do."

"Do you think I like you back?"

"Um... don't really know."

"There's no right or wrong answer."

"Well I think you think I'm your friend."

"I mean significantly like you."

"Well I kinda... hope you do."

"Do you think I do?"

"Where are you going with this?" He asks.

"Well I've decided that I love Rylan." I say. "And I just don't want to wind up in one of those cliche love triangles."

"Sorry I'm confused."

"Are you jealous of Rylan?"

"I haven't even met the guy." He looks offended. "Will you tell me about him?"

I take a deep breath. "Okay. We've been friends forever. We met when we were five. We loved to get into trouble. We would play outside all day until we both passed out of exhaustion. We had this spot in the back field where we would sit for hours and talk. On a big bale of hay we'd sit and watch the sun set." I notice the tears welling up in my eyes. "Then he got hurt. Hit by a drunk driver and broken...bad. He was just so optimistic the entire time. The other day... the last time I talked to him, he actually smiled and laughed. He acts like nothing's wrong."

"He sounds wonderful." Eric says, he sounds completely sincere.

"He was... I mean... is" 

"Look." He says leaning in closer. "If you love this kid. You love the guy. You shouldn't have to think about my opinion to live your life. Don't worry about me. I just hope we can still be friends."

"We can. Of course. Thank you so much for understanding." I tell him. "Friends can hug right?" 

He opens his arms. "Yeah they can."

He pulls me in and holds me tight for a few seconds. I must say. I liked it.