While You Where Sleeping

Chapter 10

Time starts passing. Rylan sleeps. Eric and I hang out in the woods. We're not dating or anything. Just hanging out. Being friends. I don't go see Rylan very often. It's just hard for me. I feel like I'm rejecting him. I can tell Eric senses this. One day he finally works up the courage to say something.

We're sitting by the creek, side by side on a rock.

"You miss him." He says. "You feel bad. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me."

"Is it that obvious?" I ask.

"It is. I can tell. You feel bad for spending time with me. You think your betraying him. You think your hurting him."

"Well I do. I love spending time with you. But I also miss spending time with him. I just feel like it's impossible to like both of you. Like I have to choose."

"I wouldn't be that selfish. When he wakes up I'll make sure I let you two go and play. I'll be fine."

"He wouldn't be like that. Odds are you two will wind up best friends."

"Maybe." He says, sounding very optimistic. A chilly autumn breeze blows. I pull my jacked tighter around me and shiver. He puts his arm around me. 

"What would you do?" I ask. "If Rylan did die?"

"I'd cry right along with you." He answers. I put my head down on his shoulder. He kisses the top of my head.

"Your kinda like the brother I never had." I say. "The brother I love and who occasionally kisses me."

He chuckles. "That's a little weird don't you think?"

"You know what I mean." I tell him.

"Yeah. Sis. I get it."

"Don't start calling me that." I tell him.

"Okay. As long as you don't start calling me bro."

"Deal."