Stolen Moments

Not So Friendly Friendzone.

I really don't like being pushed to the point of getting angry; I've got a bit of a problem, you know, controlling it. Yet, the one person in the whole world who knows that best pushes those buttons frequently - why is that? One of these days I think I might snap... his neck.

Speaking of the handsome prick himself, wearing that wanna-be-jock leather jacket. Ugh, how predictable. I watched him saunter towards me and all I could think was that tall, dark haired man was sure to break a few hearts. I mean he'd only be adding to the huge list of broken hearted girls trailing behind him.

"Are you incapable of wearing anything other than that jacket? Like seriously, do you own no other clothes! Take it off for gods sake." I sneered, rolling my eyes at him.

"Not the first or last time you've asked me to take my clothes off Eliza. Trying to tell me something?" He shrugged back at me, throwing the jacket on the bed.

"Ew, you're like my brother. I've known you too long to want anything that's under that jacket. Trust me, if I was hitting on you, you'd know it."

"Oh I see, the illustrious 'I don't do romance' Eliza Fredrick's famous last words" Chris spat sarcastically towards me.

"Shut up and hug me you twit, I've missed you."

"Well of course you have it's me." He winked and flashed those brilliant white teeth towards me. "I've missed my best friend too, come here."

He threw his large - and heavy arms - around my shoulders and for the first time in a while I felt safe, comfortable and happy. I breathed in the strong scent of his cologne, wow - this boy always smelled good. Almost as soon as it had started; it ended as he shoved me away from his presence and onto my bed.

"So I got some gossip for you, and you're gonna hate me." He said mockingly. "What blonde bimbo have you slept with this time?" I said imitating his condescending tone. "Why do you always think so low of me? Hurtful." He looked me in the eyes and bit his lip, trying to be seductive and failing. A lot.

"So if you're not knee deep in blonde bitches what have you got to tell me that I'll be so mad about?" I asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"I dropped out. I didn't want to be there, it's not the life I want. None of it was ever my dream anyway." He stared off into the distance as I took a few seconds to process the information.

For a few seconds I wondered what could drive him to drop out the best university for miles around, what could cause him to leave that life he'd always wanted behind. But I got it, I got him. He was living his parents dreams, they were reliving all the things they wish they could have changed - through him, and by doing so they'd forced him into a life of resentment, a life he didn't want.

I stared at him, head held low followed by dropping shoulders. A broken boy. The vision of the boy I fell in love with seven years ago. After he pushed me in the lake as a dare; and it backfired as I couldn't swim and almost drowned. Big mistake because since that day, he's been stuck with me - the stubborn, high maintenance best friend and often cock block. The vision of that boy stood in front of me only he was trapped under the aspirations of others. I took my hands and placed them on his warm cheeks lifting his face up slightly, and I looked into those dark brown eyes and I saw a glimpse of my best friend, the one who didn't hide behind a persona.

"Look at me you idiot. I don't hate you, I never could. You never were that person you pretended to be. I love you Chris Elute. I love the real you. Forever."