Loner

Lie

"A lie is all it takes." Marcie told me. This is the advice I get for coming to my friends.

"Why would I lie to her?" I asked. Was she jealous?

"Because I'm in love with you, Josh." I was taken aback. I stood, frozen in place, my back facing her.

I let her continue,

"You've done these little things that no one would take a second glance at, but just looking at you makes me fall. I keep thinking these thoughts that I would have a chance with you, God, Josh, you make me feel special without even doing anything." She told me.

I searched my feelings. Though she said all these things to make someone swoon, my heart only went for her, not Marcie.

"I-I'm sorry, but I'm not lying to her." I apologized turning to look at her, my voice coming out sharper than intended.

"You must really love her." She simply stated.

"I do." I replied.

"Have a nice life, Josh. I'm sorry too." She left me standing alone in my home.

That's the last time I ever heard from her.

****************

"J-Josh?" She stuttered. It's been so long since I saw her. She's changed so much. She's dyed her brown hair, blonde, so it was more of a dirty blonde now.

"That's me," I joked, probably making the situation worse.

"Hey, I, um, gotta go buy some groceries, so I'll leave you two here..." Bent announced.

I gave him a pleading look, but he only shrugged and mouthed a sorry. I sighed. Typical Bent.

"So, Marcie, how's life?" I asked out of curiosity, wondering if she still loved me or not. It didn't matter anyway, I still loved her.

"Pretty good, I guess." She said in a monotonous voice.

I wanted to know, but I couldn't. But I did.

"Do you-" She cut me off, instantly knowing what I was going to say. Just like the best friends we used to be.

"-still love you?" She finally finished after a couple seconds of silence, "I don't know, honestly. I can't trust my feelings after what I've done."

What did she do? I don't know, but I wasn't going to push her. I wasn't that type of person.

"Well..." I trailed off, not knowing what to do next. I looked down at my hands, avoiding eye contact. I was wringing them together.

"How's good o'l life, Joshua?" She didn't even call me by my nick name. And she didn't call me by my pet name. Only two people could do that.

"Pretty good, I guess. How's yours?" The awkward tension in the air was just getting more tense than it needed to be. Why couldn't we act normal around each other anymore?

"Just Great." She forced out. She was clenching and unclenching her fists. I don't think her life is 'Just Great'.

  "Hey, Marc-" I stopped taking when she stood up and walked outside of the apartment. She greeted my brother at the door and just passed him, without a second glance. He threw me a playful glare.

"What did you do this time?"

I threw my hands up in surrender. "I did nothing of a sort." I said honestly.

"Sure." He replied sarcastically, and rolled his eyes. He set the bags in the kitchen and plopped down on the couch next to me.

"What did she do?" I asked.

"Not mine to tell." He shrugged it off. I didn't want to push him to tell me since I didn't want to intrude her privacy.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled. I took a deep breath, "I'm sorry I missed out on your life."

"No, Josh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was never there for you. Mom and dad were never there either. And I just wished I could've been there in your life." He stood up from the couch. He looked down at me and was about to say something, but I guess he thought otherwise. He walked to his room without another word. And I didn't hear from him for the rest of the night.

****************

In the morning, I heard some noises in the kitchen. My first night here was pleasant wasn't it.

"Morning, Bent..." I groggily said, I mean, I just woke up for goodness sake.

"Hmm, good morning, Joshie!" Bent mused. I groaned which only made him laugh.

"Bent, what're you doing?" I smelt food, was he cooking? But he never cooks...

"Um, I'm making breakfast, duh." He replied.

"But you never cook." I exclaimed.

"I just happen to feel like it Joshie, don't question me, I was a chef one point in my life you know." He proved. And I did know. I sighed.

"At least let me help you." I offered. He chuckled.

"You? Help me? Yeah right." He waved me off, telling me that I wasn't gonna win the argument. Plus he didn't know that I learned how to cook. Especially from a five star chef, but he didn't need to know that. I looked at him, and we both smirked.

"COOKING COMPETITION!!!" We yelled in unison, pumping our fists into the air. This was gonna be fun.