Real Friends (An IM5 FanFiction)

Chapter 8.

Nikki's POV:

*Monday, January 5, 2014, 1:02 a.m.*

"Did you guys have fun?" Cole winked at Will and me once we walked out of the closet and back into the living room.

"Shut up," I picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "We didn't even do anything!"

"Mhm," Alex laughed. "Sure!"

"No, we really didn't!" Will told them.

"Seriously?" Dana asked. And I nodded.

"Then what did you do for seven minutes?" Lina asked.

"I don't know," Will shrugged. "We just talked."

I sighed as I sat down on the couch. We did just talk. But that was the problem. I mean, it's not like I'm trying to rush things with Will or anything; I'm not ready for a lot of things either. But the most we've done is kissed. Am I just not attractive to him anymore?

Sometimes I hear about how, after couples have been together for a while, they get less "exciting". But when I look at Alex and Gabe's relationship and take into account how long they've been together, they're still crazy about each other.

I don't know, I guess I just feel like Will doesn't feel the same way about me anymore, or maybe I just care about him more than he cares about me. Either way, it's not looking good.

"Where's Dalton?" Will spoke up and everyone just shrugged.

Emily's POV:

*Monday, January 5, 2014, 1:07 a.m.*

"Em?" Dalton opened the door to the guest room.

"Hi," I said, looking at him with a blank expression on my face.

"Can I come in?" he asked and I shrugged.

He walked into the room, closing the door behind him, and made his way over to the bed.

"Can I sit?" he asked and I just shrugged again so he sat down next to me.

For a few minutes we were silent. I was just staring at the TV, not actually watching or paying attention to the show.

I finally spoke, "You don't have to sit here with me because you feel bad about what I said. I said what I did because I had to and because I just don't like keeping my feelings to myself. Anyways, I get that you don't feel the same, and that's fine. I just don't think that I can go on being 'friends with benefits' just so that I could be your sideline or some back up for when things don't go well with some other girl," I quoted Lina, knowing that what she had said was the right thing to say in this situation.

He just stayed quiet. I bit my lip, hoping that he would tell me that I was wrong and that he did have feelings for me. I wanted him to kiss me and tell me that I was just as important to him as he was to me. I wanted to be his everything and I wanted him to be mine. But instead, he said, "I'm really sorry, Em. I'm just not ready for a relationship right now and even if I were, the two of us being together just wouldn't work. What would happen if we ended badly? I don't want to lose you as a friend. I do care about you, just not in that way. I hope this won't change anything or make things awkward."

"Like I said: I get it; it's fine." I lied, turning off the TV and turning away form him.

"Em..." he was about to say something when I interrupted him.

"Look, I'm really tired so I'm going to go to sleep. You should get back to everyone else. Good night." And with that I lied down and covered myself with the blanket. After a few seconds, I felt him get off the bed and heard him move to the door. He held it open for a bit, it was like he was trying to decide whether or not to leave. Finally, he left the room and left me alone in the dark.

Nikki's POV:

*Monday, January 5, 2014, 3:51 p.m.*

"Thanks for the ride, Will," I said, unbuckling. It felt weird saying his name. I know, that sounds stupid, but it's just that I always called him "babe".

I guess he noticed because his response was, "Oh... yeah, no problem, Nikki."

That sounded weird, too. We almost never called each other by name. He got out of the car and came over to my side to open the door for me.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, walking me up to my door.

Taking out my keys, I shrugged, "I don't know, Will. Is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean: do you even like me anymore?"

"What? I love you! And you know that! What's this all about?" he looked confused.

"It's about the fact that we never do anything."

"What are you talking about? We always do things! We hang out almost everyday!"

"No! You don't get it! That's not what I mean!"

"Well then, what do you mean?" he seemed to be getting as frustrated as I was.

"We never do anything! Even last night, in the closet, all we did was talk!"

"What? So you're mad about the fact that I don't try to make moves on you? Because our friends have done more things than we have?"

"God! No, Will! I don't care that we haven't gone as far as most of our friends have! I just feel like you don't even find me attractive anymore!"

"Are you serious, Nikki? I find you crazy attractive! You're the most beautiful, amazing, and perfect girl I've ever met!"

"So then why haven't you tried anything before?"

"Because I know that neither of us are ready for those kinds of things. I don't want to rush things and I don't want to pressure you into doing anything that you're not comfortable with," he assured me.

"I'm not saying that I wanted to rush things. I just don't feel like you find me attractive anymore," I repeated, looking down.

He tilted my chin up, making me look him in the eye as he said, "Don't ever say that. You're more than beautiful to me and I'll tell you that everyday if I have to. And don't ever doubt my feelings for you. I have more love for you than there are stars in the sky. You're my everything, Nikki. I love you."

My heart fluttered at his words and I couldn't help but smile, "I hate when you do that."

"Do what?" he chuckled, still not pulling away.

"Make me smile when I'm mad at you."

He smiled and leaned in, connecting our lips.