Friend-zoned

Chapter 1

I looked at Shane, a blur in my tear-filled eyes. He held my face in his hands, wiping the tears away. He locked his eyes with mine. It was comforting, reassuring even. “Kenny, I promise I won't leave you. I love you too much to lose you…”

***

My laughter woke me from my dream. I shook my head. Boys tell the cutest lies, I thought to myself, grinning pitifully. I sighed, rubbing my eyes and glanced at my tablet. It was already six o'clock in the morning and I already had four texts on my Kik. Three from a group chat I was in and one from my best friend Terry. I opened his text first feeling a stupid grin crawl on my face as my face grew warm.

Morning beautiful, did you sleep okay? I'll pick u up 4 school @ 6:30. C u thn. <3

~Terry

I giggled, always feeling flattered whenever he complimented me and began to type back:

Good morning, handsome. I slept okay, this time I woke up laughing instead of crying. See you then! <3

I sighed and deleted the text shaking my head, knowing I could never be as bold as this and instead typed:

Morning and okay...

I tossed my tablet down, smiling as it made a poof sound, landing perfectly in the center of my pillow. I gave one more stretch before making my bed and lighting an incense stick on my night stand. I climbed back into bed, legs crossed and hands lightly folded over each other. I closed my eyes and breathed the cinnamon sugar scented air. Today is going to be a great day, I thought, beginning my meditation as I  cleared my mind of the dream I had of my ex-boyfriend.

Once I felt my worries and tension wash away, I knew I was ready to start the day. I looked at my clock, 6:15. I had enough time for a quick shower. I ran across the room into my bathroom and took a five minute shower. Ten minutes later I was dressed for school, wearing a black t-shirt that read ‘Sarcasm is my native language’ in drippy neon green writing, ripped black baggy boyfriend jeans, and my brown combat boots. I smirked to myself and ran downstairs with five minutes to spare. I entered the kitchen and hurriedly poured some of my homemade green juice into my water bottle. I had just put the jug up when I heard Terry’s car horn.

I grabbed my keys and my juice and ran out the door. Terry stepped out his car and met me halfway.

“Good morning, cutie. Sleep okay?” Terry reached for my bag, his fingertips brushing my shoulder as he took it. I felt my cheeks warm and averted my eyes to my shoes.

Terry chuckled. “One of these days I'm gonna make you look me in my eyes longer than three seconds.”

I laughed. “Good luck with that.” I entered the passenger side of the car as Terry put my bag in the backseat.

“So you hungry plant eater?” Terry asked, smiling.

I nodded. “Always.”

Terry chuckled and muttered “Of course,” before starting his car and pulling out my driveway. I put my earbuds on and pretended to be looking out the window while secretly watching Terry. After five minutes of watching him talk to himself, he stopped the car abruptly and turned his head in my direction.

“Sweetheart, I can see you staring at me. Is something wrong with my fade? Do I have drool on my face? Lemme guess, a huge pimple?”

Surprised by the sudden attention, I squeaked and averted my eyes while giggling stupidly at his jokes. They were corny, but I like it when guys could make me laugh, even if they were cheesy.

“Do I have toothpaste on my chin? Something wrong with my clothes?” Terry rambled on.

I looked at Terry and couldn't help but smile. I sighed romantically. As if. Even if you had salad in your teeth, I would still think you were gorgeous, I thought.

“Hello? Terry to Space Cadet Kenny. Terry to Space Cadet Kenny, do you read me?”

I blinked to see him waving his hands fervently in front of my face. We were at Dunkin Donuts.

“Before you had graciously daydreamed about the one and only, I was asking you if you wanted a hot chocolate and a cinnamon sugar doughnut?”

I nodded, “I’ll stay in the car, thanks.”

I watched Terry walk inside the store and I went back to my thoughts about Shane and the dream I had. He and I had only ended our relationship a month ago and already he begun to pretend I did not exist. He was ignoring texts messages and emails, I bet if I hand wrote a letter, he'd trash it. And at school, the silent treatment isn't any better. He wouldn't look my way and when we did make eye contact it wasn't the same feelings that once was there. Everything was just different. It's almost as if he really just didn't care…

About me…

Anymore.

I breathed in and blinked my eyes rapidly to keep the tears building in my eyes from pouring down. My tablet dinged. I sniffled and pulled my tablet out my bookbag. The group chat was asking about me and where I was. I frowned when I saw Shane text. It's not like I could read it, I blocked him so I wouldn't read anything he said about me, but that didn't stop our shared friends from adding me and him to the same chat. I think they partially wanted to see what would happen. Entertainment as I recalled Louis once called it.

Damian texted me directly.

You okay? We just were wondering if you were still coming to school today. Well I was worried and was hoping you weren't spiralling again and weren't hanging with Jay again.

I grimaced at the memory of Jay and how our friendship ended abruptly. After Shane left me, I had begun blaming Jay’s girlfriend, Destiny, for why we had broken up. I assumed she was flirting and leading him on and had managed to convince him to leave me. I had started planning ways to get back at her when the plan came to me. What better way then to beat the slut at her own game, pull one of her own stunts. Jay was my target, it wasn't hard since he wanted to sleep with me anyway.

I came onto him after a smoke session. Then I told the group's tattletail, Steve, enough so that he would report back to Destiny of her boyfriend's poor behaviours and the betrayal her “best friend” committed.

Our friendship ended because he felt like his girls were making him decide between friendship or relationship, so I helped him and ended it.

My tablet buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was from Damian.

Kenny? You can talk to me if that makes you feel better...

I smiled at his polite gesture as Terry came back to the car with a box of doughnuts and a cup holder with four drinks. I laughed, Terry and I had a habit of drinking and eating each other's food.

I texted Damian back a simple, ‘I’m fine and I'm on my way’ as Terry leaned over to read the text before looking me in my eyes. Our faces were inches away from each other. I held my breath as my heart anticipated for his lips to touch mine.

“You sure you're okay?” I felt his warm breath on my bottom lip. I nodded praying to the Spirit for some space or I'd pass out. I felt a warmth in my belly and my face warm up from not being used to this violation of my personal space.

He smiled wide, probably able to read my uncomfortability and backed away. “Alright, Kens, but promise me you'd tell me if you aren't okay?”

“I promise.”

Terry pulled out the parking lot of DD. I sipped my hot chocolate and nibbled a cinnamon sugar doughnut. Terry side glanced in my direction every five minutes, smiling and chuckling.

After the fifteenth time, I addressed him. “Oh my glob, Terry what?”

“Oh nothing, except…” he fell silent as the car slowed to a stop at a red light.

I could feel my patience wearing thin as seconds ticked by. “Except, what?”

“This!” He snatched the chocolate drink from my hand and gulped it.

“DUDE!” I exclaimed. “SERIOUSLY!!” I slapped his shoulder playfully as he I took his iced caramel macchiato with caramel drizzle and caramel chips. I gulped it and instantly regretted it.

“ACK!” I held my head, “BRAIN FREEZE!”

He laughed hysterically and we continued the drive to Norway High School.