The Distance

      I gave a soft sigh as I looked up at the teacher who was addressing partners on a project on someone or famous person who inspired us, that went through some drastic change that made them such an inspiration to us. But that wasn't on my mind at the moment, the only thing that I could think of was 'Don't let me be paired up with 'Him' '. That 'Him' was my best friend, JR, at the moment I don't want to be near him let alone talk to him alone. Sure I felt bad about it, but I didn't wanna lose him, I didn't want him to know what I was doing, and over it all I didn't want him to know how I felt... That I was in love with him. I sighed and stared down at my paper it was a drawing for my comic well manga I was working on, now that I think about it- it kinda looks like him. I slapped my forehead, disappointed with myself, even though I had avoided him for the past month at the most I couldn't stop thinking about him...

     I snapped out of my train of thought when I heard my name. 

  "Choi Minki- you will be partnered with..." She paused and looked around the room for a moment. I bit my lip repeating 'Don't be him, don't be him, anyone but him'. 

"With- JR" She said and continued down the list. I felt my heart drop to my stomach. 

  "Damnit, seriously it could've been anyone!... just- why him?" I mumbled to myself burying my face into my hands. I took a deep breath and sat up, then jumped back startled to see JR in front of me. I swallowed hard and gave a nervous wave. 

  "Uh- hi?" I said softly giving a small smile then averting my gaze. He frowned, 

   "Don't 'uh-hi' me what the hell has been up with you? You haven't been around since I don't know how long! what did you find a new best friend?" He snarled at me. I flinched, his words hurt, they felt like knives. 

  "Well whatever let's just get this over with, since you have to be around me against your will." He said letting out a frustrated huff. I bit my lip I wanted to tell him everything, I wanted to tell him I loved him, throw my arms around him and kiss him.... But I can't, I'm afraid, I'm afraid of losing him. This may not be the best way to handle it, but it's the only way we both won't get hurt. I'll just be dead weight on him, he can always just get someone new... yeah, he'll be better off that way...

    "Ah- that's not true, I do wanna be around you" I said before regretting it, I spoke what I was really thinking- fuck I'm gonna blow it all... He looked at me, well more like studied me, he shook his head. 

  "Whatever, just come over today- it's not like you have a choice. So you can't get out of this." He said sternly before getting up and leaving the class room. I bite my lip and quickly packed my things, running after him. I caught up with him and grabbed his arm, before I even realized what I did.

  "   umm wait... just can I come over now?" I asked in a soft voice. He sighed and pulled his arm away and rubbed the back of his head.

   "Fine, no one's home anyway just follow me" he said sighing then gave a slight smile. I smiled and followed close behind him, until we came to a stop I looked up at him

     "why did we?" I asked.

  "shhh! stay behind me" he scolded before holding me behind himself. I peeked around his side and saw Baekho. A guy who had asked me out earlier, but I rejected him because I wasn't into him nor did I like him that way, he didn't take it well. And got mad at me.

   "Baekho? what are you doing?" I asked curious and worried about his motives.

  "Shut up- I'm here to win you, this guy doesn't deserve you, he's just a punk!" he said with a smirk pushing JR making him step back.

   "You're not going to win- and you're the punk here" JR shoved Baekho "and don't you ever tell him to shut up ever again!" he growled

  "Oh really I'm the punk? who's the one who-" Baekho got cut off by JR slugging him. Which sparked an explosive fight between them.

   "JR! Stop!" I shouted trying to pull him back. But as I did I got slung back hitting my head against the wall, I felt something cool coming from my head I reached back and touched it bringing it back into view.... I was bleeding, I looked up and saw JR yelling at me to hold on. I blinked as my vision began to fade into black. ""J...JR... don't worry..." I said softly before I blacked out.