The Friendzone

N I N E

Grayson woke up at 9am. He went to grab his phone from the bedside table when he saw an envelope with his name on. He grabbed the envelope and sat up in bed. He recognised the handwriting almost instantly. Jade.

He ripped open the envelope to reveal a letter.

Dear Gray,

I am writing only to you. No one else is having a letter. I know you are the only person who actually cares about me. That's the main reason why you're the only person with a letter from me. My parents don't care about me. At all! They are too wrapped up in themselves and the divorce to even acknowledge their ONLY child. And I can't leave without telling you.

I need to tell you something I've been keeping away from you for years. I kept this a secret because I didn't want you to know. But now that I'm leaving, you deserve to know. It's something you have been dying to hear from someone. Someone who is your other half. Some who is your partner in life.

I love you.

I know you don't feel the same way. That's why I kept it a secret. I didn't want to ruin our friendship. And when I say "I love you", I don't mean it in a friendly way. I mean it as in a romantic way. I know you only see me as your best friend, but you deserve to know.

I know you're trying to find the perfect girl for you, and I have tried to help you. And it has been torture! Can you imagine what it's like to watch someone you love date someone else?! And then have their heart broken?! I hated every last minute of it! I hated the girls you dated! I hated the way you were always getting hurt!

But I wanted to be a good friend. So I continued to suffer in silence. I didn't let anyone know how I was feeling. I would only cry when I was alone. At a place where no one can hear my breaking heart and my quiet cries.

You will probably hate me after reading this. Mainly because I'm leaving you. I'm letting you go. I have tried to be your best friend. But the pain is getting worse the more I spend time with you. Every time you tell me we'll always be best friends. Every time you introduce me to someone. Every time we talk.

I am your best friend.

And that's all I'll ever be. Nothing more. Nothing less. No matter how hard I try, you'll never look at me the way I look at you. You'll never see me the way I see you. You'll never feel the way I feel about you. I will ALWAYS be your best friend.

The Friend Zone is practically my home.

But now I'm leaving. I'm running away. Away from the Friend Zone. Away from my family. Away from my home. Away from school. Away from New Jersey. Away from the one I love: Grayson Bailey Dolan.

Like I said, you'll probably hate me after reading this letter. But I had to tell you.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm madly in love with you.

I hope one day we'll meet again.

Love always,

          Jade xxx

Grayson was shocked when he read the letter. He never knew Jade felt that way. And he had constantly thrown her into the Friend Zone. Always calling her his best friend. Always breaking her heart. He hurt his best friend.

He broke Jade's heart.

He ran out his house to Jade's house. He threw pebbles at her window, but she didn't answer. He climbed up to her window and snuck into her bedroom. He looked around for any sign of jade. But nothing. He saw a note on her dresser.

He picked it up and began to read.

Dear Grayson,

I know it'll be you reading this letter because my parents don't give a shit about me. And you're the only one who would search my entire room. I know you probably want to talk to me, and try to convince me to stay, but I need to leave.

I'm sorry that I kept my feeling away from you. I just thought it was easier to keep it hidden. I'm sure others knew how I felt. You were just too oblivious to see the signs. Remember when I would always hold your hand? When I would always sit next to you? When I would always laugh at your jokes (even the ones that aren't funny)?

The signs were there, Gray. You were just too oblivious.

I tried to tell you, but you kinda told me you had a crush on someone else. Every time I would try to tell you, you would tell me who you had a crush on. And then your crush would break your heart. And who would always be there to care for you?!

Me! Best friend to the rescue! Like always!

You were always getting hurt! You are so careless when it comes to love! You think every girl that sees you loves you! They don't! Not everyone will love you! You might not actually get a girlfriend for years!

But you will find someone. I promise.

But that someone won't be me.

Goodbye. Forever.

Love,

           Jade xx

He sighed when he finished reading. He climbed out the window and ran to their secret place they would always go to together. He looked around and saw a letter tapped to a tree. He ripped it open and read the letter.

Dear Grayson Dolan,

I see you've found the 3rd letter. If you haven't noticed, I have addressed you differently in each letter. The reason for that is because I'm finally letting you go. You want to become a successful actor and to find your perfect girl.

And I want to become a professional artist. And the only way to do that, is to leave Jersey and leave you. It breaks my heart to do this, but it's necessary. For the both of us.

          ~Jade x

He re-read the letter. After the 3rd read, he knew where she was going. She was going to an Art school in California. He ran home and packed his bags. He opened his laptop and booked the first ticket to California.

He had to stop her! He had to tell her he was no longer oblivious!

He had to tell her how he felt!