If He Had Been With Me

I was sitting at the table with my family and my next-door neighbors. Our families were extremely close, we got together every weekend just to hang out and catch up.

My best friend (also my neighbor) was a tall boy with blue eyes and brown hair. He knew everything about me, from my favorite food to my deepest fears. He helps me with girl drama, picking out outfits, and is always there for me. we've been best friends since kindergarten.

After dinner we went up into my room. Our parents trusted us because we were like brother and sister, we would never date.

"What are you wearing tomorrow Ang?" He asked.

"Isn't that why you're here Aaron?" I laughed.

He sat on my bed while I ransacked my closet hating every outfit I saw.

"Is it this hard for all girls?" Aaron asked.

"Ugh, you're so lucky you can just throw on any shirt and pants!"

"Not true! Sometimes I have a stain on one shirt and I have to dig for another one!" Aaron exaggerated.

"Oh how horrible!" I said faking empathy. We both laughed. Then his mom started yelling for him that they had to go.

"Well that's my cue," he sighed, "see ya tomorrow Ang."

"Bye Aaron!"

"Why won't you date him?" My friend Jessica insisted.

"No. He's like my brother." I argued.

"Oh c'mon you and Aaron are perfect together!" My other friend Skylar pleaded.

"He's kinda cute!" Jessica noted.

"Then why don't you date him?" I teased. We sat down at our lunch table and Corey, Aaron, and Tyler joined us.

Skylar looked at Tyler and blushed. She had a major crush on him.

"So uh Skylar," Tyler stammered, "will you go to the spring dance with me?"

"Yes." Skylar smiled.

"Cool." Tyler said trying to act calm.

It was awkward silence after that. Aaron kept glaring at Corey angrily for some reason. I guess I just imagined it. It got even more awkward when Aaron caught me staring at him while he was glaring at Corey. Luckily Talia skipped over to our table.

"Hey guys!" Talia said. Talia was always peppy no matter what happened.

"Are you guys excited for the dance? Are you going? Do you have a date?"

"No, yes, and no." I answered.

Talia was rapidly asking more questions when Corey cleared his throat.

"Actually I wanted to ask you something Angela." Corey said, "will you be my girlfriend?" I was shocked. I glanced at Aaron, but he was looking down at his feet. I did kinda really like Corey a lot.

"Yes." I answered.

"Sweet!" Corey answered, then he cleared his throat, "oh sorry, cool." He corrected himself and smiled.

"You and Corey are an item!" Jessica cheered in 5th period.

"Shh! Quiet down now." I whispered.

"Aaron looked kinda pissed!"

"Really? You think so?" I asked.

"So you do like him?" She gasped.

"No! I was just wondering." I defended myself. Jessica kept looking at me funny.

Wow here I was in 11th grade and I had 2 other boyfriends, one in 7th grade who I dated for 2 weeks and one in 9th who I dated for a month. I guess guys just didn't really pay attention to me that way, which was fine with me.

"Angela!" Corey yelled down the hall.

"Oh hi." I stammered awkwardly. By looking back my klutzy self almost tripped over a flat surface but he caught my arm.

"Whoa slow down there!" He laughed. I was really embarrassed.

"You wanna grab some ice cream at Fro-Yo later?" Corey asked.

"Well actually I had plans with Aaron," Corey looked upset, "don't worry we are neighbors and are families are doing this soup kitchen thing." Corey looked relieved.

"Ok maybe some other time."