"You know what's ironic?" Cole chuckled, his vision focused on the road ahead of us.
"And what is that?" I smiled, taking a drag of the cigarette between my fingers.
Cole and I hadn't had time to talk about what happened in the car that last day in D.C. As soon as we got back his parents were around and we were leaving for the airport.
Then, when we got back, we were both tired and he had to pack for his trip. He's leaving to go shoot for his new show Riverdale today, so now we were on our way to the airport.
I knew the thought of it lingered in the car, but I feel like neither of us wanted to fuck up this moment for each other. He was leaving for around half a year.
"The fact that you smoke. I mean you're a nurse. Don't you know that'll kill you?" He teased, taking the cigarette from between my fingers and placing it between his lips.
I watched in awe as he blew out smoke, him quickly glancing at me with a smile. "What?" He laughed.
"Oh nothing." I teased, turning back to the road and playing with my hair innocently.
He finished off my cigarette, throwing it out the window. "You're cute, you know that?" He smiled, reaching his hand over and setting it on my thigh.
I stiffened, the hairs on my legs standing up. I felt confused as to what we were, confused as to why he decided to flirt with me before he was leaving.
He quickly noticed my gaze on his hand, pulling it off. "What's wrong, babe?"
"Babe?" I asked, my tone a little more malicious than intended.
We had just pulled up to the airport, Cole parking. "What's going on here, Cole?!"
"Ember, what the fuck are you talking about?!" Cole's tone getting defensive.
I rolled my eyes, getting out of the car. Cole followed me, slamming his door shut and walking around. "You know what the fuck I'm talking about!" I growled, shoving him a little as he got close.
"Well obviously I don't, mind filling me in?!" Cole straightened the jacket he was wearing, upset I had shoved him.
"What are we, Cole?!" I put my hands on my head, frustrated.
" The day we almost kissed in the pool you told me you wanted to forget it ever happened. Then, the other day you kissed me and–you know what happened. Plus, you're now calling me babe and putting your hand on my thigh. I'm fucking confused, Cole!"
"You think I wanted to forget the day in the pool?! I just said that because you were panicking and were acting like we almost made a mistake! And not to mention if you were so confused, why the fuck did you kiss me back Ember!?" Cole shouted.
"I was panicking because your mother had almost caught us kissing! I kissed you back because I've thought about kissing you since the night in the field." I calmed down towards the end, Cole looking dumbfounded.
"Ember, I kissed you because I've wanted to. It wasn't a thing that just suddenly came to mind." He calmed down also, stepping closer.
"And I don't regret anything that we did in that car." He breathed heavy, tired from shouting.
I licked my lips, the air making them feel cracked and dry. "Well– I don't either."
We stared at eachother in silence for a few second before Cole started stepping closer, putting his hands on my cheeks and leaning in to kiss me. I pulled away, bewildered that he would do that after everything I had just said.
"What the fuck, Cole?" I backed up.
"You just said you didn't regret what we did." He stared at me, dumbstruck.
"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm confused of what this is." I tried to keep my voice down, not wanting to yell anymore.
"Well, what do you want it to be?" Cole asked, running a hand through his messy hair.
"I–I don't know, Cole. I don't know." I sighed closing my eyes and rubbing my head.
"You just gotta give me time to think, alright?"
"Think about what?" He asked. Not in anger, but curiosity.
"Us–everything." I replied.
"I just don't wanna make you hate me o-or ruin our friendship." I frowned.
He walked over to me, wrapping his arms around me. I didn't push him away, instead nuzzled my head into his chest.
"Whatever you decide on I'll be okay with. I could never hate you, Ember. We've been best friends for over a year and nothing will change that." He cooed, rubbing up and down my back.
"Alright, I'm gonna go get checked in now. I'll miss you y'know?" He silently spoke, swaying us back and forth.
"I know you will, I'll come visit as much as possible. It will be pretty hard with my job, but I'll make it a priority. Have fun and don't let your new cast make you forget me, alright?" I looked up to him with a grin.
"How could I forget your annoying voice." He joked, causing me to playfully hit him.
He let go, staring at me for a few seconds before speaking. "Bye, Ember."
"Bye, Cole."
And before I knew it I was watching him walk into the airport, where he would be flying to Canada without me.
