The Crush Complex

I Now Pronounce You Boyfriend and Best Friend

I woke up slowly to the awful shriek of my alarm. Snaking my arm out from under the covers, I felt for the clock and slapped the snooze hard. There was a moment of peace before my eyes snapped open in realization.

"Crap," I groaned as I threw off the covers and slid out of bed.

More-or-less awake now, I shuffled to my bathroom and sighed at my reflection. My long mahogany hair was a tangled mess, my deep brown eyes had dark circles underneath, and my cupid's bow lips were chapped. My complexion was non-existent. I was basically a very unattractive looking corpse. I groaned. I couldn't  look like this today!

Today was important; today I would finally tell Jason Stanford that I liked him. All sophomore year I had had a crush on him, and the first month and a half of this year psyching myself up for admitting it to him. I had spent hours staring at the mirror talking myself into it, and I was finally ready. In an attempt to warp time, I got ready faster than I ever had in my life; showering, brushing my teeth, and getting dressed in about twenty minutes.

After a quick goodbye to my parents, I rushed out to my beat-up Chevy Malibu and straight to school. I had about fifteen minutes to get to my locker, get some books, and then find Jason. The first part was harder because the lock stuck and it took me a couple tries to get it to open.

Then my locker was such a mess that it was difficult to find the books I needed. When I finally got to the second floor of the school, which is where I usually saw him, I barely had five minutes. I finally spotted him and started on my way towards him, not allowing my nerves to talk me out of it.

Once I got close enough to him, I noticed that Casey was talking to him and twirling a bit of red hair. I wondered why she was even there. She'd already tried twice to get him to go out with her, and he'd said no both times. I was confident that if she really was asking him out again he would say no. By the time I got close enough, I caught the end of their conversation.

"...night's good, sure."

Casey gave a squeak and hugged him before spotting me.

"Oh! Sam, you'll never believe it!"

I nervously glanced between the smug look on both of their faces.

"I get the feeling that I'll probably have to."

____________________________________________________

The rest of the day was spent wondering what on Earth I had been thinking. Casey was one of the prettiest girls in school, and it was more of a wonder that Jason turned her down before than that he said yes this time. I was completely stupid for even liking him, I mean I only just noticed the fixed smug look on his face. It was really annoying. Honest.

As one of the hottest boys in school, it was as natural a pairing as Adam and Eve. His brown hair was always perfect, his grey eyes intense and dreamy, his kissable lips so kissable, and his features classic model material. Not to mention he was the star of the track team, meaning he was super in shape.

I shook my head. No, bad Sam. Bad!

I sighed as my phone chimed and I saw that my friend had sent me probably the billionth text apologizing with some form of sad emoji.

Casey and I had been planning a sleepover for tonight that she'd readily canceled for her date with Jason. I didn't really mind, because I knew that if she'd had the date some other time, then all she would have talked about was how excited she was, inadvertently rubbing it in my face. It might not be good for me to start a fight after we just made up, especially over a guy. One that wasn't even worth it, I might add. Casey could get in a small, immature mood if I said the wrong thing about what she was wearing or how she did something, but one little comment about the guy she was dating and she'd blow up in my face.