Best Buds Caught in a Love Triangle

Chapter 4-The Kiss

Actually, he steps towards me, on the right. He grabs my shoulders and squares me. Then, my head is in his hands and my hands are coiled in his hair and he leans forwards and kisses me. I enjoy every second of it. His lips are warm and buttery, leftover from the popcorn. I don't ever want to move now. I want to stay here. With his lips on mine forever. Yes, but I still love Mark. We release so slowly, I thought we were there for another 30 minutes. All, we do is stare into each other's eyes. I know Mark is standing there with his mouth agape. Standing there, all of us, just waiting to see who speaks first.

I turn and face Mark. I turn to him. I then say, "I love you." Then I instantly kiss him on the lips.

At this point, both boys are astonished. Reid kissed me, I kissed Mark. You can also substitute kiss for love and there is our answer. Well. except every other variable, so now the equation is R< 3 C < 3 M. Compound inequalities, only so many outcomes. and I'm in the middle.

Mark drives me home. Reid, went home without me, because he stormed off first.

"Why did you kiss me?" I was hoping for a silent car ride home, besides the radio. But, Mark can always find a way to talk.

"Because I love you. Reid kissed me because he loves me and I wanted to show, I love YOU."

"But I don't know what to do with my love life and I don't know if I love you."

"But I know that I love YOU. I mean, I love Reid too but you have the upper notch. He's just too demanding, and sometimes a little pushy."

"He loves you, though."

"If, I felt the same way about him as I did you, then maybe. But I don't, I love you and I've loved you since 4th grade. I can't just give up now!" I am starting to yell the last words.

He leans over and kisses me on the cheek. Decision, over. "So, who's Reid again?"

"Love me now, or love me not?" I ask. And I'm going with the good answer.

"Love you now!" Yes! I start singing at the top of my lungs to the music on the radio. I think Mark and I, are together. Ba BOOM!

"So, now you love me. What up?"

"I learned you loved me, and it's you, what's NOT to love. Anyway, I always had a little crush on you since we became best friends, so, I asked myself. Why not? And I guess I do love you."

"Good answer." I lean over and kiss him on the cheek. Now, this is going to be regular.

We got home and Reid was at his home, and we guessed he would be. We have to tell him. But we know he will be incredibly mad.

We go over to his house. His mom answers and we tell her not to tell Reid we are here. Reid comes over but his mom grabs him before he can leave. He squirms but can’t avoid us with his mom now.

“Wait.” He’s pushing polite.

“We wanted to tell you something.” Mark and I say. Now we are talking together. uh oh.

“Come in to my room," he treats us evilly. We walk into his room with him escorting us.

"Reid, we kind of decided to... you know," I start to say but Mark finished for me.

"Date."

"Since when?" Reid demands. I guess we haven't gone out yet but are now a thing.

"He meant, we are now..." I hate saying this.

"Together," Mark finished for me agian. Pheww.

"Alright. You decided without me?"

"We didn't decide, we mutually understood each other."

"Mmhmm. What about me?" He turns around and looks me square in the eyes. Not the pain eyes, not the pain eyes, don't look. I look. I cry.  I feel Mark being pushed away from me and Reid wrapping his arms on my waist holding me instead.

"You hate me one moment and the next you are holding me." I look into his eyes. I bawl again. He is pushing me, keeping me away from Mark. All I know right now is that Reid is warm and he is comforting. He lets me practically let all of my body weight on his arms and I feel him collapse a little under the weight.

"Catherine,  you are what I love, and you only. Mark and I are best friends with you. I don't want to be a third wheel. So, if you date him, please don't leave me out."

"Why would I?" I mean, I love him, too.

"Just, you'll be so caught up in him, that I'm not there."

"But you know I love you, too. Why would I forget you?”

“Just, people, do that with their boyfriends.”

“If we are friends, would I not forget you. No, I would love to be with the both of y’all at the same time. I’m not a regular teen. I promise I won’t forget you. I love you Reid.”

“I love you, too.” We hug.

“Aww,” Mark butts in. “I didn’t know that you guys would ever make up, again.”

I sling my arm around Mark and say, “I guess we could.” I walk in between them. “So, friends. Forever. And FYI love you guys sooooooooo much.” I walk over to Reid’s side and kiss him on the cheek. He blushes. I walk over to Mark and he kisses me on the lips. “Ta, da. Friends. Come on, let’s go.” We walk out of Reid’s room and to his car. I sit in the middle front in between them.

Love. Friends. Boyfriends. What more could a girl ask for with Reid and Mark.