Berklee

Chapter 1

I wake up and stretch out my arms widely. Ugh. I slowly open my eyes and yawn. Sitting up I try to rub the sleep out of my face.For me sleep is so important, I don't see a reason for us to wake up at all. Knowing I eventually had to get my butt out of bed I sigh and look around my surroundings. I see Chloe still asleep on the bed. Checking her alarm clock I see its 6:15 pm. I move towards the edge of her bed and get up. I head to the bathroom and take a warm shower. I brush my teeth and wear an oversized shirt that Dillon gave me. It's one of the only things I packed. I am currently at a sleepover at Chloe's house. I go sit at her vanity and start to comb out my still wet hair. I love the feeling of my hair when it's wet. Long and silky. Just as I am getting my hair slightly tamed I hear a knock on the window. But not just any knock. A secret knock. I smile like a kid and go to the room's window. My smile grows wider as I see my best friend standing at the window. He looks confused and starts making some hand gestures.

Sleepover?

I answer him

Sleepover.

His face has no emotion which makes me kinda worried. He makes more hand gestures which I immediately understand. We have this secret language.

I decode his motions as he goes on.

We need to talk. Now.

I shrug and make similar gestures.

Why? Is everything okay?

He pauses and his face stays emotionless before finally continuing.

Yeah I just have something to tell you that's all.

I nod at him and he gives me a weak smile. I frown as he stares at me.

Ok, I'll come over in a bit.

He just shuts his blinds and I start to panic. What could be so important he wants to talk about it on such short notice? I try not to think about it much and start to get ready.

I don't change much because I am completely comfortable with Dillon. We have been best friends since kindergarten where we even took baths together. I just wear some shorts under the shirt and pack my hair into a high pony. I walk to the window and open it.

I crawl out of Chloe's room as quietly as I can trying not to wake her up. I cross over to his window where I knock. He soon greets me by opening the blinds and window. I crawl in landing on his waterbed. "Hey," I greet him but he doesn't reply. He just paces back and forth in his room in serious thought. I sit awkwardly waiting for him to talk to me. He's the one that invited me here! I eventually take my phone and start scrolling through my instagram.

I reply to my messages and update my story. As I scroll through my feed, Dillon finally starts to speak.

"Berklee, are we a couple? " He asks and I stiffen.

What kind of question is that! Let me just make it clear before anyone gets any ideas. Dillon and I are just friends meaning I have absolutely NO feelings for him whatsoever. He is like my brother. Sure there are the occasional awkward moments but that's as far as it gets. We date other people and are perfectly comfortable with ourselves. I slowly lift my head before speaking.

"Um, Dill, did you hit your head or something".
He stops pacing and looks at me.

"No, it's just. I was texting Tray and then he asked about my 'girlfriend', "he says placing quotation marks on the girlfriend part. "And I was confused because I'm single. Then I ask who he's talking about. Then he says, that brunette haired girl you're always with. Then I scroll through my mind and I soon realize he's talking about you. Took me a while because he forgot to add your blonde highlights."

I touch my hair noticing the streaks of blonde in it and wait for him to continue rambling. He doesn't realize that he rambles. A lot. People find that absurd since he has that popular bad boy image at school. Being captain of the football team and having award winning looks had its perks. But if people actually get to know him they would get to know he has the heart of an angel and gets nervous or timid at the slightest of things. But my attention is officially grabbed when he tells me EVERYONE thinks we're dating. Apparently that's why we don't get as many invitations to dates and stuff.

I pause for a second trying to comprehend what he is saying,"Um, I already knew everyone saw us as a couple number 1. And number 2, of course we aren't dating. We are just friends."

He lets out a sigh of relief "Thank God! I thought I was gonna have to pretend I liked you".

I smile "You would do that for me?"

He smiles back "Of course, I would never hurt you".

I spread out my arms inviting him for a hug. He nears me and we embrace ourselves tightly. The moment is broken by his cell phone ringing. We let go and he picks it.

"Hello," he says into the machine. He says some occasional 'uhuh's and ends with a 'got it'. He looks at me as he removes the phone from his ear. "I gotta go to school for an emergency football practice. I'll call you," he says while changing his shirt and carrying his duffle bag. I'm sure some other girl would have freaked out at him removing his shirt to reveal his toned chest but for me it's perfectly normal. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if he stripped but naked in front of me. Just kidding. Or am I? Nah I am just kidding.

"Ok, well bye," I reply after stopping my train of thoughts.

He sends me a small smile before beginning to speak. "Since we're just best friends I hope you don't mind if I clarify that to the whole school?" He asks. I shrug my shoulders and notice as his smile grows wider. "Thanks T, you're the best" he adds before walking out. I climb out the window back into Chloe's room being careful to not wake her up. I plop down unto the bed thinking. What a conversation.