Ice // Ryden (Short Story)

Two

"How much do you love Ryan?" Dallon asks. I look at him. It's 6 am, the sun is barely rising. I couldn't sleep, and Dallon's an early riser, and Dallon and Ryan live in the same neighborhood.

"Is it obvious?" I ask. He hums, thinking. 

"Honestly, yeah. Everyone thinks you're already dating," Dallon admits. I look down. He throws some snow at me and I flinch, but he just smiles.

"I love him more than anyone can imagine. We were best friends, then one day I looked at him while he was laughing, and... I fell. I fell so hard. Quite literally, too, I was so focused on him laughing that I tripped over my foot and fell down the stairs." I smile, and Dallon laughs quietly.

There is a young couple at the end of the street, maybe a year or two younger than Dallon. Dallon's 22, he lives alone. He's like my older brother.

The girl screams and laughs as the guy picks her up and swings her around. I look down. Fuck happy couples, they make it all look so easy. 

"I don't know, I've seen him for years but one day... He just looked different to me."

"You fell in love," Dallon adds. I look at him, sighing, then nodding. He's right, I fell in love with my best friend.

It's cold, I'm wearing the hoodie I wore yesterday. It stopped snowing luckily, but that doesn't distract me from the burning need I have in my chest.

"My love for him is... is like ice," I tell Dallon, laughing shakily, watching the cloud dissolve into the air.

"Like ice?" He asks, and I nod to confirm.

"Unneeded." I look at him. He chuckles and shakes his head, standing up and brushing the snow off of his knees.

"No. Because in the winter, there's so many little things ice helps you with, and it's so pretty to look at. And when it's spring and summer?" He looks around. "Well, that's when it's the prettiest." He smiles, and I stand up, brushing the snow off of me as well.

We've been out here for a while, Ryan should be up soon. 

"Now," Dallon clears his throat, "you need to go tell him."

"Tell him?" I frown. Tell him what?

"That you love him."

I've been in love with Ryan for months now, but the thought of telling him hasn't crossed my mind.

"No, no, if I tell him I will ruin things and our friendship will be gone. I like how we are now, I don't want to ruin it and lose it," I disagree, shaking my head. He sighs dramatically.

"You are so oblivious that it literally hurts." Dallon turns and walks to his house.

"What? Wait, what do you mean?!" I shout as he continues walking.

"You'll figure it out!"