F Stands For Forever #JustWriteItChallenge

2. Theodore

**Theodore**

I stared and stared at Honey, but I just couldn’t see what Niki saw. There’s no way that Honey likes me, it’s impossible. We’ve been friends for so long we can’t be anything else. And I know Honey better than anyone--it would be obvious if she liked me. I’d be able to sense it from her.

“I thought Jessica was supposed to come to the club tonight? What ever happened to her?”

Okay, and if Honey did have some kind of crush on me she would not ask me about my current girlfriend. What girl does that? I was right, there’s nothing to worry about. Things will never have to change between us.

“She couldn’t make it today. Something popped up and she had to bail. It’s like I mind or anything.” That’s not what really happened, but I didn’t want to tell her the truth.

“Oh.”

I put my hands in my pockets and fingered the soft velvet box. I’ve been trying to figure out the exact right moment to give it to her, but it turns out that that moment never came. Our anniversary is over now.

Sighing, I thought, it’s now or never, and pulled the box out of my jean pocket. I set it on the café table and slid it toward Honey.

The truth about Jessica is that we broke up earlier today. She caught me putting the box inside my guitar case and thought it was for when I told her that is wasn’t--that it was for a girl other than her--and she totally flipped out. I have to say it was actually kind of hot at first, until she started to throw things at me. No matter how many times I told her that it was just for a friend, she was still convinced that I have been cheating on her. According to her, guy’s don’t give jewelry to their friends, but she just doesn’t understand. Honey isn’t just any friend. She’s my best friend.

Honey took the box as slowly as I had offered it and opened it up like it revealed secret treasure. I knew she was going to love. I couldn’t get the smile off of my face.

“Oh, Teddy, you shouldn’t have done this! I didn’t get anything for you.” She began to give it back, but decided otherwise after another look. I knew what she was seeing. I spent many weeks picking out the right gift for her and finally, just a few days ago, I found the right one. It was a simple fourteen carat white gold necklace with a Jade carved paint brush and palette hanging from the end of it. On the back of the palette is carved, together forever, Theodore, in swirly script.

“I feel so bad,” she said, looking at the necklace with tears in her golden eyes. “Now you really have to let me pay for everything. Do you want anything to eat? A sandwich? Another cup of coffee?”

I smiled. She didn’t have to buy me anything in return. The look on her face was worth it all already. There is nothing else I need.

“I’m fine,” I tell her, standing up. “Now let me help you put that on, okay?”

It wasn’t too difficult putting the necklace on her. Honey’s hair is always tied back into a single braid to the middle of her back, so I just swung her braid over her shoulder and the rest was easy enough.

“So you like it?”

“Are you kidding, Ted? I freaking love it!”

We sat back down in our booth seats. I took a drink of my coffee. It was a little bitter at first, but really it was pretty good overall.

“That’s great then,” I said. I don’t know why I couldn’t get rid of the smile of my face. Maybe it’s because hers is so contagious.

Silence falls over us for a while. Honey would occasionally sip her coffee and look out the window while I tried to think of some things to break the silence.