A Change Of Heart

20

November 5th, 1967

6:23 p.m.

"Tommy!" I shouted, my voice straining to even come out, strained as it may have been though it hadn't failed to catch his attention. He turned slowly, his blue eyes squinting in the dusky evening light, a small lopsided grin crossing his features. Neither of us uttering a sound as we both moved closer to the other like we were magnetically drawn to each other.

"Luna, I don't want her anymore..." he spoke, voice barely above a whisper as his blonde hair was ruffled by the breeze.

"Why? That was the deal wasn't it? We pretend to date so she gets jealous and takes you back."

"I-I know." He shuffled forward slightly, his dusty blue eyes examining the rock that rested by his foot.

"Then what happened?"

"There's been a change of heart." He shrugged, reaching over to grip my hand before looking me in the eye, "I-I like you, Looney Tune, a whole lot and I have for a while I just didn't wanna admit it."

My heart thumped erratically, was that the case with me too? Did I like Tom as more than a friend and I just didn't want to admit it? Shock coursed through my system and my cheeks turned red. All I could manage to do was shuffle forward into the hug he offered me.

"Tommy, what do we do?" Voice muffled by my face being pressed into his shoulder. Moving so that I could glance up at him, I watched as he stood quietly, obviously thinking about something rather deeply.

"Tommy?"

"I'll break up with her if you feel the same way that I do." He spoke suddenly, shrugging as if the answer was blatantly obvious. Blue eyes searching mine for ideas other than his own, his answer hadn't been the one I expected. Putting myself in Molly's shoes I knew she'd end up hating me even more, if that was even possible.

"Y-you can't..."

"Why not?"

"It's not right and besides that you're my best friend what if -"

His brows knit together, "do you not want to even try to be together? Is that what you're trying to tell me? If you don't like me just tell me, none of this beating around the bush." He stepped back, eyes narrowing in disgust. I didn't know what I wanted, I loved Tom and I didn't want to hurt him. If anything it wasn't like it was exactly a cake walk for him to tell me how he felt, I at least owed him an answer, even if it would be hard to get it out.

"N-no."

"No what?"

"Tom, it's complicated..." I had Mike to worry about, Molly and her pack of friends, what I'd do if we did try dating and it didn't work out, it was all too much, it'd just be safer for the both of us if we remained friends.

"Luna, it's a yes or no question..." he paused, his gaze softening when he saw that I refused to look at him, "what are you scared of?"

"What about Mike? I don't want to hurt him."

"Fuck..." he mumbled, closing his eyes and raking both his hands through his blonde hair.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Make a choice." His lips drawn into a tight line as he stood with his arms crossed.

Did he want me to choose now? I didn't know if I could, I liked them both to be perfectly honest. I stood quietly thinking through the decision I was about to make, I'd known Tom longer and we'd always gotten on well. But Mike, he was sweet, the sweetest boy I'd ever met, he was also one of the shyest. I was scared of losing Tom if it didn't work out though, at this point in my life it'd be like losing a family member.