Distance

Just Friends

ahhhh, young love. (2181 words)

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They became friends. 

Weeks came and went, friends along with them. 

High school had a tendency to pull people apart, but also push some people together. 

That happened to be the case with Katie and her crush, Braxton. 

-

"Hey," Braxton said as he slid into the seat next to Katie. It was the last class of the day and she was glad that he was in it. He was always so happy, and today especially that was what she needed. But when he slid into the seat next to her, she noticed something was off. 

"Um, are you ok?" She asked, trying to keep the conversation going after the class started. He hesitated a moment before responding. 

"Yeah, it's just one of my best friends is moving, and I'm not handling it well." He definitely wasn't, she could see how this affected him. The lesson continued and she had to wait until the teacher was turned away before she could respond, she didn't want to be moved away from him. 

"I'm sorry, but I probably won't ever move, until college maybe, so can I be your new best friend?" She asked, he flashed a grin and nodded, they didn't get to talk until the end of the lesson. It killed her. 

They chatted for a few minutes before the bell rang, signaling the weekend. Finally, it had been a long week. 

-

Katie was on her way out the door. This was his last chance before the weekend, he would prefer to ask her in person. 

"Hey, Katie wait up!" Braxton called to her before she could walk home. 

"Yea?" She asked him curiously, what was this about?

"Um I was wondering if you had anything to do this weekend or something, it's supposed to be really nice." He was fidgeting when he asked her. Sure it wasn't like he hadn't talked to her but this time he was practically asking her out, but they were just going as friends. And he didn't know how long he could go as just friends. Because with her, just friends wasn't enough. Best friends wasn't either. 

"No, I don't" She replied, looking just as fidgety as he was. Why was it so hard for both of them?

"So um, do you wanna like, hang out or something?" He asked, wow he sucked at this conversation. Probably just being smooth in general. 

"Yea sure, but I have to go." She started running off, but she called back "Text me later!" Before running off entirely. 

He was pretty sure his face was bright red, but being so close to the school with her calling that had its own problems. One of them including the giggles coming from nearby freshman girls. And his ex. 

"Wow, replacing me so soon?" Jenifer Hunt said as she sauntered over to him, tossing her hair back. Her eyes glittered with amusement. 

"What. Do. You. Want. Jenifer?" Braxton replied, his voice on the edge of snapping. He had enough things to deal with already. 

"Oh I just wanted to know, why are you in such a hurry to replace me?" She was disgusting. And that was one of the reasons he broke up with her. She changed after her dad died, she cheated on him and played with his feelings. He didn't want to go through that again. So, he stopped asking the pretty girls out, they always changed and he got hurt because they wanted to play who can break his heart worse. Eventually, he just stopped talking to any and all girls unless he had to. But he couldn't resist with Katie, she just made him so happy. Like he couldn't be hurt by her.