Distance

In This Moment

ahhh only like 20 views, I'll work on it. (1412 words) 

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There was a dance coming up. It was the annual Christmas dance at Mapleton High School where the guys asked the girls. Most guys already had a date, their girlfriend obviously. Those who didn't have a girlfriend, would either go with a group or have to ask someone. 

That was the case for Braxton.

He was single, and he didn't like it, but he finally decided who he would ask. He would ask as friends of course, but he hoped they were something more by the end of the dance. 

His pick was obvious, even the teachers could've figured out who he wanted to ask. Anyone could, they were practically inseparable. Especially with their 5 classes together. Now in elementary school, it would've been normal to be friends with someone of the opposite gender. But when you entered middle school, people started dating. If your best friend happened to be the opposite gender, you would be teased for it. It's just how getting older works, well in high school is even worse than middle school. They were teased every day for it, so it just became normal. 

They didn't like the fact that they were just friends, but in this moment. That was the case. 

-

"Hey Katie," Braxton said as he ran up to catch her. He had recently changed his afternoon route home, so they could walk together of course. That's what best friends do after all. She gave a half-hearted nod, he knew something was up immediately. They hung out every minute they could, and it was never dull. They fit together like a matching outfit. Complementing each other, neither was whole without their other part. 

-

Everyone told them, "You guys are such a cute couple!" they would just nod and politely say thank you, then go back to what they were doing. It ate at them that they couldn't say that they agreed. Sure, they were amazing as best friends, but it never felt like enough. 

Braxton just wanted someone to hold, to spill everything with. To claim as his, and her as hers. 

Katie wanted someone to hold her hand. It just comforted her, but she didn't do it with anyone because she didn't have anyone's hand to hold. 

But in this moment, that wasn't the case. 

-

He grabbed her wrist, she was walking way faster than normal. She spun around and smiled, but it didn't look right. He grabbed her other hand so she couldn't walk away, she didn't even try. He ran his thumb over her cheek, as if to wipe any imaginary tears away. 

"Hey," he said softly, he knew her ins and outs, "are you ok?" and she knew his. Katie grabbed his hand, the one that was touching her face. She didn't want to let go, so she didn't. At least not in this moment, not yet. 

"It's a stupid reason to be upset over, can we just walk home?" She was getting uneasy, they were standing so close. His breath was warming her cheek, and she could've sworn she saw his lips start to twitch into a smile when he looked into her eyes. She kept telling herself that it was just her hopeful heart getting carried away, the way he looked at her. Like he wanted to take her into his arms and never let go. Like he wanted to claim her and never let anything harm her. 

And deep down she knew it was true. 

But she needed confirmation, and he hadn't given it to her. 

Cars passed them, it was a busy street. 

A lot of them probably held their friends, and she hated that she would have to go to school tomorrow and tell them she was still single.