Only Ever Best Friends

⌁ 20 ⌁

[Grayson's POV]

I am not ready to say what I think is coming next. I've already done enough damage by saying the things I have. She looks at me.

I won't say it, I can't.

My blood is running hot, my heart is beating in my ears, and there's a lump forming in my throat. Stress tears well in my eyes.

Grayson don't.

She takes my hand and the words force their way out:

"I THINK I LIKE YOU, OKAY?"

I wrench my eyes shut and bite my lip.
"Shit."

Now I'm spiraling.

Why did I say that?
Why did I do that?

Her jaw drops in which I assume is shock and I fall apart completely.

"I didn't mean t—I shouldn't have said anything and I-"

"I like you too."

Her response shatters my thoughts. I open my eyes and slowly turn my head to face her because there's no way I heard what I think I just heard.

"...what?"

"I think... I like you too," she repeats, closing her eyes.

I take her other hand.

"Y-you do?" I stutter.
She opens her eyes and sighs.

"I wasn't planning on telling you though."

"Why?"

"In case you didn't feel the same. It would've destroyed all my confidence and ruined our friendship, which... Grayson, I can't lose.
But you said it first. And I wasn't just gonna let you think—"

—that I was the only one.

"So this... this is okay? You're not mad?"

"Gray," she says, putting her hand on my cheek, "this..." she chuckles, "is very okay."

And with that, I can't help but smile like an absolute idiot and lean in to kiss her. She reciprocates and the spark comes back again, like a huge⚡️ᏃᎪᏢ⚡️, like a current surging through my veins, completely taking over me, and flowing between us.

• • •

[Ellie's POV]

We pull away and I take his hand, following him back into bed. Laying there, I'm comforted by the smooth sheets against my skin, and the warmth radiating from the boy next to me.

What an amazing boy.

But suddenly a sad realization passes through my mind and out my mouth:

"We can't go back like this, Gray, you know that, right?"

"What do you mean? I thought you said that this was okay..." he says in a frightened tone.

"I meant it's okay for US. For tonight. But for everyone else, it won't be. The minute we get back, it can't be like this anymore... what happened here... can't happen back home... unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless nothing."

"But-"

"What?"

"Just for tonight... will you let me hold you?" He said sweetly.

"Grayson Bailey Dolan... I think that is the cutest thing anyone has ever asked me,"

"Agh, don't say Bailey!"

"Ok," I kiss him on the cheek and nestle into his shoulder. I lay my hand on his chest and he ran his fingers through my hair, "Bailey."

He rolled his eyes and turned out the light and we fell asleep like that together, him holding me.