I Love You, Best Friend.

Chapter Four

I'd gone next door to fetch my wine, and my glasses along with my phone. I had missed calls from Cat, and figured I'd punished her enough. I would call her when I got home, and we'd patch things up. She'd come spend the night, and I'd suffer laying in bed next to her. I was sitting now, on Archer's living room floor, because he'd yet to unpack his kitchen chairs  and it was now pouring. The power had gone, and we were using nothing but a kerosene lantern for light. It might have been romanitc, had I not been in love with my female best friend. We hadn't said much, just eaten. He was waiting, I knew. He was expecting a story out of me, the story of Jake. I swallowed the cheese covered olive hard and then sighed. 

"Do you really want to know?" I asked. He sipped his wine and smiled. 

"Of course, unless it's painful to tell." It was a guilt trip, I winced. 

"It's painful," I took a sip, "but more so for Jake not me." 

"Oh, please tell. He looked-" he waited, trying to find a word, "defensive." 

"He is," I said slowly, "because he's in love with me." 

"Ouch," he rubbed his chest, "I thought men weren't your thing."

"They're not," I laughed, "but of course not everybody knew that. Especially then." 

"When is 'then?'"

"High school," I smiled, "I was a closet gay." 

"He was a cover up?"

"No, I really did like him- until, um."

"Until what?" He was waiting, interested and the innocent twinkle in his eyes made me want to spill. 

"Until I met his sister." 

"Ouch!" He yelled this time, "This is a story I'm interested in listening to, please, go on." 

"We were sophomores when we met," I started, "and he was instantly popular. Believe it or not, I was pretty cool back then compared to now. We started 'dating', and things were great. He was the sweetest, most thoughtful boyfriend- until he brought me home to his parents. He ran to the store real quick, and came back to me and his sister making out on the couch. He lost his popularity and became known as the boy who turned me gay." 

"Tough break," he said, "I see why he's stand-off-fish."

"I don't, please, explain." 

"He feels threatened by me," he took a sip of his wine and ate a bite before continuing, "it's because he's fearful that you'll fall for me, and I'll be popular as the guy who reversed his curse." 

"Gay is not a curse," I shot him a scowl, "It's a blessing."

"It's a blessing when you're watching, but a curse when you're in love with someone who's not sexually oriented the same way." 

"I agree," I said, "I know, believe me." It didn't phase me that he might be expressing his feelings for me. I warned him, told him, I wasn't straight. I was talking about Cat, never loving me because she had Gavin. I downed the rest of my glass quickly and he laughed. 

"Friday," he said, "I'm going to throw a little something- something together here if I ever get moved in. Should I make it a double feature event?" 

"Huh?" I asked, genuinely confused. 

"Our birthday," he said, "I'm throwing a party."

"Right, right." I said, "I'm sorry, I've never had a birthday party." 

"Then it's settled," he said, "I'm inviting you and your friends. Jake included." I laughed. 

"It's a plan," I grinned, "but I've got to head home and call Cat."