I Love You, Best Friend.

Chapter Thirteen

I stretched and rolled over. My bones ached and I groaned. I was getting older by the day, but I felt ancient. I stroked Mitts and she purred in her sleep. I rolled from bed and went into the bathroom. I splashed water onto my face and looked myself over. I took my hair down and let the waves run free. They touched my waist and I smiled at myself. My teeth were straight, but managed to look disgusting in my mouth. I brushed them and wondered back into my room for my phone. I checked it, and smiled. 

"Hey beautiful, good morning. I want to see you later, come over when I get out of work?" 

"What time?" I replied to Nat's text. 

"Eight, you can sleep over." She said.

"I'll be there," I said, "later." I was unsure of her wording. 'Sleep over' sounded more like a slumber party than a date. I dismissed the feeling and went down the stairs. I called Cat's phone, and she didn't answer. I figured she wouldn't, and I called Archer's. He didn't answer either, and then I sighed. I came across Jake's contact and called before I changed my mind. 

"Hello?" He asked.

"Hey," I said, "I've punished you enough, come over." 

"I'll be there in an hour," he said, "bye." I hung up without a goodbye and went to the kitchen. I started cooking an abundance of snacks and as they baked I got blankets from the closet and laid them out on the couch. Jake would be in charge of building the fort. I made smores dip, cupcakes with pink icing, and hot wings. I ordered a pizza and set Netflix up on the big screen. The doorbell chimed and I paid the pizza guy with a twenty and told him to keep the change. He seemed pleased, and then I finished cooking. I laid everything out in the living room as Jake got there. 

"Hey," I said as Jake walked in, "help me make the fort."

"Alright," he kicked his shoes off and I set my side up as he did his, "and we're- done." He said. I stood back and looked at it. I drew the chart on the whiteboard while he situated pillows. We picked five movies, watched and rated them all. I wrote his name on one column and mine on the other. I set the food inside the fort, and crawled in. He crawled in his side, and I cuddled up to him as close as I could. 

"Who's pick first?" I asked.

"Mine," he said, "you made me watch a love story first last time." He said. I remembered, and was going to fight him until I watched his choices carefully. He clicked a horror movie. 

"No!" I yelled, "I'm not watching this!" It started and he smiled. He grabbed a Graham cracker and I slapped it out of his hand. It fell into the smores dip and sank nearly to the bottom. He looked at me in disbelief and then spoke:

"It's my pick," he said, "we're watching it." I hardly watched, but when I did; me and Jake made fun of what was meant to be scary, and as it was over. I took the board out. 

"Rates." I said. He looked at the screen and the running blood. 

"Seven," he said, "or eight." I wrote seven point five for his side and a six for mine. He gasped.

"What?" I asked.

"Harsh critic," he said, "you're so cold." 

"Someone has to be blunt," I said, "sugarcoating isn't sweet." He laughed and I grinned. 

"Your pick," he handed the remote to me and I chose a funny movie. He looked me over and I clicked it. He didn't say much, but watched it. I was laughing and tears streamed down my face. He was judging me, and I knew it. It finished and I gave it a ten and handed the board to him. He gave it a five and I looked at him in shock. 

"It was good!" I yelled. 

"Not good enough," he said in a rough voice. I laughed at him, and he picked the saddest one he could find. By the end I was crying, super hard. He yawned dramatically.

"Rate," I sniffled. "I'm going with ten." 

"Five," he said again and I was in disbelief. I rolled my eyes and snatched the remote. I scanned several genres avoiding the romance category. He watched me and I picked a documentary on piercings. He rolled his eyes and we started it. I cuddled against his shoulder and when it was over he shook me awake. He was giggling and then he nodded. 

"Rates." I whimpered. 

"Seven," he wrote it on the board, "it was interesting." 

"Zero." I said, "I slept through it." 

"One more movie, the agreed movie." He was flicking through and the only one that caught both our eyes was a love story. He turned it on and then we watched in silence. I ate throughout the movie to avoid having to comment on things, and found myself actually enjoying it. When it was over there was no food left and he laughed. 

"Rates," I said, "i give it a-"

"Ten." he cut me off, "I know. I say five." 

"Bitter," I mumbled and I slid back into the couch. 

"Cadence?" He asked. "Do you know why I'm bitter?" 

"No." I admitted.

"You," he said, "I love you. I loved you, and I will always love you. It's not good enough." 

"Jake," I said, "I'm gay, what do you want me to do?" The sappy song played on the television as the credits rolled. 

"Kiss me." He said and took my face in his hands. He pressed his mouth to mine and I felt his lips and tasted him. He was sweet, like the s'mores dip. I heard the door open, and he refused to pull back. I put my hands against his shoulders and pushed but he held me there. I glimpsed the doorframe and caught Archer. He looked upset, and turned, walking from the house. I sighed and pushed my way from Jake. 

"Leave," I said, "now." 

"But," he started and I held a hand up, 

"Leave! Now!" He got up and tore the fort down around him as he stormed from the door. The blankets fell on me and masked me. I sat in the deep of the dark and thought of today thus far. I didn't know where to go, but I knew I needed Archer. I needed to talk to him, immediately. I got up and forced myself from the blankets into the light. I headed for Archer's apartment. 

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Author's Note

I've never done this before, but I think essential now to say thank you to those who follow me and my works so closely. I appreciate the votes, the days where I see so-and-so added my book to their reading list. The authors who inspired me to write; and the people who support me through message and comments. However, I need help. I'm having a 'writers block' as it's called and need to know what YOU think should happen. 

Archer and Cade?

Cade and Cat?

Cat and Gavin?

Cade and Jake?

Cade and Nat? 

Comment and let me know which couple you're rooting for.

-Thank you, so much.

Kasi

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