I Love You, Best Friend.

Chapter Nineteen

I woke up tucked into bed tightly. Archer was in a ball next to me and I breathed in his scent as he slept. His wound was scaring over, and I rubbed it gently. He didn't move, and I kissed his cheek. I laid still for a minute, thinking about him conscious versus him unconscious. I remembered his eyes, and how gorgeous the blue of them were. I looked over at him, and they were open. I jumped and pressed my hand to my heart. 

"What?" His voice was scratchy and sleepy. My heart melted. 

"You scared me," I whispered, "that's all." 

"I'm sorry," he smiled slow, "I didn't mean too." 

"It's okay," I said and I smiled sweetly, "but I have some questions I want you to answer." 

"Okay," he stretched and I realized I was taking advantage of his half asleep state, "anything." 

"What did you mean last night, you said even if it hurts. Even if what hurts?" 

"Being your friend," he said, "I'll be here even if being your friend hurts." 

"Why would that hurt?" I asked, slightly scared of what his answer would be. 

"I'm in love with you," he said, "you're perfect, in every way and nobody has told you or appreciated you for that matter. I want too, but you're gay." My heart strings were tugged and I looked down at my hands. 

"Archer?" I asked.

"MM?" He mumbled from the blankets. 

"If I tell you this, can you forget I ever told you?" I asked. He said nothing and I waited for the confirmation. He was silent, and I was certain he had fallen asleep. I laid back down next to him and thought about Natalie and how unfair it was to her to be feeling towards Archer the way I did. I sighed and rubbed my feet against the bedding. I felt myself drifting back into tired, and I didn't fight it. It would prevent me from admitting to Archer how I felt, and hopefully would convince him that what he had told me was just a part of a lost dream. I shifted my position to face him and then his bright blue eyes caught me by surprise again. I gasped and he smiled. 

"Aren't you going to tell me?" He asked. 

"Why, I thought you were asleep." I said, waiting for the rest of myself to catch up to me. He smiled slowly and I smirked. He tucked a piece of hair from my face to behind my ear. I grinned slowly and he waited. 

"I'm awake," he said finally, "please tell me?" 

"I'm too tired to talk about it," I said, "maybe some other time." 

"Fine," he said slowly and waited a long few minutes before he spoke again. "I already know what it is." My eyes widened and my heart rate picked up. 

"You do?" I asked. 

"Yeah," he said, "you're going to tell me you like me too, but you're confused about it because you're gay." 

"How did you know?" I asked. 

"I didn't," he said, "until just now." I felt my cheeks heat and imagined the red blush covering them. 

"Archer," I began, "It's difficult for me to understand-"

"Me too," he cut me off, "but I'm not going to question a good thing." I smiled and he said no more for a few minutes. Then he spoke again, with that groggy tone, "Cadence?" He used my full first name. 

"Yes Archer?" I asked, using his to show the severity of the conversation and the use of my name. 

"Can you make me a promise?" He asked.