“I don’t know if youdorealize what the meaning of friends is. That was me making fun of you and what youthinkare good ways to flirt with someone.” I explain, throwing and flipping my hand in the air, gesturing to reveal the insignificance of such words.
“Like you’re any better.” He scoffs. “Oh, Fred, just stop talking about books and kiss me already!” He dramatically andfalselyimitates with a high-pitched voice, which is so not mine.
“Alright, first of all,” I start, indignant, “I wasnotinterested in him, I was just surprised someone our age actually spendstheir time doing intellectual stuff instead of playing video games and hooking up with random other teenagers.”
“That seems targeted.” Jake suspects, and I send him a self-explanatory pointed look. “You’re mean.” He grunts while adjusting in the grass.
“C’mon, you’re too easy to make fun of. It’s not my fault, you know.”
I lie down and look at those shiny white sprinkles in the sky. Due to the flashlight, I see him lying down next to me, his hands interlocked behind his neck. He’sstaying. What have I done to deserve this? I mean, the temerity to show up like thisout of the blueand just make my heart race faster than it’s physically possible is justabysmal.
I turn off the flashlight, hoping that I can forget that our bodies are almost touching and that he is right here.
“I’m sorry.” I burst through the darkness.
“For what?” He asks back, genuinely confused.
“For earlier…” I cough, my entire nervous system deciding to force anxietyonto me.
“We already had this conversation, Brown.”
His sentence starts so deep, but when he calls me by my last name, the conversation gets distant again.
“Right…” I let out.
“How come you never dated anyone?” He asks suddenly, making my throat close and turn dry.
“No one ever got my attention.” I explain, nervously.
“Bullshit.” He calls me out. “Every Friday you would come to dinner and blush every time my mom asked you about a special someone.” Pause. “Try again.” He throws with a know-it-all tone.
“I guess, no one has ever made a move or asked me out.” I say embarrassed and cringing from the lie.
“And that’s also a lie. Half the guys I know tried to get your attention and attempted to make a first move, but you were too blind to notice.”
“I think I would remember ifanyonehad done a move.” I scoff, and even though we can’t see each other, I already know he’s just about to counter with a raised eyebrow.
“Matt Dern.” He says, and I recall.
“Needed help with his homework.” I state.
“You really believe that? Landon Hollow.” He tries again.
“Needed advice for what to buy his girlfriend.” I counter again.
“They broke up a month before that. He was just trying to see whatyouwould like as a present.” I can practically feel his eye roll. It was weird when Landon asked me that, considering we had two whole word exchanges in our entire school lives. “I could go on and on about all of my football teammates that find you hot, or you could tell me therealreason why you don’t date.”
“I prefer the first option.” I say, smiling to myself.
“It’s so weird. We’ve known each other for so long, it just seems wrong that someone could look at you that way.” He stops himself, and I don’t think he realizes how offensive that is.
“Aren’t you kind?” I sarcastically shoot.
“Come on, Brown, you know I didn’t mean it that way. I considered it strongly, but not today.” He reassures, making my eyes roll so harshly. “It’s just unnatural when they come to me sayingHey Jake, would you mind introducing me to your friend Madelaine?” He imitates with a mocking voice, way deeper than the poor boy’s real voice must sound.
“You’re so dramatic.” I exasperate. “And you’relying, just to top it off.” I humorously laugh.
“I’m not. So… Reason?” He insists.
