{The person you are trying to call is currently unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message} 

That annoying machine said for the hundredth time pissing me off

"Come on Wendy. Answer the phone" I said dialing the number again

{The person you are trying to call is-}

"Damn it!" I yelled throwing the phone across the room hitting the wall

"Alex! What's going on up there!" Mom asked from downstairs

"Nothing mom," I said

"Hurry down. You're gonna be late for school; come down and get your breakfast" mom yelled

"In a minute" I sighed before picking up my back and discarded phone and downstairs

"Good morning guys"

"Wow, Alex you look like shit. Did Wendy reject you again?" my brat sister laughed before biting into her burger

"Be nice Amanda" mom told her before looking at me

"Are you sleeping well Alex?" she asked

"Yes, mom. I'm fine" That was a lie. I had fallen asleep very late every night since the theme park because I stayed up late calling Wendy and talking to her voicemail

"That's good. Here's your breakfast" she said handing me a burger

"You know Mom. I'm actually not really that hungry" I said rejecting the burger for the first time

"You, Alexander Freeman, are declining a burger?" Mom gasped not believing her ears

"Yeah Mom I'm just not hungry," I said

"Not hungry? When as that ever stopped you?" she asked

"You love burgers" she added

"I know Mom but I'm just not in the mood for burgers. Right now I just wanna go to school" I said before she gasped and quickly put her hand over my forehead

"Is something wrong?" I asked weirded out

"You don't seem sick," she said 

"Amanda, did your brother hit his head?" 

"Maybe that hit he got Saturday made him delirious. That or he got rejected again" Amanda said looking at me as if I was an alien

"I didn't get rejected and I didn't hit my head. Whatever I'm going to school" I said leaving

I walked to the bus stop grumbling before I noticed Alex waiting for me

"Hey man," I said walking over to him

"Sup...Oh my god. What happened to your face?!" he asked pointing at the still bruised eye

"It's nothing. I got in a little fight" I shrugged

"Yikes! You okay?" he asked

"I'm fine. It's nothing. You should see the other guys" I said

"Well that's good to hear," he said

"So how was your weekend?" I asked

"It was freaking awesome. It started out annoying but nearing the end it happened" he said excitedly

"It?" 

"Yeah, I finally got one over on my know-it cousin. We were playing Smash Bros and I kicked her ass four times in a row. So she said she wanted to play connect four and I still beat her four times in a row" he said absolutely giddy

"Good for you bro. I'm happy for you" I said lifelessly

"Oh okay. What's wrong? I was looking forward to boasting about this but now you're totally killing my buzz" he said before the bus came and we got on

"Nothing," I said letting out a sad sigh

"Nah bro," he said not buying it

"You have that sad look. You know the one that makes you look like Kermit if Miss Piggy left him and took their Eldritch pig frog mutant kids" he said and to this day I still have no idea where he got that idea from

"And then he got kicked out of the muppets, lost his house, and is now living on the streets begging for change" he continued his rant

"Dude, what the hell are you talking about?" I asked confused

"Honestly I don't know," he said before I sighed

"Seriously man. What's up?" he asked

"It's Wendy" I admitted

"Please tell me you didn't confess again" 

"Because I have a bet going and I already owe the little she-devil a hundred bucks"

"I didn't confess," I said before she sighed

"Oh thank god," he said letting out a sigh of relief

"So what happened with Wendy? Did her boyfriend beat you up?" he joked

"Because I'd totally have your back if you decide to jump him" 

"Really?" I asked skeptically

"No! Are you crazy? He looks like a freaking tank" he laughed

"I bet if you hit him with a metal pipe it'd bend. I'd send you moral support though and I'd let you borrow my game in the hospital" he said

"Whatever man. It doesn't have anything to do with him. I mean it does but he's not the one that hit me" I said

"Good because with those muscles I wouldn't be surprised if bullets bounced off him" Ben joked

"Sorry last one. So what happened with Wendy?" he asked again

"We went to the theme park and I sort of argued with her over her new 'boyfriend'," I explained

"So she punched you in your face," he said

"No," I said

"So what happened?" Ben asked

"Turns out it wasn't her boyfriend," I said

"Oh," he said

"Turns out it was Samantha's boyfriend," I said

"The first day of high school and already has a boyfriend. Now that sounds like Samantha. But wasn't she dating that other guy...what's his face" Ben said 

"Our middle school class captain," he said

"Well they must have broken up" I guessed

"So isn't this good news for you?" he asked

"I mean Wendy doesn't have a boyfriend and you're gonna be single for probably your high school life. Plus she somehow believes being friends with you is a good idea." 

"So as long as you didn't say something stupid like 'we're not friends anymore'. You might have a chance to convince her to fall for you" he said as the bus stopped 

"Um...about that," I said as we got off the bus

"Please don't tell me you said that," he groaned as we walked inside

"Not exactly," I said

"Okay, what exactly did you say?" Ben asked

"I said maybe we couldn't be friends" I admitted

"Are you sure she wasn't the one that beat you up?" he asked as he made it to the classroom

"I mean she could have hit you so hard you forgot," Ben said 

"She didn't," I said walking inside

"Too bad she could have knocked some sense into your head," he said

"How could you say that?" he asked sitting on his desk

"I was jealous and angry. I just said the first thing that came to mind" I said

"I know it was stupid alright. So what am I suppose to do now?" 

"Apologize, duh," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world

"I tried calling her but she won't answer," I said

"Plus she made it clear she doesn't want to be friends because of how I acted" 

"Then apologize in person. And here's your chance she just walked in"

"Seriously?" I asked turning towards the door to see her and Samantha walking in

"She looks busy," I said 

"No. No, she doesn't" Ben said 

"I mean she just got in. She must be tired; I'll just talk to her at lunch" I made another excuse

"Sure. Well, that be today's lunch or the one before graduation?" Ben mocked

"You're right" I sighed. It was funny how I was blowing up her phone but couldn't find the courage to talk to her in person

"Well let's go," Ben said 

"Wait you're coming too?" I asked

"Of course I'll distract Sam. Unless you want her ridiculing you while you beg and grovel for forgiveness" Ben said

"Dude I'm not gonna grovel," I said

"You'd better," he said 

"Can we just go?" I said

"Sure but before we go you should know something," he said suddenly very serious

"What is it?" I asked

"It's about Wendy and you"

"What about us?" I asked

"Look man, she might forgive you and become friends again-"

"Isn't that the aim?"

"Just friends Alex. You guys might never get together" Ben said 

"Oh," I said as the realization dawned on me

"Are you gonna be okay with that?" he asked

"But didn't you say-"

"That was before. This is now. You okay with it" he said before I nodded

"Let's get this over with," I said 

"Seriously man," he said

"It's cool. Let's just do it" I nodded

"Alright let's go," he said before we made our way over to her

"Hey guys," Ben said smiling

"Sup Ben," Wendy said

"Hi," I said but she didn't look at or answer me. Only leaving an awkward silence

"Am I missing something?" Samantha asked

"Did he confess again?" she laughed

"No, but there's a little disagreement between your friends" Ben teased

"And who exactly are my friends here besides Wendy," she asked

"Us of course"

"And who told you that?" she laughed 

"Your boyfriend" Ben said

"What?" Samantha said before she realized what he was teasing her about

"Yep he told us you told him we were your friends" he teased

"Um...I said no such thing"

"So what did you say?" he asked smugly

"I said you were like friends to me. Like you know when someone says you're like a brother to them. You know what I mean" Samantha said hurried explaining herself

"No. I really don't. Why don't you explain it to me outside" Ben said

"What?" Samantha said before Ben walked over to her and spun her around 

"Come on Sammy let's go,"  he said pushing her from behind. Wendy sighed before following them

"No no you stay," he told her

"Why?"  she asked

"Because I want to talk to Sam alone," Ben said

"Why?" Samantha asked

"Because...um...because...I want to confess. Yes, that's it. I want to confess" he said shocking all of us

"Confess what?" she laughed

"You see Samantha we've known each other since middle school and I always felt we could be more than a friend so I want-"

"Okay let me stop you right there. Never in a million years. In fact, if you were the last guy on Earth I'd become a lesbian!" Samantha said harshly. Not even a second of consideration

"See now this should be something that should be done in private" Ben said grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the class

"Well that was harsh," I said breaking the silence that took place after they left

"I'm glad I didn't confess to her" I joked before Wendy walked away

"Wait Wendy can't we just talk for a minute," I asked

"I don't think that's a good idea," she said breaking her silence

"Please. I'm sorry okay. I shouldn't have freaked like that" I said

"You're damn right you shouldn't have" she turned to me angrily

"I know. I know. I was honestly just jealous and disappointed-" I said

"You're disappointed in me? Please tell me what I did that was so disappointing" she said glaring at me 

"Whether or not I get a boyfriend shouldn't be something that you 'my friend' should be disappointed in"

"I know it's just..."

"Just what?" she asked

"You told me you weren't looking for a boyfriend and I was okay with that but then I see you and Anthony acting all couply and it honestly pissed me off because you said you weren't looking for a boyfriend. Then suddenly you're okay with it because it's some good-looking upperclassman asking you out. I was just feeling-" I said

"First of all who I date or not has nothing to do with your feelings. Second, don't make me out to sound like some shallow person who only interested in looks," she said furiously

"I didn't mean it like that," I said

"That's exactly what you meant and it's ironic because you are," she said

"I'm what?" 

"Shallow. It's obvious you only like me because of my looks. If I looked differently you wouldn't even think about you" she said

"That's not true!" I said a little too loudly

"Samantha's prettier and I'm not interested in her and Elizabeth is a lot prettier than you and I'm definitely not interested in her," I said in my defense

"Do you know why? I don't care about their looks. Only their attitude. Elizabeth is arrogant, full of herself, entitled, and doesn't seem to think anyone is on her level. And Samantha's just a bitch" I said

"But you. You're different. I know you" I said. That was funny of me to think. Later I found out I knew absolutely nothing. 

"You know Alex if you knew me half as well as you think you do you'd know if I say something I mean it. So if I say I'm not reading for a boyfriend I mean I'm not ready for one. Looks won't matter to mean" she argued still furious

"I know and I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. But we've been friends since middle school. Are you seriously gonna end it because of something like this" I asked disheartened

"That's the thing, Alex. From the beginning, I wasn't your friend. I was your crush" she retorted

"You didn't hang out with me because you wanted me to be your friend. You did it hoping I'd fall for you. And sorry that's just not something I've got time for right now" she said

"That might've been true but right now I just want to be friends"

"So you can honestly say you have no feelings for me," she said looking me dead in the eyes

"...Y..Yes" I lied avoiding eye contact

"You're lying," she said

"How do you know?"

"You don't go from liking someone for years to not liking them in two days"

"Fine, I'm lying. I still like you" I admitted

"And that's the problem. I can't be your friend knowing you still have feelings for me. It's not fair to me and it's not fair to you. That's way too much pressure on me"

"Then I'll stop. I'll hide them. I'll bury my feelings. I'll make sure they never see the light of day again" I promised tears in my eyes

"Just say you'll be my friend again" I cried

"I can't. Because you can't. I actually know you, Alex. You're not the type to bury your feelings" she said

"Please Wendy I can learn" I groveled

"I'm sorry," she said turning her back to me

"I'm going to my seat. Class is about to start" she said walking to her seat leaving me standing there watching as she walked away tears running down my face

"So how's it go?" Ben asked walking into the class again

"Just great. We're hanging out tomorrow" I said sarcastically as I wiped away the tears

"Really?" he asked skeptically

"Oh sorry, that was just in my head. She said no in every possible way you could say it aside from f**k off" I said

"Sorry man but look at it this way you still have me," he said 

"That's a pretty crappy consolation prize," I said 

"Well screw you then" he laughed and I chuckled

"But seriously don't sweat this Wendy thing," he said consoling me

"Yeah okay" I nodded my head

"Good, we should get back to our seats. Class is about to start" he said

"You go ahead. I'll be there soon" I said

"Where you headed?" he asked

"The bathroom," I said 

"Want company?" he asked

"I'm heartbroken, not gay," I said walking away. 

I went to the bathroom, did my business before washing my hands and tears before heading back out

"The school really needs to get that urinal fixed," I said washing my hands as I walked down the hall

"Alexander halt!" I heard someone shout before I stopped and saw Elizabeth walking gracefully towards me

"Elizabeth," I said forcing a smile

"Alexander you plebeian I've been looking for you," she said

"Really?" I asked not believing it at all

"Indeed. Yours truly looked in the classroom before asking Benjamin for assistance" she said

"Well you found me" I sighed

"What do you want?" I asked not really in the mood to talk to her

"You should count yourself lucky. Yours truly has decided that you will have the honor of taking me on a date" she said

"I'm sorry what"

"Do I have to spell it out for you? You, Alexander Freeman, are taking yours truly out for a date. This Friday"

"Why?" I asked

"Because I want to. You can decide the venue and I expect you to be ready by eight. You'll be punished if I have to wait for even a second longer" Elizabeth said

"Elizabeth you can't be serious" I sighed

"Quite deadly I'm afraid"

"Elizabeth for the hundredth time. I can't go out with you. I don't even like you. Plus my best friend likes you, god knows why" I said rejecting her again

"And for the thousandth time, I don't care who Benjamin likes. I like you and that's enough" she said

"Are you always this unreasonable"

"Indeed. I consider it determination. Conviction works too. I'm a girl who knows what she wants and currently that's you" she shrugged

"You know I'm not some handbag you see in a store window," I said but she only smiled before passing me

"Let's promptly return to class before we are deemed late," she said walking away leaving me standing there to watch as she gracefully walked away before stopping and turned to me

"Aren't you coming?" she asked before I smiled a bit

"Sure, whatever," I said walking after her