Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

Finally, in my nice warm bed I’m allowed to feel whatever I should be feeling.

I’m hurting. Real bad.

A silent sob takes over me. I thought I was passed days of feeling like this. Like I don’t want to wake up tomorrow.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suicidal. Some days are just hard and you want to go to sleep and wake up a week from now knowing the problem is gone. Everyone feels like that once in a while.

Life can be overwhelming.

I sniffle and bury my face under my covers. I hear the door creak and Nat hops into bed with me. She snuggles close and without a word, we fall asleep.

***

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Nat shrieks.

I jump up on my bed in a Kung Fu pose preparing to kick some ass. My head is throbbing and my eyes sting from crying. I see a shadowed outline of a person at the edge of the bed.

I throw myself onto the large individual’s back and put them in a choke hold. My arms are shaking but it’s better than sitting around waiting to be killed. Like Bear.

I yell out, “Call the cops!”

Natalie turns on the bedroom light and we both freeze.

Nik’s face is red and veins are popping out on his forehead. To top it off, he’s dressed only in underwear.

I quickly loosen my arms but wrap my legs around his waist and hug his shoulders.

I squeal, “Honey! What are you doing here?”

Still with me attached to him he doubles over to catch his breath.

He puffs out, “I,” puff “came to see,” huff “if you’re okay. ”

I look at the digital clock on my bedside which reads 1:46am.

I’m still in a state of shock.

I ask in disbelief, “At one forty six in the morning?”

He stands up and breathily replies, “Yeah. I didn’t think this through, huh?”

Nat replies sternly, “Uh, no. No, Nik. You didn’t. You broke into the apartment a few hours after someone broke in and killed Bear! Not the smartest thing you’ve ever done. ”

Nik nods and looks apologetic, “I’m sorry, guys. I couldn’t sleep knowing Tina was upset. So rather than be up all night I came over, and Ghost had a key made for me, by the way, and gave me the security codes. ”

That makes sense.

Ghost breaks into our apartment every other week. Why wouldn’t he give out spare keys and security codes to the public?

I kiss Nik’s neck and whisper, “Thank you for thinking of me. Let’s go to bed. ”

/> Nik nods and looks at Nat as if expecting her to leave.

She shakes her head and says, “Nuh uh. You must be out of your mind if you think I’m sleeping alone after that. ”

I jump in the middle of the bed, my best friend climbs in on one side and my boyfriend jumps in on the other.

You know what? Life isn’t so bad after all.