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"Friends"

Real Life Narrative, Inspired by the Song "Friends" From Ed Sheeran

By Noodles 🍝Published 6 years ago 5 min read
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"We're not, no we're not friends"

When I met him, I was in the unairconditioned, crowded office of my school, neatly organizing a plethora of papers. I remember he was dressed in a well buttoned up, navy polo shirt that was perfectly tucked inside of khaki uniform pants. I think the school's uniform never looked nicer than it did from that day on. When we engaged in conversation, we both bonded over our silly and immature sense of humor. His laugh varied from goofy chuckles to girly giggles, something rare to see in a guy. The most striking features about him, though, were his whiskey-colored eyes that lit up like Fourth of July fireworks whenever he smiled. I didn't know it then, but this boy would turn my life around, making it go from the Medieval Dark Ages to the beautiful Italian Renaissance.

"We just try to keep those secrets in a lie, And if they find out, will it all go wrong? Heaven knows, no one wants it to."

Over time, we became extraordinary friends. In our interesting yet never-ending history class, we'd always spout trivial facts at one another just to see who was more knowledgeable. Joyful were the times when we painted random, often shapeless and colorful figures on our free time. He once painted a goat-like being that appeared to be wearing a sort of mask, like those of mutant ninja turtles. “El Chivo Enmascarado" (The Masked Goat), or so he called it. Going into the third semester of that year, he got obsessed with all things Harry Potter. Inside his pale bedroom the wall shelves were adorned with a collection of miniature Harry Potter vinyl figures, as well as all the books and blue-ray copies of the famous series. Being just as big of a fan myself, we would theorize, have “spell-offs,” and even have mini-brainstorm sessions on the plot holes of the series in the middle of our dreaded afternoon maths class.

"We're not friends, we could be anything.If we try to keep those secrets safe. They'll never know what we've been through."

In a romantic sense, I didn't think much of him back then, until one rainy October day of the coming year, when he nervously confessed his feelings for me. All I recall of that day was simply standing in the middle of the empty school corridor, holding a tube of pine green colored paint as my body froze and my face turned a deep crimson. When I spoke, all I could manage was a very weak and airy "really?" Before I could collect my scattered thoughts and reply, I had to head home. That night, I was as restless as a stormy sea in my bed. It was as if time itself had stopped for me the moment he confessed, as it was all that kept replaying in my head. “It's going to be a great day,” I assured myself the following morning. The birds were singing loud and proud, the sun was out, engulfing the town with his warm rays, and I for once, did not fall of my bed at the obnoxiously loud sound of my alarm. My heart nearly burst with excitement at what I had set out to do, confess my newly acknowledged feelings for my best friend. Once at school, I stood behind the door of his classroom, shaking head to toe and tapping my foot anxiously on the tiled floor. Once his eyes met mine through the small rectangular window of the door, he quickly headed to open it. After a quick glance at his concerned and nervous expression, I handed him a fluorescent yellow sticky note, saying I felt the same way about him, and I dashed off down the hall.

"And if you know me like I know you,You should love me, you should know"

Not too long after Christmas day, we had our first date at the movies. When we arrived at the crowded cinema we decided to watch the newest Disney movie at the time, Moana. I questioned why he decided to take a large burgundy backpack inside the packed movie theater, but it was all “part of the plan,” as he said. Once inside the screening room, he took out a warm, soft cotton blanket from his backpack to cuddle under 'till the movie ended. Our sweaty palms were entwined for that entire night, and we often exchanged those cliche romance film looks. His presence alone was surreal, and I knew I just couldn't ever get enough. I found myself giggling a lot, and unable to stop looking at him. His eyes had me hypnotized with every glance he made my way. Happily, we then trotted into this luxurious furniture store full of very unique items and even a ginormous stuffed polar bear. After looking around for some time, we went to the deserted rooftop of the mall to watch the beautifully lit town below us. I could see the cars barely moving on the busy highway as the mouthwatering smell of empanadas from the bakery in the corner greeted my nose. I felt at ease, yet very anxious all at once. I could tell he did too. Most importantly, I could feel my heart beating faster than a galloping horse on a wide open meadow. It was there, in that very moment, that we had our first kiss. There was nothing more that I wanted in that moment, but to freeze it in time and never let it thaw. With confidence I can say that it was the best night of my life, as that day I realized it was all more than a crush. I realized I had fallen in love with my best friend.

Sadly, not all love stories have a happy ending. In my life, I have been in only two relationships, one which was very toxic and left a scar that has still not healed. A very disheartening belief was ingrained in me due to it: that I was incapable of being loved for who I was, and that anyone I could imagine a future with, would soon leave without any hesitation at all. I was at a point where I truly believed I would never find someone who'd love me for me as "I was childish, annoying, boring, a try hard and a freak." Since the beginning, there was always something warm and beautiful between us, a warm fire that ignited itself maybe a bit too soon. He showed me a whole new world, full of indescribable feelings. He proved to me that I was and am in fact, none of those things. Though as much as I loved and believed him, I got terrified. In the end, after many promises and wonderful experiences together, I shattered his heart by leaving, and by doing so, I completely destroyed what little was left of mine. Even after all this time has passed, I will always consider this boy “the love of my life” and I will always regret not knowing what it could've been. What I was too scared to let happen.

"And that's why friends should sleep in other beds. And I know that there's a limit to everything. But my friends won't ever love me like you."
friendship
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