That's Sad

"You're writing a short story?"

"Yes."

"That's sad," the boy pauses, sounding quite bored. "Oh I get it, that's the title isn't it?"

"Yes, it is." She smiled, glancing up at the phone. They were a state apart and it was an ex boyfriend-girlfriend-talking type thing. They didn't really talk for around a year, but she missed him. A lot. They dropped off in a weird place, he didn't exactly treat her well. She forgave him a long time ago, they ghosted each other and that's that. They met freshman year of high school, through mutual friends that sat at the same red table before school every day. They never really interacted, but they had a cardio class together. He dropped the class after a week, claiming it was "Too much, I already have weight training. Don't worry, I didn't leave because of you. Well, it was half the reason," he laughed. "It was a joke!"

She giggles. They started hanging out because, "When two people are awesome, they become friends usually." His words, not hers. She'd say they started talking because he was handsome, even at 14. He had grey-blue eyes that change color with what he wore, and he always wore Converse or biker boots with jeans and a crew neck tee. He topped it off with a plaid button-up shirt, rolled up at the elbow. When the autumn months came around he would put on either a leather or denim coat. The look suited him quite well, and his best friend looked identical. Those two have been inseparable since the second grade. He has a killer smile and a huge nose. It's cute, though.

She was as tall as him and just starting her emo phase. Good times, am I right? She wore jeans or jean shorts with a graphic tee and a little bit too much eyeliner. Plain, wavy brown hair, brown eyes, high cheekbones, and little white spots on her teeth: She always hated how she looked.

They got into a relationship towards the beginning of the summer, going to an outdoor mall with their best friends, who were also dating. The four, and sometimes others, always hung out around the mall. It was honestly really boring, and we could've spent time somewhere better, but we never had a problem getting there or back. So it stuck. There was a skate shop, movie theater, Victoria's Secret (she always teased him about going in there), and a fountain in the middle of it all. There was more, but we didn't really spend time anywhere else.

The relationship didn't go anywhere because neither of the two kids wanted it to. She moved schools, and so did he. They stopped talking. Her junior year, she moved to another state. That's when they start talking again. He claims he's changed, that he's grown up. His best friend, and now one of hers, is exactly the same. The girl started talking to him about memes, and they now talk often. They call each other things like 'stud' and 'gorgeous', often starting conversations with cheesy pickup lines. When she talks to him, her heart skips a beat. She always laughs at his jokes, and he makes an effort to keep talking to her through the lonely nights.

She doesn't have too many friends in the new state, and she passes time by reading, playing guitar, and talking on the phone with old friends who have nothing better to do, including the boy. Sometimes the conversation got way deep into sexy things, but neither of them mind. They are rekindling an old best-friendship, and she's having a good time with him. Even though she's not really with him...

Every night she talks with him, sometimes they fall asleep on the phone. She often compares their relationship to that of Jim and Pam from a TV show, The Office. They're not exactly like the TV stars, but it makes her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

She loves him, and won't tell him out of fear of ruining the relationship they have now. She got out of a long-distance relationship and pledged herself to him forever. She's been thinking on it really hard and is questioning if she really wants to be with him when she moves back. She's been in the new state for eight months, and only has one friend. They've hung out a grand total of one time. That's okay though, she has everyone back home to help her navigate through her last year of high school. She is torn between the two boys and loves them both dearly. The worst part?

They both love her, too.