Just Friends

by Billy Taylor

  “You kissed?” I shouted, punching his arm.

  “Ow! Yeah she kissed me…”

  I couldn’t believe it! The cheating bitch! Saying that, Max was hardly going to avoid kissing her.

  “Do you think it meant anything? Or was it just a drunken kiss?”

  He sighed. “I dunno. God, what have I done?”

  Ethan isn’t going to like this. Eleanor is going to be in big trouble, which was perfect. I would be the one to swoop in and be his shoulder to cry on.

  Max stumbled upstairs to the bathroom as we got back to my apartment. As I closed the door and locked it, I heard a familiar voice.

  “Where were you guys? I’ve been waiting for you!” It was Ethan.

  I stared at the door. He doesn’t know anything. Let Max or Eleanor tell him. Keep your mouth shut. My conscience told me. I prepared my smile and twisted.

  “Hey!” I ran over and hugged him. He was wearing the tie I bought him for his sixteenth birthday. It’s a dark navy tie covered in a pattern of small yellow suns. It’s not my favourite if I’m honest.

  Ethan must’ve appeared from the balcony when he heard the door open.

  “How come you’re back so soon?” I asked in a surprised, delighted high-pitched voice.

  “We worked longer during the day so we could finish early.” He said, hugging me again and swinging me around.

  “Patrick Miller want’s me to be on his show on Christmas Eve! Can you believe that? I’ve been dying to tell you!” He stopped and I regained my balance.

  “That’s so cool! I’m so jealous! I can’t believe you beat me to it, I always thought I’d be the first on the show!”

  “Well I’m cooler than you so it’s a clear choice.”

  I opened my mouth in disbelief. “Impossible!”

  He grinned and tilted his head. “That is true. Is Max here? I think I saw him on the staircase?”

  Max appeared at the stairs. “Hey dude.”

  I took a few steps back in case he decided to tell him straight away.

  “Maximus,” Ethan formally replied. “I’m going over to Eleanor’s now. Have you guys seen her recently?”

  My eyes felt like they were going to pop out. I shook my head furiously.

  “Nope.” I glanced up to Max who was staring at the floor.

  “Can we speak when you get back?” He said to Ethan.

  Ethan’s eyebrows dropped. “Sure bud. We can go for lunch when I get back.”

  I had no idea what Eleanor would tell Ethan. I had no idea what Max and her did. Max doesn’t remember much. Is Max lying? I couldn’t help but feel guilty. My stomach was churning and I felt sick. What was I supposed to say? Max kissed your girlfriend last night. Good to have you back!

  Max or Eleanor need to own up to their actions. I hate them for placing me into this uncomfortable situation.

  Ethan had been gone an hour and fifteen minutes. I knew he’d be back any moment. Ethan isn’t one to argue. His arguments are fairly short and snappy.

  Max slumped alongside me on the sofa with his head in his hands.

  “Can you remember anything else?”

  He sat silently for a moment. “Nothing I can be sure of.”

  Then the door opened. Max’s head shot out of his hands. I was too scared to turn around and look at Ethan entering. I tried to see his reflection in the TV, but I couldn’t catch a proper glimpse.

  “She’s all yours bud. I was heading over to break up with her anyway.” Ethan said as he opened the door to the fridge.

  I was debating over in my mind, How long do I leave it before I rush over and snog him? Five minutes? Five hours? Five days? Five weeks? Knowing me I’d leave it five months or five years.

  Ethan took a few gulps of something before placing it back into the fridge.

  “I think it would be best you go stay with her. I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed Max. I expected better from you.”

  Max wiped his eyes as he rose from the sofa, heading straight upstairs. I assumed he was going to pack up his things. Ethan sat beside me on the sofa and patted my knee. I grabbed his arm and put it over my head and onto my shoulder. I tucked my legs up and laid my head on his chest. “I’m so sorry, Ethan.”

  October 5th

  I was awoken to Ethan shouting my name again at 3:00am. It was even more terrifying than the first time. I shot up and burst into his room. I sat beside him and put my arms around him. Ethan has had a rollercoaster of a journey over the past few months. He needs a holiday or something to take his mind off of things. It must be driving him crazy. I’m not sure if breaking up with Eleanor was part of his plan, but more and more bad things keep popping up for Ethan and he definitely doesn’t deserve them to.

  NEW EMAIL FROM LEONARD PHILLIPS

  Dear August,

  I have received the camera footage from your crash. Hopefully I’ll be able to piece what I have together and take a proper look at them. From what I’ve heard and read, it sounds like your friend is extremely lucky to be alive, Leonard.

  Ethan’s new show is scheduled to start broadcasting on the twentieth of October. It’ll be so exciting and weird seeing Ethan have his own show. It only seems like yesterday we were kids sat watching Leonard Phillips. Now kids would grow up watching Ethan.

  October 10th

  NEW EMAIL FROM LEONARD PHILLIPS

  I’ve pieced together the camera footage, but somehow it doesn’t cover the side of the vehicle where it was hit. Meaning I’ve watched a lot of footage from the other side. I’m almost guessing. It’s like watching the TV from behind someone’s head. You weren’t kidding when you said he swapped seats with you in a matter of milliseconds. All I can see so far is before the crash you’re sat in one seat, the next second, you’re in the back. This may be best trick I have ever seen. Maybe trick is the wrong word to use given the circumstances. Act would be more suited to the situation. I’ll continue to analyse the footage. I’m using my office at the moment to plan the act how I would myself. Hopefully this will open a new perspective. I haven’t been here in years! Leonard.

  NEW EMAIL FROM AUGUST BISHOP

  Leonard,

  Ethan here. Big fan. As humbling as it is to hear you’re having trouble solving how I switched seats. I will save you time and effort and tell you, you’re wasting your time. I’m sure this won’t affect you at all to stop your pursuit, but I ask you to stop your pursuit of emailing August. I also ask you to send her one last email saying the act is unsolvable. I will delete this conversation between us so she won’t know of our discussion.

  I’m sure we’ll meet one day. Until then, Ethan Knight.

  “What are you doing on my laptop?” I asked Ethan as I entered the apartment.

  “I thought I told you to drop it.” Ethan Snarled, grabbing his jacket from the hanger.

  “What are you talking about?” I knew exactly what he was talking about.

  “Don’t play stupid August!” He stormed past me, his eyes filled with rage. Like when he saw the marking on my face after Mark hit me. Surely he was overreacting a little. Max entered the apartment behind me and closed the door. Ethan walked straight past him, too. They still weren’t talking.

  “Ethan, I’m sorry!” I shouted in despair.

  “What did you do?” Max asked.

  I sighed. “I hired someone to figure out how Ethan switched seats with me in the truck.”

  Ethan walked down the corridor and called the elevator.

  Max sighed. “He never told you did he?”

  “Told me what?” My concern rocketed. These moments never end with good news.

  He looked down, then at Ethan and then looked down again.

  My bottom lip started to tremble.

  “He died August… his heart stopped in the impact. They brought him back in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I stayed with him for as long as I could. I asked them not to say anything because I knew he would want to be the one to tell you.”

  I turned my head and look
ed at Ethan with tears rolling down my cheeks. His back facing me and his head to the floor. I fell to the floor and cried. Like I’ve never cried before. I screamed through my tears. I couldn’t breath. I was gasping for air. I really thought my lungs were not functioning properly and I was going to pass out. I wrapped my arms over my head as I curled up on the floor. Darkness engulfed my body. I thought I was going to pass out.

  I heard rushing footsteps, Ethan asked Max to leave.

  “Don’t cry August, please don’t cry.” Ethan said as he sat beside me and stroked my back. “Please don’t cry.”

  I couldn’t stop. It felt like the world around me had collapsed. My lungs then kickstarted and I coughed as I tried to inhale. He scooped his arms underneath me and lifted me to his chest. I wrapped my arm around him and cried into his neck. We slumped onto the sofa. He tucked my hair behind my ears with his free hand. He hushed me silently as he rocked me in his arms.

  “August you’re breaking my heart. Please stop crying, please.”

  He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I knew this is how you would react and I hate to see you cry. It’s my least favourite thing. I hate it more than smoking.”

  I giggled through my tears.

  “It was never me sat in the passenger seat in my dream. It was you. I’m sat in the back. You’re sat in the front and the car is heading straight for you. I can’t move. My belt is stuck and I’m fighting to unclip it, but it won’t budge. The car hits us and I wake up calling out your name.”

  I opened my eyes and looked up, deep into his distressed eyes. My tears stopped. I desperately wanted to grab him and kiss him.

  “I saw it when my heart stopped, it was just like a dream or a vision and when I woke there were two defibrillators attached to my chest.”

  I sat up and tightened my arms around his neck. He was wearing the plain yellow tie I bought him for his seventeenth birthday. It tangled in our arms. Ethan pulled on it, allowing it to fall free, smirking as he did so. This was the moment. The moment I tell him. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I wouldn’t.

  I took a deep breath, “Ethan, I…” I said nervously. My jaw was still trembling from crying. He shushed me and covered my lips with his thumb.

  “It can wait, dear.” He wiped my cheek and kissed it.

  October 11th

  We fell asleep on the sofa, nose-to-nose, and woke up later that evening. I feel awful. My heart is aching. A horrible feeling of guilt builds inside of me. My stomach is bubbling. I don’t know if it’s hunger, nerves or I have the flu. I was too tired to drag myself upstairs and into bed so I insisted I slept on the sofa. Ethan wouldn’t have any of it, picking me up and flinging me over his shoulder as he carried me to my room.

  “Will you stay with me please? If you have a bad dream I don’t want to force myself up and check on you. I’ll be laid here beside you when you wake up.”

  I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking, Well played August. I’m sure that’s the real reason you asked him to stay with you. To tell you the truth, I just wanted him to hold me. That’s all I want.

  I nestled my head into his chest as we snuggled into my bed together. He softly played with my hair as I shut my eyes. I snatched at his hand when he stopped. I placed my right arm across his chest, resting my hand on his shoulder. I wanted to feel the beat of his heart against me. If his stopped again I think mine would, too.

  We had breakfast at the ice cream parlour he and Madeline went to. They serve pancakes and waffles. Ethan had a huge smirk on his face as we waited for our food.

  I selected his tie today. I chose his cute sunflower one I bought him for his eighth birthday. It’s a tie filled with hundreds of sunflower heads, like hundreds place on top of each other.

  “Why are you smirking?” I finally asked.

  “It’s about time!” He rolled his eyes at me. The roles had been reversed.

  I rolled my eyes at him rolling his eyes.

  “I have good news for you.” He said with a mouth full of pancake.

  I scooped pancake into my mouth. “What is it?” I coughed and spat it back onto my plate. Almost choking on it. Ethan coughed because he was choking on his food from laughing at me. I covered my face in embarrassment. He almost fell of his chair from laughing at me. I threw my napkin at him.

  Everyone around us must’ve thought we were a set of lunatics. After he finally composed himself he said, “Guess who will be joining me on Patrick Miller’s chat show in the December?”

  Puzzled and oblivious I asked, “Who?”

  Ethan frowned at me. “You, you fool!”

  The biggest smile came across my face. I was visualising it.

  I can see Patrick stood there.

  And my next guest, the one the world has been dying to meet… the beautiful, the amazing, the talented, the Goddess herself, the next big star… you get the idea – AUGUST BISHOP!!

  Then I would walk onto the stage and smile and wave to the wildly applauding audience. I’d run over to Patrick and we’d kiss on both cheeks.

  “August?” Ethan said, leaning forward.

  I shook myself and reemerged from my daydream. “Sorry. I can’t believe it! This is a dream come true!” I’m going to be on the show I grew up watching. It’s amazing how much your life can change. I always said to myself I would be on the show although I never thought I actually would!

  “Are you excited?” Ethan asked.

  “Of course I am! Will you be on the show with me then?” There was no one else I would prefer to sit next to on my first appearance than my bestfriend.

  “Kind of…” He said, scooping more pancake into his mouth.

  “What exactly does kind of mean? How can you kind of be on a show? You either are or you aren’t.”

  Ethan chewed his pancake and swallowed. “I will be in a different location, performing a magic trick. It will be broadcasted live on the show. So you’ll be on the sofa watching it with Patrick while I’m performing my trick. The production company of my show organised it with his producers because they’re predicting this will be huge.”

  It was disappointing to hear. I was thrilled to be on the show, and I was thrilled for Ethan, but I wanted us to go on the show together. Just go on the show, laugh, talk, have a good time. Just something… simple. I gazed out of the window, considering the possibilities of why he would need to be in another location to perform a magic trick. “What trick are you going to do?” I hated the feelings he created where it gave me such a rush of worry. Why couldn’t he tell the bit I’ll be worried about first? It would save me a lot of stress.

  He coughed and cleared his throat before mumbling.

  I frowned, “What?”

  He mumbled again.

  My frown increased and I leant forward, “What?”

  “A building is going to collapse on top of me.”

  I returned to my upright position. Cautiously looking into his confident eyes. “What do you mean a building is going to collapse on top of you?”

  He shushed me and suggested with his hands for me to lower my voice. “I’ll explain it to you later. Here isn’t the best place to talk about it. I don’t want anyone finding out. I’ll explain how I will do it so you won’t be worried about me, ok?” He tapped the top of my hand twice.

  “Ok,” I said uneasily.

  October 12th

  So, yesterday evening Ethan sat me down on the sofa and explained this fantastic new trick he will perform on Patrick Miller’s show. He’d invested in a board to help with his explanation.

  “Before I begin, I want you to know that I’ve thought this through a million times. Nothing will go wrong. I want to reassure you of this because I know you will be worried.” Ethan said, crouching in front of me with his hands on me knees. He stood and walked over to his board. “I saw this newly closed hotel set to be demolished later this year. This appeared as an opportunity to produce something spectacular. Following so far?”

  I n
odded.

  Ethan drew a vertical rectangle on the board and a few squares inside that rectangle. (He was poorly trying to represent the hotel with windows.)

  “Excuse the horrific drawing but I’m a magician, not an artist.”

  I smirked and allowed him to continue by waving my hand.

  “I will be inside the building.”

  I immediately interrupted, “No you won’t.”

  Ethan sighed. “Can all comments please be reserved until the end, please? Thank you. As I was saying, I will be inside the building.”

  I immediately interrupted again, “No you won’t.”

  “Why won’t I?” He asked, blank faced.

  “You don’t have my permission to do so.” I replied.

  I don’t want him anywhere near that building during its demolition.

  “Would you like me to call Patrick Miller and tell him I can’t be on his show Christmas Eve because you won’t give me your permission to do so?”

  I nodded. “Yes, if you could please. I don’t want you anywhere near that building when it’s being demolished.”

  “But…but, but that’s the trick!”

  I pulled a funny face and shrugged. “Tough.”

  “This is why I am explaining it to you though, so you won’t have to be worried. Look.”

  He drew more detail onto his drawing. He added what looked like a pipe running underneath the hotel. “This is a tunnel. The basement staff used it as an emergency exit or something. I will exit through here and escape with plenty of time to spare before the building collapses, ok?”

  He was trying his upmost hardest to seek my approval. Although I wasn’t having any of it.

  “You’re not doing this trick, but please continue.” I said bluntly. I bit my fingernails as he hopelessly stared at his board.

  “The hotel will be lined with dynamite or C4, whatever they use these days. It will come down floor by floor. I’ll be in handcuffs that I’ll get out of quicker than anyone can say August is the greatest person ever. I’ll pop down the tunnel, which is directly beneath where I’ll be standing, and escape from demolishment with plenty of time to spare. I might even catch the ending of it.”