The Friends Zone

by Tarrah Anders

  “Sorry, burger breath.” She explains kissing my cheek and winking.

  That was weird. I’ve never had that happen before. I smile and wave a quick goodbye and I walk towards my car, shaking my head. That’s a first.

  The remainder of the day goes quickly. Max and I meet with a new potential client and then our day is finished.

  “So, you hear that Ryan and Sterling broke up?” I ask him, sure that Sterling told Betsy already.

  “Yeah, man… that’s tough.” He Shrugs. “But now, maybe you can make your move. It’s been 17 years, maybe this is the lucky year for you.”

  “Nah, I’m not coming in blazing saddles right after douche-knuckle dumps her! A rebound would not be how I want her and me to start, if we ever start.” I say.

  “Look, you can’t deny that you’re happy they broke up, hell neither can I, he sucked. But you can’t continue to pine after your best friend and never open yourself up to anyone else. Kendra’s told Betsy that you’ve avoided her all week. Which happens to be the very same week after Ryan and Sterling break up… yeah that’s not coincidental.”

  “I went out to lunch with her today!” I protested.

  “And, when are you seeing her again?”

  “Well, I’ve got-“I started.

  “No concrete plans buddy, c’mon realize it. You are in love with Sterling. Act on it. This is your chance, seize it!” Max says as Betsy walks around the corner.

  God, I hope she didn’t hear any of that. She is smirking at me as we walk up to her, which tells me she did overhear us. Great!

  “Kendra wouldn’t let me kiss her goodbye after lunch because, quote un-quote: Burger Breath!” I exasperate.

  Max and Betsy start laughing so hard they’re both clutching their sides. “Oh man, that’s rich!” Max bellows.

  I shake my head and start walking in the opposite direction. Is Max right? Should I capitalize on this break up with Sterling and Ryan? Or should I just remain silent and remain the in the friends zone forever?

  STERLING

  No, this is not stalking. This is not creepy behavior; I am not one of those girls. I say as I pull my car into a space in front of Shaw’s. I’m just returning a few of his things, un-announced, that’s all. Closure, yeah – that’s what this is. It’s been 2 weeks, I’m good now. This I can do.

  I exit my car, grabbing the box in my passenger seat and make my way to the front doors of Shaw’s, Ryan’s bar. It’s 5 in the afternoon, the evening rush shouldn’t be happening yet and the afternoon lunch rush is long over. Maybe we can talk, as he promised that night.

  With a deep breath, I swing open the door. Petey is behind the bar assisting a customer sitting on one of the bar stools. I don’t see Ryan anywhere immediately. I start walking towards the bar and Petey looks up and takes notice of me. He has a nervous smile and starts to slowly wipe up the bar top.

  “Heya Sterling, what brings you in here?” He asks hesitantly, with his eyes darting between the hallway and Sterling.

  “Just stop by to bring some-“Giggling from the hallway catches my attention. And out walks Ryan with his arm around some blonde college co-ed. Her arm is wrapped around his waist as well. She looks like she’s trying to play the part of a naughty librarian; however, she also looks dumb as rocks. He’s whispering something to her and she giggles again. Petey calls to him and Ryan and the slutty librarian come to a halt.

  “Ry, what?!” She asks puzzled.

  Ryan drops his arm from around her and wipes his hands, then takes a step forward. Looking like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  “Ryan, baby!” she squeals as he ignores her.

  I clear my throat, and step forward. Trying to be the bigger person in this. I hand him his box of belonging and I rush out of there. I don’t stop until I’m sitting in the driver’s seat of my car. Ryan comes walking out of the front doors and is scanning the street for my car. He finally spots me and starts my way. Tears have started to pour down my cheeks and rather than have him see me like this, I quickly start the engine and peel out of the parking spot. He’s just reaching the curb as I’m looking at him in my rearview mirror, pulling out his phone.

  My screen lights up, it’s him. I press ignore.

  A moment later, my screen lights up again, he’s not giving up. Well that’s too bad, he had his chance. By the time I pull up to Dane’s house, I have 8 missed calls, all from Ryan. On the last call, he left a voicemail.

  I walk into Dane’s house and he’s standing in front of his television hitting his remote and pointing it at the television. He turns and smiles at me, once he sees it’s me.

  “I need you to listen to this voicemail for me and then delete it!” I insist shoving my phone in his hands. He looks at me like I’ve grown a second head and I just set my phone in his palm, and head towards the bedroom I usually stay in when I spend the night. I quickly change in a pair of jeans and a tank top and walk back out to the living room where he is still standing with his remote in one hand and with my phone to his ear. His face gives away anger and then I see his nostrils flaring. I go into his kitchen and grab two beers. I hand him one as he’s finished listening.

  “Well?” I ask. “Do I want to know?”

  “Probably not. So there’s another girl I take it?” He tilts his head.

  “Some co-ed whose boobs are probably bigger than her and his brain combined.” I dish taking a large guzzle of my beer.

  “It’s just excuses, and he wants you to call him.” Dane shrugs. “Don’t though, don’t call him back.” It almost sounds like he’s begging me not to.

  2 weeks ago, I was on top of the world! I was in love; or rather I thought I was. Then all of a sudden, my world was rocked. My ex-boyfriend apparently jumped back on the horse very quick, as if I never existed. It hurts, I think as I finish my beer.

  “Slow down there rock star!” Dane urges. “Want me to call Betsy and Max over, grill out and chill?”

  I nod my head, I think that’s what I need right now. Companionship, my best friends. I slump down on the couch and Dane hands me a bottled water.

  “No. Beer.” I insist like a big baby.

  “Food, then beer. Don’t want you to pass out before they get here!” He smiles.

  Dane sits next to me, and his arm falls behind me on top of the couch. He smiles and starts flipping the channels. I look at him. He’s gorgeous. His features are chiseled, his lips are the perfect color pink, his piercing green eyes could make any girl fall in love with him. In high school, I wanted his eyes to fall in love with me. He keeps his dark brown hair choppy but short, always looking like he has just woken up. Perfect to put your fingers through. When we were kids, we were always together even our parents became close friends by proxy. In high school, my junior year, I had started to notice his good looks and began developing a crush on him. He was never interested in dating. He was on the baseball team and too busy in the off-season for girls. He dated off and on, but there was never anything serious. At least until college, when he met Tamera in our 2nd year. They dated for almost 3 years, but then once graduation came around, neither were interested in a long distance relationship and he stayed in San Diego, while she went on to somewhere on the east coast. Now as an adult, he’s lean and muscular in all the right places, his seems strong and so sure of himself. Sometimes though, I feel like he’s keeping secrets from me.

  Max and Betsy let themselves in as Dane walks out of the kitchen with another beer, for himself, he’s still being greedy with the booze. They all greet another and we all head outback to the back patio to start grilling.

  Dane starts up the BBQ and turns to me, puts his beer to his lips and smiles as he takes a sip of beer. I untwist my bottled water cap and mimic him.

  “What the heck is that about?” Betsy laughs.

  “Dane is monitoring my drinks, because I finished my beer earlier before he was done with his first pussy sip.” I sneer.

  Dane and Max chuckle over by the grill, talking man stu
ff while Betsy takes a seat next to me.

  “So, saw Ryan eh?” She quizzes.

  “Yeah, he’s got a new piece.” I say with a twinge of jealousy laced into my voice. “She looks dumb.” I finish my water and throw the bottle at Dane, hitting him on the head.

  Betsy almost choked on her beverage at the last comment. “I’m sure she is. Sorry girl. Listen, let’s have fun tonight, it’s Saturday, so no thinking… just fun.” She offers.

  We smile at another and Dane effectively hands me another water. He winks as he walks back to the bar.

  “Have you ever thought about Dane?” Betsy asks leaning into me as I pop some chips in my mouth.

  I sit and think for a moment. “Yeah, but you know, we’re just friends.”

  “Mmmm Hmmm.” She quietly hums and sits back while the guys do their grill thing. Watching Max and Dane can be quite entertaining. For two 28 year professional males, they can always revert back to their fraternity days in college and just be idiots. For instance, right now as I glance at the guys, Max poured a little BBQ sauce on Dane’s shoulders. He grinned at us as he did it. Now Dane keeps swatting at either side as either a bug or some sort of flying animal comes near him. Max is having problems trying to control his laughter, when all of a sudden a bird picks at Dane’s shirt. Dane flies back with the spatula in his hand, screaming like a girl. He finally feels the BBQ sauce as his ear brushes it and starts to peel off his shirt carefully.

  “You dick!” He sneers to Max as the rest of us who have been watching the spectacle laugh.

  I’ve seen Dane with his shirt off thousands of times in our friendship, but as if my hormones are in overdrive and lack of sex in the past few weeks that I suck in a breath as his shirt comes off. I notice that Betsy notices my sudden intake of breath and smiles. I divert my eyes elsewhere and start fidgeting. Yup, my hormones are running wild. I decide.

  ***

  Dinner was fantastic, and now Dane isn’t being stingy with my beers. I’ve lost count of beers when Betsy suggested that we play Truth or Dare. I groan because I’ve always hated this game.

  “We’re not in high school Bets, and we all know one another too well for the truth part and the dare part, well that is stupid.” I plead.

  “I dare you, Sterling Cranefield… to play truth or dare.” She deadpans. The guys laugh.

  Dane bumps my shoulder. “A few rounds kid – you know Betsy … she’s never really gutsy.” He snickers. He’s been drinking all afternoon and evening, so he’s a little toasted, we all are – so what can this hurt.

  Betsy looks like she’s going to start jumping up and down when I give in and take my seat next to Dane and opposite Betsy and Max.

  “I’ll go first.” Max says to Betsy.

  “Dare.” She boldly says.

  “I dare you, to call your mother right now and tell her that you got arrested, but your okay, although a little terrified of your cellmate.” He smirks. Knowing Betsy’s mom, she would have a cornea and likely pass out while on the phone with Betsy.

  “But it’s like 1am!” She protests.

  “Your game babe, plus the time – makes it all the more believable.” He smiles kissing her cheek.

  “You need a number she wouldn’t know. You know, caller ID and all.” Dane offers smiling and handing her his cell. She glares at him and starts dialing.

  “Hi ma’? Yeah, um… I got into a little bit of trouble. I’m in county jail, you’re my phone call…I’m okay yeah, I’m okay. No actually I’m not, the person sleeping in the bunk in my cell… she…” Betsy’s voice become a whisper. “She is still wearing her clown makeup; I think she may try to kill me in my sleep…. Yeah you know I don’t like clowns… ma? Ma? Are you there?!” Betsy hangs up and falls to the ground in laughter.

  “I’ll need to call her in the morning to clear that up, thanks babe.” She says kissing Max.

  We’re all laughing from the one sided conversation we overheard. Betsy has tears forming in the corner of her eyes, she hastily wipes them as I take a sip of my beer and she zeroes in on me.

  “Truth or Dare Sterling?”

  “Truth.” I chicken out.

  “Okay, hmmmmm… have you ever had inappropriate thoughts about Danielle here?” She asks using Dane’s nickname she likes to tease him with.

  Oh Fuck! She knows that if I don’t answer honestly, she’ll call my bluff, since we touched on this briefly earlier this today. I glance over at Dane, who looks like he’s nervous for me. He’s holding his breath, which is just weird, I’ve never seen him act this way before. I look back at Betsy and in a serious tone I say. “Yeah, I have. Who hasn’t though, have you seen him? Fine specimen over here.” I say patting his knee. I hear him finally breath, it was like a sigh of relief. And I glare at Betsy.

  “Okay, Max….” I say turning to him in retaliation by closeness to my target.

  “Dare.” He says puffing out his chest and taking a sip of his drink.

  I think for a moment, there isn’t too many things that Max wouldn’t do. I could be overly juvenile and dare him and Dane to kiss, but I know I can do better.

  “Any day now...” Max taunts.

  “Max, I dare you to take off your pants and boxers to shirt cock down the street and back.” I smile as I lean back feeling proud of myself.

  Max wastes no time, I cover my eyes with one hand as he stealthily pulls both articles down. He makes his way to the front door, and we all get up to witness his dare. I’m finishing off my… maybe 8th beer of the night and feeling a little wobbly as I walk with our group. We all snicker as Max completes his dare, as he gets close to Dane’s house as a car full of what we are assuming are drunk girls start catcalling him. He runs just a little faster and like a blur he’s inside Dane’s living room frantically pulling on his clothes.

  It takes a few minutes for each of us to calm down. Max is out of breath.

  “I think one of them slapped my ass!” He exclaims.

  We all start laughing even harder. Betsy rubs his arm in consolation.

  “You’re up Dane!” Max growls.

  “Dare.”

  Max doesn’t even hesitate. “I dare you to kiss Sterling. And like, a real kiss. No grade school peck on the lips, you get in there!“He happily says sitting back.

  Betsy and I gasp. Dane looks at me and just shrugs. “Well.” He Pauses. “Hey, a dare is a dare.”

  Dane turns facing me. He slowly leans in, I lick my lips and possibly stop breathing. I think time has started to go in slow motion, as that’s how this kiss is happening. Dane’s lips, brush against mine. They’re soft and warm, I gasp and next thing I know his tongue is rubbing against mine urging me to kiss him back. I crane my neck and lean into him fully welcoming the kiss, his hands pull me closer and we’re chest to chest. We should definitely drink and play this game more often, Wait, where did that thought come from? His tongue is making love to mine and I’m getting lost in this moment. Somewhere through the fog someone clears their throat and we pull back breathless. I can feel the flush on my face. I look up through my eyelashes at Dane and he looks equally in shock.

  “Well, that wasn’t so bad. Actually, that was really hot, I felt like we were watching the start of a porn” Max beams.

  “Um.” Dane clears his throat. “Max, Truth or Dare?” Clearing his throat again, and nervously looking in my direction.

  “Actually dude, I think we’re gonna take off. I wanna take my girl home.” Betsy giggles and leans into him. They slowly gather their belongings and are then out of the house. Dane and I are now alone, he looks nervous and unsure of how to act all of a sudden. Mister so sure of himself is scared! I think to myself and giggle.

  “Want another?” He asks holding up his empty bottle.

  “Sure, why not. I’m crashing here anyways.” I shrug nonchalantly, still affected by his kiss.

  He emerges with two beers, I reach forward and grab the remote in front of me. I search his DVR for something that we both would like and settle on a comedy.
He sits beside me, in his standard fashion and his hand goes behind me on the top of the couch. I scoot closer to him and lean my head on his shoulder. His breath hitches, and slowly he resumes normalcy. His hand drops to my shoulder as he pulls me in closer and further gets comfortable.

  “You okay?” He asks as if he’s worried.

  “Of course, you?”

  “Never been better.” He smiles as he squeezes my shoulder. We settle in for the movie and I can feel my eyes getting heavy.

  ***

  My head is being moved up and down in a solid motion. I hear breathing, and I also feel hardness under me. I tear my eyes open and I see the back of the couch cushion. I slowly move my head, I am laying on top of Dane, his arms are holding me, I assume just in case I fall off of the couch. He’s still asleep. His lips are slightly apart as he’s breathing. As if he senses my movement, his arms tighten. I breathe in his scent, it’s a leathery vanilla. He smells so divine even after sleeping all night. All of a sudden, I feel a different hardness under me against my stomach

  . I suck in a breath and try to not think about it. He’s waking up, maybe now I should do the same. I look up at him again, and his eyes are open, he’s smiling and then he notices that I’m awake too and he gets a startled look on his face.

  “Morning’” He drawls.

  “Morning to you too!”

  “Sleep alright?” He asks, still with his hold me tightly.

  “Yeah, like a log. You?” Why are we making small talk? Then, I remember the truth or dare game last night.

  “I don’t even remember us getting into this position.” He laughs. I start to pull up off of him and he hesitantly releases me. He’s smiling at me as we both move into a sitting position. He adjusts himself and I can’t help but to watch. I shouldn’t be thinking of him like that, he’s my best friend. That was just a dare last night, no matter how hot and perfect it was, that was just a dare. Just a dare, right?