One Shots

Frenemies

"Is there ever a good time for that kind of thing?" He seemed genuinely curious.

"I suppose not."

After an awkward moment of silence, he spoke up again, "I wouldn't- I won't tell anyone, by the way. Your secret is safe with me."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," I said for agreeing not to tell anyone and for being so...normal about it.

"Yeah, don't mention it." He shrugged and looked down. "It's not for me to share." Maybe he's not as bad of a guy as I make him out to be. And I can't help but wonder if he's thinking the same thing about me right now.

"Chase, is everything alright? Who was at the door?" I heard a woman's voice from inside the house.

"Everything's fine, Ma," he called out.

Before Chase could answer the second question, the door opened and the woman walked in. "Oh, hello, hun. You're all soaked! Are you alright?"

I masked my emotions, "Yeah, I was just taking a walk when the rain started to come down. I realized what street I was on and figured I'd stop by to get out of the rain." I held my hand out. "I'm Bel."

She shook my hand. "I'm Janice. It's lovely to meet you." The look on her face changed ever-so-slightly. "Oh! I'm interrupting something, aren't I? I'll leave you two be." We said bye, and she went back inside.

"Someone's a kiss up."

I tilted my head. "How am I a kiss up?"

"The way you so easily just lied to my grandmother after being like the most vulnerable I've ever seen you."

"To be fair, there was some truth to it. But wait, that's your grandmother?"

"Yeah, my mom had me young, so my grandma raised me. We all live together now, though," he explained, preventing me from asking more questions about it. He didn't want to change the subject like I did. "It's kind of scary to see how easily you can hide what you're feeling just like that. Why do you do that?"

I shrugged. "People don't need to know my business."

"Because it's so bad that someone who doesn't even know you knows you're going through something?"

"It's just what I'm used to, okay? Don't worry about me. You never have before," I joked in an attempt to lighten the mood a bit.

He gave a small smile but responded with, "Who said I've never worried about you?"

"Have you?"

"Maybe, maybe not." I rolled my eyes. "Look, I know you have your mask or whatever, and we aren't the best of friends. But I have known you long enough to know when you're not yourself."

"You're saying you can tell when something is wrong with me?"

"Yeah, I guess so," he said nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal. For me, though, it is a big deal. No one ever sees through my facade. Maybe it's that no one has cared enough to. What if I'm not as good at hiding as I thought? My demeanor must have changed since he asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm actually pretty terrified right now if I'm honest," I decided to be vulnerable for once. I mean, he already knows more than anyone else. What's a little bit more honesty?

"Why?" I didn't know if I was imagining it or if his voice was actually soft and full of concern.

"You see right through me like no one ever has," I continued to be open for what seems like the first time ever.

"And that scares you," he finished.

I nodded, breaking our eye contact.

"You don't have to be scared of me."

"I'm not scared of you. I'm scared of what you know," I spoke almost in a whisper. At this point we were pretty close to each other, so he was definitely able to hear me.

"Don't be. I wouldn't out you in any way. Despite everything, I've grown to care about you." His words should be comforting, but they only seemed to make me more nervous.

"Thanks. You're not as bad as I once thought."

Without saying anything, he pulled me in for a hug. It caught me off guard, but I eventually put my arms around him and warmed up to it. It turned out to be quite comforting. It was a nice feeling. We let go not too long after and stood in silence. It wasn't really awkward, but I don't know if I'm fully at ease either.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

"For what?"

"Not slamming the door in my face, listening, promising to keep everything between us," not treating me any differently, I wanted to add but didn't have the courage to.

"That's what friends are for, right?"

"Are you saying we're friends now?"

He smiled. "Would you like to be?"

I pondered for a second before nodding my head. "I'd like that."

"As friends now, I'm legally obligated to offer my company."

"Legally?" I questioned with an amused look.

"Yup."

"Dork," I muttered. He heard me and chuckled.

"You wanna go out somewhere? Hang out here?"

"I haven't had dinner. We could go to the diner if you're okay with that," I suggested, realizing how hungry I am.

"Sounds good. Let me get my keys and wallet, and I'll be right out."

I nodded in response.

He came back out a few minutes later, and we quickly got in his car. By now, I felt a lot better than I was when I left my house.

I thanked Chase once more before spending the rest of the ride in a comfortable silence.