Operation Friendzoned (Cashby & Kellic)

One

"Promise?"

"I promise." She said when she pulled up to the apartment building, "Now come in and help me with dinner."

"Alright," I said with a sigh.

We went inside and to the third floor where we lived.

"So other than getting assigned to tutoring, how was school?"

"It was okay. How was work?"

"Tiring."

"How's the class doing with all the kids?"

"They're a handful," she laughed.

I laughed, "Maybe I should come visit them again soon." I said just as the phone rang.

I pounced for the phone and answered it immediately.

"Hi Dad!"

"Florida state prison, you are receiving a collect call from Brad Ashby do you agree to the charges?" the automated machine said.

I sighed and agreed, waiting patiently for my dad's voice to come through.

"Hey Kiddo!"

"Hi Dad! I've missed you."

"I"ve missed you too!"

"How's it been? How's the guards, food, sleeping, everything? Tell me everything."

"The food sucks, like always. The guards are annoying, but all in all everything is fine."

"Are you sleeping okay? Is everything there really fine?" I asked.

"Alan everything is fine. I'm sleeping fine, okay?"

I sighed, "Good."

"How are you? How's school going?"

"I'm fine." I told him.

"I'm glad. How's school? Have you made a lot of friends?"

"School's fine and no I don't have really any friends."

"I thought you said you were going to try."

"I did try." I said, I didn't want to disappoint him.

"Promise?"

"No..."

"Alan," he groaned. "You need to try."

"Dad it's hard." I frowned, "No one likes me."

"I doubt that. You're an awesome kid."

"You don't get to have an opinion, you're too bias."

"I disagree."

"Well no one talks to me."

"Talk to them."

"I think I'll just stick with my one and only friend Oliver."

"Alan," he sighed.

"What?"

"You need more than Oliver."

"Not really. I don't see what the problem is with having one friend."

"Alan, he's eighty two."

"So? What's your point?"

"What are you going to do when he dies?"

I frowned, "Not have any friends?"

"Exactly. So make some your age."

"But no one my age likes me."

"I bet you'll find someone who does."

"What if I don't?" I said quietly.