Griff and Zuri: Head Over Heels (Short Story)

Chapter 4: Just Friends

~Griff's POV~

Griff poked at his food in silence.

"Griff, eat your food, man." Jorge said, chewing his food loudly.

"I will, I guess." Griff sighed.

Jorge patted Griff on the back. "Cheer up man. You look pathetic."

"I know." Griff glared at Jorge. He obviously had no idea what was going on.

"Dude, what's going on?" Jorge tilted his head.

"Well-"

"Hey Griff!" Xander exclaimed as he ran over towards him, patting him on the back.

"Hey." Griff said briefly.

"Emergency meeting. Griff, come on." Xander said, trying to hide his grin.

"Oh, I guess I should go with-" Jorge started to say.

"NO! I mean, nope, just Griff." said Xander.

"Okay.." Griff got up and followed Xander to the lawn.

Waiting on a bench was Emma and Zuri.

Predictable.

Zuri tried to run back to her cabin but she was caught in Emma's grip.

"Ugh, Emma, let go!" Zuri screamed.
Before Griff could make a run for it, Xander grabbed him.

"Sorry, dude. You don't have a choice here."

"Are you kidding me?!" Griff yelled as he struggled to break free.

Eventually Zuri's eyes met his, and he fell into a daze.

~Zuri's POV~

Griff started looking at me like he had seen stars or something.

"Well? Are you guys gonna talk or just stare at each other? This is awkward." said Emma, checking her nails.

"Maybe it's awkward because you two are still here." Zuri snapped.

"Right, see ya." Xander and Emma headed off to the bushes, watching them.

"They grow up so fast," Xander said, watching from behind the bushes.

"Listen Zuri, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable-"

"You didn't. I just chickened out because.." Zuri sighed. "Maybe I'm scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Kinda scared..um.. of being in love.."

"AWWW!!" Xander and Emma shouted from the bushes.

"Guys, go." Griff motioned for them to leave.

"I understand, Zuri. For now, why don't we uh.. just be friends?" Griff asked, and instantly felt like kicking himself.

Why did you say that?!?!?!

Zuri sighed. "Sure, yeah."

"You wanna go back to lunch now?" Griff laughed.

"Yeah, I'm starving." Zuri giggled.

~Emma's POV~

"Well, that didn't go as planned." Emma crossed her arms.

Xander put his arm around Emma. "We did the best we could."

Emma shot Xander a mean look. "Agh, they're meant to be together!!"

Xander laughed. "Babe, you sound like we're in a fantasy world."

Emma rolled her eyes. They headed back to lunch.

Two hours later..

~Zuri's POV~

Zuri and Tiffany headed back to their cabin.

"So how are you and Griff doing?" Tiffany winked.

"We agreed to be just friends." Zuri smiled.

"Pfftt, oh please. We both know that smile is fake." Tiffany grinned.

Zuri's smile faded as she sunk into her bed facefirst.

"Don't mope, I'm begging you," Tiffany pleaded. "Griff isn't gonna like you more than a friend with that attitude."

"Forget it! It's over. We're just friends." Zuri said, her voice muffled by the bed.

"Just don't turn into a depressed weirdo." Tiffany's eyes widened.

"You know what? I'm okay, I'm alright, I'm just fine." Zuri marched for the cabin door and froze. "No, no I'm not. Nope, no way." Zuri ran back to her bed.

Tiffany sighed and played a sad song on the violin.

"AGHH!" Zuri squirmed and covered her ears.

Tiffany stopped playing. "Just trying to match the mood."

Zuri rolled her eyes and collapsed onto her bed.