"I love Cara." His voice was challenging.

"I know." Her voice was dreamy, and a grin immediately stretched across her face. "You two are so perfect together…" she trailed off, still looking so happy that it was annoying.

Why it was annoying...well…he had no clue to that.

"The way you always hold her hand, the way she looks up at you, and the way she always seems so happy whenever the two of us hang out..." She winked at him, and he found a stone had settled down in his chest. "You must be doing well!"

"I suppose." He averted his eyes, away from the brownish-red hair, the sparking green eyes, and the pretty smile. He didn't want to be associated with her.

"And you and Cara are both so good-looking," Amy said, without a trace of embarrassment when she called him good-looking. This too, annoyed Ian. For reasons yet unrevealed.

"I know." He said and tossed a half-hearted smirk at her. She smiled back until she realized the implications of his words.

Ian was glad for some reason when the pink tinge flashed across her cheeks, but the feeling dissipated quickly when it turned out to be embarrassment—not attraction—that had caused it. "You're so full of yourself." She grinned at him. Then her face lit up. "I heard that you two are going on a date this afternoon!" she sighed dreamily. Again. For the nth time that day. "Where are you going?"

"A restaurant."

She finally noticed his lack of words. "What is it?" she asked, concern glazed over her features. "Is it something I said? What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." He crossed his arms.

"We both know that's not true." She replied, lips spread slightly in a concerned smile. Ian couldn't help but look at them a bit too long than necessary. Amy, however, didn't seem to notice. This sent a spurt of annoyance up his spine.

"I said I'm fine!" the words came out slightly harsher than he meant to, and Amy recoiled. "Sorry." She said, with just a trace of hurt. "I-I just w-wondered…" trailing off, she looked at her feet. She slumped a bit lower on the couch they were sitting on, yet he could feel that her jaw was clenched.

Silence fell, and Ian kept on wondering whether he should apologize or stay silent.

"It's nothing." He repeated, more gently, and he felt Amy relax a bit beside him. He could feel her green-eyed gaze on the side of his head.

"You're a good friend." She announced. "Not half as bad as you used to be."

And that was how Ian Kabra became 'friend-zoned'.