GIA:

I swear we could be in one of those sappy romantic films that we love so much.

Just to clarify, by 'we', I mean Adrianna and myself. Here we are, on the couch in my living room, her head resting comfortably in my lap. I'm stroking her beautiful dark hair with one hand, as Ade is grasping the other for dear life while she sobs along to the end of Love Story for literally the thousandth time. Yes, I said thousandth. I kid you not. What can I say? We're both raving Erich Segal fans.

And so, I repeat. To an outsider, we seem like the perfect couple. Relaxed, happy, passionate...

Except we aren't a couple.

Well, in my dreams we are, but that's besides the point.

We've done this countless times; I could swear that we've seen every tragic romance movie known to man over the past seven years that we've been friends. It all started out with a classic -- seven long years ago when Brad Campbell announced to Mrs. Lee's fourth grade class that there was a naked woman in this movie called Titanic. Well, as you can probably guess, almost every single boy in the class went home and somehow managed to watch this infamous scene.

So, naturally, Ade and I had to see what all the fuss was about. Turns out, we didn't take a particular interest in Kate Winslet's lack of clothing as much as we we adored the rest of the film.

And thus began the tale of Gia and Adrianna: two best friends; the dynamic duo; inseparable no matter what. But everything is different now. It's been different for a while, but Ade doesn't know that. No, the angelic beauty currently soaking my jeans in her tears has been much to involved in her recent -- and let me tell you, it's been a tragic experience for all of us -- breakup with her boyfriend, Navid.

God, guys can be such idiots sometimes. I glance down at Adrianna, completely unaware of anything going on around her as Ali McGraw whispers her famous last words on the television screen.

Now, how could Navid just cheat on her like that? I mean, Lila's cool and all, but anyone can see that she's definitely no Adrianna.

Just to clarify. I'm gay; always have been.

Just in case all of my past swooning over a certain female best friend of mine didn't make it clear.

I finally came out last year, when I was fifteen, and I started dating this really attractive, complete bitch of a girl named Alexa.

Okay, come on.

She was really attractive.

And Ade was totally fine with it, as I sort of expected that she would be. Nothing seemed to have changed between us. Well, nothing seemed to have changed with her, anyway.

I never really wanted Alexa; I knew that. On the other hand, I have always wanted Adrianna.

But Ade is straight, I keep reminding myself, hanging on to the slim chance that I can persuade myself to make my feelings for her go away.

They don't.

I realize that the credits of the movie are beginning to roll, and Ade is lying on her back, head still in my lap, so that her sparkling green eyes are looking directly into my brown ones. I gently wipe the tears from her face, allowing my fingers to linger on her perfectly soft cheeks. I feel her body relax under my touch, the corners of her lips turning up slightly, as she closes her eyes to let a few final tears fall.

I chuckle lightly.

"What?" She asks, knotting her eyebrows together in her adorable way.

"You're such a softy." I giggle.

"Am not!" She slaps me playfully.

I slap her back, and her eyes grow wide.

"Oh no you didn't!" She shrieks, pouncing on top of me.,

Hey, don't be weirded out; believe me, this is totally normal for us.

Ade somehow manages to get herself on top of me, and we're rolling around the cushions and cracking up like we're kids again. Somewhere along the way, we tumble off the couch, our bodies sprawling themselves out on the floor. We're breathing heavily in between hysterical laughter.

"Ade?" I roll on my side to face her.

Now or never, Gia.

My heart is racing. It's taking all of the strength I have to slow the thumping in my chest. I feel myself retreating, thinking of how quickly and easily I can change the subject. I try to steady myself.

It will never be the right time to tell her. Just do it.

"Mhm?" She smiles widely, propping herself up on one elbow so that we're face to face.

"I gotta talk to you about something." I look down, embarrassed to make eye contact.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Ade uses her free hand to reach forward and brush my red curls out of my face, "You know you can tell me anything."

"Promise?" I smile weakly.

"Of course!" She laughs, "Go for it."

"Well..." I take a deep breathe, "There's something that I've been meaning to tell you for a while now, but I was always too scared of what you'd think." Ade nods for me to continue, "But I really gotta tell you something." I hesitate, looking directly into her questioning eyes. "I...I love you."

Adrianna laughs lightly.

Wait, laughs?

"That's what you had to tell me?" She's clearly getting a kick out of this, "I love you too, crazy lady!" Ade leans over, giving me a quick peck on the cheek like she always does, "You know that. I mean we've been friends forever!"

My face falls. She doesn't understand. My stomach tightens at the thought of having to clarify my previous statement.

"No," I shake my head sadly, "I don't mean it like that," I bite my lip, and I see my best friend's face turn serious, "Ade, I'm in love with you."

I look up from the spot on the rug that I've been staring at to see that my best friend's face has gone white, her mouth half open; she looks frozen.

"Ade...?" I nearly whisper.

She shakes her head briefly, as if pulling herself from her trance, before standing up. I can hear her shallow breathing as she fumbles through the nearby closet for her jacket.

"Sorry," she mumbles without looking at me, "I have to go."

And in a second, before I have the chance to say anything, I hear the door slam, allowing myself to wince at the sudden crash.

And no, I don't mean the door. I'm referring to the pieces of my life that are crashing and burning in this instant.

I didn't know it was possible to physically feel your heart break.

I do now.

What do you guys think? Should I continue? PLEASE R&R to let me know! I'd love to hear everything you have to say :D

xo

em