Chapter Two: The Theory On Girls
Jake Jagielski was my best friend and neighbor since day one…literally. He was the boy next door, so it made sense that we ended up hanging out a lot; anywhere from the traditional game of Cowboys and Indians to 'camp outs' (he said 'sleep-overs' sounded too girly) he was practically a member of the family and by the fifth grade I was had gone on two Jagielski family vacations. Even his dad's business going down hill and the Jagielski family moving to the other side of town when we were in the sixth grade didn't stop us. It was just your typical guy-guy friendship…until about a week before the end of seventh grade…
(Seventh Grade)
"Nathan, what are we doing?" He whispered beside me as we hid behind the bleachers.
"Jake, what does it look like we're doing?" I whisper back pointing to one of several holes.
"Spying on the high school cheerleading squad." He replied and I caught the sound of boredom that accompanied it.
"Exactly, my friend." I grinned.
"Nathan, do we really have to? They're just girls." He said staying a good foot behind me not even coming close to the holes.
"Just girls, Jagielski? Oh come, be a man and enjoy this."
"I just don't get what so exciting about this. Girls are just bitchy…I bet it's because of their boobs…their just so much skin and…and…and…boobs blocking their heart…that they just can't be nice."
"What are you talking about, Jake?"
"I mean look at it, Brooke, has the biggest set in our class and she's just…" He shudders before continuing, "And that girl…the Haley girl…her chest is flatter than yours and she's pretty nice…well besides the fact of who she hangs out with."
"You have a point, but once you get past the 'boobs are the root of evil' theory…they're not so bad to look at."
"Whatever." He rolls his eyes, and I become concerned at the fact he appears to have channeled our friend Peyton.
"Come on Jake, you're a guy, there's got to be one girl out there you like…"
"I don't know…I just don't like to look at girls obsessively like you do. Why are you so fascinated with them anyhow, Nate?"
"I'm a guy. They're girls. One day I might hook up with one of them, besides this might be the only girls we get to choose from to get married too, I want to know my options."
"You'll probably marry the Haley girl."
"Yeah, right." I laugh at his joke.
"I'll bet you anything…in like five years you two will be married."
"Five years? Jake, that's like the last year of high school. Who gets married in high school?"
"Okay…so maybe not high school, but eventually." He concedes.
"Why the Haley girl?"
"It just makes sense. Girl hates boy, boy hate girl...it's pretty much a match made in heaven."
"Weird, much, Jagielski?" I laugh,"Damn…the girls are gone, Jake." I just peered out again to find the gym empty. "And all we did was talk about your fear of girls."
"I'm not afraid of girls." He gets defensive. "I just don't like them."
I turned around to completely face my best friend. "Don't like them? Then who do you plan on kissing? A guy?"
"I don't know, Nate. I don't know, okay?"
"Okay." We sit there for a few minutes, and I tried to think of a way to help him, before it dawns on me,
"You wanna try?"
"Try what?" He looks confused.
"Kissing a guy?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Kiss me. I'm your best friend, it's not like I'm gonna tell anyone, besides this way you know your options, just think of it as a favor…I know my options so, you should know yours…" It sounded reasonable enough.
"Are you sure?"
I shrug, take a deep breath and lean in to find his lips. I know for a fact it's this the first kiss for both of us…I always said I wanted to make it memorable, I guess kissing your best guy friend fills that wish. It feels like forever, but neither one of seems to mind…it's really not all that bad, actually it's kind of nice.
He pulls out first and I smile.
"What?" He sends a worried look in my direction.
"Nothing, what do you think?"
"I kind of like that option." He slowly admits.
I sigh and smile again, "Really? 'Cos I did too."
Until next time, this is me…signing out