Chapter Fourteen: Epiphany

"Benny...you look amazing," Ethan said in awe. Benny was a heartbreaker, but he had to admit he looked dashing.

Benny didn't know exactly what to wear to this. He used that rented tux he forgot to return and had his grandmother fix it up to look appropriate after she scolded him for the thirteen wrinkles on the slacks. His hair was washed and gelled, tastefully, and styled in a cool way. The shoes he wore were shiny and showcased the ceiling from their tops. A small red bowtie adorned his neck and was perfectly centered.

"Thanks man, you too," Benny said, dusting the floor with his feet and darting his eyes on the walls.

"Benny, there's something I want to tell you," Ethan said, as they both awkwardly stood there in front of the door.

"Me too," Benny said quickly.

"C-can I go first?" Ethan requested, fumbling with his fingers.

"Okay," Benny responded gently.

"I just feel like I should mention this before the dance tonight," Ethan hissed in pain and went to rest on the stairs. Benny knows that his touch helps to he rests a hand on his thigh.

"You can tell me anything dude. Although one time you mentioned some weird slime dream you had and that was way too much information," Benny said, sneering back when he thought about it.

"I'm being serious," Ethan said.

"Alright, alright. What is it?" Benny said, looking at him curiously.

"Ever since I've realized my love for you, whether you think it's some spell or not, I've never felt better. It's like there's this whole new world for me that I wasn't able to see until now. I know it sounds crazy, but you're my world. You make me feel like there's nothing that can keep me down as long as you're by my side. We've been through so much together and I don't know why it's took me this long, but I'm glad I figured it out when I did. You mean more to me than you can ever know. And, like, I know you are going to say I only feel this way because of the spell and maybe that's true, but right now I don't care. Benny, I love you. Whether that's caused by magic or not, it's still real love that I feel. This isn't man-made affection. So, even if the spell is making me feel this way, it's making me love you. By the end of tonight, we're reversing the spell and it breaks me to know that we have to end the best feeling of my life. But honestly, I'm glad you put me under this spell. I've realized why people yearn for love so much. All the pain you might endure from it is worth the risk of having the best feeling in the world; being with the perfect one for you. And it sounds cheesy, but you're the perfect one for me whether that's romantically or not. The spell might've made my love romantic affection, but it didn't change how much I genuinely love you, just the form of it. Platonically, I love you just as much as this spell has been making me love you romantically,"

Benny was utterly speechless. He expected Ethan to lament about his undying love for him. Instead he was met with the most accurate sentiment he's been told within the last 48 hours or so. Deep down he had always known that they loved each other platonically. He just didn't conceive the extent of it until they were there on those staircases. The spell might've exaggerated his romantic love to Benny, but it highlighted the quantity of his platonic love just below the surface. The flirting just disguised it too well, distracting Benny from what Ethan was actually showing him.

Ethan was sad when he wasn't around Benny. That was translated through his lovesickness. Ethan liked to casually touch his bro as a sign of physical affection so the spell made him touchier. Ethan was proud to be friends with Benny, even if he was a total nerd, hence him blasting all over Friendly Face about their relationship. Benny didn't always consider Ethan's side of things, so the spell had Ethan inform him of that. Each action Ethan did was a mirror of their platonic love If Ethan weren't under the spell right now, he would've never said any of those things he just admitted. Benny would've never figured out the extent of their friendship. Benny felt like such an idiot.

"First, I wanted to apologize for how I acted earlier. I was a jerk. I get it now though," Benny said. He couldn't begin to talk about how bad he felt after the whole thing went down. It was nagging in his brain and refused to leave. Each time he recalled to it all he felt was remorse.

Ethan smiled softly in relief that their conflict was resolved before the party.

"So what were you going to tell me?" Ethan asked him.

"Oh right...I just was gonna say sorry and that I couldn't stop thinking about our talk. Like, it was real," Benny said. He didn't know how to have deep conversations as his whole life was spent cracking jokes more than a chef cracked eggs.

"Your speech really hit me. And I love you too, platonically," Benny said, clarifying his sudden confession.

"Cool," Ethan had to hold back from just pouncing on him there, respecting the boundaries since he placed their relationship in the 'friend-zone', and instead rested his head on Benny's shoulder as a compromise. Thankfully he didn't seem to mind as he didn't tense up or pull away.

~His eyes glowed white. This was his first vision in two days and it took a moment of ruminating to get the meaning of it. Ethan and Benny were fourteen, they were toying in his backyard with their new light sabers and jabbing at each other. Ethan's was blue and Benny's was red. As one would guess when hearing that two teenage boys were poking sticks at each other, Ethan's light saber slipped and accidentally hit Benny in the eye. He howled in pain and covered his eye, placing light pressure to the infliction. Immediately, Ethan ran to him and checked on his eye. It was starting to turn a shade of salmon pink.

"I"m so sorry! Wait here," Ethan exclaimed. He rushed into his house and came back with an icepack in his right hand. Benny gratefully took it and placed it to his wounded eye, giving Ethan a soft look. That was the moment. Though both unaware at the time, that was the moment the two positively loved each other. Philia really was the strongest form.~

Ethan came back to reality and huffed. Before Benny could ask what the jerky movement was, a knock came from the door. They both hopped from their places and greeted Sarah.

Sarah looked gorgeous! Her hair was curled and laid gently over her hot red dress. The dress came up to her knees and was close to the shape of a pencil skirt. To add, she wore a black sweater and black high heels. Makeup was never over the top for her, but the lipgloss she had on was very glittery, like the crown of a fair maiden. Needless to say, they both were starstruck.

"You nerds ready?" Sarah asked, confused why they both just stared at her like she had just come back from the grave.

"Y-yeah totally, got the potion," Benny said, showing off the vile before shoving it back in his pocket. "After you," He said motioning to Ethan.