The Friendship Kiss

Brian VO* There is something indescribable about it…when you wake and suddenly realize that what happened that night wasn't a dream…when it had been, so many other nights of your life. It's hard to believe, reconstructing every little second like it might completely vanish from your mind, otherwise. The idea that I…that Angela and I…we kissed. It's something I never thought I could actually say…and mean. It's indescribable…I mean, I feel happy…like really happy.

"Rickie!" Brian eagerly called through the hallway.

"Brian, you still haven't picked up the Our Town tickets you promised to sell. Now I need to know…are you going to sell them or not? Because I mean, like…you did say…" Rickie stated, shoving books into his locker and not even looking at Brian.

"Something happened last night!" Brian interrupted, "Like, something just amazing."

"Woe…wait a second…you look happy, like really happy."

"That's what I'm saying…"

"Let me guess…it had something to do with Angela because I told her last night that you wrote, like, that love letter…but she already knew…I think."

"She asked me about that and I didn't…you know admit it…"

"Brian!"

"But, I didn't deny it…you know?"

"So, you talked about it…is what you're saying?"

"We did more than that." Brian awkwardly but gleefully stated.

"What? So…what happened then?"

"Well, you know it's personal."

"OK." Rickie said, annoyed. "You brought it up."

"OK…I mean you'll probably find out anyway, like as soon as Angela gets here or whatever…but we…me and Angela that is…we…It's really, like a long story."

"Brian could you please just tell me, like before I'm unconscious."

"Angela went out with Catalano last night but later she came over to my house. Apparently that letter, she like really liked it. I mean, she like came and sat on my bed and…and something happened."

"You did it?" Rickie asked alarmed.

"No! I mean…what? We kissed. That's what we did."

"You kissed?" Rickie asked enthusiastically.

"Yea…yes…Angela and I kissed, like a real kiss."

Brian VO* There, I said it out loud! It's just as weird saying to someone else. Though, like I haven't been saying it out loud, to myself or anything, because I wouldn't do something like that - sad. Maybe I would. It's like a foreign language or something…Angela and I kissed!

"Then I wouldn't look now." Rickie said solemnly, looking down the hall.

Brian spun around, the smile on his face instantly falling. Angela was standing at her locker with Jordan standing close to her, painfully close. There was a smile on her face as she peered up at him.

"Maybe is was like…a friendship kiss."

Brian VO* A FRIENSHIP KISS???!!! WHAT IS THAT???

"Do just friends do that sorta thing?" Brian asked deflated.

"I don't know any." Rickie stated bluntly, slamming his locker door.

"Yea…maybe…you're probably right. It was probably like, a friendship…thing." Brian said softly, trying to hold back any tears that wanted to fall at that exact moment. "I think I'm going to be sick." Brian stormed off.

Rickie sighed.

"So…it gave me this idea for a song and as soon as I dropped you off last night I went home and wrote this complete song…with lyrics and everything. It was…that just never happens." Jordan explained roughly.

"Wow…really? A whole song?" Angela smiled.

Angela VO* It was obvious that Jordan was trying to carry on a decent, real conversation with me and I really appreciated the attempt, but it just felt weird…like suddenly everything felt false between us.

"I'm going to run it by the guys at practice…see what they think." He shrugged.

"That's great." Angela said bluntly.

"What's wrong?"

"What? Nothing's wrong."

"I don't know…it's like you're somewhere else or…I don't know."

"I better go." Angela quickly stated as she heard the bell ring.

Angela VO* Being with Jordan…it was like nothing had changed so it was hard to admit that it had…like putting it into actual words and then saying them out loud; that was like two totally different things.

***********************

"Brian…hey." Angela said, running up beside Brian after English class. He had refused to acknowledge her throughout class. He was walking especially fast. "Are you ok? I mean you didn't answer one question all through class. Isn't that a little odd for you?"

"No, go away Chase! You have no idea, no idea how sick I feel."

"Brian?"

"Ok…I know…I know it was just, like a friendship kiss or whatever. So, can we please not, like talk…at all…ever?"

"A friendship kiss?" Angela asked as Brian walked off on down the hall, "Krakow!" she shouted. Angela stopped and stood in the middle of the hallway, faceless figures rushing by her.

Angela VO* Just when you think you have things figured out…you don't…and that's the way the world works. It's like this unforgivable and impossible math equation.