Just Friends

Disclaimer: Sadly, this all belongs to a man named Josh. Oh, and Frank Sinatra (along with Billie Holiday) sang the song Just Friends. All songs quoted are by Frank Sinatra.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for the kind reviews.

Author's Note: I couldn't decide which song to use for this chapter, so I used two. I just wanted to let you know.

Chapter 8: It Isn't The Ending

Just say that I'm a friend of yours and maybe they won't get wise

And if they see us together, I'll brush the dream from my eyes

I'll tell my heart it mustn't seem the song of remember when

Just say that I'm a friend of yours that you happen to meet again

"A Friend of Yours"

I need your love so badly, I love you oh, so madly

But I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you

I thought at last I had found you but other loves surround you

And I don't stand a chance of a ghost with you

If you'd surrender for just a tender kiss or two

You might discover that I'm the lover meant for you

And I'd be true

But what's the good of scheming? I know I must be dreaming

'cause I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you

"Ghost Of A Chance"

"Hold on, Marissa, call waiting," Ryan said, pressing the Flash button on the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ryan, it's Christi."

"Christi?"

"Yeah, your roommate, Justin, he gave me your number."

"Oh…okay."

"So I was wondering, are you seeing someone? Because I've been hearing rumors that you and this Marissa chick are still together."

"No," Ryan replied quickly, "We're not. Do you want to go out tonight?"

"Yeah. I'd like that. Why don't we meet outside of your dorm, and then see where it goes from there?"

"Sounds good. How's eight?"

"Great. See you then."

Ryan pressed Flash again. "Back," he said to Marissa.

"Who was it?" Marissa asked, somewhat annoyed. Ryan was testing her for her upcoming algebra exam, but they'd decided it would be safer to do it over the phone. And they'd decided this without even mentioning the kiss from a few days ago.

"No one," Ryan said smoothly, hoping he didn't sound as nervous as he felt. This was his first date since he and Marissa had broken up, although Marissa had gone out with countless guys. He guessed Marissa really didn't care about him, otherwise she would've held off dating so many guys. She really went through three a week, at one point.

But now that Ryan had his date lined up, he was regretting it. He didn't want anyone but Marissa, so why had he agreed to a date with Christi, a girl he didn't even know?

--Three weeks later--

"Ryan?"

"Hey Christi."

"Can I come over?"

"Not right now. I'm trying to help Marissa study for her algebra re-test."

Marissa had been so distracted by thoughts of Ryan that she'd been unable to concentrate on her algebra test. She'd barely scraped by with a C-, but her professor was kind enough to allow her a retest. He'd then average the two grades.

"Marissa again? I swear, Ryan, you spend all of your time with her. And not me." Ryan could practically see Christi pouting on the other end of the phone. She had a nice little pout going on, with her full lips. He really liked her, and was beginning to think he had a chance of getting over Marissa. A very slim chance, but a chance nonetheless. Christi was a great girl, and was majorly into Ryan.

"Sorry," Ryan said. "Look, why don't we meet up in an hour? Come over to my place…we can have some lunch, then go see a movie or something."

"Sounds great!" Christi babbled. "See you later, hon."

Ryan smiled and hung up the phone. He should spend more time with Christi; after all, it wasn't he who had run away after the kiss, it was Marissa. She obviously was over him, so why shouldn't he feel the same about her? Because he loved her. But right now, Christi was on the radar, and Ryan tried his hardest to push Marissa to the back of his mind.

A little while later a knock came at the door of Ryan's dorm. Marissa had gone back to her dorm, complaining of a headache, but Ryan suspected she didn't want to meet Christi. From what he could tell, Marissa had heard about the bubbly Christi and didn't think she was good for Ryan. Even though Marissa was his best friend, Ryan chose to ignore her warnings and just have a good time.

"Hey." Ryan greeted Christi with a kiss on the lips.

"Ryan, we need to talk." Uh-oh. Was this the breakup talk? Ryan cringed. "No, Ryan, it's not bad…not really." What the hell did that mean? Ryan knew that if Marissa were here, she would know what it meant. But Marissa wasn't here, and Ryan really needed to stop thinking about her.

"Okay…"

"Ryan, I really like you. But you seem like you're still in love with Marissa. Every time I call, she's over at your place or you're over at hers. And you're always too busy with her. If you still love her, just tell me, so I don't waste my time any more." So Christi was jealous? Of him and Marissa? They were just friends though.

"We're just friends, Christi."

Christi scoffed. "Yeah, and I'm Miss Piggy. Come on, Ryan, don't lie to me."

"I'm not!" Ryan retorted. Was he? Could Christi tell that he still loved Marissa, even though nobody knew his true feelings? "Look, what do you want me to do? She's my friend, my best friend."

Christi shrugged. "Come on, Christi, what? I'll do it, just tell me. I care about you." Ryan probably should've broken it off right then and there, but he wasn't thinking clearly.

"I want you to stop seeing her. Don't talk to her, don't make plans with her. That's what I want." Christi crossed her arms. "I know it's unreasonab--"

"I'll do it," Ryan found himself saying, to the surprise of Christi and, more importantly, himself. Had he really just said he'd sever all ties with Marissa, his best friend and true love?

"Really?" Christi asked, throwing her arms around Ryan. "I love you."

"Mmhmm," Ryan mumbled into Christi's bleached blond hair. It didn't smell as good as Marissa's did. Oh, damn it. He had to stop thinking about Marissa. After all, he'd just made the decision to be with Christi.

"So I think you should tell her as soon as possible," Christi said, kissing Ryan's neck, and under his chin, where he was especially sensitive.

"Okay." Ryan slowly removed himself from Christi's embrace. "Maybe I should tell her today. Without you here."

"Good idea," Christi agreed. She kissed him on the lips once more. "Call me later!"

She left the room, leaving a very confused Ryan behind.

"Marissa?"

"Ryan."

"Can you come over? Like, now?"

"Is it important?" Marissa yawned. She'd been half-sleeping, half-studying for algebra. She finally understood it, but now she was just practicing to make sure she didn't forget. She was going to show Ryan, she didn't need his help to excel in math. Oh, no she didn't. For all she cared, Ryan could spend every waking second with Christi, his new obsession. And Marissa would be totally okay with it.

No, she wouldn't. Marissa was already angry with the time and attention Ryan was giving Christi. She was supposed to the main woman in his life. She'd thought for a while that Ryan might love her too, but she was obviously so wrong. He was moving on, very quickly too. And Marissa had lost her chance to tell him how she felt. She'd waited, just like he'd told her to, and was planning to tell him her feelings. But then he'd gushed about Christi nonstop, so she hadn't been able to.

"Yeah," Ryan said, not sounding that urgent but he had this way of being nonchalant about everything and then the depth of it would sink in and he'd have a breakdown. So Marissa grabbed her keys, but knew she wouldn't bother to lock the door.

"I'm on my way." She turned off the phone and threw it on the couch.

Ryan paced around his dorm room anxiously, waiting for Marissa to arrive. But at the same time, he was dreading it. What was he supposed to say to her?

My girlfriend, whom I don't even love, wants me to stop being friends with you. And I'm doing it, even though I'm in love with you.

That definitely wouldn't do. All too soon there came a knock on the door. Ryan opened it and Marissa rushed into the room.

"Where's the crisis?" she asked worriedly.

"Um." Ryan took a step closer to Marissa. "I have some bad news." Marissa hoped he'd broken up with Christi. But if that was bad news to him…

Ryan seemed to be breathing rapidly and unsteadily. "Christi doesn't want me to see you anymore."

"What?" Marissa was shocked. That little bitch. "What did you say?" He had to have broken it off with her…he wouldn't do this to her, would he?

Ryan looked down at the carpet. Marissa was standing on a rather large beer stain. He'd have to try to clean that up later. "I'm sorry…" he finally said. Marissa's jaw dropped. How could he!? So he really didn't love her, not even in a platonic friend way.

"Ryan…how could…you?" Marissa whispered. "I thought we were friends…I should go. I wouldn't want Christi to walk in here and see us together, you know."

Ryan's heart broke again when he saw the downcast look on Marissa's face. She looked lost and utterly alone, which, upon thinking about it, Ryan realized she was. Maybe he'd made a mistake…but it was too late now, or was it?

Ryan hugged Marissa tightly, breathing in her rough vanilla scent for what he hoped wouldn't be the last time. "This isn't the end," he whispered into her soft, lovely hair. It was so much nicer than Christi's.

What was he doing? Ryan was still in love with Marissa. But if it was meant to be, they'd end up together, some way, some how, some day. He watched a tear roll down Marissa's face as she broke away from his embrace and ran out the door. It was all Ryan could do not to run after Marissa, tell her he loved her, and beg her not to leave him again.

The only way he could console himself was to murmur out loud, "It isn't the ending." And it wouldn't be, they'd see, one day…