KYLE

A MONTH LATER

This was much harder than I thought. So glad I decided to skip taking classes this summer because finding an internship is total ass. I knew it would be hard but I didn't think it was going to be this hard. I just recently updated my resume to have more impressive words to capture recruiter's attention. Dear god, someone throw me a bone. I hear my phone chime letting me know I got a text.

Heidi: Hey are you busy?

Kyle: Yeah, looking at internships. I always got time for you. What's up?

Heidi: Can I come to see you?

Kyle: Of course

I set my phone back down staring at the computer as I continue down the internship list on Indeed. Pain in my ass,. I hate how they want you to do internships for free. I understand that we are new to the field needing lots of training. People have bills to pay. They could at least start them at a decent pay as oppose to nothing. I manage to find 6 good ones before Heidi arrives. I bring her back to my room so I can continue searching while we talk.

"How is your day going?" I asked looking at my computer screen.

"Pretty good," she says. "Um, so you know how we talked about me being bi-curious."

"Yeah," I replied glancing at her. She stares at me gloomily starting to fidget with her hands.

"I want to break up….." she whispers.

"What was that?" I asked as if I didn't hear the first time.

"I want to break up," she repeats. "Kyle you are the sweetest boyfriend ever. I…I really want to date a female. You know explore my options…."

"What does that even mean?" I ask trying not to flip out.

"I just need to get this out of my system," she replies. "I mean freely date some girls. Then maybe we can revisit our relationship. Kind of like a mini break." I stand up from my chair walking over to where she is sitting on my bed.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I asked. "You want to go fuck around and then come back to me when you are done?"

"That is not what I meant," she pouts looking down at her lap. "Please don't be mad at me." She glances up making eye contact with me. Heidi reaches out trying to touch me. I slowly move away from her. It is just deadly silent for a moment.

"You know what," I tell her. "I can't even be mad at you. At least you had the balls to tell me."

"Kyle, I really care about you," she says standing up. "Please tell me we can still be friends." I glare at her feeling hurt and angry. It is not her fault though…..not her fault that she prefers girls. I want to be friends with her. I am going to need some time to heal from this before our friendship will feel natural. I sigh.

"We can still be friends," I reply. I allow Heidi to hug me although I don't feel like being hugged. Why can't I keep a girlfriend? I'm constantly being dumped. I am always a gentleman, I'm supportive, a good listener. What the fuck! I pull out of the hug covering up my true feelings. "I want to continue looking for an internship so do you mind if we talk later?"

"Not at all," replies Heidi grabbing her purse from my bed. "Thanks for being so cool about this. The girls thought you were going to kill me." I swallow my pride.

"No, of course not," I replied. Heidi walks toward the front door.

"If you need any help with your internships let me know," she says. Whatever.

"Thanks, I'll talk to you later," I say opening the door. Heidi waves goodbye and she is gone. I slam the door shut pissed off this happened. Good guys really do finish last. I walk into the kitchen grabbing the bottle of vodka. I pour some in a glass before adding some OJ from the fridge. I head to my room going to my Facebook.

Ugh, I have to change my profile picture from Heidi and I to just me. I start going through my pictures trying to decide which one I want. I don't like any of them really. I decide to go with a picture Kenny snuck with my phone. I'm sitting on the sofa reading a book. Whatever. I upload the picture before going and updating my relationship status. Within seconds I get a few dings. I click off the tab not even wanting to see it.

I sit at my computer drinking well on my way to being drunk completing my internship applications. I only completed 3 but it's better than nothing. I'll finish the rest tomorrow. My phone chimes I see a text from Kenny.

Kenny: Dude what happened?

Kyle: Pussy won

Kenny: Say what?

Kyle: She wants to date women

Kenny: Ohhhhh I don't blame her, I like dating women

I toss my phone down rolling my eyes. Really Kenny. I hear my phone go off again but this time I ignore it. Oh, look at that my glass is empty. I stand up making my way back into the kitchen fixing my 3rd glass. This one should do me in knowing how I am. I head back into my room sitting down on my bed in front of the TV. I put on some background noise as I'm not really watching it. I just sit there sipping slowly as I just think about…..everything. I don't even hear Stan when he comes home.

"Kyle!" calls Stan walking into my room. I look up at him.

"Oh hey," I reply. "I thought you would be with TC tonight."

"I saw him for a little bit after I got off but I was worried about you," says Stan. He sits on my bed. "You're not drunk, are you?"

"No," I reply. "I'm almost there though."

"Come on don't do that to yourself," says Stan. I get angry but not at Stan of course.

"Whatever," I snap. "I'm sick of always being dumped. Like….goddamnit….." I run my free hand through my curls knowing I'm messing them up but I don't care. It's better than crying and looking so weak.

"You will get through this one like you do all the others," says Stan.

"Sure," I reply before sipping from my glass. That is my point. I'm sick of going through this. How come they don't love me.

"Want a drinking buddy then?" he asked. I shrug not wanting him to drink with me but I know he will. I don't want to encourage Stan to drink, at least not vocally. He heads out of my room. I'm kind of glad that he is here. Stan is the one person who can always make me feel better. He is going on his vacation with TC next month. Thank god this breakup didn't happen then. Kenny usually doesn't know how to say the right things during these times so I tend to not like to be around him during breakups. Stan comes back into the room I can see he changed his clothes.

"Yay," I cheer. "We are both in PJ's." Stan chuckles sitting beside me on the bed. He glances at my TV.

"What the hell are you watching?" he asked.

"I don't know," I shrug before taking a sip. "I just cut the TV on for background noise. I have no idea what's on." I glance at the TV to see two guys making out heavily. I start choking on my drink.

"Are you okay?" asked Stan. I continue to cough trying to get air into my lungs. My eyes start to water. I can barely make out Stan bolting from the room. He comes back with a water bottle. "Dude drink this." I take the water bottle once I stop coughing drinking some of it. I'm wheezing trying to get my body to calm down. "What the hell….."

"Went down the wrong pike," I say with my throat a little horse. Stan looks at me as if he doesn't believe me.

"How To Get Away With Murder is an awesome show," he says sitting down beside me. "Connor is a piece of work."

"Connor?" I question.

"Yeah," says Stan glancing at the TV. "He is dating Oliver although the relationship started with him using the guy for information for a case. Have you seriously never watched this?"

"Stan seriously, when do I have time to watch TV?" Stan laughs.

"And you call yourself my super best friend," he chuckles. "We're watching this right now. Where is your Roku remote?" I grab it off my nightstand handing it to Stan. He goes to Netflix searching through the search engine for the show. "You're off tomorrow right?"

"I work tomorrow evening," I reply. "Why?"

"This show is binge worthy," he replies. "Once you start it you are probably not going to want to stop watching it."

"It's not that serious," I reply waving him off.

"You have been warned," says Stan picking up his drink.

"Wait…" I say sliding off my bed. "Let me fix one more cup."

"Fix one more cup?" says Stan. "I don't think you should…"

"Uh huh," I replied walking from the room. Stan is the last person who needs to tell me how much I should be drinking. I fix my glass getting back into my bed getting comfortable beside Stan. He pushes play. I stare ahead at the screen. Hmmm certainly looks interesting thus far. By the end of the episode, my head is swimming but I'm completely shocked. "Oh my god…."

"I know right!" exclaims Stan. "Isn't it great?"

"It is so far," I reply. "Like what the hell?"

"You are going to be saying that a lot," he chuckles. "Now I need to refill my glass. I have seen it so you can leave it playing." Stan leaves the room when I hear his phone buzzing. My ringer is on so I know it's his phone. The way it is going off has me curious. I don't know why but I pick it up viewing the screen.

TC: You blew me off for Kyle, that's really fucked up

TC: Okay I know that wasn't fair but it's not my fault I had to leave early

TC: Why aren't you responding?

TC: Come on! Respond, I'm free tomorrow morning, you know how rare that is.

Jeez, I didn't know TC was so damn clingy. I set the phone back down moving back to my side of the bed. Stan comes into the room sitting down on my bed getting comfortable. His phone buzzes again but he ignores it. I'm sure I know who that is.

"You don't want to answer that?" I ask.

"It can wait," says Stan. "My best friend needs me right now." I don't say anything because I don't want him to know I saw the messages on his phone. Besides a tiny part of me feels honored to know he is putting me first. I focus back on the screen ahead ready to see what is going to happen next.