Friday 2:00 p.m. Eden Hall Library
"And what did she say?"
"She didn't want to talk about it anymore, so I dropped it," Guy explained to Charlie.
The two boys were both enjoying their free period in the library that Friday afternoon. It was the last half hour before a full two hours of grueling hockey practice. Little did they know, Connie and Jules were having the same conversation just across campus in the locker room.
"Explain to me why you're in this mess again," Charlie demanded.
"We just wanted to get rid of all the distractions so we thought it'd better to wait for the 'right time' to be together," Guy said almost mockingly.
"Just like you've both been saying for …how long now?"
"Tell me about it. Connie brushes it off every time I mention it. It's frustrating."
"Look, you've been together, I use that word loosely, forever but you've never really been 'official.'" Charlie used air quotes. "You two are best friends who just so happen to be in love. It's the best of both worlds. Seems to me she's afraid to let something compromise that," he offered.
"Charlie, I just want to be with her. There's nothing scary about that. We've had this 'perfect setup' for a while now and we're fine. Why can't we just do the same thing together? We were all puppy-love in pee wees, flirting during the Goodwill Games, admitted our feelings when we got to Eden Hall. We're juniors now and she still doesn't want to be together?" Guy was searching for answers. He was getting tired of just being a part of something that couldn't be defined. It was a ongoing cycle of incomplete emotions. He didn't understand the reasoning behind it. "Why is she so afraid?"
"Because it means committing yourselves to each other. That's a lot, man," he answered. "Your setup lets you do whatever you want without any obligation to one another. Granted, it's kind of messed up but it means a bit of freedom."
"Jesus Charlie, I'm not trying to suffocate her," Guy urged. "It'd just be nice to you know…be with her, and not as a rebound. No more meaningless dates with other people and whatnot…for once, I want to be serious."
"Believe it or not man, you two already are."
Guy sighed tapping a pencil against the table top. "But for some reason, it doesn't feel like it. To be honest, I feel like I'm just...there." He wanted a real relationship with Connie but he was in limbo. Her love for him conflicted with the fact that she insisted on being friends, yet, their friendship came with some of the touchiness and emotions of a relationship. It was complicated.
"Talk to her. Seems to me like some lines are a little blurred here, my friend."
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks man." He ran his hand through his hair.
"Anything for you two," he gave Guy a fist bump. "Come on Germaine, we should head to practice."