It's been a few years since the last time I was on this site. I want to get back into writing and I plan to do some writing prompts for practice. Let me know what you think.
The prompt is: A character's best friend is leaving town forever, and they haven't told them that they love them yet.
"He's leaving today, you know." Said Blue, observing Green over the rim of her glass. "So this is your last chance to tell him."
Green glared at her. "There's nothing for me to tell him." He replied. His tone was calm on the surface, but there was an edge of hostility that he just couldn't completely hide. Desperate for a reason to not have to say anything more on the subject, Green grabbed his own drink and chugged it. A nearby waitress stared with a look of disbelief and slight distaste at the whole scene.
"You've liked him since the first day of elementary school. If those feelings haven't faded at all in over a decade of attending school together, I don't think they're going to start now just because you guys are going to different colleges."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Said Green. His tone was almost all aggression now with a hint of desperation, but Blue had known him far too long to care.
"Fine." She said, shrugging. "I'll just say one more thing and then drop it." Green refused to make eye contact with her at first, but eventually he was forced to meet her eyes as she refused to continue speaking until he did. "You've never let fear stop you from doing things that were hard and scary before. Red has always admired that about you. He would be disappointed to find out that you were too afraid to say three little words, especially to him of all people."
Green adverted his gaze to stare the floor and Blue went about finishing her meal, staying true to her word to not say another word about Red or him leaving.
"Attention passengers, this is the pre-boarding announcement for flight AAL73 to Sydney, Australia. We now invite anyone traveling with small children and any passengers requiring extra assistance to begin boarding at this time. Please have your passport and identification ready. Regular boarding with begin in approximately ten minutes time. Thank you."
Red stood up from one of the many hard plastic seats at the airport, stretching his arms and back before he would start heading for the line of people waiting to board. He was already tired from all the standing around and waiting and the very slow process one had to go through to board a plane, he really wasn't looking forward to the near fifteen hour flight ahead of him. Just as he started to walk away, his phone began ringing. Pulling it out of his pocket, he was surprised to see the name My Rival lit up on the screen. Green had been acting so weird since he revealed his plans to go to Australia, outwardly acting happy and unbothered by the fact that they eventually be separated by such an incredible distance. But Red had grown up with Green. There was barely a day that they hadn't spent together. He saw the subtle signs that gave away his true feelings of distress about the situation, but Green had denied everything and changed the subject every time Red had tried talk to him about it. Green had also been unusually quiet this past week as Red finalized his preparations to move. Why was he calling now?
Checking that he still had a little bit of time left, Red accepted the call.
"Red." Said Green.
"Green." He replied. He didn't say anything else. Even on phone calls, he rarely spoke. Green had always filled the silence, talking about his family, his day, the few things he did without Red by his side.
There was an unusual silence from the brunette this time though. Red waited patiently and let Green gather his thoughts.
"I-I...There's something..." Huh. It was surprising for Green to stutter and mumble over his words. That had only ever happened a small handful of times. Red was starting to feel a bit anxious. Had something happened?
He heard Green take a deep breath and let it out again. "Okay, listen. Before you go, t-there's something I want to tell you. I should have said something a long time ago, but I-I honestly wasn't sure how you would take it. I didn't...want you to be upset with me."
Red almost said that was silly. While Green may have taken some risks over the years that Red hadn't been happy with, he had always stayed with him. Gave him support and comfort. When Green's parents had died when he was eight, Red straight up didn't leave his side for a whole month. When Green had told off some bullies in middle school for picking on Red for never talking, and they decided to retaliate by jumping him on the way home from school the very next time Red hadn't been with him, Red had beat all three of them twice as bad as what they had done to Green. All five of them, Red, Green, and the three bullies, had ended up suspended for a week after that, but they hadn't cared. They spent that week together and Red had followed Green around everywhere, making sure the bandage around his head was changed each day and that he didn't move the arm that was in a sling around too much.
And Green had always done the same for Red. When they were ten and Red's mom got so sick that she had to stay in the hospital for awhile, Green had insisted Red stay with him and Daisy and grandpa until she got better. Red had cried almost every night and Green would just wrap his arms around him and softly tell him that everything would be okay and that he could cry until he was done. When Red kept wandering off to camp out in the nearby woods each summer, Green came with him every time even though Green could have stayed home where there was indoor plumbing and lights and all the food he could eat.
The point was, Green didn't need to fear Red's reaction because he would never blame or abandon Green for anything.
"You know how in high school, Daisy would always ask why I never seemed all that interested in anyone I dated? Well, the reason for that was because I had someone I really liked and none of them were ever the person I liked."
That was true. Green had accepted invitations for dates from several people, boys and girls alike, throughout school. Red had never personally understood it either. Sure, Green had always remained polite and never ignored them, but at the same time it was pretty he wasn't all the interested. It was always more like he was going through the motions.
"The person I liked back then, and still like right now, is..."
Green's voice petered out. He was really struggling with getting the words out. Red wished so much that he was actually here with him. He would have pulled Green close to him and let him take all the time he needed to find the right words. But Red was almost out of time. Regular boarding for his flight had officially begun.
Almost as though Green could sense Red's thoughts, he suddenly yelled into the phone: "The person I've always like is you!"
They both fell silent. After a minute, Red managed out a quiet, "What?"
With the truth finally out, Green started talking a mile a minute. "Yes, you. Look, I'm sorry for never saying anything, you had just never shown any interest in dating or romance or anything like that ever in general or towards someone so I figured that you would never return me feelings. Honestly, I was really afraid of rejection and terrified of the thought if I said anything it would make things awkward and possibly damage our friendship. I'm so sorry for spring this on you now of all times but I-I couldn't let you possibly leave forever and not say anything. I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said anything and-"
"Green." Interrupted Red. Faster then ever before, Green went silent. Red couldn't even hear him breathing but he knew that the other was still there and listening, waiting for Red to finally give his response. "I love you too."
There was a sudden intake of air on the other end, followed by a quick, breathy laugh. "Is that true?"
"Yes." Replied Red, a smiling growing on his face. "I love you." He said again, partly to reassure Green and partly because Green let out another another choked laugh.
"I-I honestly really thought you would never be interested." He said. Green sounded like he was still in disbelief.
"I thought it was obvious that you were that only person I was interested in." He said. The line of people still waiting to board was almost gone and Red started walking towards the end of it. He was in no hurry though. "I really ever wanted to spend time with anyone else."
"I know." Replied Green. "I figured that was partly because we lived so close to each and because I was usually the only other kid in class who knew ASL."
Red stopped just before getting in line. "I always thought you would want someone more...socially outgoing. And talkative."
Green laughed again. It was the full, happy laugh Red was used to hearing come from him. But it was followed by a sad tone. "If either of us had just said something sooner, we could have tried dating."
Red was the only person left now. The air stewardess gave him a look that told him he didn't have much time left.
"We still can." He said, feeling just a little desperate. "Long distance dating."
"You really wanna try?" Asked Green. "I've heard that can be tough."
"I want to try." Said Red again, his voice filled with determination. "It only needs to be for a few years. Just until we finish university."
For a moment, Green didn't reply. Red felt a little scared that he would say no before Green spoke again. "Let's do it."
Red broke out into a smile again and he could just feel that Green was too. "Let's talk more after your flight." Suggested Green.
"I kind of feel like skipping my flight." Replied Red. The air stewardess gave him a look that clearly said, 'What!?'.
Unluckily for Red, Green seemed to agree. "Absolutely not. Get on your plane right now."
Red didn't say anything and instead silent sulked. Green just laughed at him on the other end. "You won't be alone that long." He said.
"Four years isn't that long?" Asked Red in disbelief. He did not have that kind of patience, especially if it meant it would be years before seeing Green in person again. But luckily for Red, Green had another idea.
"Try a few days." He said on the other end. "School doesn't actually start for a few more weeks. I can make a quick trip to visit you for a week before having to coming back."
That was much more bearable than waiting a few whole years, but Red couldn't say for sure that he would be able to let Green leave again so easily. There were many good universities in Australia. Maybe he could convince Green to transfer. For all he knew, Green could be easy to convince.
He would try as soon as they met again as a couple.