Kissing You Is Addicting... [M4F] [L-Bombs] [Accidental Confession] [Friends to Lovers]

Transcript

I had forgotten how peaceful this place is. No wonder we used to come here all the time. How long has it been again? Are you serious? 10 years? Damn, that's not what I expected.

Oh, I agree. Time really does fly. One minute we're kids, the next we're grown adults who are about to attend our friend's wedding.

It's crazy. Yeah, I've noticed that. Everything is the same as how we left it.

Right down to the restaurants, the shops, our childhood homes, and of course, this very spot. Even our initials are still on this bench, see? Of course I remember the day I did that.

Do you? You have a general idea, but the details are fuzzy. It sounds like this might be the perfect time to take a walk down memory lane.

What do you say? Oh, shut up. I'm a great storyteller.

Some might even call me a raconteur, in fact. Wow. Sit back and let me begin the story.

It was the summer before high school, and I had just celebrated my 14th birthday. For some reason, my parents thought it would be a great idea to give me a fancy pocketknife. Sure, it was cool and all, but it was only meant to distract me from their constant fighting.

One day, their screaming match got so bad that they snuck out and came over to your place. When you opened the front door, you took one look at me and dragged me here to our favorite spot so I could vent. We sat here for hours, just talking.

And, thanks to you, that day turned into something worth remembering. That's why I took out my knife to carve our initials, along with the words, Best friends forever, onto this bench. So, how was that for storytelling? Was it up to par? You even rated 5 stars out of 5? Well, thank you.

I'm glad my efforts are appreciated. Anyway, there was a reason I wanted to bring all of this up. Okay, rude.

I did not go through that whole process just to hear myself talk. Jeez, give me some credit at least. And I did have a point.

Fine, fine. I'll get on with it. The thing is, forever is a long time.

Promises of forever are easy to make when you're young, but when you're an adult, though, you realize what forever really means. Look, I know we haven't seen each other in a while, and I know that we don't talk every day like we used to, but no matter how much time passes or what life throws at us, you will always be my best friend, just like I will always be yours. And that will never change.

When I wrote forever, I meant it. I can't help it, okay? I'm sentimental.

And theatrical. Sue me. On second thought, don't sue me, I couldn't afford to take the hit.

Even though I have a full-time job and make a decent salary, I'm still broke. Hey, you're the rich one here. The company you work for pays you exceptionally well, and they have every right to.

They would be completely lost without you. And they know it, you know it, and pretty much every news outlet knows it, judging by the number of times your name appears on articles and social media posts. I'd be jealous of your success if I wasn't so damn proud of you.

Why are you so surprised? Of course I'm proud of you. And I've seen some of your finished projects, and they're unbelievable.

Seriously, you're incredible at what you do. No, I'm not just saying that to be nice, it's true. But even if you made a huge mistake on your job, which I know you wouldn't, by the way, I'd still be in your corner, cheering you on.

That's what a best friend does. They're supposed to be your support system during good times, the bad times, and everything in between. There's no need to thank me.

That's what I'm here for. Yeah, yeah, I'm being mushy again. Sorry, but that's the price that you have to pay for this friendship.

You suppose there are worse fates than being friends with me? Oh gee, thanks. You're lucky that I like you.

No one else could get away with teasing me so mercilessly over the years. Alright, fine. I'll admit, I have allowed John to tease me a little.

I haven't given anyone as much leeway as you, though. Oh, you are special, alright. Speaking of John, I'm looking forward to his wedding.

It's going to be great. Oh, what's with the smirk? I am being completely genuine here.

I am excited to go to the wedding. Everyone knows how unforgettable John's events are. I'm sure the whole town will be talking about this for years to come.

Okay, you caught me. I am more excited about the reception than the ceremony. Don't get me wrong, I am happy that he's getting married to the love of his life.

The ceremony is bound to be beautiful, with, you know, all the lights, the flowers and the fancy music. I might even shed a tear or two if I'm being honest. But I can't stop thinking about the menu for the reception.

The food is going to be amazing. Sure, go ahead and roll your eyes at me. You know I'm right.

As if Jamie would ever let a company cater to his wedding. You know as well as I do that they're working with their parents and siblings to create all the appetizers, the entrees and the cake itself. Given their natural talents it's not surprising that everyone in that family has a job in the food industry.

Do you remember when we used to go to their holiday parties and stuff our faces with whatever they served? Exactly. So, you have no room to judge me.

Oh, I agree that it was a smart move on their part to rent the largest banquet hall in town. They're going to need all the space for the food and all the people. If I remember correctly, they have a large extended family, so it's probably going to get super crowded around here pretty soon.

I'm glad that we arrived a little early too. Not only did we beat the traffic, but having this little extra time together has been nice. It was fun visiting our old haunts today.

Yeah, I know that we still have a few more places to go, but we did get through a lot today. Hey, are you okay? Hey, are you okay? You suddenly got very quiet and you have your thinking face on.

Everything we did today reminded you of all the great experiences that we had growing up. And even though you love where you're living now, you still miss this town. Nah, I don't think it's weird.

I can see how it would be easy to get swept up in the good memories here. You're wondering if I miss this town as much as you do. To be completely honest with you, I don't.

When I left, I was sure I would never come back. Because being here will always be bittersweet for me. Why? Well, it's complicated.

Yes, I know it's cliche to say, but it's true. It is complicated. I really don't know if you want to hear it.

Look, we've had such a good day. Let's not put a damper on it, okay? Dammit, why do I have to pull out your big puppy dog eyes? You know I can never say no to you when you do that.

You know I can never say no to you when you do that. Fine. For every positive thing that happened here, there's always been something negative that's followed it.

This is where my parents had a life together. But this is also where they got divorced. And it's where I found a stray cat and adopted her.

Thankfully I had her for a few years, but then she got sick and that ended as one would expect. That one still hurts. This town is also where I learned to drive.

And it's where I got into a nasty accident that left me with a concussion and a total car. It's where I had one teacher who thought so highly of me and another who thought I wouldn't amount to anything. And you're giving me a strange look.

Your eyebrows are raised like you're waiting for me to continue. Am I that easy to read? Only to you, that's fair I guess.

It probably comes from being friends for so long. You're right though, there's more to the story. Those things don't even come to the most bittersweet thing that happened here.

This. .. This is where I fell in love.

And it's where I had to let that person go. Yes. Yes.

It happened right here in this town. No, I have never dated them. Don't you think I would've told you if I had? And even if I hadn't told you, don't you think that you would've noticed if I suddenly started spending way less time with you and a lot more with someone else other than you?

Well, I wouldn't have kept an entire relationship from you. What kind of best friend do you think I am? I am the kind who keeps a big secret from you.

You're right. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I kept you in the dark about something so personal.

But honestly, I didn't think it was going to matter because my feelings were supposed to go away. Eventually. But they haven't.

Not by a long shot. By a long shot. And I tried everything I could to get these feelings to stop, but they never did.

If anything, they kept on growing until I was completely head over fucking heels for them. It seems insane, and maybe it is. But I am more in love with them now than I was back then.

What do I love about them? Well, there's a lot. Too much to mention in a conversation, honestly.

But to start, I love her kind, empathetic heart, her sense of humor, and her intelligence. God, her smile is one of the most dazzling things in the world. It's one of those smiles that reach all the way up to her eyes, which are usually so bright and cheery.

I could easily get lost in them. And the laugh, it's so warm and instantly comforting. Like.

.. Like drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night. She has so many positive qualities, but I even love her more grating ones.

She's never on time for anything. She often keeps her emotions bottled up until they explode, and. ..

She's so selfless and caring that she'd help anyone in need, even if it meant sacrificing a part of her soul. I never once thought that she was perfect, because she is not. She has her quirks and her flaws.

But I love her all the more because of those things. I love her all the more because of those things. She is one of the best people I know, in perfections and all, and I mean that with my whole heart.

You. .. You want to know if I still talk to her? Yes.

Yes, I do. Often, actually. What do you mean I should tell her about my feelings? You're joking, right? I'm getting defensive because it's a ridiculous idea.

Nothing good would ever come from it. And I know that she's never going to return my feelings, so why bother making things awkward when I don't have to? It's better that she doesn't know.

It's better that she doesn't know. I'm friends with her, and I will stay friends with her. Nothing has to change.

No, you don't get it. She is everything to me, and I cannot risk losing her. I won't.

If I dare to breathe a single word of this to her, it would fuck up the entire friendship. Why aren't you listening to me? I cannot and will not tell her.

End of the story. Because. ..

Because it isn't just anyone, okay? It's. ..

It's you. It's been you. This whole time.

Shit. Shit, I. ..

I didn't mean to say any of that. Can you just. ..

Can you just forget I said anything? Please. No, you can't.

Shit. Shit, that's what I was afraid of. God, I'm such an idiot.

I never planned on telling you this way. Fuck. I never planned on telling you this way.

Fuck. I never planned on telling you at all. Now you're going to look at me with pity in your eyes and tell me that you do not feel the same and.

.. I will smile and I'll say that it's fine when on the inside. ..

My heart will be breaking into a million little pieces. Fuck. Fuck.

I ruined everything, I'm so sorry. Why are you pulling me closer? What are you doing? You're.

.. You're wiping away my tears? No, it's.

.. It's okay. Please don't stop.

It feels nice. Please. You're.

.. You're the only one who's ever done this. And the only one I would ever let do this.

Why are you looking at me like that? With those soft eyes and that gentle smile? I'm sorry, I.

.. I don't think I heard you right. Could you.

.. Could you. ..

Could you say that again? Please? You're saying I have nothing to worry about? Because you feel the same way that I do? Wait.

Does that mean. .. Does that mean you love me too? Really? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

I'm better than, actually. I. ..

I think I just need a second to process everything. Just so we're clear. You love me in that I want to hold you and kiss you senseless.

Have romantic dates and pick you over who left the toothpaste cap off. Toothpaste cap off kind of way. Right? Oh, I.

.. I respectfully disagree, sweetheart. I think you would be the one to leave the cap off.

Not me. Oh, there's that smell that I love so much. You did not answer my question, though.

Yes, I think that that definitely answered it. Do you. ..

Do you think we could do that again?