Just Friends (2 page)

He smiled, “You’re very pretty.”

Such a statement
may
have startled me and I
may
have spat out the juice in my mouth over him. I tried to raise my hand and stop it, but my reactions were far too slow. He saw what was coming and closed his eyes to prevent the juice from entering them. There was a brief silence between us where I assumed I was in the worst possible trouble, ever. I watched in despair as the juice dribbled down his face. He laughed and wiped his eyes. “Thanks.”

“I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t mean to do it!” I shouted.

Ethan stood and shook himself. “Oh no my tie!”

He grabbed it and attempted to wipe away the juice sprayed across it, but it smeared, making it worse. “Ah, this was Mum’s tie.”

He ran off into the kitchen, stood on the stool infront of the sink and rinsed water over his tie, scrubbing at it furiously.

I rushed behind him. “I’m sure she’ll have another one.” My pathetic attempt at reassuring him. I was a kid, so I wasn’t superb at many social matters yet.

“This was her only one. Don’t worry, August, my Dad will clean it later.”

I watched the purple coloured water flow down the drain, and guilt engulfed my emotions. “Is your Mum here? I’ll go apologise now and say it was my fault.” I asked, gripping his arm.

He looked at me from atop of his stool and smiled. “She died not long after my birth.”

I tucked my hair behind my ears and looked to the floor. I’ve always done this when I’m nervous or embarrassed. Or in this case, both.

“I’m sorry.” I said to the floor.

“Oh it’s ok, I sometimes just wish I could have met her. I’m sure she was a nice lady.”

Ethan’s Dad then came into the kitchen. “Hey bud, what happened to you?” He asked.

My eyes bulged up at Ethan. I needed to avoid getting into trouble straight away.

“Oh, the juice pouch had a leak in it and when I squeezed it, it sprayed onto me.” Ethan replied.

At the time I thought he’d saved my life. His Dad’s face dropped as he saw the tie. It would’ve had significance to him too since it was his wife’s. “I’ll see if I can get that cleaned up later kiddo.” He ruffled Ethan’s hair. “Hey! Hop off your stool and have a photo with your friend here. September right?” Ethan’s Dad mood suddenly changed, pulling a camera out from his back pocket.

“August.” I corrected moodily.

“I’m winding you up August, stop being so grumpy!”

I smirked through my sulk. Ethan hopped off his stool and put his arm over my shoulder as we posed for the photo.

We’ve been best friends ever since that day, and we still have a photo taken together every birthday, and Christmas as well. It’s our little tradition. I gave Ethan my old school tie to replace his white one. It was a maroon and dark navy diagonally striped tie, and then I made my Mum take me shopping to buy him another white one. I arrived at the party without a present, so it was the right thing to do. We didn’t find a white one, so we bought him a plain black one instead. His Dad managed to get the stains out anyway. Every birthday and Christmas since, I have bought him a tie. It started off as a joke, but then it became a genuine thing.

Choosing a tie for his nineteenth birthday I found difficult. After long searches online, I decided upon a plain black tie with his initials stitched into it in white. He appreciated it more than I expected. This morning, when he knocked on my door to walk me to college he wasn’t wearing a tie, as he knew he would receive one. Since he’d received a tie on his birthday for the last twelve years. I tied it for him and patted his chest once I’d finished.

“Very smart.” I said and hugged him, wishing him happy birthday.

You’d think for his birthday we’d organise a huge gathering and have a crazy party with our large group of friends. But, we have no friends. One other friend to be exact, Max Parker, or Maximus, it depends on how much he likes you. Max was the only one we’d allow in our circle of friendship. We run a tight shift. Max and I insisted we take Ethan to a bar to celebrate his birthday. Drinking isn’t something we look forward too. We don’t go out often so we thought it would be fun. Our idea of a night out – or in – is to order pizza and sit inside watching a movie, or Ethan will show off one of his new magic tricks. Yes, twelve years on, he is still performing magic. He’s exceptional at it now. He’s made the impossible appear possible.

So, Ethan, Max and I found this new bar not too far away from our homes and we sat and drank. Rather responsibly too. It was a casual evening, but things would soon get out of hand.

“Shall I get us another round?” Max asked, already standing to make his way to the bar. We were all on the verge of entering the quite drunken state, and I think Ethan and I both recognised this.

“I think it’s time to go home now bud,” Ethan said, glancing over at me in search of support with his comment. I nodded. “I think it’s time to go too, Max.”

Max wafted his hands at us. “Fine, let me go to the loo first.”

“Have you enjoyed your evening?” I asked Ethan, resting my head on his shoulder.

“I have indeed.” Ethan replied, sipping down the last of his drink.

We sat there in silence for a minute or two before I saw Max return out of the corner of my eye. He was holding a tray full of shots like your parents would hold a birthday cake. He sung happy birthday as he placed the tray down in front of us. He had the silliest grin on his face and raised his eyebrows to emphasis how pleased he was with himself. Ethan and I sighed in unison. The tray was full with shots, and I mean full.

“Jesus, how many did you buy, Max?” Ethan asked, analysing the tray.

“Well I made a deal with the barman and got six shots for ten pound, so I got us six each!”

He passed Ethan and I a small shot of red liquid.

“Bottoms up,” Max said, wafting his brown-black hair off his forehead and tilting back his head, downing the shot.

Ethan and I paused before clinking glasses and downing ours. The next thing I knew, Ethan was carrying me in his arms. I must have passed out, too drunk to show embarrassment, and then I was sick. Ethan isn’t my best friend, he’s more of a… guardian angel. He’s always there to guide me and look over me, or catches me when I fall. In this case, carry me home because I was too drunk to do so myself.

I woke up the next morning laid on Ethan’s bare chest in his bed. I jumped up at once, tripping and falling out of bed, dragging the bed quilt with me. It wasn’t the smartest move. I’ll admit my head felt as if it was going to explode. I gripped my forehead as a blinding pain shot through it. My head spun while I stared at the ceiling.

“Twelve years and we finally slept together!” Ethan said, rising upright after being awoken by my clumsiness.

“No!” I shouted at him in despair. “We didn’t!”

He wafted his arms at me. “No you moron, we didn’t. You kept saying you were cold, so I stayed with you, you should see your face right now!” Ethan replied, bursting into laughter.

I threw a pillow at him and returned to clutching my head.

April 26
th

J
ust before midday, I dragged myself out of bed, forcing myself to do something productive with my Saturday.

“What are you two doing?” I asked as I entered the living room to find Ethan and Madeline sat on the floor with a couple of arts and craft boxes out.

“We’re making friendship bracelets.” Madeline replied, adding a couple of beads to the tiny tube in her tiny hands.

“Aw how cute.” I replied, crouching beside her and brushing her beautifully long ginger hair aside to kiss her freckled cheek.

“Good morning dear.” Ethan said, pushing his cheek in my direction.

I squinted at him for a moment. “Fine you can have one as well, morning.” I crouched over and kissed his cheek.

He was still wearing the new tie I had bought him for his birthday. He always has a couple of weeks after his birthday where he doesn’t take off his new tie.

“So are you making me one?” I asked, feeling left out.

“If you wasn’t nocturnal maybe you could have made one with us.” Ethan replied, nudging me with his elbow.

“I’m one step ahead of you, I’ve nearly finished yours now, August.” He added, awkwardly flapping with a bracelet in his hands.

“Need a hand there?” I asked sarcastically.

He looked me dead in the eye, “I got it.”

I noticed Mum and Dad weren’t around and since it was a Saturday they shouldn’t be working. “Where are Mum and dad?”

She tied the friendship bracelet together with her teeth. “They asked Ethan to babysit while they went shopping or something.”

I frowned, “Well why didn’t they ask me? I can babysit you. I always do.”

Her cute eyes flicked up and glanced over at Ethan. “He’s not here to babysit me.”

I rolled my eyes at them. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”

She grinned, “Like an hour.”

She giggled, then Ethan laughed. I sulked at them both.

“I get yours, he gets mine, and you get his. See,” She slid the bracelet along her wrist and raised it to my face. It was miles to big for her, but I’m sure that won’t bother her.
She
’
ll grow into it
as my Dad would say. The well-arranged multicoloured bracelet was spectacular. She twizzled it around to show me the side that had AUGUST spelt out. A different coloured plastic bead seperated each letter. Ethan lifted his wrist to show me his. It was white and black, spelling out MADDIE. Only Ethan is allowed to call Madeline, Maddie. She demanded everyone else call her Madeline.

“Finished!” Ethan shouted, holding the bracelet in front of me.

Mine was pink, hot pink. It fit perfectly, obviously spelling out ETHAN. It’s sweet now that we have our own friendship bracelets.

May 1
st

“
G
ood morning dear.” Ethan said as I opened the front door to him. We always meet before college, mainly beside the tree outside college or Ethan often popped by my house and walked me there. He was wearing one of his tartan ties today. He has a few now. They make him look quite smart. I bought him this one for our sixth Christmas together.

“What do you want?” I sarcastically replied.

“I’m here to walk my delightful bestfriend to college.”

Madeline came rushing to the door, pushing past me and cutely wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Hey you.” He said patting her head.

“Are you still wearing your bracelet?” She asked, releasing her grasp from around him.

He dangled his wrist in front of her. “Of course I am!” He knelt down and kissed her cheek. “You best go and get ready for school, you. Don’t want you to be late do we.”

She sighed, then returned inside and raced back upstairs. I adore how well Ethan and Madeline get along. He was so nervous when he first met her. She was such a tiny, delicate baby. He’s loved her endlessly since that moment.

My Mum then came to the door. “Hello Ethan, how are you? Have you two admitted you’re both perfect for each other yet?”

“I’m well Mrs. Bishop, I trust you’re well, too. As for August, she’s too… boring for me, like a cat, I’m more of a dog person.” Ethan replied with a smug look upon his face.

“Well this chat is fabulous guys. I do wish we could continue it, but we must dash,” I announced.

“Let me grab my bag and we can go.” I said to Ethan, who nodded in acknowledgement.

My Mum grabbed my wrist before I rushed down stairs. “Stop being boring.” She said, raising her eyebrows at me.

I rolled my eyes at her and laughed. She didn’t mean it because she thought I was boring, she said it because she wants us to be a couple.