I watch helplessly as Nate’s lips draw closer to hers. Jenny slowly closes her eyes, looking much like the way she did two days ago. Their lips finally come together, breaking my heart into a million pieces in the process. Everything suddenly becomes blurry as I felt salted water at a corner of my mouth. My tears tasted the same on my lips as they did on hers. Only this time, her lips are not on mine.

--

2 days ago 

“Nikki, would you mind helping me with Maths after school? I don’t think I got what Mr Brown said.” Jenny smiled sweetly, her head turned slightly to the left. Ten years of being her best friend had taught me well. I knew that look: she was so going to make me do her homework.

Jenny knew fully well how much impact her smile had on me and, to be honest, I didn’t quite mind her taking advantage of it.  After all, doing Jenny’s homework meant getting to spend more time alone with her, plus I was willing to do anything just to see her smile.

I nodded, my lips curved in uniform with Jenny’s. She leaned in closer, her lips now gently touching my cheek. I closed my eyes, taking in the smell of her hair. We hadn’t changed much for ten years. Jenny still preferred kissing my left cheek rather than the right one, the scent of lavender from her golden locks never failed to intoxicate me, and my stomach had never stopped break-dancing every time she looked at me.

Jenny pulled away, too soon if you asked me. Then again, if her lips were on my cheek a second longer, my skin just might have burnt.

“Thanks Nikki!” she said, brightening her face and mine one more time with her smile.

“Anytime.” I breathed, looking deeply into her eyes, willingly losing myself in them. Anytime, Jenny. You can have me anytime.

I shifted uncomfortably on the bench. Normally, Jenny would be sketching our images on her textbooks while I finished her Maths homework. However, it seemed strange today as she was playing with her pencil restlessly while her eyes never left me. I know what you’re thinking, how did I know she was looking at me if I was looking at her homework? Well, how do you think I managed to look at Jenny all the time if it wasn’t for my ability to feel her appearance? Love is blind, my friend, plus all my eyes could see was Jenny. Cheesy, I know, but if you’ve ever been in love, you’ll understand.

“What’re ya doing looking at me like that?” I asked, forcing myself to look up and be lost in her eyes once again.

“Uhm… No-nothing. It’s just…” Jenny laughed nervously, her head turned lightly to one side as if to shake something out of her mind. Closing her eyes, Jenny inhaled deeply and finally spoke up, her voice was so husky it almost came out as a whisper.

“You’re so beautiful, Nikki.”

All my life, Jenny takes my words away from me. This time was no exception as I felt my tongue hardened. My mouth opened but no words were formed. I felt a deep blush finding its way to my cheeks as my breathing suddenly became faster. It was then that I realized something unusual with Jenny. Usually she would giggle at my inaudibility but this time she didn’t. She was gazing at me, a hint of sadness flashed across her beautiful face. I tried to look into her eyes for more clues but couldn’t find any. Instead, I saw myself in them.

“Do you want to get out of here? Forget the homework!” She finally tore her gaze away, now looking much more composed but less like herself. Before I could respond to the question nor voice my worry, Jenny stood up and started gathering her books, leaving me no choice but to follow her. As soon as we got into her car, Jenny started driving. I looked at the road intently, then at Jenny, trying to study her expression. No words were said during the long drive, until Jenny pulled off her car at a corner of an empty street near my house and finally broke the silence.

“Nikki, I can’t be your friend anymore.” What?

“What?”

“You heard it, I can’t be your friend anymore.” Jenny said coldly, her words cutting me into pieces. There’s no way this can be true. She’s just joking, Jenny is joking, my best friend is trying to be funny.

I laughed hollowly, my thoughts spinning in my head. I uttered, to Jenny and more to myself “Stop joking, you’re not funny, Jenny.”

“I’M NOT JOKING! I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE!” She screamed. Whenever Jenny screamed, she would cry an instant after. And she did. One, two, three drops of tear from my beautiful Jenny’s eyes…

“I don’t want to see you anymore.” Sobbed Jenny, tears falling uncontrollably from her eyes. Without warning, she opened the door of the car and rushed outside.