HEARTBREAK GIRL ONE-SHOT
It’s over.
Another boyfriend called it quits and she still can’t realize who’s right in front of her.
She called me again that night and said that she’ll never be over him being over her.
I’m used to this, sadly. My best friend has always had good luck when it came to boyfriends who never stick past the first few dates. I mean I get it I guess. This has happened so often that it’s fair that she’s become quite the broken record. Except this time, this asshole truly broke her heart.
I should be used to her crying to me about it, and I am.
Sort of.
I know I should be the bigger person, better friend and be happy for her when boys come knocking at her door, but I can’t help but think a piece of my heart breaks when she’s with someone else. I never used to think that this jealousy meant anything until recently when she called me after bo(zo)yfriend number (I’ve lost count) tossed her to the side. I thought that maybe this is what friends are supposed to feel - upset that the guy broke her heart. I didn’t just want to break his face this time, I wanted to make sure she was never treated this way again. The only person I trusted with the fragile beat of her heart was me.
————
I heard the sound of my phone vibrating with the ringtone I put for her and immediately swiped to answer.
“I’m so sick of being broken up with all the time Calum, I hate it!” she huffed. I heard her loud exhale - an exhale that would only indicate how angry she was at the world for throwing yet another lousy tool her way. I paused for a moment to think of an answer that wouldn’t accidentally spill my guts out all over the phone.
“Well, you’re too good for those guys anyway Char.” My nickname for her. I came up with it when we were kids and she swears she hates being called anything but that.
“But you always say that! You’re obligated to say that anyways as my best friend.”
“You know that’s not true! Trust me there will be better guys out there for you, maybe even closer than you think.” I stopped. Damn it, I should’ve just lied or something, I don’t know.
Her breathing hitched and I knew she started crying.
“H-how come you’re the only guy who truly cares Calum? I-I swear there’s no one like the f-friend who’s always there to cheer me up when I’m down about d-dumb things like boys. You’re the best friend I could ever h-have.”
My heart felt that all too familiar sting.
“Yeah, best friends! Always gonna do that for you. Always. No matter what. I’m such a sucker for you.” I blurted out.
I could feel the red, hot blush creep onto my cheeks. WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT SLOW IT DOWN THERE BUDDY. SAY SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS INCONSPICUOUS!
“ A-a-as a friend I mean, um.. yeah.” I stammered. Yeah, great save stupid.
After a long pause, I finally heard her voice.
“Hey, thanks for being a friend. I’ll call you tomorrow at ten, Calum.”
And I’m stuck in the friend zone, again and again.
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I’m the only one who can take away your hurt and you’ve proven that more than needed. Are my signals not strong enough? Would it ruin our friendship?
He treated you so bad and I’m so good to you, it’s not fair.
—————
That night, I drove to her house in Mum’s Toyota Corolla in-tow with the usual feel-better breakup cure: a vat of Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy, a yellow sunflower (to show her that bright times are ahead), and my (her) favourite sweater.
I got to her door and knocked, my hands full with the goods. The sunflower beamed up at me, almost as if it was mocking me.
‘Haha she gets to hold me. You’re a loser Calum.’ Whatever, I like roses anyway.
The front door opened with a swing and out stepped Char barefoot on the front porch.
“Hey there, heartbreak girl.”
She rolled her big brown eyes at me and let me in the house.
——————
In her room, I grabbed her acoustic guitar. I sat on her bed and began strumming a random melody lightly. G chord here, a B minor there and then an E minor chord, followed by a C to end it off.
“That’s pretty good Cal.” Char said with a smile. She always liked when I played guitar, although I’m more of a bass fan myself.
“I dedicate this song to you then.”
The one who never sees the truth.
“Can I ask you something?” she said, dipping her spoon into the cold chocolatey goodness, as I continued to strum.
“Always.”
“Can you help me come up with a rebound idea?” she asked.
I immediately stopped playing. I’m right here! When are you gonna realize???
“Don’t you think it’s better to leave things as they are?” I swallowed the lump building in my throat, and looked up from the instrument in my shaky hands.
“Why?” She faced me with a confused expression, eyebrows raised.
Sometimes I’m so close to confession.
Things were quiet for a minute, as I prepared myself for what I didn’t expect to say.
“The song was called Heartbreak Girl.”
She gasped.
I just gotta get it through your head, that you belong with me instead.
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