cook always came over when he needed help. she was the one person who wouldn’t scream at him when his head was already splitting open—both literally and figuratively.
he always felt bad, though.
she was on the right path; she had a serious job and recently finished college. he could barely keep one job as of late.
however, the moment he stepped into her place and saw that warm smile . . . he knew he had to keep coming back.
and so he did. over and over again, he'd always come back.
but they were just friends. that’s what they told everyone; that’s what they said to each other. they were only friends. that was that. even though he calls her in the middle of the night and even though she always answers . . . they are only friends.
“we’re just friends, yeah?” cook asked, looking at kathryn. his face was covered with fresh cuts and petroleum jelly. his eyes were glassy, almost dazed, but they remained fixed on her.
“yeah,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “just friends.”
she couldn’t explain why she got jealous whenever cook kissed a random girl at a club. she would feel terrible after giving him the silent treatment; his texts would go unanswered for a day or two before she would give in and make up a lie that her stomach had been hurting or she’d just needed some time to decompress after a big night out. but he knew, he always had a feeling.
and the nights he stayed over? she felt guilty for wanting more of them. he’d come over either because he was too drunk to walk home from the club or because he required a place since he lost his (again). it was like taking in a stray dog that she didn’t want to set free.
he couldn’t explain why he hated the idea of her going on dates with other people. he felt protective over her in a way he’d never experienced before. he also couldn’t explain why he liked waking up on her couch and seeing her first thing… he felt guilty whenever he stayed too long, though. but she knew.
they were just friends. they’d never kissed, they’d never held hands.
nothing would ever happen in their minds. even if they both knew that the other wanted more.
even if they both lied and would argue that the other was delusional but would immediately regret their words.
