Just Friends

     We walked down the empty school hallway in silence. The bell for class rang a moment ago, but we were in no rush. We were late nyway, so why hurry now? I took a glance at her and couldn't help smiling. She was so damn cute. Her happiness just radiates though you and her bubbly personality is almost addictive. Not that I could ever tell her that. Despite my feelings for her, we were like sisters. Perhaps closer than sisters. She wa the best friend I ever had and things would become far too awkward. It just seemed wrong. I shouldn't want to feel her skin against mine. I shouldn't wish I could get close to her without that underlying awkwardness. I should not be thinking about her this way at all. She was so adorable and funny, though. In a nutshell, she was everything I wanted in a girlfriend. But my feelings for her were blocked by a rather unfortunate fact:  
     She didn't like girls.
     Really, it was just a giant pain in the ass. I could forget my feelings for her most of the time, but sometimes I'd sort of forget to forget. We'd be sitting together in class or during lunch just laughing about something. She was so easy to laugh with. Without thinking, I'd slip an arm around her shoulders. It was just so natural. More natural than I'd felt around anyone in a long time. She'd glance at my arm and gently remove it from her shoulders, leaving me feeling just a little bit empty. She knew I liked girls and seemed just fine with it, but obviously became uncomfortable when my absent-minded flirting drifted in her direction. Of course, I could nver change her mind, no matter how much I long to. We will always be the best of friends, and I suppose I can live with that. However, I don't think I will ever stop longing for the closeness of that adorable girl.