Stay

PART I

STAY: Part 1 of 2

Caleb's POV

My vision starts to blur and my head starts to spin, as the DJ hypes the crowd of bodies swaying and grinding with each other through the beat, the loud music begins to turn to thumps and booms, I want to puke.  I squint my eyes at the ethereal being in front of me; he begins to wave his hand in front of my face and shake me vigorously, and all so suddenly I’m brought back to my reality and see my best friend, worry evident in his eyes.

I lean my head forward and vomit all the contents of my stomach on the floor. I feel a warm hand on my back and as it begins rubbing, I puke even more. I raise my head and am met with dazzling black eyes.

“You okay, bro?” he says. “I’m going to Amber’s, and it seems to me you had enough tonight let me drive you home.” he continues to say with worry.

“I’ll be fine, man. Don’t let me be a hassle for you and your girl.” I lazily put my hand on his shoulder to assure him. That didn’t work because the second I lay my head back, strong arms pulled me up, and placed my arms on his shoulders. “Don’t be silly, bro, you’re my best friend, you are never a hassle.” he responds with a chuckle. I don’t respond or fight back this kind gesture but instead, enjoy the short moment being this close to him.

Yes, I, Caleb, am in love with my best friend, I would do anything to be Amber, to be the love of his life and be his everything, and to be beside him every minute or every second.

He settles me inside his car and puts my seat belt on. While we were on the road, I felt all so a little bit better probably because I puked all the liquor. The car was dark so I took a chance to glance at him, he’s wearing his white polo and can’t help but notice the three buttons unbuttoned on the top of his polo fully exposing his abs, I stare at it long and hard thinking it’d magically unbutton so that I can see what’s more down there. I can feel myself getting hard and try to hold back a groan causing it to become a lip bite instead. “Hey bro, we’re here.” My fantasies get caught off as I shift my attention back to his face, and in just seconds we were again face to face. It was a full moon tonight, the moon shined through the window giving light inside the car; I can’t help but rub my eyes when I realize this man is glistening in front of me. Well, maybe not all the liquor. He places a hand on my shoulder and I stare at it and stare back at his face. “Thanks for tonight.” he says with a smile. “We definitely deserved this and now a long night’s rest; championship is only two days away.” I return the kind gesture and place my hand on top of his hand; instantly tingles run up my spine, I respond with a smile.  “Well then, you better get going you wouldn’t want your girl to be waiting.” He awkwardly smiles and retrieves his hand, I instantly regret saying it.  “Oh yeah, right.” he realizes.  I return the awkward smile. “Here take this; it’ll help for the hangover.” He throws me something and I instantly catch it, it was aspirin. I smile to myself as I stare and hold on to the aspirin dearly as it were my life but just like that when I raised my head to thank him his jeep was already gone.

If only he knew how I feel towards him, No Caleb, that’s the thing if he knew, it would definitely be over for me, I would lose my best friend, my childhood best friend. I’ll take what I can get to just be close to him even if it means just being friends with him, watching in the sidelines and supporting him is enough. There is always a right time for everything.

I smile as I can feel my mood and confidence get boosted, I huff out some air and stumble to my house while promising to myself I’m not drinking ever again.

[TWO DAYS LATER]

Commentator: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Oak Ridge High Football Championships between the Badgers vs. Tigers…..”

The crowd goes wild, screams and shouts are heard on both bleachers. I pace back and forth as I try to stay calm. I check my phone for the umpteenth time and still no reply. Where is Luke?! I can’t believe our most valuable player stood us up. A long and loud whistle startles my thoughts and pacing. Luke better explain himself. I change into my football gear and head to the field, this game is not waiting for anyone with Luke or no Luke the game must go on. As I get into position I can’t help but be angry and also worry about Luke. I hope he’s okay. The last and final whistle is blown. “Hut!!”

We were lucky enough to win with a score of 3-2, I can’t wait to tell Luke the news and also I can’t wait to punch him in the face for not showing up. Speaking of the devil, my phone beeps. It was a text from Luke.

From: Luke

Heard you guys won, come meet me at the bar. Let’s celebrate…

The nerve of this guy but I can’t help but smile, It’s a date, Luke. I change into the clothes I came here with without even bothering to take a shower.

The smell of sweat and vomit fill my nose the minute I enter the club and at the corner of my eye, I see Luke all slumped up with two girls both at his side. What is he even thinking, if Amber saw him.. I clench and unclench my fists, and stomp my way to the table he is sat. I stare up the two girls with anger in my eyes; they instantly got the message and were gone in a jiff. I look up at Luke, it seems to me he got ahead of me because in the state he is in he probably had more than five bottles, I don’t even know how he managed to even text me in the state that he is in. He stares back at me, I suck in some air, I could see sadness, hurt, and streaks of where tears poured out from his eyes, and just like that he confirms it for me, “Amber broke up with me.”

With a loud huff, I finally lift his legs on the couch of my apartment. Luke passed out after saying those very words that both hurt and ignited my heart. I know it’s cruel of me to be happy but it also meant the chances I have for Luke. I smile in triumph and sadness for my friend.  I sit down on the opposite couch facing the couch Luke is laying in; I had to drag him out of the bar to my car and in my apartment. I stare at his peaceful state, snoring so lightly still in his clothes full of vomit. I walk to my kitchen and wet a small rag to clean him up, I kneel just beside his chest and begin undoing the buttons of his polo. And ever so slowly button after button, I take in small breathes, I ogle his rock hard abs. I want to savour every moment, I pick up my rag and delicately drag it down his abs, he turns in his sleep, and I hear a faint “Amber” in his lips, I frown. I don’t know what got into me but all so suddenly I find myself leaning in his chest, softly and ever so faintly leaving kisses on his chest, he moans and I smirk as I feel myself harden. I keep up my pace as I reach his abdomen; he grabs my head pushing me closer as I can ever be in his body. I smile with his sudden response, I increase my pace and aggressively kiss his body, pouring out all the feelings and want I’ve been holding back all these years for him. He groans and moans in response to my touch and as if it weren’t enough for him, I’m shocked to be grabbed by my wrist as he pulls me on top of him. I hear another “Amber” from his lips, and this time it makes me angry. I lean in, leaving only an inch before our lips meet; I don’t think twice and crash my lips onto his. I angrily kiss him, knowing exactly that it’ll leave a bruise in the morning and that’s exactly the message I want to convey, he responds hungrily while clinging onto my body and pulling at my polo, wanting it to be off.  Just like that, we were skin to skin exchanging moans and groans from one another. I kiss his neck, lips, his chest, it was a repeating cycle until we were both simply panting and I collapse onto his chest from exhaustion, I enjoy the moment and hold on to Luke as I lay my head on his chest and try to relive the moment, I smile, I’ve never been this happy in my life and how I wished it would stay like this forever. My fantasies were caught off when I land on my butt on the floor. I look back at Luke and come face to face with his handsome face, Man, he’s a heavy sleeper. An unnoticeable and the faintest “Caleb” leave his lips, and the smell of liquor slaps my face. My breathing hitched and my heart skips a beat after hearing it. Luke is dreaming of me. I half-smile, knowing that he’s just probably out of his mind, I slowly place a blanket on top of him, place an aspirin and a glass of water on the coffee table as I finally utter the words I’ve always wanted to say, “I love you Luke, more than you’ll ever know, and I’ll always be here for you no matter what.”

[NEXT MORNING]

“Luke, you there?” I shout as I appear around the corner of my living room, rubbing my eyes off from sleep. I stop in my tracks, as I see no Luke on my couch; I frown but instantly smile when I remember last night. I sit on the couch and sigh heavily, I stare at the empty glass of water and instantly my eye lands on a tucked paper on the bottom of it. I open it up and it read,

Hey Caleb, my bro,

 Sorry for my harsh behaviour last night and the hassle I put you through. I don’t really know what I’ll be without you, you’re my best friend and you’ll always be. Thank you for taking care of me and for always having my back. This sounds like a goodbye letter because yes, it is because to tell you honestly, Amber really means so much to me, I can’t really take this break-up, she means so much to me, I really thought that being drunk every night will help but just thinking about it she’ll just hate me more. So I’ve decided to move to America and be with my family, being here brings back so many memories of us and I couldn’t take it. I hope you’ll understand. I love you so much bro, brothers and best friends for life. My plane leaves at 9, don’t come! I wish you well! See you ‘til next time. Thank you…

                                                                                                Your best friend, Luke

I don’t cry but I feel hatred and anger. I check the time on my phone, it was 8:45, I don’t even bother change from my last night’s clothes, I quickly grab my car keys and speed my way to the airport, avoiding cars and ignoring car honks. I run through the crowd of people in the airport, completely ignoring the hateful stares from people I’ve bumped into. Luke please, where are you?

I stop in my tracks as the PA system echoes in the airport.

            PA system: “Last call for passenger 175, please proceed to hanger B now...”

I pant as I realize that I was too late, a lone tear falls from my eye, and I wipe it off angrily. How could you do this to me, Luke?  As I was about to turn around ready to go to my car and head home, a chill run through my spine of a familiar voice calling out my name. I turn around and am face to face with the love of my life. “Luke…” I breathe out. “What are you doing here, bro? Didn’t I tell you not to come?” He chuckles. “You can’t go! I-I…” I   stutter and my breath hitches as he walks closer leaving only a small gap between us.  He catches me by surprise when he places his hand on my head, he searches my eyes then half-smiles “You’ll be fine, Caleb.”

PA system: “Last and final call for passenger 175, please proceed to hanger B now...”

Luke looks back as he puts down his hand from my head. I slightly frown. “Thank you Caleb bro, I’ll never forget you.” and just like that he turns his back away from me, shocked by my sudden movement, I stare at my hand who’s now grasping onto Luke’s wrist. Luke stops and stares at my hand. I let go of my hand and feel my cheeks heat up a bit. “Stay” I say ever so softly, I don’t even know if he heard it. “I’m sorry, Goodbye Caleb.” And just like that everything was in slow-motion and I stare at Luke’s disappearing figure, farther, farther… away from me.

I slam my apartment door and I walk to my living room as I stare and frown at the couch that once hold happy memories but now just sad and mere memories of us, Luke. I plop down, stare long and hard at nowhere and the second I place my hands over my eyes, tears gushed out. I don’t stop it; I let it out, all the built-up emotions over Luke, the hate, the anger, the love I’ve been keeping from him all these years. My heart ached and hurt, I felt helpless and I couldn’t do anything about it because he was gone. 

My best friend is gone. The love of my life is gone.