The Last First Date

Just Friends

Chapter Six

Just Friends

Amara began to realize that friendship with Daniel was becoming a dangerous thing.

Not because he was doing anything wrong.

That was the problem.

He was doing everything right.

He listened.

He respected her boundaries.

He never demanded more than she was ready to give.

He remembered details.

He showed up.

And slowly, without asking permission, he was becoming important.

Amara didn't like that.

Importance created vulnerability.

Vulnerability created fear.

And fear reminded her of everything she had worked so hard to leave behind.

One Saturday afternoon, Tolu came over.

She found Amara sitting on the sofa, staring at her phone.

Tolu looked at the screen.

"Daniel?"

Amara immediately turned it off.

"No."

Tolu laughed.

"You didn't even try."

"He sent me something funny."

"Sure."

Amara rolled her eyes.

"We're friends."

Tolu sat beside her.

"You're always saying that."

"Because it's true."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"I'm allowed to smile."

"Not like that."

Amara frowned.

"Like what?"

"Like someone who just got a message from the person she likes."

Amara shook her head.

"I don't like him."

Tolu stared at her.

"Okay."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You don't believe me."

"I believe you believe yourself."

Amara laughed.

"You're impossible."

Tolu smiled.

"I'm just saying."

Later that week, Daniel invited Amara to a small gathering with Michael.

She almost refused.

Then she remembered their friendship rules.

No disappearing.

So she went.

Michael welcomed her.

"Finally."

Amara looked around.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Daniel came over.

"I'm glad you came."

"Me too."

Michael watched them.

He smiled to himself.

During dinner, the conversation moved between work, music, family, and embarrassing childhood stories.

Amara discovered that Daniel had once broken a window while playing football.

Daniel discovered that Amara had once pretended to be sick to avoid a school presentation.

Michael laughed at both stories.

"You're both criminals."

Amara pointed at him.

"You stole your sister's bicycle."

Michael looked shocked.

"How do you know that?"

"Daniel told me."

Michael looked at Daniel.

"You betrayed me."

Daniel smiled.

"Friendship requires honesty."

Amara laughed.

As the evening ended, Daniel walked Amara to her car.

"Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for inviting me."

He leaned against his car.

"Are we okay?"

She frowned.

"Why wouldn't we be?"

"I don't know."

Amara looked at him.

"You've been quiet lately."

"So have you."

She sighed.

"Maybe I'm thinking."

"About?"

"Us."

Daniel became still.

"What about us?"

"I don't know."

She looked down.

"We said we're friends."

"We are."

"But sometimes..."

She stopped.

"Sometimes what?"

She shook her head.

"Nothing."

Daniel nodded.

"Okay."

Amara looked at him.

"You're not going to ask?"

"I could."

"Why don't you?"

"Because if you want to tell me, you will."

She smiled.

"That's what I like about you."

"What?"

"You don't pressure me."

Daniel looked at her.

"I don't want to."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Amara smiled.

"Goodnight, Daniel."

"Goodnight, Amara."

She got into her car.

Daniel watched her leave.

The next day, Amara had another difficult moment at work.

A client cancelled a project she had spent weeks preparing.

She sat at her desk, staring at the email.

Normally, she would have called Tolu.

Instead, her fingers moved toward Daniel's name.

She stopped.

No expectations.

She put the phone down.

Five minutes later, it rang.

Daniel.

She answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That I was having a bad day."

"I didn't."

She smiled.

"You're lucky."

"What happened?"

She told him.

Daniel listened.

Then he said, "Do you want me to come over?"

Amara hesitated.

She knew what that meant.

It meant he cared.

More than friends were supposed to care.

But she also knew she needed someone.

"Okay."

Daniel arrived thirty minutes later with food.

Amara opened the door.

"You brought food?"

"You haven't eaten."

"How do you know?"

"You sound hungry."

She laughed.

They sat in the living room.

Daniel didn't try to solve her problem.

He simply stayed.

Eventually, Amara looked at him.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here."

He smiled.

"Anytime."

She looked at him for a moment.

Then she remembered the rules.

"Friends."

Daniel smiled.

"Friends."

But the word sounded less convincing every time they said it.