SHYLA

I was too busy focusing on not to cry, that I forgot about everything else. The book I was writing, then became just a mixture of words that didn't make sense at all. I stopped feeling the love I had felt for years. I gave up.

Sometimes I felt like I wanted to tell someone, maybe because I wanted advice, or just to get it out of my chest. In that moment, I definitely needed someone.

I grabbed my phone and looked through my contacts. Brooke Jones, also known as, my best friend since kindergarten. Keeping my feelings from her had always been really hard, and I had always knew that I would end up telling her someday. A part of me thought that I was going to regret calling her, but the other one just reminded me how alone I was at the moment.

For the first time in my life, I stopped overthinking and just dialed her number. The beeping sound stopped, and I knew it was time. There was no turning back.

"I need your help."

"No hello or how are you? This must be really serious. Are you alright?" She asked. Was I alright? Was I just exaggerating? The silence probably made her think I hung up. It was a long minute of thinking, and she waited patiently for me to answer.

"Please come to my house." I said with a neutral tone, ignoring her question. I heard the sound of keys on the other side of the phone call.

"I'll be right there." She said and then I closed my eyes, a few tears falling from my eyes. Why was I crying because of an old friend having a girlfriend? Why was it so hard for me to just move on and continue with my life? What was so special about him, and why did he make me feel that way?

The fifteen minutes waiting for Brooke to arrive were eternal. I stared at my phone, as I sat next to the door waiting for a knock, or a call. I walked around the house checking my phone a lot of times. A second felt like a minute, and I wanted to scream and make everything stop. Finally, I heard my best friend's voice telling me to open the door.

"I thought you weren't coming." I hugged her as soon as I opened the door. She had a surprised expression on her face and then she started laughing.

"You really thought I would leave my best friend have a breakdown alone?" She chuckled and I smiled a little bit. "Now, tell me everything."

I did as I was told. I explained everything. Since the first day of high school, to our last goodbye. Brooke listened carefully and she didn't judge me for keeping it a secret.

"And the problem is that Jenny is his girlfriend." I finished and Brooke covered her mouth in amusement.

"Jenny the sweet, adorable girl?"

"Yes, Jenny. She thinks he's going to propose next week, in the high school reunion!" I said and my best friend almost choked on her juice.

"You have to tell him. The same way you just told me. You have to tell him everything." She said, coughing. I always listened to my best friend's advice, but I couldn't tell him. He had a girlfriend. He was dating someone. It would be so bad to tell him and probably ruin my relationship with both of them.

"You know I'm not telling him." I said matter-of-factly.

"You have to, Shyla! You really have to. You're going to regret it for the rest of your life if you don't. Maybe he likes you too!"

"Brooke he has a girlfriend!"

"Look, we have to do something. Because maybe he'll get married and have a family, but you can't keep the secret anymore, it's been like five years!" She said and I felt self conscious. I looked ridiculous. All of those tears, only because of a high school crush. I was immature, and I made a big deal out of basically nothing.

That was when I decided that I was going to tell him.