The love that lasts the longest is the one that is never returned

3RD MARCH 2013

Covering up the painting, I put it back in its own corner. Despite having promised myself that I would move on, I couldn't bring myself to throw away something like this. He was my first love and I had spent too many hours to get rid of this masterpiece.

I wasn't sure when I would work on it next, or if it would ever be finished, but this was one piece that I would never sell or get rid of.

Perhaps one day, I would give it to him. Again, I wasn't sure if that day would ever come.

Locking up my studio, my eyes lingered on the door until they disappeared behind the elevator doors.

Almost as if perfect timing, my cell phone rang just as I stepped onto the ground floor. I cursed myself as my heart sped up with just one glance at the caller ID. Momentarily, I hesitated, wondering if I should pick up but then I cursed myself again. Just because I refused to be in love with him didn't mean that I was going to throw away a lifetime's worth of friendship.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice mellow.

Glancing up, I made eye contact with Nigel, the trust doorman. Giving him a smile and a wave with my freehand, I walked towards the door.

"Hey, Lex it's me." I could practically hear the grin in his voice. "Where are you?"

I mouthed a 'thank you' to Nigel before he closed the door for me. "Just walked out of the studio. Why?" I asked, curious as to why he was asking for my location all of a sudden.

"I'm at the mall. Listen, I need some help." He paused, shifting. No doubt he was running his hand through his hair. He tended to that when he was stressed or overwhelmed. I wondered what he was stressed about. "I need to buy a present for Taylor."

Forcing back the jealousy that wanted to consume me, I held back the sigh that threatened to sound. Just because I was planning to get over him didn't mean that it would happen instantly. "And you want me to help you." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Will you? Please." He begged; the desperation clear in his voice. "I'll even buy you lunch." He bargained, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

Now there's an offer you can't miss. "Lunch?" I decided to play with him a little even though my heart started beating erratically at the notion of getting to spend some quality time with him. "I'm pretty busy today, so I don't think just lunch will cut it for me." I bit my tongue which desperately wanted to tell him that he didn't even need to buy me lunch and that I would do it just because I wanted to spend time with him.

"Please. I'll buy you everything on the menu if I have to."

If I hadn't laughed aloud, I would have continued with this a little more. But alas, all good things had to end. "I'm just messing about, but I'm serious about the lunch."

"Me too," he chuckled. "I feel like we haven't spend much time together lately."

"And whose fault is that?" I quirked a questioning brow, even though he wouldn't be able to see it through the phone.

He sighed and I was sure that if I was in person with him right now, he would be pouting. He usually did that when he was stumped; I wasn't even sure he knew he was doing it but I loved it too much to tell him and make him subconscious about it. I was doing it for him, really. "I know I've been busy with Taylor a lot lately, so I'm sorry I've been neglecting you." He apologised, his voice strong and sincere, the words soothing me.

My heart skipped a beat. "There's no need to apologise. I'm glad you to see you happy." Even if that last statement was a metaphorical double ended sword.

"And that's why you're best friend."

And that's all I'll ever be, I couldn't help but think to myself. But soon – hopefully very soon – I would learn to be okay with that and find my own happiness.

"Thanks for helping me, Lex! That's what?" He paused. "Seven now?"

I smirked. "Eleven, actually. It's been a while since you mass returned all favours." I chuckled at the notion. Caylus liked to total up his favours to other people and when they finally got to a staggering number, he would mass return them all. It was always a highly amusing spectacle.

He chuckled. "I thought you weren't counting."

"I'm not," I shook my head. "If I was counting, I'm sure that number would be at least doubt what I said."

He cursed, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"So, what do you need help with exactly? You need to buy Taylor a present?"

"It's her birthday today."

"And you left it till now to find her a present?" I rolled my eyes at that. Typical.

"Hey!" He called out in attempt of defending himself. "I've already booked the same restaurant that I took her to for our first date. I managed to book the whole place so we'll have it all to ourselves. I need some help to decorate that as well. I have no idea what I should do. Please help me!" At least he remembered the food portion of the date, I had to give him that even if he didn't deserve it.

"Ok, at least I'll have something to work with. I'll be there soon. Where should I meet you?" I asked as I opened the door and got into my car; a sleek black BMW which my father had gifted me for my last birthday. It was my baby.

"Let's meet at Ben's." He told me, choosing one of our favourite places to eat. "We'll have lunch first and then you can torture me." I laughed at his silly joke. He really hated shopping. "I really appreciate this, Lex. You helping me all the time. I don't know what I'd do without you."

And there he goes again. Just when I started to think that things would be different and I would actually be able to move on, he starts playing with my heart strings again. Not that he knew what he was doing, of course.

But I needed to be strong this time. Not for him or for anyone else, but for me.

"You'd be sleeping in a pig sty." He chuckled, unable to deny what was true. "I'll be there in 20 minutes."

-

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