A Short Story - My Best friend from a different Point of View

I've arranged to meet Amy at the pub once we both finish work today. I work as a mechanic so after cleaning myself up and changing my clothes I head to meet Amy and Lisa the friend she's bringing along. I wait outside and when the girls head out I say

"Wow you girls look gorgeous"

I can see that Amy is about to say something, probably sarcastic I imagine but then Lisa says

"Thank you Jason" and smiles. It's a gorgeous smile and makes me realise she's a beautiful girl. I feel happy wondering what tonight will bring. Amy storms on ahead saying

"Come on you two" and heads in the direction of the Lion and Lobster. She makes me laugh, she's not like most women, she doesn't like compliments and she speaks much more directly than any other women I've known. I liked her the moment I met her but I just knew she would respond badly to me asking her out as she's so rude to men who do so I'm quite glad we developed a friendship instead. Of course that doesn't mean I don't still fancy her rotten!

We head inside the pub and Amy asks us what we want to drink. I ask her for my usual pint of Fosters.

Lisa and I look around for a table and are lucky enough to find one. The Lion and Lobster is always busy so we don't always manage to get a table. I start chatting to Lisa and find out that as well as being beautiful she's really funny and easy to talk to. Amy brings the drinks to the table and we continue chatting.

Lisa offers to get a drink next and when she's at the bar Amy asks me

"What do you think of Lisa then"

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the blunt question as it's very much Amy's style but I feel funny about responding as I really like Lisa so I say

"Haha blunt question much!"
"So are you going to answer it?" She pushes.
"Haha okay, I think she's lovely, gorgeous and I might consider asking her out later" I respond winking which I hope will lessen the impact of what I've told her as she never approves of the girls I like.
"Oh my days, you're not serious, you don't even know her" she responds.
"I am serious, and isn't that what dates are for?!" I reply.
"I guess so" she replies looking upset.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
She looks down for a bit and then says
"Nothing"
"Well cheer up then babe and when I suggest going to a club say you don't want to go, okay?"
"Okay" she says.

When Lisa comes back we drink our drinks and then I ask the two girls if they want to go clubbing to the Honey club.

"I'd love to" says Lisa.
"No thanks, have fun though" Amy says.

We head off to the club in a taxi and I take my chance to ask her out.

"Lisa I think you're really beautiful, would you consider going on a date with me?"
"I'd love to" she replies.
"Thank you" I reply "Where would you like to go"
"You could come over to mine for dinner, I love cooking" she says.
"I'd love to" I reply smiling.

We head into the club then, and grab some drinks before heading to the dance floor. Wow Lisa's a sexy dancer I think. We dance together totally losing track of time. We're there until the club closes at 4am. when the lights come on we stumble outside and jump into the next free taxi.

Lisa suggests going back to her place for a nightcap and of course I say yes to that. She lives in Hove in a flat in First Avenue on the 4th floor so we stumble up a few flights of stairs and into her apartment. It's small but so tidy, I'm tidy myself and hate mess so it's nice to know that she's tidy. She takes off her heels then walks towards me and kisses me.

***************************

The next morning I wake up in her bed to smells of bacon cooking. I feel so groggy but happy about last night. I put my clothes back on and head into the kitchen to see her in a dressing gown cooking breakfast.

"Morning Jason" she says looking like she is suffering from no hangover at all unlike me.
"Morning" I say "How come you don't have a hangover?"
"I never get them, I'm lucky I guess" she replies "Ready for some breakfast?"
"Yes, thanks! It smells delicious"
"Here you go" she says adding ketchup to the bacon sarnie and handing it to me.
She picks up the other one and starts eating. As she is eating it she makes two cups of tea and passes one to me. When we have finished our breakfast she cuddles up to me on the sofa and we start kissing. We head into the bedroom again! We spend all day in bed apart from getting drinks and food to eat at various times.

***************************

The next morning I get up and have a shower before putting on my now very filthy clothes. I don't mind though because they smell of her. We have breakfast and then I say I really must head home. Before I leave I make sure to arrange a date for the next evening.

When I get home I notice lots of missed calls on my phone, all from Amy, how strange. Once I have showered, changed into some clean clothes and done the jobs that need doing I give her a call.

"Hi Amy" I say when she answers.
"Hey Jase, I've been so worried, are you okay?"
"haha I'm fine, better than fine actually" I say.
"So did you have fun clubbing?" she asks.
"Yes, and since then actually, I only left Lisa's a couple of hours ago!"
"A couple of hours ago" she repeats sounding shocked.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
She pauses and then says "Yes of course, sorry"
I'm annoyed because she doesn't seem to be very happy for me so I say "You've been acting weirdly since Friday, you not happy about me and Lisa?" I ask.
"Yes I'm very happy for you" she says and then pauses before adding "I can't talk to you about this over the phone, can we meet tomorrow?"
"Of course" I say. "I'm seeing Lisa at eight so it'll have to be before that"

We arrange to meet at the pub at six.

I have a busy day at work but once I am cleaned up and dressed ready for my date I head to the pub. I'm the first to arrive so I buy a pint of fosters for me and half for Amy and sit down waiting for her to arrive. She heads in the door a couple of minutes later and sits down before taking a sip of her drink.

"Hi Jase" she says.
"Hi Amy" I say and add "So what did you need to say to me?"
"Um" she says nervously "Have you ever fancied a friend?"
I blush feeling foolish but she's made me think of all the years I've fancied her. I say "Yes I have"
"Well I like a friend too, I've always" she pauses and then continues "liked you"
"Oh, why didn't you tell me this before?" I ask.
"I thought it would ruin our friendship" she says looking vulnerable "I hope it hasn't?"
"It's just ironic really because I liked you the moment I met you, you made me laugh so much and still do"
"Why didn't you ask me out?" she asks.
"There are always men around you asking you out but you never give them the time of day"
"What men!" she replies confused which annoys me as there are always so many men interested in her!!
"Tell me, when Lisa and I left on Friday, did any men come and speak to you?" I ask already knowing the answer.
She thinks for a minute and then says "Maybe one of two losers"
"Exactly!!" I say irritated. "You always call them losers but they're just guys interested in you! If I had asked you out when we first met you would have given me the same disinterested response!" I try to calm down as I don't want to upset her but she needs to understand this.

She doesn't respond to what I've said. I look at my watch and say I have to go and meet Lisa now" and quickly finish my drink.

"So what I told you doesn't make any difference?" she asks "You're still going to date Lisa?"
"Yes, you're too late, I really like Lisa, but we'll always be friends right?"
"Yes of course" she replies with tears in her eyes. I can't stay and comfort her, I need to get to Lisa's so I ignore the tears and head out the door.

I have a wonderful meal with Lisa and another night of staying at her's. The next day after work I call Amy, partly to check she's okay and partly because I'm excited to share with her about my date. When I call her she sounds excited and tells me about this guy Gavin who she is going on a date with the next evening. I'm happy for her and relieved as it means our friendship will be fine. I tell her about my date with Lisa and how well things are going. I smile as I get off the phone, happy that she has listened to what I said. I can't wait to find out how her date went!