"He's being very persistent lately."

"Who?" Chalie asked.

"Leo."

"About what?"

"Meeting."

That got my dear friend to look away from the T.V. It was a Saturday night, we were having a sleep over at her place and watching all the High School Musical movies. Two was currently playing in the background as Charlie turned her focus on me.

"Why?"

I bit down in my lip as I muled over the same question in my head. "I honestly don't know. He's just been dropping not-so subtle hints a whole lot in the past couple of days."

Charlie hummed, her eyes slipping back to the movie for a few seconds, before they were back on me. "Do you think he likes you?"

I won't lie, I entertained the thought and it made me all giggly, but thankfully I was the embodiment of common sense, sometimes, and I reminded myself that no sane human being would fall for someone they haven't seen, who is practically a stranger. I knew I wouldn't. The only reason I had a crush on Leo was because I knew him. I knew he was Leonardo Bracci, the most popular guy from my school. To him, I was just Justine, the girl he accidentally sent his nudes to, and his friend.

"No." I shook my head. "From what I can tell, he just wants to meet so he could put a face to my name. And hang out in person. Apparently, I'm a pretty cool person."

The smack that descended upon the back of my head made my neck snap forward and my chin to collide not-so gently with my chest. "Ow!"

"What the hell are you doing setting yourself up to be in the friend zone?!" Charlie growled, clearly frustrated with me. "Are you a masochist or something?!"

"It's not like I could do anything about it!" My retort sounded like whining, but seriously, what did she expect me to do?

Charlie rolled her eyes. "I call bullshit. This is when you start flirting."

I scoffed in return. "You say that as if I have any experience in that area. Plus, out of all of our texts, he's always just been friendly! No flirting from his end, so why should I?"

"Oh, I don't know," she trails off with a shrug, then continues with vigor, "To let him know you like him?! That's what normal people do!"

"Excpet nothing about us is normal! I mean who else do we know that accidentally sent someone their nudes, then befriends that person?" Charlie opened her mouth, froze, then snapped it back shut. I shook my head. "That's not normal, Lee."

We lapsed back into silence, both of us only mildly paying attention to High School Musical 2. She turned bak to me. "Why don't you just tell him who you are then?"

My brows rose involuntarily. "Why should I do that?"

"Because at this point, it's your only option, boo."

I felt my lower lip jut out in a defiant pout as I crossed my arms over my chest, and leaned back against the headboard of Charlie's bed. The fluffy pillows almost swallowed me. She was right, of course. I can't keep dodging Leo for the rest of my high school days, because if I do, I might end up slipping and I didn't want to think of how that will end up for me. Better let him know who I am on my own terms. And if friendship is the only thing Leo offers me, then I'll take friendship, no matter how much the thought makes my heart throb painfully.

❤

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