Requested by and dedicated to Tolkienite3791

~ Best Friends And The Joys Of Having One ~

You know, best friends are some of the greatest gifts we will ever receive in life. They are a blessing bestowed upon us by the highest powers we can believe in; our own gods, fate, coincidence, dumb luck-- whichever it may be. Best friends are there for us just as we must be there for them, and we make some of the best memories we will ever make with them by our sides.

Which is why I simply couldn't believe mine was such a CURSE! I loved my best friend to death, and he had been there for me in my best and worst moments, but sweet milk in the pitcher, sometimes I could just KILL him.

"Thanks for the ride, (Y/N), I r-really appreciate it. You have a nice car."

He was high off his ass right then. He didn't even realize that we were on my motorcycle, not in my car, because that was in the shop from when he accidentally crashed it into a brick wall the week before.

"Ohhh, shit. I just realized we're on a bike. No wonder the wind is so strong. Your hair tastes marvelous, by the way, I'm enjoying having it in my face."

Well, he figured that out, but he didn't seem to have figured out that I could toss him off the bike at any moment.

"Shut up and just hold on, Duff. I'm taking you to my place for the night because you clearly can't look after yourself."

"'You clearly can't look after yourself,'" he mocked in a high-pitched voice, then mumbled, "I can look after myself."

"No, you can't. And don't try jumping off at the next light, either, because I will run over you."

"You wouldn't."

"Right. I'll just run the lights so you don't get the chance."

"You wouldn't."

"Don't do it and that's that."

I heard him give a little sigh before resting his head on my left shoulder so I could feel him nodding his agreement. I thought he would move his head then, but he didn't. I drew the quick conclusion that he must've fallen asleep in his cross-faded state. I turned my head to look at him, but his eyes were open. He moved his head to the left a little and turned it to look directly into my eyes. I couldn't help but grin and turn my head back to the road so he could settle his head again.

He had really nice eyes.

We made it to my place with no further complications, which I had almost expected because neither of us were wearing helmets (it's a long story). Duff almost fell as he got off the bike. I laughed and stood up and grabbed his arm. I lifted it and put myself under it, then wrapped it around myself so I could help him walk. Of course, I had to hold his hand for that to work, and of course, he had something to say about that.

"If you wanted to hold hands, you could've just asked," he said, looking down and grinning, moving his eyebrows up and down twice.

I didn't say anything, but as soon as we were in an empty hallway, I kicked his foot to make him stumble. That wasn't a good idea. He couldn't catch himself, and I wasn't strong enough to hold him up by myself. Unable to get out from under his arm in time, I fell with him. He turned on his back, and of course I just had to fall on top of him.

"Well, that one's new," he said, his face inches from mine. His eyes were relaxed and he had a little smile on his lips, but I had a more scandalized reaction.

"Jeez, Duff, you are drunk and high as hell."

"If I'm high, shouldn't it be 'as heaven'?"

"Shut up," I said, sitting up. Unfortunately, that put me in a very awkward position, and it was at that moment that one of my neighbors happened to walk by.

"Hey, (Y/N), ya finally found yourself a boyfriend. Couldn't wait to get inside, huh?"

"No, it's not what it looks like," I tried to explain. I couldn't even bring myself to move.

"Sure, say what you want. See you around. Enjoy that man of yours."

She turned the corner and was gone, leaving me in sputtering mode. Then came the stupid remark from under me.

"I know we've been friends for a while, but you didn't have to... fall for me."

"For the last time, shut the hell up," I said, whacking the side of his head. I moved my leg around and got off him, landing heavily on the floor by his side. He took a breath and sat up.

"Come on, you drunk weakling. Let's move."

I helped him stumble into the apartment, then moved his arm from around me and shoved him onto the couch.

"Go to sleep, now," I said, throwing a pillow at his face and another at his chest.

"Wait, no, don't go yet."

I sighed and sat on the couch next to him. "TV?"

He nodded and I handed him the remote. He went through the channels until he found some cartoon, then settled back and put his arm around me. I nudged my shoes off and brought my feet up onto the couch, then snuggled into his side. His hold around me tightened a little, bringing me even closer to him. I put my arm around his waist, realizing we probably looked more like a couple than just friends. But that didn't matter.

We sat like that for a while, neither of us saying anything. I moved my head to look at him, and he moved his to look at me. Still no words were spoken.

I didn't really get the chance to step back and think about the situation. All I knew was that the both of us were slowly moving in, and neither was making any attempt to move away. It was as if a very strong magnet had been place between us, and we were both being pulled together.

If there really was a magnet, we must've cast it aside, because my eyes had closed and it was just the two of us kissing like lovers, not friends. And when I thought about it, that didn't seem like a bad thing at all.

But he wasn't in the right state of mind. I couldn't do that to him. Who knew how he really felt about me and our friendship-- he certainly didn't, not at the moment, at least. Which is why I had to resist my emotions and pull away.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I-I can't. You're drunk and high. You don't know what you're doing."

"Yes, I do. I might be... that, but I know I love you."

"I love you too, Duff, but there's-"

"I don't mean 'love' in a friend way. I mean love love."

"Duff." My voice was barely audible. I didn't even know what to say.

"I meant that. Drunk and high or not." His eyes shifted back and forth between mine, and, unable to control myself, I kissed him again.

I came to my senses a minute later. Sorry about this, Duff. I pulled back and shoved him onto his side. He made a funny little noise of complaint, but not long after, he was asleep.

I had the rest of the night to myself to think. Yeah, I loved him, but was it love love (to quote him)? We'd been there for each other through everything-- family conflicts, sad moments, happy moments, even previous romantic partners. He was the one that was there for me after my first heartbreak, and I was there when he needed help understanding that he had a crush. He had helped me through my troubles with records and hot chocolate, and I'd helped him pick out his next romantic target, ensuring it was someone that wasn't likely to hurt him.

Deep down, I knew the truth. There had been no stupid magnet-- if there was, he was it. Nothing had forced me to kiss him except the love I felt for him. Maybe I had just misunderstood that love before.

Well, I sure as hell understood it now. Only problem was I couldn't be sure if he had meant what he had said. He really had been quite drunk; who was to say it wasn't just rambling?

I ended up falling asleep a while later, the whole thing still on my mind.

***
I was awake, but I didn't feel like opening my eyes. Lucky for me it was my day off, and I didn't have to get up. Which was good, because I felt extremely comfortable. A little too comfortable, in fact...

There was someone breathing below me. I opened my eyes and realized that I was lying on top of Duff, who was still fast asleep. If I moved just a couple of inches forward, our noses would be touching. I also noticed his arms were wrapped around me, and mine were around him.

We had fallen asleep hugging before, but this was in a whole other category. This was how couples woke up. And I remembered everything that had happened the night before, but last I checked we were not a couple.

I managed to get out of his hold without immediately waking him up. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, and as I was doing so his own fluttered open.

"(Y/N)? What- what happened? Uh, good morning."

"Good morning," I said, smiling at him, "and nothing. You just got hammered and I had to bring you here."

"Right..." His eyes searched the ceiling, as if trying to remember something. I nodded and stood up, patting his knee. I went to the kitchen to get him some water and something for his headache, then came back and sat on the couch.

He was sitting up now, an unreadable expression on his face. I handed him the stuff and he gave me a very small 'thanks' before taking the pill and drinking the water.

I sat down next to him and watched him for a second. His eyes shifted around the floor, finally settling at a point on my knee.

"Please don't hate me," he whispered.

Okay, that was unexpected. I was floored. How could he ever think I would hate him?

"What?" I wish I could have said something more reassuring, but I was too surprised.

"I remember now... what happened last night. You didn't tell me, so I guess that means you must've wanted me to forget it. Which probably means you don't like me like that and hate me for what I did and said... but I couldn't stand it if you kicked me out of your life. I would understand if you did, but please, please don't. We can pretend it never happened, I promise I'll never accidentally spill my stupid feelings again. I'm sorry, I really am..."

"Duff, I don't... I couldn't..."

He dropped his head into his hands and said, "it's okay, I get it. I don't blame you, I know what a pain I must be. I'm a shitty friend, and I put you through a lot. I'm sorry."

"No, Duff, listen to me. I could never hate you. Ever. You are the best friend I've ever had, and I would rather die than have you leave me. Sure, you can be a lot to handle, but I love that about you. And don't you dare call yourself a bad friend. You have been there for me in ways no one else ever has or will. I love you, truly, I do, and I couldn't lose you."

He shook his head, which was still in his hands. "It's still agony. I'm such an idiot. I let myself fall... But how could I not? You- I've never- I'm sorry."

"Fall?"

"In love with you," he finally said. "I'm in love with you. So... so fucking deep in it, that I think I'll drown if I keep going this way. I've been denying it for so long because I didn't want to ruin what we had, but now I've gone and done just that."

"Duff..." I couldn't speak. He looked so sad, and tears were forming in my eyes because he really thought there was a chance I could ever hate him.

I scooted closer and reached out, gently grabbing the sides of his face and forcing him to look at me. His eyes were red and wouldn't meet mine at first, but when they did, well... let's just say that moment sparked more emotion in my heart than I had ever felt with anybody else.

That one moment was quickly outshone, however, by the next. Fueled by the intense love I felt for him in that moment, I brought his face closer to mine, and he helped me by closing the last few centimeters of space between us and placing his lips upon mine.

Everything we'd ever been through together was flashing through my mind-- the good, the bad, everything. But the bad didn't matter anymore. The feeling that was currently taking over my body was on another level. Every inch of me was on fire. I never wanted that moment to stop, for it felt like all the flowers in the world were in bloom, right there in my chest.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and the kiss was over much too soon.

"Look, Duff, I... I'm not going to deny it. I love you, more than I could have ever thought possible. You helped me realize that. I can't stuff back those feelings now that they're out in the open, and what's more, I don't want to."

"(Y/N)," he softly began. His eyes must've been miles deep in mine. "What we have is incredible, indescribable, incomparable-- and a whole list of other words, all of them good, by the way. I can probably never fully express how I feel about you, but I can sure try. If you'll let me."

"You don't have to, Duff. In fact, say less, because I remember you telling me once a very long time ago that actions speak louder than words."

"If you remember further back, you'll recall that I said that because you didn't want to give me any chocolate and yet kept telling me you still loved me. I would've believed you, had you given me that chocolate."

I laughed. "Don't ruin my reasoning, okay?"

He gave me a little grin and nodded. "Okay."

"But you have to know: I really couldn't hate you, ever. I-I love you, Duff."

"I love you too."

Nothing he'd ever put me through was a curse; it was a blessing. I'd just not seen that until now, but I was glad my vision had cleared.

"Do I get an upgrade yet?"

"Huh?"

"From best friend to boyfriend."

I was glad to see he was back to being his normal self.

"No, sorry. I don't want to lose my best friend."

"Fuck that guy, man."

I gave him a stupid grin and he lightly shoved my shoulder.

"You're worse than me. Anyway, I'd still be your best friend, okay? There's just a few other things included in the contract."

"Like friends with benefits."

"Can you not-- ruin-- what I'm trying to say? Just say yes, dammit."

I laughed at his obvious irritation and nodded.

"Okay," he said, moving closer again as a little smile grew on his mouth, "okay."

I really loved my best friend-- er, boyfriend.

***

This one was actually pretty quick. I started it a while back, but I wrote most of it today. And it's almost as long as the one from yesterday. I don't know why these are just getting longer... but eh.

Anyway, this one was different. It started off sweet and simple, something a little cliché and funny, and then it took a turn and suddenly I was writing a much longer story. I hope it meets everyone's standards. I'm actually pretty happy with the end product. Well, until the next update! See you all :)