Aileen turned on her heel and went into the living room. She sat in her chair and waited as I came behind her. I took my coat and scarf off and sat opposite her, "So, what's happening?" 

"I think you need an intervention," she looked at me with worried eyes.

"What intervention," I planned to feign innocence for as long as I could.

"What intervention, she asks," Aileen said to an imaginary crowd. 

She sometimes spoke as her favourite character from movies, books or TV shows. She would make references to them all the time, so there would never be a dull moment while living with her and her comments. She loved to listen to and watch other people's stories and lives, but sometimes she was too afraid to live her own. I noticed that my life and my newly blossomed friendship with Alex had already become her latest obsession. 

The room fell quiet after her little monologue for a nonexistent audience. She decided that giving me the silent treatment and staring at me, coupled with the late hour she chose for this intervention, would prompt me to speak.

"Okay," I sighed knowing she was a night owl and would just keep me on the couch until I spoke.

"We're just friends," I started but was quickly interrupted by her opinion.

"Mhm, of course, you are," she did that little eye roll she was known for. 

"Yes, we are," I was firm about this. I believed I would not re-develop feelings about Alex, no matter how much time we would be spending together. 

"I am helping him out. You know how I spent the majority of the summer semester with Dylan and we just talked. I am doing the same with Alex. I guess he is lonely," I looked into her honey-coloured eyes.

"He is not lonely," she exclaimed while throwing her hands in the air to express disappointment, "he has his whole team around him, he has his girlfriend and he is rich enough to get ten psychologists if he wants to." 

I understood her concerns and counter-thoughts, but I also knew the other side of it, so I said "His teammates wouldn't know about mental health if it kicked them in the asses, remember last year how it was with Dylan?"

"His girlfriend L..." I stopped myself, concerned about the fact that I would be breaching my confidentiality with Alex. "How many people knew that his girlfriend cheated on him?" I paused, reconsidering my words before I spoke. 

"He no longer has a girlfriend, and mental health is a taboo in his household, his dad doesn't want any family secrets coming out," I concluded with a stern look on my face. 

I tried to argue with Aileen about my reasons for talking with Alex, but I already saw the little wheels in her head turning. Her eyes began to sparkle when she knew she could give me a counterattack. 

"So, he is single?" she automatically went to the one point of our conversation that wasn't necessary to pinpoint. 

"Yes," I carefully answered her.

"Well, well, well.." she cooly smiled, "I know a certain someone that had a little crush on him last year. Are your intentions really that noble or are you just going for that D that everyone was talking about?" 

I rolled my eyes, this girl, I loved her to death but sometimes she was too confident in thinking that she hit the nail on the head, while completely missing it, "I don't have feelings for him anymore, at least I don't think I have." 

"I knew it," she almost screamed and made me deaf, "you totally still do." I could see her form the biggest smile. The one that touched a person's eyes. 

"No, I don't. I really don't," I tried denying her innuendos. "Look we are going kickboxing tomorrow. If I still had feelings, would I let him see me in my most dishevelled state?"

She put her finger on her lower lip and started thinking about what was said, "Probably not. But that doesn't mean that you are aware of your true feelings towards him."

I put up my hand in a solemn promise, "I promise you there aren't any feelings involved from my side, at least not that I am aware of."

"See this is exactly what I am worried about. You might still have feelings for him, you are just too scared to admit it to yourself." 

"So, what do you expect me to do? Give up on him?" I asked in bewilderment. Aileen didn't know how to answer that, so silence filled the small living room space for a couple of seconds. 

"You know, I can't just leave him. Not now, when I promised I would be there for our little talks," I slowly and unconfidently continued.

"I know," Aileen nodded in defeat, "it's just... This is not some 'help me' charity case, you are on. You may be helping him now, but you are toying with your feelings here, and I fear you're the one who's going to get hurt in the end." 

Her smile faded, and her eyes drifted far away from the little living room we were in. She was going through her memories of her own heartbreak. I didn't want her to go there. Some days were still better than others, but her heartbreak was still fresh and it would be some time before she would be prepared to trust again. 

"Look, I am sorry if I sound rude," I put my hand on her shoulder to comfort her, "but I don't think my story will be comparable to yours. I won't even have a story with Alex, not one as lovers at least. Friends at best," I said wholeheartedly and I caught myself believing every word I said. Maybe I really could make this work, maybe I wouldn't catch any feelings with Alex. 

"I know, I am sorry to be so against you two. You won't be like me. My lesson was teachable for the both of us," her eyes were back with me. However, they lacked compassion and genuine enthusiasm about my night and Alex. 

"Sorry, I made it about me again," she shook her head trying to hide the tears forming in her eyes. 

"Hey, it's all right nobody expects you to be okay, not after everything," I tried to hug her, but she quickly stood up avoiding my arms. 

"So this intervention didn't go as planned," she tried to joke as she stepped back towards the frame of the living room, "but just so you know, you can come to me in the end, if all things go sour. I'll be your shoulder. Like you've been mine. And if all the stars align, I am going to share the joy." 

She wanted to lighten up the situation but it didn't work. The tears were falling down her cheeks. However, she didn't sob; instead, she tried blinking to push them away. 

"I am tired, and I'll go to bed," she turned on her heel and walked swiftly to her room, leaving me in my dishevelled state.

I stayed alone on the small couch for a couple of minutes thinking to myself, how could I help a friend, if she didn't know how to ask for help or receive it?