Just Friends Read online

  Just Friends

  Copyright © 2016 by Billy Taylor

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, or events used in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, alive or deceased, events or locales is completely coincidental.

  eBook design by Maureen Cutajar

  www.gopublished.com

  Print ISBN: 978-1530511518

  For my family x

  Table of Contents

  April 16th

  April 26th

  May 1st

  May 16th

  May 22nd

  May 23rd

  May 24th

  May 25th

  May 26th

  May 27th

  May 31st

  June 3rd

  June 9th

  June 10th

  June 13th

  June 14th

  June 20th

  June 21st

  June 22nd

  June 25th

  July 1st

  July 4th

  July 5th

  July 10th

  July 21st

  July 22nd

  August 8th

  August 9th

  August 16th

  August 17th

  August 20th

  August 27th

  August 28th

  September 1st

  September 2nd

  September 12th

  September 13th

  September 19th

  September 20th

  September 21st

  September 29th

  October 1st

  October 5th

  October 10th

  October 11th

  October 12th

  October 19th

  October 20th

  October 31st

  November 1st

  November 3rd

  November 15th

  November 16th

  November 20th

  November 23rd

  November 29th

  December 1st

  December 2nd

  December 10th

  December 16th

  December 17th

  December 19th

  December 20th

  December 21st

  December 22nd

  December 24th

  December 25th

  April 16th

  Today is a special day for two reasons. The first is that it’s the twelve-year anniversary of meeting my bestfriend Ethan Knight. The second is that it’s the nineteenth birthday of my bestfriend Ethan Knight. Before I go on, the story of how we met should be told.

  My parents and I had moved house, the small house we lived in had become too small. I was six and had started at my new school with a whole load of kids I’d never met. Ethan and I were in separate classes during my first week of school, so we didn’t meet. Until one day, his Dad asked my parents if I wanted to go to his seventh birthday party. Ethan’s Dad knew I was new in school so it should be a nice opportunity for me to try to make new friends. It was the last thing I wanted to do because I was a stubborn child, but looking back on it now, I’m glad my parents forced me to go. Meeting Ethan is my favourite childhood memory.

  I was still frowning at my freckled cheeks in the mirror even after they had dropped me off. I tied my long, dark blonde hair up in the mirror. My Mum had spent forever brushing it, but I hated having my hair brushed when I was younger. I ventured into the kitchen and grabbed a slice of cake that had been placed on napkins along the side. It was an indulging chocolate fudge cake. I swear each slice was the same size as my face. I popped it onto a plate. I was a clumsy kid and knew I’d drop cake somewhere. The other kids in attendance were all screaming and running around in the garden. Meanwhile, I was sitting on the sofa inside, eating Ethan’s birthday cake, alone.

  After two or three minutes of silence, a boy came running past wearing a top hat, cape and white gloves. Don’t forget the magic wand. I’d never met Ethan before so I had no idea who I was looking for to say happy birthday to. After he ran through the kitchen he casually walked backwards, poking his head around the corner, staring at me. I gave him an awkward smile and wiped my fingers and face with my napkin.

  “Who are you?” He curiously asked, strolling over.

  “I’m August, happy birthday by the way.” I said with a mouth full of cake.

  He removed his top hat, allowing his long, brown hair to fall across his forehead, half covering his eyes. He extended his right hand towards me and said, “Pleased to meet you August. Do you want to see a magic trick? I’ve been practising all day.”

  I paused and examined his appearance. He was so small. I was taller than him at this stage. He was wearing the pearliest white tie I had ever seen. Not that I’d seen many of them, but that tie could’ve advertised teeth whitening.

  “Ok.” I said, shaking his hand.

  I moved the plate off my lap and onto the sofa cushion beside me. He removed his gloves and threw them over his shoulders onto the floor behind him. He then stuck his hand into his hat and pulled out a deck of cards. Retrieving them from the pack he fanned them out in front of me.

  “Before you pick a card I want you to think of a number between one and ninety-nine for me, please.”

  I frowned at him and leant back on the sofa and hummed. After a few seconds of consulting in my head I chose the number seventy-three.

  “You got one?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

  “Yes.” I replied, gripping my knees.

  Magic bewildered me growing up. Although, not as much as the guys who could make balloon animals. Those guys were literal geniuses. He shuffled the deck in an emphatic fashion before fanning them out in front of me. I perused amongst them cautiously, I didn’t want to make it too obvious.

  “We don’t have all day you know.” He said, nudging the cards closer.

  I hadn’t wiped my hands properly after eating the cake and my smudgy fingers marked the card of my choice in chocolate cake. I selected my card and turned it over. And there it was, the seventy-three of hearts. Well, a seven of hearts with a three drawn next to the seven in black marker pen. Still, I found it astonishing.

  “How did you do that?” I asked with a grin.

  “A magician never reveals his tricks, August. However, nothing is over yet.” He pulled a lighter and a black marker pen from his pocket and waved them around in front of me.

  “Will you write your name on the card for me please?”

  I rubbed my hands on the napkin again to prevent any further cake prints on the card. I didn’t have a signature or anything fancy at six years old, so I wrote my name and drew a smiley face next to it. My fingers were still greasy so my handwriting appeared messy.

  “I will now set this card on fire, doing so will move the card into your shoe… ready?” He said, holding the lighter up to the bottom of the card.

  “Wait… you’re setting my shoe on fire?” I asked.

  “Why would I set your shoe on fire, August?” He replied, blank faced.

  “You said you’re going to set the card on fire and put it in my shoe.”

  “This card will go into your shoe after I’ve set it on fire, it won’t be on fire in your shoe. Ok?”

  We looked at each other confused.

  “Can I take my shoe off first? I don’t want it to burn my feet.”

  He flapped his arms by his side. “August, the fire will come nowhere near your shoe or feet, ok?”

  I cheekily grinned at him. “I was just kidding!”

  He angrily smirked at me and flicked the lighter on undern
eath the card. Suddenly it went up in flames and within a second or two, dissipated into thin air. It didn’t even leave a mark on the cream carpet. I flicked off my shoes, to my disappointment there wasn’t a card there. Ethan snatched at my shoes and stuck his hands inside them.

  “Where is it?” He whispered, sticking one of my shoes right into his face and peering into it.

  “I still liked it.” I said, trying to encourage him.

  He dropped my shoes by my feet and walked away. Before I could ask him to stay, he’d gone. I suddenly became so alone and wished for his return. Moments after feeling sorry for myself he ran back in with two cartons of juice in his hands.

  “I got juice.” He said, throwing one towards me.

  I flapped it at and pushed it away from me, I’m terrible at catching things, even now at eighteen years old. He giggled at me, scooped it back up, placing it back into my hands and slumped beside me on the sofa. I unhooked the straw from the back and pierced the foiling, then sipped away at the blackcurrant juice. I looked over at him, he was observing me with delight.

  “What are you looking at?” I asked, shuffling myself away from him.

  He smiled, “You’re very pretty.”

  Such a statement may have startled me and I may have spat out the juice in my mouth over him. I tried to raise my hand and stop it, but my reactions were far too slow. He saw what was coming and closed his eyes to prevent the juice from entering them. There was a brief silence between us where I assumed I was in the worst possible trouble, ever. I watched in despair as the juice dribbled down his face. He laughed and wiped his eyes. “Thanks.”

  “I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t mean to do it!” I shouted.

  Ethan stood and shook himself. “Oh no my tie!”

  He grabbed it and attempted to wipe away the juice sprayed across it, but it smeared, making it worse. “Ah, this was Mum’s tie.”

  He ran off into the kitchen, stood on the stool infront of the sink and rinsed water over his tie, scrubbing at it furiously.

  I rushed behind him. “I’m sure she’ll have another one.” My pathetic attempt at reassuring him. I was a kid, so I wasn’t superb at many social matters yet.

  “This was her only one. Don’t worry, August, my Dad will clean it later.”

  I watched the purple coloured water flow down the drain, and guilt engulfed my emotions. “Is your Mum here? I’ll go apologise now and say it was my fault.” I asked, gripping his arm.

  He looked at me from atop of his stool and smiled. “She died not long after my birth.”

  I tucked my hair behind my ears and looked to the floor. I’ve always done this when I’m nervous or embarrassed. Or in this case, both.

  “I’m sorry.” I said to the floor.

  “Oh it’s ok, I sometimes just wish I could have met her. I’m sure she was a nice lady.”

  Ethan’s Dad then came into the kitchen. “Hey bud, what happened to you?” He asked.

  My eyes bulged up at Ethan. I needed to avoid getting into trouble straight away.

  “Oh, the juice pouch had a leak in it and when I squeezed it, it sprayed onto me.” Ethan replied.

  At the time I thought he’d saved my life. His Dad’s face dropped as he saw the tie. It would’ve had significance to him too since it was his wife’s. “I’ll see if I can get that cleaned up later kiddo.” He ruffled Ethan’s hair. “Hey! Hop off your stool and have a photo with your friend here. September right?” Ethan’s Dad mood suddenly changed, pulling a camera out from his back pocket.

  “August.” I corrected moodily.

  “I’m winding you up August, stop being so grumpy!”

  I smirked through my sulk. Ethan hopped off his stool and put his arm over my shoulder as we posed for the photo.

  We’ve been best friends ever since that day, and we still have a photo taken together every birthday, and Christmas as well. It’s our little tradition. I gave Ethan my old school tie to replace his white one. It was a maroon and dark navy diagonally striped tie, and then I made my Mum take me shopping to buy him another white one. I arrived at the party without a present, so it was the right thing to do. We didn’t find a white one, so we bought him a plain black one instead. His Dad managed to get the stains out anyway. Every birthday and Christmas since, I have bought him a tie. It started off as a joke, but then it became a genuine thing.

  Choosing a tie for his nineteenth birthday I found difficult. After long searches online, I decided upon a plain black tie with his initials stitched into it in white. He appreciated it more than I expected. This morning, when he knocked on my door to walk me to college he wasn’t wearing a tie, as he knew he would receive one. Since he’d received a tie on his birthday for the last twelve years. I tied it for him and patted his chest once I’d finished.

  “Very smart.” I said and hugged him, wishing him happy birthday.

  You’d think for his birthday we’d organise a huge gathering and have a crazy party with our large group of friends. But, we have no friends. One other friend to be exact, Max Parker, or Maximus, it depends on how much he likes you. Max was the only one we’d allow in our circle of friendship. We run a tight shift. Max and I insisted we take Ethan to a bar to celebrate his birthday. Drinking isn’t something we look forward too. We don’t go out often so we thought it would be fun. Our idea of a night out – or in – is to order pizza and sit inside watching a movie, or Ethan will show off one of his new magic tricks. Yes, twelve years on, he is still performing magic. He’s exceptional at it now. He’s made the impossible appear possible.

  So, Ethan, Max and I found this new bar not too far away from our homes and we sat and drank. Rather responsibly too. It was a casual evening, but things would soon get out of hand.

  “Shall I get us another round?” Max asked, already standing to make his way to the bar. We were all on the verge of entering the quite drunken state, and I think Ethan and I both recognised this.

  “I think it’s time to go home now bud,” Ethan said, glancing over at me in search of support with his comment. I nodded. “I think it’s time to go too, Max.”

  Max wafted his hands at us. “Fine, let me go to the loo first.”

  “Have you enjoyed your evening?” I asked Ethan, resting my head on his shoulder.

  “I have indeed.” Ethan replied, sipping down the last of his drink.

  We sat there in silence for a minute or two before I saw Max return out of the corner of my eye. He was holding a tray full of shots like your parents would hold a birthday cake. He sung happy birthday as he placed the tray down in front of us. He had the silliest grin on his face and raised his eyebrows to emphasis how pleased he was with himself. Ethan and I sighed in unison. The tray was full with shots, and I mean full.

  “Jesus, how many did you buy, Max?” Ethan asked, analysing the tray.

  “Well I made a deal with the barman and got six shots for ten pound, so I got us six each!”

  He passed Ethan and I a small shot of red liquid.

  “Bottoms up,” Max said, wafting his brown-black hair off his forehead and tilting back his head, downing the shot.

  Ethan and I paused before clinking glasses and downing ours. The next thing I knew, Ethan was carrying me in his arms. I must have passed out, too drunk to show embarrassment, and then I was sick. Ethan isn’t my best friend, he’s more of a… guardian angel. He’s always there to guide me and look over me, or catches me when I fall. In this case, carry me home because I was too drunk to do so myself.

  I woke up the next morning laid on Ethan’s bare chest in his bed. I jumped up at once, tripping and falling out of bed, dragging the bed quilt with me. It wasn’t the smartest move. I’ll admit my head felt as if it was going to explode. I gripped my forehead as a blinding pain shot through it. My head spun while I stared at the ceiling.

  “Twelve years and we finally slept together!” Ethan said, rising upright after being awoken by my clumsiness.

  “No!” I shouted at him in despair. “We didn’t!�
��

  He wafted his arms at me. “No you moron, we didn’t. You kept saying you were cold, so I stayed with you, you should see your face right now!” Ethan replied, bursting into laughter.

  I threw a pillow at him and returned to clutching my head.

  April 26th

  Just before midday, I dragged myself out of bed, forcing myself to do something productive with my Saturday.

  “What are you two doing?” I asked as I entered the living room to find Ethan and Madeline sat on the floor with a couple of arts and craft boxes out.

  “We’re making friendship bracelets.” Madeline replied, adding a couple of beads to the tiny tube in her tiny hands.

  “Aw how cute.” I replied, crouching beside her and brushing her beautifully long ginger hair aside to kiss her freckled cheek.

  “Good morning dear.” Ethan said, pushing his cheek in my direction.

  I squinted at him for a moment. “Fine you can have one as well, morning.” I crouched over and kissed his cheek.

  He was still wearing the new tie I had bought him for his birthday. He always has a couple of weeks after his birthday where he doesn’t take off his new tie.

  “So are you making me one?” I asked, feeling left out.

  “If you wasn’t nocturnal maybe you could have made one with us.” Ethan replied, nudging me with his elbow.

  “I’m one step ahead of you, I’ve nearly finished yours now, August.” He added, awkwardly flapping with a bracelet in his hands.

  “Need a hand there?” I asked sarcastically.

  He looked me dead in the eye, “I got it.”

  I noticed Mum and Dad weren’t around and since it was a Saturday they shouldn’t be working. “Where are Mum and dad?”

  She tied the friendship bracelet together with her teeth. “They asked Ethan to babysit while they went shopping or something.”

  I frowned, “Well why didn’t they ask me? I can babysit you. I always do.”

  Her cute eyes flicked up and glanced over at Ethan. “He’s not here to babysit me.”

  I rolled my eyes at them. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”

  She grinned, “Like an hour.”

  She giggled, then Ethan laughed. I sulked at them both.

  “I get yours, he gets mine, and you get his. See,” She slid the bracelet along her wrist and raised it to my face. It was miles to big for her, but I’m sure that won’t bother her. She’ll grow into it as my Dad would say. The well-arranged multicoloured bracelet was spectacular. She twizzled it around to show me the side that had AUGUST spelt out. A different coloured plastic bead seperated each letter. Ethan lifted his wrist to show me his. It was white and black, spelling out MADDIE. Only Ethan is allowed to call Madeline, Maddie. She demanded everyone else call her Madeline.