My Promise to You

by Brate, Rose M.

• ISBN13: 9781477201886
• ISBN10: 1477201882
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-05-14
• Publisher: Textstream

Excerpts

On my way back from the bathroom he was sitting up staring at me. The look on his face was one of fear, bordering on terror. "Hey, you ok?" I asked. "Yes, just making sure you're ok." He shot back, a little quicker than he'd wanted. I couldn't help but notice the sweat that had beaded up on his face, and his hair was wet enough to be sticking to his forehead. He laid back down placing his hands behind his head. He returned his gaze to the ceiling. I stood for what felt like an eternity. As I started to head back to the bedroom, I took a couple steps, and stopped. I took a deep breath, walked over to the couch, lifted his legs and plopped down on the couch with him, placing his legs across my lap. Bold for me! I was a nervous wreck. I shocked even myself, but I did it. Pleased with myself I looked over at him and smiled. "Comfortable?" He asked. With what I thought to be a nervous smile with both his eyebrows raised. A breathy "Yes", Came out followed by "Quite. "Thanks for asking." Extremely nervous about what I was about to say, I stammered a bit. Confused by my actions, he shuffled a little till he was sitting up resting on his elbows. He looked at me, with his eyebrows slightly furrowed, I was careful to not let his legs fall from my lap. I commanded myself silently just do it, just do it! "Uh Tim?" I say in almost an inaudible whisper, while I fidgeted with the hem of his T-shirt. "Uh yes my dear." Now smiling slightly as to try and make whatever's bothering me easier to say. I smiled at his remark. I took in a big breath and slowly released it. "Wow, this must be really big, to require such a deep breath", he teased. "You have my undivided attention." Listen, I'd prefer you didn't look at me while I say what I'm about to say. Feeling my body start to shake. Drawing his eyebrows together puzzled at what I could mean by that he slowly slid his elbows out from underneath him to lay back into the couch, he arranged his hands once again under his head and returned his eyes back to the ceiling. "Ok, this is me, not looking at you, so shoot!" He said in a voice I know he tried to make sound jokingly. "Um, well this is slightly embarrassing." I could feel the blush warm my face. I watched my hands tremble as I continued to rub my fingers over the hem of the T-shirt. "Could be down right awkward depending on your reaction." I whispered. "But I need to ask you something." Not removing his legs from my lap he used both his arms to push himself up and support his weight while leaning up to look at me. "You can ask me anything. You know that." He professed. Now concern captured his features. I glanced briefly at him, my face hot from the blush that now concealed it. I cleared my throat, sighing, "Uh, you're looking at me again." Dropping himself back down to the couch and resting his head on the pillow. He turned his eyes to the ceiling, "Sorry. Go ahead." "Look Tim, I know you're, I mean you're not, I mean I know we're friends, and well you aren't like in love with me, or even think of me in that way or anything." Crap! I thought to myself, this is harder than I thought. I wasn't sure how I was going to continue. A long pause sat between us. He drew his eyebrows together again with a look of concern. He filled the silence saying, "ok, now you have my attention and I'm curious as to where you're going with this." He said in the form of a statement not a question. Feeling the perspiration starting to bead up on my forehead, I lowered my head to look at his legs. I forced my gaze to his feet so he wouldn't have a clear view of my face. I took another deep breath, and started again. "Look, please don't freak out", I could feel my heart assaulting my rib cage. "I've been having these feelings. I mean I think I have feelings for you." "They may be stronger than friendship." I couldn't believe I said it. I felt dizzy, the room even started to spin. I felt his legs beneath my hand tense and knew shock had seized his features. He slowly rose up to look at me. But I refused to meet his gaze. I kept my head turned away from him, looking now at the hem of his shirt I'd been playing with. "Feelings?" He asks. I heard him swallow. "Could you please explain what you mean? What feelings exactly?" I rolled my eyes, thinking he's going to make me say that again. Instead I said very softly, "I just thought, well I know we're great friends. I love spending time with you. I really do love our friendship but I was thinking," before I could finish my sentence his legs were off my lap, and firmly planted on the floor and his back straight as an arrow on the edge of the couch.