Two Lives, One Friendship, No Regrets - viii. (cont'd)

Georgia sat on a bench outside city hall just watching the crowd of people skating around. The fresh air felt great against her cheeks as she contemplated what it was she wanted to do. She had resorted to lying to one of her closest friends just to get away from him. Did it make her feel any better? No. She wanted him by her side. She wanted to see him and not hide from him.

Would he hate her if she revealed that she loved him more than a friend? That all this time she had been denying and fighting herself from feeling anything for him?

She definitely had a lot to think about. The cat was out of the bag, and as much as she would love to just stuff it back in, there was no way. She found it harder this time to hide her feelings from herself. She had to think about the consequences of keeping her mouth shut or confessing and possibly losing him. If these past few days have been a sampling of what would happen, she didn't want to go through with any revelations. It didn't seem worth it.

I'd rather have him in my life than risk it and lose him.

They were friends and nothing more. That's how it had always worked for them, and that's how it will continue to do so. Things will go on like they have. She wasn't sure if he had a girlfriend in Fresca, but she chided herself to stop letting go of him just because he was attached. She was made of strong stuff and should be there to support him whenever he was in a relationship. Stop abandoning ship, she continued to reprimand herself.

Looking back towards the skating rink, she noticed that the crowd was clearing and that the wind was getting stronger. She didn't care. She needed the fresh air and it wasn't bone chilling just yet. They had heaters out to warm the skaters, anyway.

The clock on the old city hall struck 8PM. It was dark already, but she felt safe where she was on her bench. Lost in more of her thoughts she didn't bother looking up when random people would share the bench she sat on. One, however had not moved for quite some time and out of curiosity she looked up.

Gasp.
"I was waiting to for you to look up," Phoenix said looking straight into her eyes.
"So... Where's your hot date?" he asked.
"What hot date?"
"I don't know. You're the one who blew me off for other plans. But then I find you here - alone. What's going on Georgia?" He hated confrontations but he just wanted everything the way it was back then. How hard could it be?
"Oh, right. My plans got canceled. That's all." She felt so uncomfortable with his direct questions. Run away she could have, but her butt and feet kept her from moving. This was her peaceful place, wasn't it?!

"Why didn't you call me, then?" She shrugged again.
"I figured you'd be out with Fresca or have something else planned," she replied.
"But I asked you out tonight."
"So, it doesn't mean you wouldn't have asked anyone else after."
True, he thought. He had been asking Fresca out a lot each time Georgia blew him off for Ryan.
"Ok, that's true. But this time I figured I'd get some shopping done so I came here on my own."
Taking the opportunity to turn the conversation away from confrontational she asked, "What'd you buy? Your load looks pretty light," noting he wasn't carrying any shopping bags.
"I dropped my stuff off to get wrapped. I figured I'd get some fresh air out here," he answered.
"When I came out the doors, I recognized that damned hat of yours. I still don't understand why you still wear that thing," he chuckled.
She slapped his arm, defended herself by answering back.
"You're the one who bought it for me! Why'd you give it to me if you didn't want me to wear it?! It's pretty warm, really."
"It was called a gag gift for a reason," he smiled widely.
She couldn't help but return the smile. She didn't care if it was ridiculous!

The pompom hat had been one of those gag gifts they exchanged for Christmas one year. He was feeling cheeky and gave that as a gift. Little did they know it would turn out to be the warmest hat in the world, perfect for a night on the town. No matter how ridiculously colored it was; like the yarn had been tie-dyed by some 1970s hippie with violet, turquoise, green, hot pink and white.
"So? What did you buy?"
"I got some speakers for Ara."
"That's all?!"
"Why?"
"A tween does not want speakers for Christmas!"

"She's been bugging me for them for a few weeks now. Complaining about how one doesn't work."
"Yeah, she's complaining about them, but it doesn't mean you give that to her for Christmas. Chalk those speakers up on your everyday necessities list. Not on Ara's Christmas wish list."
"Seriously?"
"Yes!" She got to her feet, and pulled on his arm.
"Where are we going?"
"To find your little sister a REAL Christmas gift!"
"Fine," he said hiding his joy. She was back. Things were as simple as that.
"Ok, well moving your feet would make great progress," she laughed as he noticed he was just staring at her.
"Oh, right."
She chuckled, "let's go."

As they walked on, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Little did he know what battles Georgia had within her. The butterflies floated around in her tummy in swirls of happiness, but she refused to allow them to sore high. Temporary or not, she'd enjoy this evening out with her friend. They were just friends, and that's how it would have to be.

"...Gi, you listening?"
She snapped out of her little world and back to choosing what color Ara would like for her new iPod.
"What if we just go ahead and get the iTouch?"
"Is it better?"
Rolling her eyes, she smiled at her commercially-challenged friend and chided, "Don't be a cheapskate, big brother. She deserves it."
"You have no idea," he cryptically replied.
"We'll get this," he said to the cashier and paid for it.
"What do you have on your list, Gi?"

"You couldn't afford what I have on my list."
"Since when have you been materialistic?"
"Who said it was an object?"
"What is it?"
Shaking her head, she replied, "It's between Santa Claus and me."
"Keeping secrets from me, now?"
"We all keep secrets from the closest of people in our lives," she retorted.
Patting the sketch that was still in his breast pocket, he nodded in agreement.