Cassie had literally been battling with these feelings for a while now. Because friends aren’t supposed to fall for one another. Then again friends aren’t supposed to spend endless hours together, kiss each other, share all the most intimate parts of theirselves. Cassie knew she couldn’t do it anymore. Hiding this secret was burning her and putting her friendship with Payton at risk.

It had been 2 weeks now since she started screening his calls and ignoring his messages. She needed to tell him for her own sanity and the sake of their own friendship.

‘Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck’ Cassie muttered under breathe trying to ease her nervous. She could feel her palms sweating as she took the phone in her hand to dial Payton’s number.

Phone rings 3 times before Payton picks up.

‘Cassie! Where have you been? I have got so much to tell you!’ He wasn’t angry more excited than anything.

Cassie’ face lit up. ‘Maybe he missed me? Maybe he actually does like me too?

“Hey Payton sorry I just had so much going on but I wanted to talk to you. Just hear me out. If I don’t just say it I’ll chicken out, ok?”. Cassie didn’t even realise how fast she was actually talking she didn’t even take a breath.

Payton paused unsure what to say or what was going on “go ahead. I’m all ears”.

“I think Ive fallen for you...no no I mean I’m in love with you”. There was a moment of complete silence before Payton burst out laughing “in love? You’re funny Cassie. Tell me what you wanted to tell me”

“I’m being serious. I’ve been trying to sort through my feelings but that’s how I feel”

The silence this time seemed to go on forever this time. “Well?”

“Cassie we are just friends. I’m sorry but I don’t see like that. I’m sorry I-I don’t know what to say” The concern in Payton’s voice didn’t comfort Cassie but irritate her if anything.

“We’re not just friends though, we’ve been you know, we’ve slept with each other and I-“

Payton interrupts Cassie “yeah but we were just messing around you know”

“Messing around?” Cassies irritation turned to anger.

“What the fuck Payton messing around? Messing around? You mess around with toys and objects not people and their feelings. Did you think that-“

Payton could clearly hear how he’d hurt Cassie.

That’s the thing with this day and age in modern romance. We don’t stop to consider other people’s feelings with the decisions we make for ourselves and indirectly them. As long as we get what we want we have no responsibility for how someone else is affected by our actions. What was supposed to happen when you lay down with someone, you hold them in your arms whilst you share your deepest darkest secrets. For one it’s a moment of vulnerability and letting someone in for the other it’s a moment to maybe be vulnerable but mainly topic to pass time. Sex is just sex right? Sex doesn’t equate to love. You can easily have sex with anyone if they are willing and consenting of course. But it’s the add-ons, that’s where they get you. They make you feel safe, they let you build a home in them and easily ghost you or move on to the next. A generation of ghosting and unrequited love stories.

“Cassie I’m sorry” Payton pauses and takes a deep breath “I shouldn’t assumed we were on the same page. I honestly didn’t think you’d think of me like that”

Cassie fights back the tears the least she could do was leave with her dignity. “It’s fine. I shouldn’t have said anything. I would have been screwed either way. I need some space”

Before Payton could even search for a response the dial tone rang in his ear. Cassie hung up.