Look who finally decided to show up"

I rolled my eyes; a grimace on my tired face. My phone was on loud, awaiting any message from Jamie's mother about his grandmothers condition.

Having a late night last night led to my exhaustion; and the fight that I was about to have. I didn't know why I decided to even show up to talk to him; he was being an insufferable asshole.

I knew I was supposed to have breakfast with him but fuck, there were something's that were more important; this being one of them.

"Whatever" I grumbled, taking a seat across the table from him. He peered at me over his menu, a hardened expression on his face.

"You were supposed to meet me here two hours ago"

"I had something I had to do, I'm sorry" I added the apology for good measure, despite feeling like I didn't owe him one.

"Something more important than seeing your boyfriend for breakfast?" He spat angrily.

"Yes, actually. You know the world doesn't revolve around you" I reminded him, with just as much anger behind my words as he had.

"You know you're not dating him, right?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah?"

"I come first. Not him" my eyes widened.

"He's my best friend, Der" I reminded him harshly. "I told you I'm sorry and that I'd have to reschedule"

"You shouldn't have to reschedule a date with me to be with another guy" he hissed.

"His grandmother had a stroke" I told him again, even though I knew it didn't matter to him. Regardless of what I had to do, nothing would excuse me missing breakfast with him.

"So?"

"So? He's really close with his grandmother, Der. It's kind of a big deal" I re-explained. After our initial fight on the phone, he called me again once I had dropped Jamie and Tyler off at the airport. We fought again, before I solemnly agreed to meet him for breakfast, as we were supposed to that morning.

"You have feelings for him, don't you?" His question caught me completely off guard.

"I beg your pardon?" I managed to squeak out.

"Youre in love with him; aren't you?"

"Where the hell is this coming from!?" I demanded, trying my best to keep my voice down.

"You didn't deny it" he hissed.

"Of course I'm going to deny it, Derek! We've been friends for years now!" I reminded him. I was beyond furious; what the hell was his problem?

"Then why do you always choose him over me?"

Just as he asked the question my phone buzzed, signally an incoming text. I peered at it, noticing it was Jamie's mother.

"See? You are even texting his goddamn mother" the anger in his eyes was something I'd never seen before.

"To keep updated on his grandmother" I told him with zero emotion. "I've met her a few times too; so what?" She visited a few times and of course Jamie introduced us; what was the big deal? I've known him since his rookie year. I unlocked my iPhone and looked at the message; she was going to be okay.

Without even thinking I sent a quick text off to Jamie, telling him not to worry; everything was going to be fine.

"Youre going to have to make a choice"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me"

"I know I heard you. I just can't believe you just said that" I muttered, furious. Why the hell would he ask me that?

"Youre not leaving me much choice Hales" he began, his expression softening. "I really like you, I do. But I see the way he looks at you. He loves you, Hales. I know you'll deny it but trust me; he does. I can't have my girlfriend hanging around someone who is in love with her; I can't lose you" he reached across the table and grabbed my hand, taking it in his.

"I'm not with him, I'm with you" I managed to whisper, unsure of how to take his words. I didn't see what he meant; Jamie and I were just good friends; nothing more. Him asking me to choose was completely stupid; it was a no brainer for me.

"What if he tries something?"

"He won't" I defended immediately.

"You don't know that" he answered back.

"Yes I do, because I know Jamie" I didn't care how stubborn I was being.

"I don't trust him"

"But I do" I interjected quickly. "And don't you trust me? And don't start with the whole 'I trust you, it's him I don't trust' bullshit. Because that's what it is; bullshit. You trust me? Then trust my judgement" I rambled, looking him in the eyes. I tried my best to read his expression but to no avail; I just could not read what he was thinking.

"I don't want you to hang out with him alone anymore" we're his next words.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my nose wrinkling in confusion.

"If you want to hang out with him, I want to be around" he spoke softly, his eyes still held a softened expression. I stared at him, wide eyed.

"No" I shook my head vigorously. "Derek do you even hear yourself?" I asked with disgust. "Youre asking me to not hang out with my BEST FRIEND because you are insecure or jealous or whatever the hell you are"

"I'm not insecure" he grumbled viciously.

"Then what are you?" I asked harshly.

"Scared"

My expression changed from anger, to sadness, to confusion all in a matter of seconds.

"Scared of what?" I finally managed to ask in a near whisper.

"Of losing you to him" he whispered just as softly.

"You won't" I replied almost immediately.

"You don't see the way he looks at you" was his reply. It took every fibre in my body to not snort and roll my eyes at him; here we go again. "Don't give me that" he snarled.

"Youre being completely ridiculous" I reminded him with a glare.

"Take it or leave it, Hales" he mumbled with anger. "It's me, or him"

The words repeated themselves in my head over and over again. He wanted me to pick. He wanted me to pick between him and my best friend. He wanted me to just drop Jamie, like I didn't even know him. But I couldn't. Jamie was my best friend. The one I went to when I was down; who made me laugh. Who always knew what to say; who never judged me. Who would be there for me regardless of the situation. And, of course, would not make me choose between him and anyone else.

And I guess that's when I realized it myself.

I was in love with Jamie Benn.

"It's him" was all I said, before getting up from the table and leaving the restaurant without another word. As much as I tried to deny it, I knew I couldn't any more.

I couldn't pin point when it happened, but it did; I fell for him. His cute laugh; the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about something he loved. The way he always knew what to say; or in some cases, knew what not to say. The way he got excited over the littlest things. His incredible modesty despite being a pretty big deal, not only to me but to the entire city. He was perfect...

But I had already been friendzoned by him, and I had no idea how to get him to see me in a different light.

Notes