"Don't even start with me" I warned Tyler just as the door closed, signally Haley had left to pick us up some beer. "I don't want to hear it" I added quickly. I was quite frankly tired of hearing the same old story.

"Well if you just grew a fucking pair I wouldn't have to get on your case" Tyler reminded me. He had been bugging me about the same thing since we became instant friends upon his trade; my relationship with Haley.

"I don't need to grow a damn pair" I defended. "We're friends. End of the goddamm story; why the hell is that so hard to accept?" I near shouted in exasperation.

"Because I see the way you look at her" Tyler shrugged. Ah yes, his typical argument. How was one supposed to look at a girl these days anyway?

"And how is that? How do I look at her?" I asked, really not understanding what he meant.

"Like youre in loooooooove" Tyler sing-songed, a cocky grin on his annoying face.

"Remind me why I like you again?" I questioned, annoyed. I was tired of discussing the matter; we were just friends. There was no "oh, were just friends but I secretly have feelings" bullshit. Friends. Nothing more, nothing less. We had originally met the year I was drafted and moved into the complex, clicked and became fast friends. Never had I been so happy to have someone spill coffee on me; I smirked at the memory.

"You're thinking about her- aren't you?" Tyler snickered loudly. I just shook my head, not denying his statement. "Just admit you love her"

"I do love her- like a best friend" I confirmed. He rolled his eyes at me in response.

"You want to bang her" Tyler teased me.

"No I don't want to bang her" I answered through gritted teeth.

"Then you wouldn't mind if I banged her?" His question caught me off guard.

"I- what?"

"She's kinda hot; I'd do her. Since you're not in love with her that shouldn't matter, right?" I knew it was bait. He was only saying it to try and spring a confession out of me. I wasn't falling for his foolish games.

"Sure, go ahead. But I doubt she'd bang you" I chirped with a grin.

"What makes you say that?" He asked in mock offence.

"She has standards" I answered with a straight face.

"Beer is here!" I heard Haley call out. I mentally sighed of relief; I was getting tired of defending myself. Sure, she was an attractive girl. She had a great personality, a killer body, and we got along great.

"I'm so glad you're here we need you to settle an argument" Tyler spoke up once she stepped in the room, three bottles of beer in hand. She looked at him with question in her hazel eyes, handing us both a beer before taking a swig of her own.

"Which is?"

"Jameson here, thinks you wouldn't bang me" Tyler spoke, trying to retain a straight face.

"He's right" she answered without missing a beat.

"What the hell!?" Tyler jumped back, looking genuinely offended.

"I have standards" she answered with a serious face. Ah, we thought so much alike.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He asked with a frown.

"You're kind of a slut, Ty" she spoke softly, as if speaking the words softer would make it sting less. "Besides, you guys are like my brothers. That would be weird" she added with a laugh. "Game time!"

Tyler shot me a sympathetic glance to which I brushed off. I couldn't explain the hurt my heart felt when she spoke those words; 'like a brother'.

Oh fuck, I thought with a grimace. Tyler was right; I did love her.

But I was already in the friend zone.

Notes