Friend Or Lover?(Lisa Reynolds) It sucked. It completely sucked. She remembered coming over to America and joining his rock band as a bass guitarist four years previously. They had become friends early on due to the amount they had in common. Both had old souls enjoying listening to old rock and blues music together. Both were shy and understood each other's struggle to not be so awkward. But they weren't shy or awkward together. But that was the problem just there. They were too comfortable in each other's company. She had fallen into the friend zone and you just shouldn't fall into the friend zone with an intensely sexy androgynous rocker. Watching him strum his guitar as he played while he sang drove her wild. So much so that she nearly missed her next note. Thank God this was the rehearsal for their next gig and not the actual gig, she thought. And there she was gazing longingly at him from in front of the stage. Amy. She noticed easily because their eyes always met while both were looking at Andy. Suddenly he turns to her.
"This is going to be so much fun tonight. We should do each other's make-up before the gig."
"Oh yeah. Definitely", she smiled wondering how it had come to this.
She was pretty sure that it wouldn't be his make-up he would ask Amy to do. The lucky ...
"Thanks Tina", he smiled back interrupting her negative thought pattern,
"Trying to be all David Bowie is clearly a two-person job."
And trying to get it on with you Andy is clearly an impossible job, she thought.
Amy laughed and he smiled down to her. Tina grimaced. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. She had to hold it in. The hurt that was growing more and more inside her gnawing away at her heart was struggling not to evaporate outwardly. Why did he never notice her as a woman as opposed to a friend? Was it because she was part of the band or was it simply because he just didn't fancy her? Why would he?, she thought. He's absolutely beautiful. So out of my league. Why would he? seemed to be more the question she felt she should be asking herself. But it hurt because she badly wanted him to see her in that light. To take her in his arms, kiss her passionately, make wild passionate love to her and arouse her sexual senses to no end. But in reality he was there at the front of the stage giggling with Amy. They were so at ease together. He flicked her hair out of her eyes softly. She wished he'd flick her hair out of her eyes. The longing was torturous. She wanted anything from him and all of him all at once.

Later they sat at her flat. She was applying his eyeliner. Nirvana's Greatest Hits was playing in the background.
"I grew my hair long to be like Kurt Cobain growing up. Kind of stuck", he smiles.
She gestures to her own hair.
"Alanis Morissette eat your heart out."
He giggled. Wow, he even giggled sexily. It drove her insane.
"Amy loves her too."
Her again!
"Oh, does she?"
"You don't like her much, do you?"
She hadn't meant to be obvious but clearly she was. And she should have known he would know. They could read each other so well after all.
"No, she's great, she's great."
"She's great?" he smiled.
"Yeah, yeah I mean she seems such a sweet girl."
"I know you don't like her Tina and I have no idea why. I mean she hasn't done anything on you and it isn't like you to take such an instant dislike to people. You haven't liked her since I introduced you two."
She sighed.
"Maybe I'm just protective Andy."
"Why would you be protective?"
"Well, of course I'd be protective. You're my friend."
"I'm not following. What do you mean?"
"You're my best friend and you like her so much. Come on, it's difficult not to feel protective when your best friend is falling in love ..."
He bursts out laughing.
"Hold up a few seconds there T! Falling in love ..."
"Well having strong romantic feelings for then. You two are so close."
"Yeah because we're friends. Amy's gay Tina."
A smile comes over Tina's face. So he's clearly not dating her then.
"What?"
"She's gay."
"But you two went out to dinner the other night together?"
"Yeah with her girlfriend and a few friends. Oh my god, is that what you thought?" he smiles.
"Well yeah. Sorry. I suppose I let my imagination run away with me."
He took her hand in his.
"Tina, everyone knows there's only ever been one girl for me."
"Oh and who's she?"
"You silly. Why do you think I like spending so much time with you?"
"I just thought you've seen me as a friend. Why didn't you say something?"
"Because you're way out of my league. I've been in love with you since I met you. But I'm not deluded. I know it'll never happen. You'd never look at me like that."
"I've always looked at you like that."
"Then why didn't you say something?"
"Because you're way out of my league."
He laughs.
"What are we like?"
He takes her into his arms and holds her like she had dreamt he would for so long. Only it was even better than she had ever imagined. And then when he kissed her passionately it just completely blew her mind. Those soft lips pressing hard on hers sending her to a whole new world. 
"We have some time before the gig", he says with a cheeky, seductive smile.
"What had you in mind?" she smiles.
"What you have in mind."
"How did you know?"
"Because I know you."
He takes her into his arms and carries her to the bedroom.
 

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