Since they were babies, John and Lisa were the best of friends. Their parents had moved into the same neighborhood at the same time and hit it off immediately. Instantly, both kids were sharing cribs and playpens with each other while the parents spent time together.
As they grew up, John and Lisa became closer than any two siblings could ever get. They were more like a brother and sister than just friends, only with out all the fights that you see siblings going through. Their parents had come to think of the two as possible future love interests for each other, and even jokingly mentioned that the children, both 12-years-old, were betrothed.
John and Lisa hearing this asked what that meant, and when it was explained, they looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"I can't marry her," John bellowed between laughs. "She's my best friend."
"Yeah," Lisa echoed.
Nearly four years later, both of them were dating, but not each other. They still considered their friendship one of the best things in the world and had agreed long before that they would never stop being friends or let relationships break them apart. Nor would they start dating each other, for fear that it would cause an end to their friendship.
As the years went on, both John and Lisa were in and out of relationships, but never was there a time that they were both single at the same time. Fate didn't seem to have plans for these two to get together, nor did John or Lisa want to get together. That was the case when they both had gotten a couple of good jobs after college, and decided to share an apartment together.
Rules were set and upheld. Dates could be brought over, even spend an occasional night, but no moving a date into the apartment for a permanent basis. All chores were shared with no fights, and they best friends worked well together in keeping the apartment a happy place for themselves and each other. The only problem was the people that they would date.
Everyone seemed to unable to comprehend the friendship between the handsome Josh and beautiful Lisa. It just seemed strange that they shared a two bedroom, one bathroom, apartment without ever sleeping together.
What most didn't know is that the two did sleep together, but not in a sexual way. Sometimes, during a particularly loud thunder storm, John would hear Lisa cry out and go check on her. He would climb on top of the covers, keeping them between himself and her, holding his best friend to comfort her in her moment of fear, calming her nerves so she could go to sleep.
John had nightmares on occasion, and on those late nights that he would scream out, Lisa would come to his room and do the same for John. He wouldn't even know she was there, but the monsters would disappear from his dream at the sound of her voice and embracing arms. He would only know he had a bad nightmare when he woke up facing Lisa the nest morning.
And to break up the closeness, one of them would always crack a joke about the others morning breath being that of a dragon. This always brought a smile to both of them, causing them to giggle and separate. The two had become so used to each others presence, there was no fighting when one would shower and the other would brush their teeth. The only fights that came were when Lisa would playfully flush the toilet, scalding John with hot water.
This was how John and Lisa were, until that one fateful Friday afternoon. It was the day when all of Cupid's arrows of love had broken off in their hearts and just caused nothing but pain.
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"It was a mistake," John nearly yelled into his cell phone as he entered the apartment. "I know I'm not the first person that must have done it before."
He was quiet for a moment, listening to the party on the other end.
"Well, if that's the way you feel about it, then fine. Forget about."
He closed the flip phone shut and threw it in anger at the couch, where it bounced off the back cushion and came to rest on the seat. Mumbling to himself, he walked over and picked it up and headed toward his bedroom. As he set his laptop computer down on his bed, he suddenly noticed a delicious smell on the air. Lisa was cooking, and she was making something good. That meant that there was trouble for her.
Quickly making his way down the hall, he took the turn through the tiny dining room and into the kitchen. Standing at the counter next to the stove top, Lisa was mixing a sauce in a small bowl, staring deep into it, her full concentration on what she was doing.
"Whatcha cookin'?" John asked. His voice broke her concentration, and Lisa looked up at him. Her eyes were puffy and red from the many tears she had shed earlier. She tried to tell John that she was making glazed pheasant for dinner with rice pilaf and sautéed mushrooms with onions along with some mixed steamed vegetables.
Through her quivering lips, and quickly tearing up eyes, she was just barely able to speak the words, "Josh broke up with me."
John rushed to his friend and wrapped her in his arms. She put the bowl down and wailed into his chest, her arms around his waist, crying and hardly noticing as John told her how wonderful his day went.
"Tina just broke up with me, too," he mumbled into Lisa's shoulder. She didn't hear him or pay much attention to it until she felt moisture on shoulder. It was then that she felt John shaking just as she was, as he sobbed with her over the mutual break up. The two stood together like that for several minutes, until the buzz of a timer rang out in the silence.
Both of them broke apart like prize-fighters hearing the bell ring for the start of the first round. Lisa and John wiped away their tears, while looking at the oven timer. It was preheated and ready for whatever was to be placed in there. John noticed the recipes sitting on the counter and back at his best friend.
"Mind if we both cook tonight?" he asked, still sniffling.
