Friends To Ticklish Lovers Pt 01

'Friends to Ticklish Lovers: PT 1 Unrequited'

[EDEN POV]

Two weeks after we all had dinner together, I finally admitted to Jennifer and Sera that I might've been a little interested in dating Alexander. There was a part of me that was painfully curious about his past...and what it would be like being his present. Thinking about it made me feel things that I didn't before, with either of my high school boyfriends. It was like I was playing pretend with them compared to just being close with Alexander.

The girls said that if I really liked him, I should try to catch him before someone else does. Sera wondered if the reason he hadn't had a girlfriend was nefarious. I thought he just had high standards, but that in itself made me nervous.

He didn't even give a chance to girls who liked him back. What makes me different enough that he'd date me, whether or not he wanted to? Maybe he was religious, and not allowed to date? Maybe he was due for an arranged marriage? I was going crazy.

The girls called me silly for even thinking such things. They were right in that it couldn't hurt that bad to try. But I knew the potential that he'd let me down was there.

I asked Alex if he wanted to come over today, and he agreed. Maybe I'll try to reel him in with some more flirting.

I found my best push up bra and pulled a grey tank top over it. I balanced things out by putting on some casual joggers. The doorbell rang soon, and I ran downstairs.

"Alex, hi!" I let him in. We were going to play games and look through some yearbooks today. Alexander had on the grey hoodie and backpack I first spotted him in that fateful afternoon in class.

"Hi, Eden. Look what I've got," Alex grinned and held up a stack of his own yearbooks. He didn't seem at all interested in how good my boobs looked.

"Oh my gosh, I can't wait to look through them! Let me see," I took one off the top and flipped through, pretending to look for his picture. I glanced up and did catch him checking me out. He quickly darted his eyes away. Satisfied, I giggled a little and took the book to the couch.

Alex plugged his PS7 to my TV, and we had a blast playing for the next three or so hours. He also talked me through his yearbooks. The difference between his sophomore year photo and junior year photo were night and day. The unkempt, acne-spotted boy in sophomore year was much more filled out looking in 2025.

I glanced at him and realized that he was gazing at me. He lowered his eyes, then, realizing it was futile to pretend he wasn't staring, looked back up and gave a shy chuckle. Between today and the photos...the only recognizable things were his eyes, lips, and the freckle on his cheek.

"Alex, I have a question," I said slowly.

"What's up?" He responded, his voice nonchalant.

"It's...about you, I'm really curious. You mentioned at the dinner...Who were the girls you crushed on? Why didn't you ever go out with them?" I asked softly.

He squinted judgmentally at me for the juvenile question.

"Tell me, please, Alex," I begged and pushed myself up against him.

Alexander's ears turned red. He stammered, "E-Eden, you look really good today. I'm so distracted right now. I'm sorry." He got up and went to the bathroom.

"Oh," was all I could say. My attempted seduction was not going well, and I was acting a little too neurotic.

Alex came back, sighing.

"That was really fast," I said sarcastically.

This made Alexander laugh the hardest he's had so far. "Gross, I did not do what you thought I did," He groaned.

"Alexander Sage, tell me!" I was feeling playful enough to pounce on him and knock him over on the couch. I ran my hands over his side to tickle him.

"I will! Stohohohop!" Alex tried to wriggle away.

"Will you now, hmm? Someone ticklish?" I taunted him. I noted that he was much more vulnerable to this than I thought he'd be. I didn't think he was ticklish at all! This would be a good method of extracting information. It doesn't help him that his laugh is kind of hot.

"YES, I WILL, I WILL! AHAHAHA!"

I cut it out and sat, impatiently waiting for him to collect himself.

"I liked how they looked. But the crushes faded quickly," He finally panted. He gave an exaggerated shrug, and I could tell there was more to the story.

"Oh. But why didn't you act in the moment, ever?"

"Well. Uh. Eden, you don't have to try and make me feel anything for you. I overheard you plotting with Jenn and Sera on the phone the other day," Alex tried to change the topic. I felt my heart sink a little, but I shrugged it off.

"You're still not telling me," I said sternly, and hovered my wiggling fingers over his lower stomach. He flinched and covered his front with a pillow.

"Okay, okay, okay! It's just that people would say some mean things back then," Alex mumbled.

I felt bad for pushing him now. "Sorry."

He sighed and rubbed his temples, blushing. "This is just embarrassing," He muttered.

"I'm sorry I pushed you, I just...Okay, yes, I'm a little jealous. Yes, it's obvious now that I like you, you caught me. So I thought I'd playfully grill you about your love life...." I rambled nervously.

Alex just stared blankly again, playing with the drawstring on his hoodie.

I continued. "I understand. You dodged a bullet if people were being mean to you."

"Yeah," He finally sighed. "It's okay, I just...I've never told anyone I was a little bullied before when I was in Malibu."

"You didn't deserve that. But things are better now, right? You will never be there again," I squeezed his shoulder.

He smiled. "Yeah. I don't care anymore. It was such a long time ago too, so I don't really want to talk about it. Getting a girl is just not that big of a deal either."

His gorgeous smile had my heart in a vice-like grip. I just wanted him happy, even if it was looking like impending rejection.

"Okay, we don't have to talk about it. But one more thing. What about me?" I decided to timidly ask anyway.

Alexander laughed and cocked his eyebrow. "You're really straightforward, Eden."

He was avoiding the question, and I took the hint. I'd already pressed him enough today, so I just smiled sheepishly.

"We'll figure it out, don't worry. Still friends?" He asked reassuringly. I nodded and he hugged me.

That didn't go as planned...

[ALEX POV]

I wondered for how much longer could I deny this enormous crush.

We were sitting in comfortable silence now, Eden quietly flipping through her own yearbooks. I aimlessly travelled the map in my game, just walking and thinking.

Finding my childhood friend again after a decade was amazing. I did want to be with her.

But she didn't know I had thoughts that could sink everything. I couldn't tell her that some kids saw the contents of my phone in Malibu and ruined my school year until I moved back to our city. I got up to go to the bathroom again.

In the mirror, my tired dark eyes stared back at me. Would I look good with Eden? What if she finds out? So many girls shared everything with their friends, and I wouldn't be able to leave the house again!

I went back to the living room.

"Done checking yourself out, cutie?" Eden joked.

I could feel my heartbeat quicken, but I just rolled my eyes.