Jack is my best friend, actually more like an older protective brother. My name is Alexandra, but Jack has called me āPeanutā forever. He only calls me by my real name when heās upset at me, being his usual āover protective brotherā self. We talk about everything, from what we had for breakfast to our dreams and goals, and even relationship stuff. Jack is 22, just 2 years older than I. Weāve known each other for as long as we can remember, we grew up next door to each other. Many friends have come and gone as Jack and I have grown up, but our friendship has never faltered over the years. To tell you a little secret, Iāve always had a bit of a crush on Jack. Heās tall and has short brown hair, lightly tanned skin, and the most beautiful blue eyes a guy can have. He has the sexiest body, everything is in the right place if you know what I mean. He works out and eats right, heās always been athletic and played a lot of sports in and outside of school. Heās very striking, and I admit that over the years growing up, I was always envious of his girlfriends, but I never let that stand in the way of our friendship.
College was only two hours away, and when he left for school, Jack always made sure to send me letters and emails, and to call whenever his studies allowed him a little extra time. That is, until I graduated and followed in his foot steps. Once I got there, Jack and I spent as much time together as possible, helping each other with our studies, watching movies, meeting new friends, going to the occasional party. You know, the usual college stuff. Iāve survived my freshman year which is Jackās senior year, mostly thanks in part to Jack, the transition from home wasnāt easy for me.
On his graduation day, I received a bit of a shock. After the ceremony, Jack ran up to me and gave me a huge bear hug. āI posted my resume online, and I got a job! Iām so excited, I just couldnāt wait to tell you!ā I told Jack that I was happy for him and that I was so proud of him as I hugged him back. āI start in a week.ā He said.
āA week? So soon? Where will you be working?ā I questioned, staring up into those blue eyes. I was scared, thinking that Jack would be leaving again. My best friend would be off to see the world, without me. He must have sensed my fear.
āRelax, Peanut. Donāt panic, Iām not going anywhere. Iām staying here in town, I got a job at the Physical Therapy Center across town. I may have my bachelorās, but Iām not done with school just yet. I can work there while I finish going to school here for my masterās.ā A sense of relief came over me and I hugged Jack. āJack, Iām so happy. Youāre my best friend and I couldnāt imagine spending time without you.ā
āPeanut, donāt think for a minute that I could spend time without you either. Who would look after you and keep you out of trouble if I left town to go to another college or work? Iām not going anywhere. In fact, my roommate is moving out. Move in with me and out of the dorms. Iāll take care of the rent, you just stick to your studies.ā
āI, uhā¦ā¦..Jack,ā I just stammered. āAre you serious?ā I couldnāt believe me ears. I just kept replaying the last few minutes in my mind. First he tells me heās staying, then he tells me he wants me to move in with him. What is happening? I stared at him for a few seconds in disbelief, and when I realized I was staring, I turned my gaze to the ground in embarrassment.
Jack put his hand under my chin and lifted so I was looking at him. āDid I say something wrong?ā āN..no,ā I stammered, āIām just in shock.ā āGood then, itās settled, youāre moving in with me,ā he said as he hugged me. āWeāll move stuff tomorrow.ā I didnāt have much with me in the dorms, mostly clothes and a little bit of linens, and a few personal belongings. Everything else was back at my parentās house.
Thatās the day when things between Jack and I started to change. I started to see him in a different light. We got everything moved in with in just a couple of hours, and a couple days later I started my summer job to keep me busy until sophomore year started. When Jack and I would spend time together, I realized I was noticing little things now that I never noticed before. I noticed how the corners of his lips twitched when he smiled, how his eyes glittered when he laughed, the shape of his hands and how soft they were. I also started to notice more about his body, especially when he would walk around the apartment in a pair of shorts with no shirt on. I realized that I was falling for my best friend, I was falling in love. Over the first few weeks of the summer, I also noticed that Jack behaved a little differently around me. If I was sitting reading a book or watching T.V., heād sneak up behind me and wrap his arms around me, give me a peck on the cheek (the peck on the cheek thing isnāt new, heās always done that), and a hug. Then heād say things like, āHowās my favorite girl?ā or heād tease me into a tickle fight.
Then one Saturday morning, I woke up to Jack bringing me breakfast in bed. I scooted over to the middle of the bed and Jack sat next to me. āHappy birthday, Peanut! I made you breakfast.ā I was so hungry, and everything smelled so good, I just gobbled it all up. āJack, thank you, you are so sweet. I appreciate this, but you didnāt have to go to all this hard work,ā I giggled. āNonsense. I did it because I love you, you know that. You mean the world to me, Peanut. You know Iād do anything for you.ā
Then Jack did something I wasnāt expecting. He set the tray on the ground, and as he turned around to face me, he touched the side of my face with his hand, and leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. āJ..Jack,ā I stuttered. āShhhhhhhh,ā he placed his fingers over my lips to quiet me. āListen, thereās something I need to tell you. Peanut, I love you. I always have. Youāre my best friend, and Iāve always thought the world of you. Iāve always been in love with you, I just could never find the words. And I didnāt know if you felt the same way. Iām just sorry it took me so long to tell you, but asking you to move in was the first step. I guess you could say I saved the best for last.ā
At that, tears started to well up in my eyes, I was so happy. āI love you, too, Jack. I always have.ā I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around Jack, and I kissed him long and hard. His tongue slid into my mouth, and as I sucked on it, I massaged it with my tongue. āJack, you tasteā I started to say before Jack cut me off. āHush,ā he said as he leaned in to kiss me again. My heart started to flutter and I started to get this warm feeling all over my body, a feeling of happiness. Iāve had boyfriends before. Iāve kissed them and fooled around a little, but Iāve never been intimate with any of them before. And I never had these feelings before. I knew that it was love. As Jack and I kissed, our breathing became heavier. Jack began to caress my cheek with one hand, and my arm with the other. His touch sent a wave of chills down my spine. When I shivered, Jack cupped his hand behind my head and pulled me into a deeper, more passionate kiss. His other hand rested on the small of my back.