SOMETHING MORE THAN FRIENDSHIP
BY
LUIS NEGRON

He stood up from the chair, where he had been resting next to the window, and moved into the isle. He walked down the isle, making his way through the mass of people that were crowded in the other chairs, and walked down the stairs. He walked very cautiously, so as not to trip, and jumped off the last step onto the sidewalk. The doors closed and the bus sped away noisely. The day was very beautiful, the sun was out, and the air was fresh. "So, how was your day, Mark?" A question I should have never asked. He went on and on talking about and only about Jennifer. Not that I minded, though. I mean I thought about the girl constantly, but Mark thought and talked about her just about everyday, so it was something you kind of had to get used to.

I told him on several occasions that he should ask her out, but most of the times he pretended that he didn't hear me, and when he did decide to hear me he always lectured me on how they were just good friends and how he wanted to leave it that way. Of course I could see right threw him, though. I, being smart enough to realized it, knew that the real reason was because he was too shy. He always worried that if he asked her out their friendship would never be the same, even though she had told him several times that whenever a friend asks her out and she says no, she doesn't change the way she acts. Then he'd try to change the subject completely.

We walked down the street in silence for a while, just enjoying the scenery, even though they were the same houses and the same trees we saw everyday when we walked home from the bus stop. As we got closer to Mark's house, we began making plans about how to spend the rest of the afternoon. We finally decided that I would call him in about an hour so that we could go hang out in the park. We approached his house and stopped in front of the stairs. We shook hands and said our see you laters, then I turned and started walking down the street again. My house was a few blocks farther down the road.

I got to my house, exhausted from a hard day of work at school, and did what I had to do. When the hour was up, I called Mark. I told him that I was finished with my things and that I would meet him in the park in five minutes. I also told him to bring his bike because I felt like going for a ride. He said ok and then he hung up. Before I left, I emptied out my book bag and filled it with a bottle of water, some snacks, money, and my cd player with some cd's. I got my bike and told my mom that I was going to the park. She told me not to come home too late. "I won't." I said, and I left for the park. On my way to the park, which was a few blocks away, I met up with Jennifer. She smiled when she saw me and we both stopped.

"Hey Jen, what's up?" I said.

"Nothing much. How about you?"

"Nothing much either. I was just heading to the park to meet Mark. We're going for a ride around the park. How about you? Where are you headed?"

"Me, no where. I just got bored at home so I decided to go out for a stroll. Hey, would you guys mind if I came with you? I've got no where in particular to go."

"Sure. That sounds cool with me, and I don't think that Mark will mind."

"Cool. Let's go then!"

"Alright then!"

So me and Jennifer headed for the park. "Boy, is Mark going to be surprised." I said to myself. "He doesn't know that she's coming. I can't wait to see the look on his face." I giggled to myself, but Jennifer didn't notice. This was perfect. The three of us were giong to hang out together and maybe now Mark would ask her out. Of course if he didn't, I might be compelled to bring up the subject just to see his reaction. Anyway, we finally got to the park after a few more minutes of riding, and just as planned, Mark was waiting for me. It could not have been more perfect because he was riding around the bike path and did not see me and Jennifer arrive.

"What's up?" I said as I pulled up right behind him.

"What the...oh it's you Tony. I didn't see you coming." he said with a startled look. "Hey Jen! What are you doing here?"

"Oh nothing much. I was just hoping to hang out with you guys. I hope you don't mind." She replied.

"Me? No, of course I don't mind. I'm actually kind of happy that you came." He said.

That was a first for Mark. He had actually completed a sentence while Jennifer was around. Was there something that he wasn't telling me? I may be joking about him completing a sentence, but the truth of it was that he does get nervous when he's talking to her, or any girl for that matter!

"And why is that?" she replied.

"Because I was going to ask you if you wanted to come, but since you're already here, I guess I don't have to."