I Helped My Best Friend Flirt With a Guy… Then He Fell for Me Instead

Professional Advice

After the final bell rings, I walk toward the counseling office. A woman with reading glasses looks up at me.

She asks if I need something, and I hear myself say: “I want to talk to a counselor if anyone’s available.”

Marcela Holland has an opening. Marcela is way younger than I expected, with her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail.

She asks what brings me in today. The words come out stiff and rehearsed, like I’m reading from a script.

Suddenly my throat gets tight. Before I can stop myself, I’m crying and the whole story comes tumbling out.

Marcela doesn’t interrupt at all. When I finally run out of words, she asks me what I actually want versus what I think I should want.

I admit I have feelings for Kurt that feel real and important. But I’m terrified of hurting Audrey and worried about Joey.

Marcela leans forward slightly. “I need to have an honest conversation with Audrey before anything else happens.”

She explains that the longer I avoid it, the worse the betrayal will feel. She asks if I want to be the kind of person who lies or the kind who tells hard truths.

The Performance and the Pizza

I leave her office feeling slightly less like I’m drowning. I open my text with Audrey and ask if she wants to hang out this weekend.

That evening, I get a text from Joey instead. “Jackson’s band is playing a small show Friday night and asks if I want to come.”

He mentions Kurt will be there, too. I type back that I’ll be there.

Friday arrives way too fast. I park a block away from the venue and walk over, hearing music already coming from inside.

Joey sees me and his whole face lights up. He pushes through the crowd and grabs my hand, dragging me toward the stage area.

Kurt is over by the side with his guitar. He looks up and sees us and waves.

My chest does this warm thing when he smiles at me. Then the guilt crashes in right after because Audrey should be here instead of me.

After the set, we all head toward the exit together. We head to a pizza place that is busy and loud.

Joey launches into stories about his week at school. Kurt and I sit across from each other, and our eyes keep meeting over Joey’s head.

Jackson suddenly announces he needs to head out. Now it’s just the three of us at the table.

The Coffee Shop Truth

Kurt’s foot accidentally bumps mine under the table, and neither of us moves away. Eventually, Kurt drops Joey off and then heads toward my house.

He tells me he got my text about needing time and he wants me to know there’s no pressure. I just thank him for being so understanding.

Saturday morning, my stomach immediately twists into knots. I practice in the mirror saying different versions of the confession.

I drive to our usual coffee shop. Audrey walks in about five minutes later and she actually looks better.

Before I can say anything, she launches into a speech about how she’s decided to move on from Kurt. My rehearsed confession completely dies in my throat.

I force myself to interrupt her mid-sentence. I tell her I need to say something important.

The words tumble out clumsy and rushed. I admit I’ve developed feelings for Kurt and I’m so sorry.

Her face freezes. She goes through several emotions really fast.

She asks in a voice that’s too calm and controlled how long I’ve felt this way. I’m honest and tell her it’s been building over the past few weeks.

She asks if Kurt feels the same way. “Yes, he asked me to dinner, but I haven’t given him an answer because our friendship matters more.”

Space and Suspension

She stands up suddenly and her chair scrapes loud against the floor. She says she needs time to think and leaves without looking back.

On Sunday evening, my phone finally buzzes with a text from her. She asks me not to go on that dinner with Kurt yet.

I respond right away. “Of course, I’ll wait.”

Monday morning, I wake up to a text from Kurt. I type back, telling him about my conversation with Audrey.

Kurt responds: “I respect that decision and I’m not going anywhere, so we can take whatever time I need.”

Two weeks drag by. Then one afternoon, my phone buzzes with a text from Joey that makes my chest tight.

He says he got in a fight at school after some kids teased him about being a charity case whose brother only gets attention from girls.

Kurt calls and explains that Joey got suspended for one day. He says Joey’s been asking for me.

The next day, I drive to their apartment. Joey sits on the couch staring at his hands.

He finally speaks in this flat voice. “I’m tired of people only being nice to him to get close to Kurt, and I thought you were different, but now I’m like everyone else.”

A Promise and a Pinky Swear

I admit that I do have feelings for Kurt, but my friendship with him was never fake. He asks in a small voice if I’m going to disappear.

I promise him I’m not going anywhere. We have an honest conversation about his fears of being abandoned.

I text Audrey about what happened with the fight. She asks if Joey’s okay and says she’s sorry he’s going through that.

She asks if we can meet up again soon. On Saturday, we meet at the coffee shop.

She admits she was jealous, not just of Kurt, but of how easy it seemed for me to bond with Joey.

She says she needs me to not date Kurt for a while longer. I agree.

Then she mentions she’s been talking to this guy from her art class and her face actually lights up.

A month passes. Kurt and I agree to stay friends for now and revisit the possibility of dating later.

Thursdays become my official weekly game night with Joey. 3 weeks later, Audrey texts that the art class guy asked her out.

Thursday night, Kurt appears in the doorway. He asks if I’ve thought any more about us.

I tell him I want to try dating, but we need to take it slow. Kurt’s whole face lights up.