She Is Off Limits

(From Keegan’s point of view)

Starting my junior year of high school was exciting. I was in my second year of Varsity football with my best friend Baylen and I had college prospects looking at me in the portal already. It was going to be an amazing year. The only issue was that my dad was setting me up with his co-workers daughter and they expected us to date.

My interest wasn’t there for her however. My heart truly belonged to someone else for the last year. I hadn’t seen it before because she was my friend. She was my best friend’s little sister too. Her name is Brees. We call her Squirt and we have since I can remember. I just didn’t see her that way any more. She wasn’t a “squirt”. She was stunning. She was a vision. She was intelligent and funny. She was athletic and challenged me. She made my heart beat fast whenever I saw her. Watching her play softball this summer and seeing her in her element was inspiring. She was one of the best pitchers in the state and she knew it. Her confidence was sexy and her skills were unmatched.

My plan was to tell Baylen how I felt first, before I told Brees. I hoped she would feel the same about me. I would love to go into junior year with her as my girlfriend.

After practice one day, I walked to Baylen’s car with him. My mom was picking me up that day, but I had to ask him. Working up my nerve to tell my best friend I had a major crush on his sister was tough. I wasn’t sure how he would react, but I had to see.

“So Bay, you know how I told you there was another girl I was interested in besides Jada?” I said.

“Yeah bro, you are keeping this girl a mystery and for what? So your dad doesn’t get pissed?” Baylen said, throwing his shoulder pads and helmet into the back seat.

“Something like that,” I said, rubbing the back of my head nervously. “Except it’s not my dad I am afraid of pissing off,” I said, taking a step back.

Baylen looked at me puzzled. He took a step toward me. Baylen is a big dude so he was the last person I wanted to upset.

“Bro, what’s going on? You are making me nervous,” Baylen said.

“The girl I have been hiding my affection for…is well…it’s Brees… she is the person I have been crushing on and I wasn’t sure how to tell you,” I said, watching his hands closely.

I don’t think Baylen would hit me, but when it came to Brees, you could never be sure.

“What? Dude don’t tell me that. Anyone else but my sister. It would mess everything up, especially if you two didn’t work out you know? I can’t give you my blessing on this,” Baylen said.

“You and I will always be friends, man. But I can’t stop thinking about her. She makes me happy when I’m around her. She is one of my best friends and I want to explore this further. You get that right?” I asked.

“Oh I’m sure she does. She is our little ray of sunshine. But I gotta ask you to not act on this. Try this thing out with Jada and maybe you will forget all about Brees,” he said walking towards the driver side of his car.

I nodded reluctantly and gave him my word. I wasn’t happy about what I had agreed to, but he was my first friend when I came here to Louisiana and he has been my best friend for 10 years. I wasn’t sure how I could resist her, but I would have to for the sake of my friendship.