We are cousins

Two days later and I still haven't heard from Ric. He hasn't called and all my calls have been going straight to voicemail. I've been to his apartment twice and noticed he has not been there for days. Nat's already tired of my calls by this time and I don't want to ask any of our other friends. I don't want to answer anyone's questions because I also have questions of my own that only Ric can answer. Same Ric that seems to be avoiding me like a plague for the past four days. At the girls night we had two days ago I told the girls about our little fight with Ric as well as what Lay has been on about concerning the two of us. I must say I didn't expect the reaction I got from them at all. They first looked at each other before giving me a look I didn't want to see on their faces at all.

"You guys can't seriously agree with what she's been saying right?" I asked warily and nervously waited for their response which took longer than they would usually answer.

"Mmmnn, Bee" Ace started, "I don't think you'd want to hear my answer to that" she added

I turned my attention to Ash. She's the logical one. The one that thinks things through before saying them.

"The truth is I really do agree with what Lay thinks" she started and my body grew cold with that statement. She's not supposed to say that at all.

" I really do think Ric likes you beyond just friendship Bee" she added "And with his reaction to the guys you date I find it hard believing anything otherwise".

I look back at Ace with my eyes begging and hoping that just this once she'll be the logical one but her expression already tells me what she thinks before she even voiced it out.

"I agree with that too Bee. I mean I've always thought that he has feelings for you even though he tries to hide them, but I think he's been failing at that recently." she said

"That's ridiculous you know. We are just friends and am sure Ric treats me as just that. You guys are just reading too much into things. Besides are you guys forgetting the fact that we are cousins? Like not even distant cousins. We are very closely related. If our families should hear anything about this, they'll have our heads ok." I say suddenly agitated.

I like Ric alot as a friend and brother, yes. It annoys me that the people around me that are supposed to understand this one fact are not understanding it at all.

"Hey Bee, chill ok. We never said you like him back. We just think he likes you and we may be wrong. Our opinions might not be correct and we may be reading too much into things like you said." Ash quickly says looking at me with concern written all over her face while Ace says nothing which is so unusual of her.

"Yh, that's it. You're definitely reading too much into things" I say feeling my anger slipping away in gradually.

"Are you guys taking lessons from Lay? because you guys are starting to sound like her and it's not healthy." I say trying to make the atmosphere lighter for us. I don't want to talk about that again. I shouldn't have brought it up. Should have never told them.

" Ughhhh, I do want my peace of mind Bee. Sounding like Lay is a no. I don't want to be creepy" she laughs along with Ash as she talks. We've always thought Lay is a bit creepy, (she must never hear this) but we all still go to her for her opinions at the end of the day because she has her ways of getting into your head sometimes.

"I'll tell her you said that Ace" I joke

"Am sure she's going to be disappointed at you. Maybe then I'll be become her favorite after all" I laugh.

We're always like this. Always arguing about who Lay's favorite is. It's more fun if Lay is around to hear us. She'd be out of the door in seconds just to get away from us. We love pulling her legs.

The atmosphere shifts to one of jokes and laughter and before long we became so engrossed in our conversations that we almost forgot about watching a movie. We watched a movie late into the night and the girls slept off right there in the living room leaving me awake to my thoughts. My mind drifted back to our conversation earlier. I might have managed to turn the conversation away from Ric and I but I know their opinions still stands, especially that of Ash. Ash isn't one to say things she didn't believe are true and that scares me alot. I truly only take Ric as a friend and brother and nothing more. It would have been better if they thought I was the one having such thoughts toward him because I would deny it knowing it's the truth but they say it's him. How am I supposed to believe that they are wrong when I have begun to question his behavior towards me. I think Lay has finally gotten into my head, at least her words have.