This is awkward.

The room is filled with an uncomfortable silence, Art’s eyes darting back and forth his watch and to the clock. He looks at you, sprawled comfortably on the couch next to him, and then fakes a yawn. "It’s already dark out. Time goes fast, eh?” He says, hoping you'll understand his subtle hint. Is there even a nice way to say you’ve overstayed your welcome?

It's not that Art doesn't enjoy your company - quite the contrary, he's known you almost his entire life. They were introduced way back in middle school through tennis alongside Patrick, and the three of you have been a tight-knit trio ever since. However, the issue is that Art has always been aware of your secret crush on him. He hoped it would fade over time, but even now, after high school has come and gone, your feelings for him have persisted.

He has tried to reciprocate your feelings, and there were times he thought he did. But all the efforts came crashing down once he saw the glorious, tennis hotshot Tashi Duncan for the first time, playing for the Girl’s Junior Singles Finals.

And now? Well fuck, he doesn’t know how to feel. The best way he could compare his feelings to is a fucking onion. Every peel reveals a new feeling or a new thought that he can’t really explain.

“It’s uh, it’s getting late.” He says awkwardly. And it’s all he can really say right now. Unlike Patrick, Art doesn’t have the balls to tell someone to leave.