The fine line between friendship and attraction

[icarus]

Walking home from class the other night, I found myself following two young men. I would guess they were in their late 20's. Living in a gay neighborhood gives me a 50/50 chance of the couples around being queer - living near some of the bars ups that to 75/25 on the weekend, though these two weren't dressed for going out - jeans, jackets and polo shirts. Sneakers.

They walked a 'friends' distance apart and were laughing. The one cheerfully complained about some inane certainty of the universe while the other grinned at him, countering his arguments. The conversation was obviously meaningless fun as the one blushed and looked back, embarrassed, his round glasses winking in the streetlamps, close-cropped curly hair a little damp with mist. The other had dark hair and bright eyes that never left him for a moment, and he followed slightly, watching him.

They could have been just friends. But there was the watching, the admiring undercurrent between them that said the conversation was just a wash of color over what was really being communicated.

The dark haired boy leaned forward slightly as he walked, his manner and voice belying his critical words. I like you, it said. I think you're cool. Cool enough tease.

The curly-haired boy's expression was openly embarrassed. Get out of town, his manner said. Why would you like me? It's nice, but... you can't possibly like me. He walked ahead as if persued, and looked back happily. You do, don't you? his face said, You're crazy.

He reached the car, and they continued their banter, now a car's width apart, laughing over the shine of the hood.

From the outside they could have been 'just friends.' Except for the watching.

There's such a fine line between friendship, the kind that's intense and close but has nothing to do with sex, and attraction. That simple step from admiring someone's sense of humour and intelligence, think they're the greatest, to also admiring their beauty, they way they walk, their shy smile. Such a fine line between one kind of crush and another.

I'm still not entirely sure the boys were interested in each other. 90% sure. But not entirely. Still, the difference is in the way the dark-haired boy watched, the way the other turned towards him, showing off a little. Just a little. Crossing that fine line.

Comments

[abeguilinglark.livejournal.com]

that gave me a lot to think about
Well done!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh excellent. I've been thinking about this in the context of slash and intense friendships, and also in trying to explain guys who love guys yet are still guys to a friend of mine.

Icarus

[byandby.livejournal.com]

That was perfect. Your description of these two guys gave me the chills. Just perfection. You painted such a wonderful picture. *goes to reread* I would love to read/write a fic that addresses what you just said.

And I wholeheartedly agree with you. It's such a fine line that if you don't watch carefully, you don't know when it's been crossed.

[kuteki.livejournal.com]

Such a lovely post, it made me smile. Thanks :)

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

What a fabulous post. It is such a fine line. In fact, the line may be much more like... um... a blur. What else to call admiration for a coworker who's been a friend for years, and also happens to be incredibly attractive, and the same gender? I am increasingly of the opinion that sex and attraction are far too complicated for me to figure out- I just roll with the fact that as human beings we are capable of appreciating all sorts of aspects of people; looks, laugh, keeping calm in harried situations, a gorgeous singing voice.

Wonderful post. Thank you for sharing.

[devilzzz.livejournal.com]

Wow. I am pretty sure they were crossing that line too.

[venivincere]

The voyeur in me sings for the pleasure it must have brought you to observe that.

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

You draw such a wonderful picture of them. I wish I'd been there to see it... even your description made me feel terribly sentimental.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

This reads like a short story, you know. Lovely.

[harveywallbang.livejournal.com]

*shivers* WAHHH... one of my favorite things to do is study people in depth as you just shared... and OH...*sighs happily* this thing you shared, is oh so true... completely and totally...
i have a friend like that. *sigh*

this post makes me all nice and warmy and bubbly inside. my brain is sending off happy signals for the moment. thanks for this... :)

[a-linz.livejournal.com]

Insightful, and sweet. Just very...I don't know...I love observing people, they just fascinate me so much.

Thank you, that was such a wonderful post :)

[ragnhildholm.livejournal.com]

that was so well written, i felt like it was the page of a short story, and i wanted to turn it and read more.

[mousewrites.livejournal.com]

for some reason I found this erotic, and I now want to read more about them.

... Bright Eyes/Curly-hair, OTP.

[mousapelli.livejournal.com]

i loved this post before, the first time i saw, and i just came back to it now because i'm writing a scene for my NaNo where a character watches a video of himself and another character and sees this same thing. I thought of this immediately and came back for the inspiration. I still love this story.

thought you should know you're inspiring things. :)