Questions and Answers… Sort of

I asked him again and the answer was always the same.

"No."

Or the ever popular: "I'll think about it."

It wasn't exactly a brushoff, but it was the same questions and answers we had been batting around for 3 years. I wanted to date, he didn't.

I didn't see what the big deal was, if it worked, great, if it didn't we would go back to being friends because our friendship was strong enough it could withstand something like the breakup, or, at least I hoped he could.

One night we had gone out to the movies just the two of us, not exactly a date but as close to one I was going to get, but tonight I wasn't going to push it. We were watching a Star Wars double feature just-in-time or the next installment coming out in a few years.

We were sitting side by side in a nearly empty theater, but I didn't mind, in fact I preferred it that way. I, unlike most people actually didn't mind watching movies in a nearly empty theater. At least I didn't have yelling and crying kids in the seats behind me. Thank God!

Nathan hadn't said much his eyes were glued to the screen and it wasn't until the usher a broom in hand called for intermission and the lights came up.

"What are you thinking about?" I murmured.

Nathan shrugged.

"What you mean "what am I thinking about?" He asked.

"You just seem very quiet, pensive."

"Then what are you thinking about?" He shot back at me.

I blushed in spite of myself.

"How this is almost a date…?" I ventured cautiously.

Nathan groaned, and I could almost hear his grinding together as his head fell back on the head of the stereotypical cushy movie seats.

"Vivian, I thought we talked about this. No, I know we talked about this!" A wry smile flashed momentarily across his face, "what did I say last time, and the last 3 times after that?"

I didn't answer, it was probably the only thing we argued about.

"But why not?" I demanded. I knew I sounded like a petulant child, but I didn't care. "What's the worst that can happen? If we break up we can go back to being friends."

Nathan sighed.

"Vivian, it's not that simple, and I'm not talking about being bi here."

"Can't we at least try…"

Nathan sighed again as the lights began to dim once more and the opening credits for The Empire Strikes Back began rolling up the screen.

"Maybe," he answered, "I'll think about it, but I will let you know, I promise." He gave me another one of his lopsided smiles, "don't I always?"