Shooting Stars, Falling Objects

Chris and Lucy had broken up. He looked at the phone in his hand and had no idea how to respond. Should he ask what happened? Tell her about him and Ashley? Tell her he was glad?

He knew that was a selfish way to feel. He was with Ashley so he shouldn't begrudge Lucy's relationship. And he really just wanted Lucy to be happy. But he had never entirely thought Chris was the right guy for her. It's not that he didn't seem like an okay guy but he just wasn't special enough for Lucy.

He turned back to his phone.

Tim: Must be the season for breakups, Ashley and I broke up a little while ago. What happened with you guys?

Tim saw three dots appear; they hovered while he waited to see what her response would be, but they disappeared. For a few minutes Tim just sat there, holding his phone and his breath, until finally her answer flashed across his screen.

Lucy: It just wasn't right. I don't think either of us were feeling the things we should feel. I think he realized I had been having some doubts and really didn't want me to stay with him just because he got hurt. So, he insisted we ended it before I came here. What about you and Ashley?

Tim: Same thing, I guess. It just wasn't right for either of us. Are you okay?

Lucy: Yeah, I kind of feel guilty about how fine I am. He's a great guy. We have a seminar for a while now but I'll talk to you later?

Tim: Sure, talk to you later.

Tim couldn't decide if this changed everything or nothing. When he listed to himself (as he found himself doing multiple times a day) the reasons he and Lucy could never be more that colleagues and friends, top of the list had been that they were both in relationships. And then after Ashley it was that Lucy was with Chris. But now they were both single.

Where did this leave them? It had been so out of character for him to try to talk to her about all the feelings kissing her twice had stirred up in him and she had completely shot him down. Tim didn't think he could handle that happening again. Later on she had invited him inside but was that more if it being "simple biology" with them? As far as he knew she had no feelings other than friendship towards him and he didn't want to risk the good thing they had by telling her how he felt.

So that would just be friends. Two single friends. Right?