Unrequited Feelings

James couldn't help but notice the way Nathan's eyes sparkled when he laughed, or the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. It was as if he was seeing his best friend for the first time, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying. As they went about their daily routine, James found himself stealing glances at Nathan, taking in every detail of his appearance. Their friendship had always been strong, but lately, James had started to feel a growing sense of attachment to Nathan. He couldn't quite explain it, but he felt like he was drowning in his emotions, unsure of how to express them or even if he should. The thought of ruining their friendship by confessing his feelings was too daunting to consider. As they walked home from school, James found himself walking closer to Nathan than usual, their arms brushing against each other. He felt a jolt of electricity run through his body, and he quickly pulled away, trying to play it cool. Nathan didn't seem to notice, chattering on about his day as if nothing was out of the ordinary. James couldn't shake off the feeling that he was losing his mind. He had always thought of Nathan as just a friend, but now he couldn't help but see him in a different light. He started to wonder if he was just being paranoid, or if there was really something more to his feelings. One evening, as they were working on a project together, Nathan reached out and touched James' arm, his hand brushing against James'. James felt like he had been electrocuted, his heart racing as he pulled away, trying to compose himself. Nathan looked up, concerned, but James just shook his head, muttering something about being fine. As the days went by, James found himself growing more and more withdrawn, unsure of how to navigate his emotions. He started to avoid Nathan, not wanting to give in to his feelings and risk ruining their friendship. But at the same time, he couldn't bear the thought of being away from Nathan, of not being able to see him or talk to him. James felt like he was trapped in a nightmare, unsure of how to wake up. He knew he needed to talk to someone, to get things off his chest, but he didn't know who to turn to. He couldn't confide in his friends, not without risking that they would tell Nathan, and he couldn't talk to his family, not without worrying that they would think he was crazy. As he lay in bed at night, James couldn't help but think about Nathan, wondering what the future held for them. Would they remain just friends, or would James find a way to confess his feelings and risk changing everything? The uncertainty was killing him, and James didn't know how much longer he could keep his emotions locked away. For now, James was stuck in limbo, unsure of what to do or how to feel. All he knew was that he needed to be careful, to protect himself and his friendship with Nathan, no matter what the future held. But as he drifted off to sleep, James couldn't shake off the feeling that he was running out of time, that something was going to change soon, and he wasn't sure if he was ready.