Done Being Friends by Trisha Grace

decorate the house while Faith was on one of her trips. Though Faith had insisted she wanted nothing grand; just simple and classy, her mother had imported all the most expensive furniture from all over the world. However, She must admit that it was kept rather simple, and it was classy.
    Her mother didn’t even try hiding the fact that she didn’t follow her ‘nothing grand’ instructions. Faith laughed softly at herself. You are such a pushover.
    Thinking about her elders brought her mind to the charity dinner. Obviously, her elders were going to cheat on the stay-out-of-your-love-life deal. Thankfully, Zac was there. She did end up enjoying herself that night, and she would have stayed longer if she didn’t feel so guilty about the way she was treating Tim.  
    Her thoughts lingered on the warm sensation of Zac’s hand on her back. Time and again, his fingers would brush her spine, sending tingling sensations that warmed her to her toes. He had leaned in so close; Faith could feel the warmth radiating from his body and smell his aftershave. More than once, she had looked into his eyes and lost herself, almost closing in to kiss him.  
    She took in a breath, as though she could still smell his lingering scent. Something was different about the way Zac had treated her that night. She bit her lips as her heart pounded within her, beating hope into her system.  
    No, she needed to get real and stop dreaming. She shook her head and made herself get back to earth.
    “Hey beautiful.”
    Faith spun around, shocked to see who was there. Dylan was leaning by the wall in jeans and a white T-shirt. He had obviously gotten out of work early and changed before meeting her.  
    “Dylan! Oh, I didn’t....Zac didn’t tell me that you were coming, I didn’t prepare enough...”
    Dylan strolled toward her and placed his finger on her lips. Instead of the rush she got whenever Zac came near her, she cringed ever so slightly, and moved back. Dylan either didn’t notice her reaction or he simply ignored it. “He is not coming.”
    Faith tried to keep a smile on her face, but the disappointment made it impossible. “Why?”
    “He was busy and he couldn’t get away so he sent me.” Dylan flashed a smile, thinking that would mollify her.
    “Why didn’t he bother to call and inform me?” Faith wanted to sound angry and indifferent, but the question came out thick with disappointment.
    Dylan shrugged and Faith turned back to the stove. She knew that she should let the matter drop and entertain her guest. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t Zac; she should still mind her manners. However, at that moment, all she wanted to do was to shove the pan into the sink and head for bed.
    Manners.
    Do not be rude . Faith thought to herself. She decided to stop being a spoilt brat and mind her manners. She rearranged her features and made sure that a polite smile was on her face.  
    Dylan wasn’t a stranger. They had been friends since forever. Like Zac, Faith had known Dylan when she was a child. The three of them had grown up together, going to the same school and even faculty. Both Dylan and Zac were dashingly handsome. Where Zac’s dark brown hair made him look dangerous, Dylan’s blond hair gave him the all American boy next door look.  
    The two however, were pretty similar in the way they went through their women.
    She loved both of them and they loved her in their different ways. Zac had always made it clear that none of the other women was more important than her. Whenever she needed anything, she would call Zac and he would be there.  
    Dylan had been more like the overprotective brother, he tended to instruct more than listen. Sometimes, he behaved as though Faith belonged to him and she had never really appreciated that. Then again, she knew that he was just showing his concern in rather irritating manners.
    Glancing around the kitchen, she gestured for one of the maids to take over the cooking. She knew she was being