Aaron reached towards Jeremy affectionately, trying to hold his hand. The instinctive pull-away he received made the younger boy frown. It was so frustrating, liking someone that obviously didn't like you in return. Even more so if you stayed friends with them. And near best friends? Pft. Nearly impossible. Aaron didn't see how he could have survived the past several months as his infatuation grew exponentially and their friendship followed suit.

"Quit it, Aaron," Jeremy said absentmindedly, looking down at the guitar in his hands intently.

"But I'm bored, Jeremy," the boy whined, leaning on his taller friend. "Looking at guitars is only fun for so long when you can't play 'em."

"Then you shouldn't have come along," Jeremy replied, still examining the guitar.

'But I like hanging out with you,' Aaron thought stubbornly, sighing. The two had been wandering around downtown for a couple of hours now, Jeremy on the look for a new guitar and Aaron just goofing off. The boy was sixteen-going-on-seventeen and still he had problems sitting still.

Aaron cast a sidelong glance at Jeremy. Thinking about his age reminded him that Jeremy was heading to college this fall. It wasn't like he was leaving the city or anything--thank GOD--but still. Aaron wouldn't see him every day at school anymore. And Jeremy would be meeting new people. As silly as it was, it made Aaron jealous. He had no reason to be, obviously. Jeremy was in no way his, despite the way he hung off of him. They were only friends. Friends had no reason to be jealous of other people seeing them.

Aaron stood up from his place next to Jeremy on the floor and wandered around the store. There were guitars of every shape and color hanging on the walls. Aaron stopped in fron tof an acoustic guitar and just looked at it. It looked like any other acoustic guitar: The front was made of light wood and the body shaped in that classic fat-peanut style. He had always lked acoustics better. They had a simple, sweet sound and look that comforted him.

There was also the whole start-a-band thing. Jeremy was completely psyched for college because of it. He wanted to meet new people for this band, get good, then get famous. That was really what Aaron worried about the most these days. He wanted to be the singer for this band. He wanted to be part of the group that saw so much of Jeremy. He wanted to taste fame. Jeremy knew Aaron could sing and write. Usually it was only short little blurbs about nothing at all, but after some effort, he'd managed to spout some nearly lyrical pieces. And Freddie Mercury was his idol: Aaron practiced to Queen so much that he was definitely able to get up in a higher range and dance about with no issue. Aaron might have been a worrier and act a tad bit insecure, but he was great at acting. Being in love with one of your best friends did that.

"You like it?" Jeremy asked, his mouth down by Aaron's ear.

Aaron jumped. "Uh, yeah," he said, sounding more calm than he felt.

Jeremy looked at the price as he straightened up. "It's pretty reasonable. You should get it, if you like it. I know you have the money."

"Money or no," Aaron told him, blushing at the mention of his parents' ever-flowing funds and his near-complete access to it, "I can't play. It'd just sit around and collect dust."

Jeremy put an arm around Aaron's middle and pulled him close, deepening the high schooler's blush.

"I'll just have to teach you, then, won't I?" he said. "I mean, Freddie played guitar and piano, too. You can't expect to get into the band with just your singin', can you?"

Aaron's eyes lit up, but he didn't voice his excitement.

"No, I guess I can't."