Leading Lady, Supporting Man

 Tyler Mathews was happy to let Luke Andrews take the lead, he had been doing it since they were in diapers. Tyler and Luke had grown up together, their mothers were in the same Lamaze class and became fast friends. Both of them were only children, though it never felt like it. They were brothers in every way except blood. 

Luke was the more outgoing of the two. He was loud, carefree, and loved by everyone at Albers High. He also had blonde hair and boyish good looks to match, making him the textbook All-American high school quarterback. Tyler by contrast was his Black best friend, content to take on his role as a linebacker and hype man. Truly, he didn’t mind coming second to Luke, well in everything except Wilma. 

If Luke had everything needed to make him the leading man, then Wilma had everything she needed to be the leading lady. She carried an effortless beauty, her fiery red hair pinned back so that it was half up, half down. There was no smile so bright and no voice so soft in all of Albers high. Tyler found her as beautiful as everyone else, but there was something else that made her captivating. They were lab partners for Chemistry in sophomore year, and no one was able to make him laugh as she could. It was more than her kindness, more than her smarts. Tyler had spent the last few months trying to find the words to describe her, but words were never his forte. They were Wilma’s though. She frequently shared her poetry at the poetry club's open mic nights, and Tyler was a regular attendee. Not that Luke knew about it, and Tyler made sure to keep it that way. He made himself as unrecognizable as possible when he was there, trading his letterman jacket for a plain black sweatshirt. 

People probably recognized him anyway, it came with the territory of being Luke’s best friend. Tyler wasn’t too bothered by it, it wasn’t like anyone in the poetry club was of interest to Luke. Well, no one except Wilma who became the recent object of Luke's affection.

“She’s beautiful Tyler,” Luke said, blushing into both his hands. “Did you see her in that dress she wore today?” Tyler did see the dress, it was a navy blue sundress that barely passed the AHS dress code, and she looked stunning in it. “That’s it, I’m going to ask her to Prom.” Tyler’s eyes widened, of course, Luke had to take Wilma too. 

“What about Monica?” Tyler objected. Monica was Luke’s ex-girlfriend or girlfriend depending on the day. The two could be all over each other on Friday and hate each other's guts come Monday, it was just how they operated.

“Monica?” Luke’s mouth twisted, “we’re not talking at the moment. Besides, behind all that makeup, she doesn’t hold a candle to Wilma.” Luke pulled out his phone and opened up Wilma’s contact. He has her phone number thought Tyler. He tried to prevent his jealousy from showing, but he was doing a poor job at it.

“You okay man?” Luke looked concerned.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he answered tersely. Luke’s gaze lingered on him for a second before returning to his phone screen. Tyler saw him type out a message. 

Wilma, will you go to prom with me?

Once he clicked send, Luke leaned back onto his elbows, confident that the answer was a yes. Why wouldn’t it be? No girl in the building would say no to Luke Andrews. 

“So who are you asking out?” Luke asked. Tyler didn’t have an answer, he didn’t want to ask a random girl out just for the sake of it. It would look awkward though, for him to go alone while Luke had a date. His friend wouldn’t allow for it. 

“I don’t know, still thinking about it.” the words came out deflated. 

“Listen Tyler, something seems to be going on with you. I’m here if you need to talk man, I swear.” There was the reason that Tyler couldn’t be mad at Luke. Sure, he asked out the girl Tyler liked, but he was also his best friend, his brother.

“Thanks, I appreciate it. You know, I think I just need some fresh air. I’ll see you tonight.” Luke waved him off, and Tyler took a much-needed lap around the building. It had been raining the last few weeks in Albers, and today was a rare day of sunshine. The air calmed him, bringing his blood down from a boil. He’d be okay if Luke went out with Wilma. If anything, it meant she’d be around Tyler more, and even if she was just a friend, that would be enough for him. 

Then he saw her, sitting on a picnic table near the parking lot. Looking at her phone and rubbing her temples. Tyler didn’t know where the courage came from, but he went up to talk to her. 

“Hey, everything alright?” he asked, causing her to sit up.

“Yeah, it’s fine. You probably already know, but your friend Luke asked me to the prom,” she said. 

“Yeah, you two would look great together.” He sat opposite her on the table and summoned his best fake smile. Wilma met his gaze and lingered there for a few seconds like she was trying to read the thoughts stirring behind his eyes. 

“I turned him down.” she said, “I mean Luke’s great. I’m sure you know that he’s your best friend. It’s just, I don’t think I can be his date when I have feelings for someone else.”  

“Someone else?” Tyler tried to think about the boys Wilma frequently talked to. “Do I know him?” 

“Don’t make me say it Tyler,” her face flushed red, “you have to have known about my massive crush on you. I thought Luke knew it too.” Tyler didn’t have the words to respond to this. Wilma tapped her leg anxiously for a few seconds but got up to leave when the silence became too much. “Sorry, forget I said anything.”

“Wilma,” Tyler followed her, pulling her back to face him, “I like you too.” He was grinning from ear to ear, probably looking like an idiot, but he didn’t care. He bent down to kiss her, cherishing the way her soft lips met his. He didn’t mind being second to Luke, his best friend could have anything he wanted, as long as Tyler had this. As long as Tyler had Wilma.