i've been friends with guys, and i've even had a couple of really good guy friends.

at work, yesterday, kristen came up to me and said "do you want to hear something funny?"

and i said "sure."

"shaun doesn't think you like him. he thinks the only reason you do is because he's dating me."

i do like shaun, is the thing. i think he's a really good guy. kristen likes him, which does also bode well for him, in my mind.

i asked her why he thought that. "matt, brandon, mike, jordan, they've been telling him that. i told him no, you don't like them because you have histories with them, and they are asses. you like him. he doesn't believe me."

they're right, though. i dont like them, generally, especially in the work setting.

they're boys.

rebekah talked to me once about them, about how she heard them talking about girls they've dated, and how all she could do is look at mike and think "you don't have any room to be talking about people."

every now and then, we'll talk, and they'll be damn funny and i'll laugh. things will be cool. but then something will happen.

am i friends with them? no.

do i want to be? no.

do i hate them? no.

shaun came up to me, later, and i said "shaun, i like you."

"i know. i talked to kristen about it. she said i'm too easily influenced by them. i didnt realize it until now. i am."

"yes, you are. you're a good guy shaun, hell, i told you i'd go out drinking with you. i havent said that to anyone else."

"i know."

and shaun, being the good guy he is, looked ashamed and bashful and i just wanted to be all "buck up shaun, ignore them. it's all good yo, g."

but instead i just tapped him on the shoulder and went back to doing what i was doing.