"Pez, you don't understand! Of course I care about you, but just because I like her in a different way, doesn't mean I'll stop loving you like a friend!" Blake said firmly, but with a soft voice. He wanted her to understand that he needed her, and that bringing up his feelings for another was just childish.
"Pez, please don't sabotage our friendship because of another girl. We've already talked about this and you know I would never deliberately hurt you. You're too important to me. And yes, I do care about you. I hoped we could just put all this aside, you said we could try. But how can I if I feel guilty bout having feelings for someone else? Yes I like another girl, but that doesn't change my feelings for you! Clearly you can see that I have put my friendship before everything else... Don't you?"
Blake was torn between feeling angry at himself, and at Pez. But he couldn't be angry with her, she was too gentle for that. She deserved so much more, and he wanted her to see that he wasn't any good for her. He leaned over and hugged her tightly, without letting go for a long moment.
Finally, he pulled away, after what seemed like hours of hugs. "Pez, can't you see how much I care?"