A/N: Thank you so much to the people who have been reading, reviewing, fav-ing and all of the above. It means a lot to me! I'm having such a fun time writing this story, and there is still plenty more to come! A lot of fun twists, secrets, and such. So keep reading to find out! Thanks!
Simon vs. The Reunion
Chapter 3
Just like old times I drove to Nick's house and picked up both Nick and Abby, then backed up to pick up Leah. We drove to a new Waffle House for breakfast this morning, and it felt like nothing changed between the four of us. We laughed about all the same jokes, but had new stories to tell. Turns out Nick and Abby have been trying to have a baby, which is great news.
"So aren't you supposed to limit alcohol when trying?" Leah asked. Abby nodded.
"Yeah, I said this would be my last carefree weekend," Abby explained.
"I mean, how are you supposed to get through this weekend without alcohol while Martin is around?" Nick joked. We laughed at his words, but my smile faded. Just the mention of his name churns my stomach. It's clear that I still hold a grudge when it comes to Martin, but who can blame me? He ruined everything for Blue and me. He's basically the reason Blue never showed up.
"Simon, can I have a sip?" Leah asked, tapping my coffee mug. I nodded, and turned my head to look out the window across from us. I would have preferred the booth against the window, but of course the place is sort of packed this morning. It's much bigger than the other Waffle Houses I've been to, so more seats call for more people. It's weird to think Waffle House grew to be this popular over time that they felt the need to expand so much.
"Hey, you okay?" Abby asked, noticing my quiet behavior.
"Yeah, I'm great," I nodded, flashing her a quick smile.
"Lies, what's going on in that head of yours?" she pressed.
"I told you, I'm-"
"You're not fine," Leah interrupted. "He hates his boyfriend, and is still in love with Blue," she finished, placing her napkin on the table.
"Wait- you know who Blue is?" Nick questioned, leaning in.
"No, I have no idea who it is," I shook my head.
"What if it really was Martin?" Abby grimaced, looking as thought she was about to gag.
"It's not Martin," Leah shook her head. "He's just still in love with the thought of Blue," she added. I glanced over at her, and frowned.
"Hey guys!" caught our attentions. We all looked up and saw Garrett and Bram walking up to our table.
"Yo, what's good?" Nick did his special handshake with the two of them and they stood looking at all of us.
"Just stopping in to get our carbo-load on before these field day events," Garrett explained.
"Yeah I can't wait, it's going to be so much fun kicking your asses," Nick rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"Oh, yeah, okay," Bram rolled his eyes, tapping Nick on the shoulder with the back of his hand.
"You guys waiting on a table?" Nick asked, looking around at the full dining area.
"Yeah, actually it's a little bit of a wait," Bram explained, looking at the door.
"Since when did Waffle House become so popular on a Saturday morning?" Abby questioned, looking around at all the teens and families around us.
"I don't know, maybe something clicked," I laughed.
"Well I don't think our waitress would mind, we just ordered. Grab a few chairs," Nick insisted, motioning to a neighboring table with four chairs, but only two being occupied.
"Cool," Garrett and Bram nodded, asking the table if they could grab the chairs. Garrett sat towards Nick and Leah's end, and Bram came around to my side.
"So can we get back to the conversation?" Abby bounced in her seat, turning back to me. I blushed, and tried to hide my face. I didn't want to talk about this with Bram and Garrett around, but with Abby no isn't an option.
"Could we maybe-" I hesitated to speak, but Abby hushed me.
"So who did you think it is?" Abby continued.
"What are you guys talking about?" Garrett asked, looking to us.
"We were just throwing Simon under the bus about the whole Blue thing," Nick explained, adding another sugar packet to his coffee.
"Blue?" Bram spoke up, looking at me.
"It's really a topic for later-" I was interrupted again.
"-I was asking Simon who he thinks Blue is since he never showed himself," Abby explained to the table.
"Oh, who do you think it is?" Garrett asked, resting his chin atop his intertwined fingers.
"I don't know, can we just-" I started again.
"I said a long time ago it could have been the guy from his study hall that one year. He came out after high school ended," Leah threw her two cents out there even though I wish she wouldn't.
"So, Simon, if Blue did show up during the reunion, would you even want to talk to him?" Garrett asked.
"I don't know, that's a hard question," I shrugged.
"Why?" Bram spoke up out of nowhere, drawing my attention. I looked at him, and couldn't help the taken aback expression that formed on my face. He seemed to back down slightly after the words came out of his mouth, but continued to look at me. "I mean…why is it a hard question? Like…you used to love this guy, right? Wouldn't you want to talk to him after all that?" Bram cleared up.
"Oh, well, yeah I'd talk to him. I can't say I wouldn't be…I don't know, upset? I mean he did kind of ditch me after everything," I shrugged, taking my mug into my hands. I could feel the deep exhale from Bram, but didn't look up.
"You are dating someone though, right?" Garrett asked.
"He hates him," Leah responded.
"Leah!" I exploded a little more than I would have liked to at her words, but she needs to stop.
"Well you do!" She exclaimed.
"We don't have to tell the world, alright?"
"Why are you with him then?" Bram asked, furrowing his brows at me.
"I-"
"He plans to-" Leah started, but I stopped her by kicking her foot. She gasped, and grabbed at her leg. "Ow!" she voiced.
"We're done talking about this!" I snapped my fingers towards Abby. "New topic!"
"Simon you can't run away from your problems," Abby expressed, reaching her hand out to me.
"I'm not running away from my problems, Abby! I don't have any problems!"
"You're still obviously hung up on Blue," Nick stated. I glared at him, and my mouth fell open a moment.
"Well how about you fall in love, and then get your heart broken…" my voice cracked. I crossed my arms over my chest, and took a deep breath. "Excuse me," I licked my lips before standing from my chair.
"Aw, Simon, no- come back!" Abby called after me.
"We didn't mean to upset you!" Garrett hollered over the noise of the restaurant. I shook my head at their words and walked outside into the crisp morning air.
Leah's Point Of View:
I knew I hit a sore spot in Simon and I felt horrible. I should have stopped, but of course I had to keep going. I wouldn't be myself if I didn't try to push every button- especially Simon's buttons. I looked around at the table and Abby seemed just as disappointed as I was.
"Should someone go out there?" Garrett asked, looking at me directly.
"I'll go," I nodded, staying put for the moment. "He needs a second to calm down though."
"Bram, you alright?" Nick spoke up. We turned to see Bram zoned out, staring past Simons' chair to the floor. His left hand was gently leaning against his mouth in thought, but his eyes were locked on the floor in a very broken expression. When Nick called him out, he woke from his daze and scanned our faces. His broken expression morphed into a flustered, embarrassed one.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry, I just… zoned out," he shook his head, reassuring us. Nick nodded, looking back to me. Garrett on the other hand was looking on at Bram apologetically for some reason.
Something is definitely off about Bram. He used to be so quiet, and now all of a sudden he's willing to ask questions first? Not just that, but what was with the whole kicking Garrett in the leg last night? If I could recall the context from the evening I'd be able to maybe piece it together, but something isn't right.
"I'll be right back," I said, getting up from my chair. Just as I was walking away the waitress came back to the table to take Garrett and Bram's order. I walked out to the front to find Simon swiping through his phone.
"Hey…I thought I was the one who storms out when I'm angry," I spoke up. Simon's smirk was of pure annoyance, and he didn't even bother to look up at me. "Simon, I'm really sorry about that back there…we weren't trying to upset you," I explained. Simon glanced up from his phone finally, and looked me in the eye.
"I know you weren't trying to upset me, but I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn't push the subject about Blue around other people. Look, I know you're mad at me for the whole Jenson thing- but Blue isn't something you mess with. I know it's been years, and I know I'm an idiot for still caring, but that doesn't give you the right to make it out to be a joke."
"Abby technically was the one who brought it up again," I shrugged my hands in the air.
"Leah-" his nostrils flared as he emphasized my name as a warning. I've gone too far. That doesn't happen often with him, but sometimes I can really over do it.
"Okay, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, you know I would never intentionally hurt you-"
"I don't care, you still carried on," he sighed.
"I know and I'm sorry…we're sorry," I said, looking back at the restaurant in thought. He knows none of us would say anything with harmful intent, so him getting distraught over this proves it's still a pretty big deal. "We aren't going to say another thing about it and… if you're really determined to figure out who he is- I'll help you find him."
"You don't have to-" Simon shook his head.
"I want to," I interrupted him. He glanced up at me again, and turned in to hug me.
"Please be nice to Jenson when he gets here. I don't want him to know something is up," Simon spoke up, hugging me tightly.
"You got it chief," I slapped my hands against his sides and pulled away from him. We looked into each other's eyes and I finally got the famous Simon Spier smile. "Now come on, your waffle is going to get cold," I smiled back, slinging my arm around his waist. We walked back in and I shot a glare at the table to keep quiet. We changed the topic, ate happily and moved onto bad mouthing the other teams for the events. Abby, Simon and I plan to sit out the games, but we're going to cheer on the boys as much as possible…that is unless we get distracted jamming food down our throats.
11 A.M.
Simon and I arrived at the park at the time on the event list. Everyone must have gotten there earlier because people were already involved in games, and setting up the food tables.
"Did we miss something?" I leaned in to whisper to Simon. He laughed, and looked around.
"Apparently," he shrugged. We found the table Abby reserved for us, and sat down. Nick was already off playing a small game of soccer with some of the other soccer players. Then there were several yard games going on like cornhole, horseshoes, and volleyball in the sand pit. Along side those were giant versions of games like Jenga, and yard pong… I've never seen such a large red solo cup before. We were told that 'team related games' would take place later on in the afternoon once more people showed up.
"Did you guys sign up for anything?" Abby asked as we sat down.
"Not that I can say, but Simon probably did," I said, looking to Simon.
"Pfft-Uh, no," he laughed, shaking his head at the thought of him being even remotely involved.
"What do they even have going on?" I asked.
"I don't know the list had a bunch of stuff like what we used to do in gym. I'm pretty sure there is a water balloon toss, tug of war and then the day is going to end with a soft ball game I think," Abby explained.
"Really, softball?" I questioned.
"I don't know, it sounded like fun, so I signed up," she shrugged.
"Oh, well all power to you," I raised my eyebrows.
"I have no athletic ability, so that will not be happening," Simon laughed, taking out his phone. He became quiet as he read a text, and then got up from the table and walked off out of earshot. He placed the phone to his ear and began looking around as if searching for someone. I watched as a guy walked from the parking lot towards him. Simon waited till he was close enough to start meeting him half way. They exchange a quick kiss, and then began their walk over.
"Is that Jenson?" Abby asked. She seemed flabbergasted by his appearance. He is very easy on the eyes I will admit, but it doesn't make me like him more. I know all the good and I know all the bad- sadly the bad out weighs the good. He is about the same height as Simon, which would probably make him about six-one if I'm right. His hair is the same shade of light brown as Simons', and from a far I can tell he definitely works out. He has a very athletic body type, and his chest is broad. As they get closer I can see his facial features, and I have to admit he is more attractive in person. His jaw line shapes his face nicely, but he's not very striking. Instead his eyes draw the most attention.
"Abby, Leah, this is Jenson," Simon introduced, motioning to both of us. Jenson extended his hand to Abby, and then to me. He paused and smiled at me with our hands still connected.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Leah. Simon hardly shuts up about you. So much so I would have thought he was really into chicks this whole time," he joked. I blushed and let a stammering laugh escape my lips. I looked to Simon, who honestly could have melted into the earth below him. If his eyes could roll any further into the back of his head they would fall in.
"You don't say?" I bit my lip, trying to hold back more laughter. Who says that? WHO says that?
"Yeah, well anyway it's nice to meet you," he sighed, standing straighter and wrapping his arm around Simon's waist. I could tell Simon was uncomfortable, but he remained still.
"I'm gonna go check him in, and maybe grab some food."
Simon explained before walking off with Jenson towards the committee.
"He's so cute…what could be so bad about him?" Abby questioned, looking after the two of them.
"How long do you have?" I gave a solid deadpan glare her way and her smile faded.
"Now I feel like I need to know," she said, hesitating to relax under my stare.
I sat for a little while explaining to Abby some of the things that made him awful in my book and she could see it, but wanted her own take on him. I told her to go for it and figure him out on her own, but not to be disappointed. Soon enough Simon came back with Jenson, and they sat at the table with us. We went up for food once it was ready and settled down to watch other people's games from afar.
Jenson directed his attention to Abby and smiled. "So Simon told me you're married?" he asked.
"Yeah, he's right over there playing soccer with his old teammates," she said, pointing him in the direction of Nick.
"Oh, sweet. How's married life?"
"It's good. It's a lot different from what I expected, but it's going well. Thanks for asking," she sweetly smiled. Ew- stop, Abby.
"Yeah, marriage is a scary subject to think about. Wouldn't you agree?" Jenson asked Simon. Simon picked his head up from his coleslaw, looking like a deer in headlights.
"Huh?" he asked with a full mouth.
"Marriage- it's a scary thought, right?" he asked again. Simon shrugged, and placed his elbows on the tabletop. He gulped down his food and cleared his throat how Simon always does when he's nervous to speak.
"I don't think it's scary, but it's definitely something you have to be ready for," Simon gave his opinion. He looked at me casually, raising his eyebrows before going back to his food. I shook my head softly, breaking a roll in half.
"I'm with Simon, it wasn't scary, just nerve wracking for the preparation. We wanted to make sure we were ready before going forward."
"Fair enough," he shrugged, leaving it at that. Abby looked at me, but didn't say anything. Talk about random conversation? I looked away, and focused on the boys coming over. At least he's trying, I guess?
"Hey, how was the game?" Abby asked Nick.
"Great," he kissed her head, out of breath.
"I made you a plate, baby, sit down," she said, making room for him.
Bram stood at the head of the table, panting away. Garrett urged me to move over and sat beside me on the bench.
"Oh, excuse me," I scoffed at him jokingly. He smiled at me, and tried to catch his breath.
"Thanks," he winked. I rolled my eyes at him, and went back to eating.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" I heard the ever-so obvious whisper from across the table. Jenson was leaning into Simon, and elbowing him gently.
"Oh, right. Sorry, guys this is Jenson. Jenson, this is Nick, Garrett and Bram," Simon explained, going around the table. They all said hi back to him, but Bram's was a little forced. Almost like he didn't want to acknowledge his existence. I don't blame him, but it continued to fuel my curiosity of Bram's behavior. I mean, it has been ten years, and a person's confidence can change within that time, but to be so direct with it- that's the weird part.
Jenson rested his elbows on the table and pointed his fork towards Bram. He stabbed the air a few times before opening his mouth and dropped this beauty, "Bram? Is that short for like Bramwell?" Jenson spoke up. What?
"Oh, uh-no. Abraham, actually."
"Abraham?" Jenson's eyebrows rose halfway up his forehead.
"Yeah…it's Hebrew- it's a family name," he explained casually, dropping his gaze on Simon momentarily before returning back to Jenson.
"Ah, gotcha, I'd go with Bram too if I were you," he nodded, diving back into his food. Bram looked insulted, but said nothing. Simon on the other hand looked up at Bram utterly embarrassed for his boyfriends' remarks.
"Friends! What's going on? Are we enjoying the festivities of this wonderful trip down memory lane?" Martin jumped in from the side, causing most of us to jump. Simon rolled his eyes at his presence and tried to not make direct eye contact.
"Martin, don't you have a garbage can to go rummage through?" Nick spat, narrowing his eyes at Martin.
"That does not apply to me, for I am not a raccoon." He pointed finger guns at Nick before tucking some loose hairs behind his ear. Thankfully he decided to ditch the nasty gel job he applied the night prior. Nick smirked at him, and Abby attempted to redirect him to his food with a gentle pat to his chest with the back of her hand.
"What do you want, Martin?" Bram spoke up. This grabbed the table's attention in a whole. We all gradually brought our attentions up to Bram and all but one of us, being Jenson, were in disbelief that the question came from him.
"Look, you guys were like my only friends in high school and-"
"What ever happened to Suraj?" Abby snipped.
"Your average case of betrayal," he clapped his hands together and pointed with one finger towards Abby.
"He got a girlfriend and left you behind, then you became all sad because you didn't have one either?" Garrett suggested. Martin's face dropped with a heavy sigh.
"…I wouldn't say so much 'left behind', as I would say 'abandoned'," he corrected.
"Wait…you're straight?" Jenson spoke up with food in his mouth.
"Uh, yes?" Martin smirked with a simple laugh, cocking his head at Jenson in question.
"I just thought because of the cardigan," Jenson made mention to Martin's outfit with a shrug. I snorted, covering my mouth to stifle my laughter.
"Well…it was nice seeing you all," Martins' tight-lipped smile said it all. He walked away from our table, and over to another table full of the girl's who used to play volleyball.
"Why was he wearing a cardigan in summer?" Jenson questioned, looking at all of us for answers.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," Simon laughed, placing his hand on Jenson's bicep. He shrugged and bit into his sandwich. Just out of curiosity I glanced up at Bram who was watching the interaction of Simon and Jenson from afar. He seemed bothered, but instead of saying something like he looked as if he were about to do, he rolled his lips in a tapped Garrett on the shoulder.
"I'm going to go get some food," came out as a whisper. Bram walked away to the food tables, and I slowly got up.
"I think I'm still kind of hungry, I'll be right back," I said, feeling self conscious that I even said the words a loud. I shook it off, and made my way over to the food and walked up beside Bram.
"Hey, the corn bread isn't that great," I mentioned, as Bram was placing a mini loaf beside his pulled pork sandwich. He looked at me and smiled.
"Thanks for the warning, but I guess I'll have to eat it now," he chuckled, looking at the dry loaf on the edge of his plate.
"Sorry I wasn't faster," I laughed back. He shrugged and worked his way down the line still. I followed close behind, being creepier than I had intended. I could feel him staring at me out the corner of his eye, so before this gets weird-
"Salad was good though," I spoke up, pointing to the tray. He looked back at me and nodded with a small smile. Oh quiet boy…you don't need to be quiet around me. "Bram?" I spoke again. He dished pasta salad onto his plate before turning his gaze in my direction.
"Leah?" he questioned back with slight hesitation.
"Can I ask you something?"
His body tensed, and his eyes did a strange side-glance before focusing in on me.
"Uh, s-sure?"
"Between you and me, and I promise I won't say anything- I need to know what's up."
"What's…up?" he wrinkled his eyebrows with a soft head tilt.
"I've been watching you in a very non-stalkerish way," I lifted my hands in defense to my startling words, "and I've noticed that you've been particularly nervous, but yet extremely extroverted at the same time. While the whole world knows you're the introverted type, I can't help but feel like that's changed for a specific reason?"
"You've been watching me?" Bram asked as if he were confirming my words.
"Yes, but like I said-"
"What exactly have you been watching?" he narrowed his eyes at me.
"…The way you react to Simon," I admitted.
"Simon?" his eyebrows shot up.
I leaned in and lowered my voice to a hushed whisper, "yeah…and I can't help but think that maybe you're Blue?"
I tried to read the expression on his face, but for the first time in forever Bram was emotionless. The shine in his eyes, and everlasting nervous smile was missing from his face. Did I just break him?
"Bram?" I spoke up. He blinked, and his mouth fell open.
"I, uh-"
"Oh my god…I'm right?" my eyes grew wide. I didn't think I was actually right- I thought I was just going crazy!
He looked around nervously, and gulped. "Uh, Leah…" he stammered, putting his plate on the table beside us. He took me by the arm and led me a few more feet away.
"Holy shit!" I whispered to myself, being dragged to another part of the food table.
"Listen to me...you can't tell anyone- especially, Simon," he begged, placing his hands together in a prayer pose. I looked him up and down, scanning him for answers.
"Why don't you want to tell him? Are you kidding? Simon's gonna go nuts!"
"Exactly! He's going to go nuts- and not good nuts…" Bram looked to his side as he thought about his words. He shook away the thought and pleaded with me again. "Look, you heard him- I broke his heart, Leah. You really think he's going to be happy when I tell him?"
"Yes!" I nearly exploded, becoming overly animated.
"No!" He shot back, dropping his hands. "Leah, you don't get it! We were in love, and I ruined it!"
"Correction, Martin ruined it," I interrupted him.
"I could have been the 'knight in shining armor' that Simon deserved, but instead I chickened out and pretended like nothing was different. I shouldn't have left him on that fucking ferris wheel like I did," he exclaimed, nearly on the verge of tears. "I don't even think he'd believe me if I told him I was still in love with him after all these years," Bram sighed, placing a hand over his mouth while the other rested on his hip.
My heart melted the second the words flowed from Bram's lips. I felt myself becoming giddy all of a sudden, and that wasn't like me at all. I pressed my fist into my chest with my other hand folded over it tightly. "Love? You still love him?" I didn't need a mirror to know I looked like an idiot. I felt my eyes grow a thousand times bigger, and I'm sure little hearts were flying out in every direction like an anime character.
"Yes, very much so," he chuckled to himself, but most likely at me. "But that doesn't change the fact that he's in a relationship with…Jenson," he gagged at the name. We looked back at the table and focused in on both of them. I turned back to Bram and shook my head.
"Don't you even worry about him- he's nothing compared to you! For heavens sake, Bram, you're Blue! You're Simon's Blue!" I exclaimed in a still very hushed tone of voice. I was respectful to his decision, but he's an idiot if he decides not to tell him.
"I hear what you're saying, but my eyes are seeing something different," he frowned, motioning for me to look again. I turned back to see Simon laughing with Jenson, and then giving him a peck on the lips. Fuck!
"Bram I'm telling you-"
"Leah, please…just…forget about this whole conversation, okay?"
It was breaking my heart to see Bram so crushed by this. He was already carrying guilt from not coming out to him in the first place and now this…Simon, why do you have to be so stupid? Could have left Jenson in the dust and maybe you'd be getting some Blue! Plan backfired, big time.
"Bram…I promise I won't say a word because it's not my place, but please reconsider telling him…or I may have to. You don't know what it's been doing to him for years-"
"Leah," Bram sighed with his nostrils flaring just as Simon's did only hours ago when I realized I hit my limit with him. Wow, I need to pay more attention to people's body language.
"Okay- fine, but please reconsider?" I asked. Now I was the one pleading with him.
"I'll try," he nodded with a sigh. I sighed back, and walked back to the table. I plopped down in my seat lazily; angry at the two nimrods across from me. No, not Nick and Abby- even though their love makes me sick- Jenson and the stupid oblivious one I call my best friend. How could he not know it was Bram!? Of all the people he guessed.
"I thought you were getting more food?" Abby asked, stealing a pickle from Nick's plate.
"I decided I wasn't hungry anymore," I said, realizing I was sulking. Simon looked at me and frowned.
'You okay?' he mouthed. I nodded, and looked away from him. I know who Blue is- the one question he's held onto for ten years and I can't even tell him! Oh this is going to be an interesting weekend for sure.
A/N: I don't normally make Authors Notes at the end, but I feel like this chapter needs one. I want to know in the comments what kind of twist/direction this is going. I'd love to know what you guys are thinking! Thanks!
