After everyone Cody had invited arrived, I decided it was time for me to depart. I prepared the last of the snacks then went to hand them over to the starving men. As I reached the living room I felt myself come in contact with something wet on the floor. I slipped almost immediately, chips and pretzels flying through the air. "Jamie, are you alright!" Cody bellowed. I stood quickly, not the best decision I've ever made because I was greeted with pain. "Yeah I'm fine; I think one of you guys spilled some of your beer though." I said pointing to where I had just landed. Cody bound to my side with a few short strides. "Here let me help you pick this up." He offered. I waved him off. "It's alright, I've got it." I unknowingly had draw unwanted attention to myself for I had beer stained shorts that just so happened to be white. As I bent down to retrieve the scattered snacks I could hear a low whistle unheard by anyone but me. I spun around only to notice Mike "the Miz" Mizanin and Ted Dibaise both share a smug grin. It was then I discovered my stained shorts, realization flooding to me. While Cody and his remaining buddies helped pick up my mess, Ted and Mike just stood there taking in the scene. I swiftly slung the sweatshirt I had been wearing around my waist. The door was straight ahead of me and I decided to take the easy way out. I cautiously made my way to freedom and I had almost made it to until Cody looked up. "Jamie, where you going?" Damn it. "I'm going to run some errands down town." I mentally gave myself props for coming up with such a quick response. "Jamie that's going to be quite a walk, let me drive you there." Seeing as how I didn't have a driver's license Cody insisted on bringing me everywhere; I never felt the need to get behind the wheel, it didn't appeal to me. "I'll be alright." I said making a bee line for the door and shutting it behind me. I had only been in the hall for a few seconds when Cody followed me. "Jamie, I really don't want you walking that far of a distance." Worry clouded his eyes. "I'll take a bus then." I began walking away when he stopped me. "Jamie what's the matter?" He could always tell when I was upset even though my facial expressions weren't always clear cut, he must sense it or something. "Cody I just want to go out before it's too late." I pulled away from him and continued walking but he was right behind me. "Fine I'll walk with you." I stopped in my tracks and took out my anger on him. "Cody you have guests, you can't just leave them." He rubbed the back of his neck with the palm of his hand, a sign he was getting anxious. "Look I'll be back later ok?" He didn't say anything for a minute; he just kept staring at his feet. "I want you to come back right after your done, if anything happens to you I swear to god I'll kill myself." I hugged him briefly. "Thank you Cody." And with that I left; I glanced back every so often until I couldn't see him anymore, he knew something was wrong but I didn't dare tell him. What was I to say? So there he stood, confused and worrisome; letting the men inside fend for themselves. He wouldn't go back inside until I was out of view.


That night I didn't return back to the hotel until nine. His room was quiet and dark; life did not exist here anymore. I searched for Cody but came up empty handed. I was about to call him when I saw a silhouette outside on the railing. I crossed the room and opened the sliding glass door, there stood Cody. He had a cigarette in between his lips and was looking out at the horizon. I slowly edged over to him before speaking. "I'm back." Cody blew smoke out from his mouth before replying. "Jamie why didn't you tell me?" "Tell you what?" I knew this conversation was going to end badly. "That Ted and Mike were watching you." I had no idea how he had figured it out, he probably forced it out of one of them. "It's not a big deal Cody I-""No Jamie, you don't get it; because of them you risked walking all the way across town." I was getting a little upset now; he was getting angry over nothing. "I made it there just fine; I'm old enough to make my own decisions Cody." He banged his fists on the railing of the deck and almost broke it in two." "Does you're safety mean nothing to you? You could have been assaulted or tooken advantage of, god Jamie for once think about how you're actions will affect others." I had never seen Cody this mad before, I knew him for seven years and he had never gotten this mad. "I'm sorry Cody I didn't want to ruin your time." He turned his face directly towards mine and spoke with an unexpected vacancy deep in his throat. "As soon as you left my night was ruined." I tried to clear my throat but it was dry. "I'm sorry." Was all I could manage. Cody took another drag of his cigarette then tossed it; he clearly didn't want to upset me but had anyway. "Jamie, I'm the one who's sorry; I got carried away and I didn't mean too." I smiled a forgiving smile then padded back inside, leaving Cody alone in the growing darkness. I had just settled into bed when my cell phone rang. I groaned as I reached for it; I had to get up early tomorrow to exercise so I decided to go to bed early, this wasn't helping. "Hello." I rested the phone on my shoulder as I modified my position. "Jamie?" The voice on the other end wasn't familiar to me; I had no idea who it was. "Yes. Can I help you?" I did my best to sound polite but I was annoyed. "Um…Jamie, it's Ted." I thought about this for a moment; I was completely confused and I didn't know how to react. "Dibaise?" I finally spoke after what seemed like forever, Ted Dibaise was the only Ted I knew of. "Yes, I wanted to apologize for my behavior early today. I shouldn't have been watching you." I realized he was asking for forgiveness and I relaxed a little. "You don't need to apologize I shouldn't have had my butt right in your guy's faces." The other line was quiet for a moment and I thought he had hung up. I was about to speak when he did. "Jamie…Mike and I shouldn't have done what we did, if you can please forgive us." His voice sounded a little desperate and I felt bad. "Ted, I forgive you. I appreciate you making an effort as great as this one." He had chuckled softly, obviously relived. "I'll see you on Friday Ted, take care." I was about to hang up when he made a desperate act to stop me. "Wait Jamie, I wanted to ask you something." I closed my eyes; I could no longer fight to stay awake. "Mmmhmm." Was all I could do to respond. "Jamie, I was wondering if you wanted to go out Saturday night. Maybe catch a movie or something." I was barely conscious but I managed to reply. "Sure Ted sounds great." I wouldn't realize until later that I had made him the happiest man alive just by saying yes.