I just want to reiterate how grateful I am for the reviews. It's nice to know how this story is being perceived by others because it's often very different from what I anticipate. It's definitely giving me inspiration and helping me to write.
Chapter 4
As I drive Wendy downtown to the restaurant we decided upon, I take advantage of the silence in the car to reflect on my situation. Okay, so I'm attracted to Wendy. My little daydream in the shower proved that loud and clear. But that shouldn't be too surprising; I mean–I've always thought she was attractive. So when did it go from just finding her attractive to being attracted to her? Was it always there and I just didn't recognize it until now? Did Wendy do something to provoke it? I guess she was flirting with me last night…was that the catalyst? And does it matter that she doesn't even remember doing it? Honestly, I don't know how to analyze it. Well, whatever is going on here, I am determined to make it through this lunch without making the situation more confusing. I will overcome this.
I look over at Wendy, who is staring out of the passenger side window. With a furrowed brow, she appears to be deep in thought over something. She notices me glancing at her and turns toward me. Her serious expression fading, she smiles warmly at me and I flash a friendly smile back. Yes, I can do this; I can be friendly. No more flirting, and definitely no more fantasies.
This is all the silence I'm granted for thinking, as Wendy starts commenting on the sunny weather. Nice friendly conversation for two friends. As it should be.
We soon arrive at the restaurant and are quickly greeted by an overly-cheerful hostess, probably a college student herself. After we're seated at a table for two, I realize this is the first time Wendy and I have ever gone out to eat together, just the two of us, without the omnipresent Stan. But hey, friends go out to lunch together all the time, right? I wonder if the hostess thinks we're a couple. Maybe I should scoot my chair a little further out just in case…
While Wendy commences looking at the menu quietly, I take a moment to look around the restaurant. It's a little after the prime lunch hour, but the restaurant is still fairly crowded. Waiters and waitresses are bustling around, trays in hand, while patrons merrily chat at the tables and booths throughout the room. There is a sports game on the television above the bar, which elicits an intermittent cheer from the bar rats with their chicken wings and beer. It's a very casual environment. Perfect.
An older waitress approaches our table, notepad in hand. "Can I get you two started with something to drink?" she asks us with a smile.
"Kyle, you should order a beer!" Wendy suddenly speaks up. "It's his 21st birthday today," she explains to the waitress.
Although I'm only slightly hung-over, I'm still not exactly in the mood for drinking yet. But for some reason when Wendy proposes a beer, it seems like a challenge. And I've never been able to resist her challenges. "Okay, but only if you have one too."
"IDs please?" the waitress asks. As I request my preferred beer, I pull out my wallet and incidentally start to slip my fake ID out from one of the sleeves. Luckily, I catch myself just in time, stifling a laugh while Wendy orders her drink.
What a dumbass I am… I think to myself, finally sliding out my real ID and presenting it to our waitress.
The waitress studies Wendy's ID first and then mine. She scrutinizes mine for a moment before handing it back. "Happy birthday," she smiles before walking away to get our drinks.
Once the waitress is safely away, I confess my near-error to Wendy. "I almost showed her my fake ID out of habit!"
"You did not!" she snorts, rolling her eyes at me.
"I did! I wonder what I should do with it now? I guess Ike will be starting college soon—I could always give it to him."
"Ike doesn't look anything like you in your fake ID," Wendy says casually while returning her eyes to the menu again. "Give him some better hair and a cuter nose, and then it might work," she continues while still looking over the food choices.
Wait! Did she just say I had good hair and a cute nose?
The only response I can manage is a forced laugh while I simultaneously try to decide if her words have sabotaged my thus-far friendly lunch. Was her comment considered… flirting?? She didn't say it flirtatiously...she said it more like a statement of fact than anything else. And she certainly didn't blush or anything after saying it. She didn't even look at me while she said it. I suppose it's alright for friends to compliment each other… So, I think no harm done here.
Except for the fact that I'm totally overanalyzing everything and driving myself crazy.
I sigh to myself as I begin look over the menu. I am trying way too hard with this 'just friends' stuff. What I need to do is stop thinking so much and relax. I take a moment to clear my head before scanning the menu again. Luckily, the restaurant serves pretty typical lunch fare and it doesn't take me long to decide on a choice.
The waitress returns with our beers and takes our food order. With my new goal of relaxation, I am definitely glad I ordered that beer now, and I take a large gulp as soon as the waitress sets it down. The waitress looks at me for a moment and tells me to 'pace, yourself tiger,' as she heads away toward the kitchen.
Wendy snickers at the waitress's comment before speaking again.
"Token's band has a show at the Imperial in a couple weeks. Are you going?" she asks me before taking a sip of her draft beer.
"Oh yeah, I heard about that. Um, I'll probably go unless something comes up. You?"
Wendy nods. "I do have a paper due that Monday, but I think I'll probably make it out anyway since pretty much everyone is going," she says.
"Another paper, huh? Tough semester so far?" I ask her.
"Yeah, it's been kinda hectic actually. In addition to all this homework, I've got to present an award and give a speech for one of my groups in a few weeks and I haven't even started preparing for that." She pauses to take another sip. "I'm definitely going to enjoy my summer off before starting grad school here. Speaking of which, have you decided if you're doing grad school here or somewhere else?"
"I've gotten a few acceptance letters to other places. I kind of agree with you though. I mean—I know it's not Ivy League here or anything, but I like it. And all my friends live here," I reply.
Okay. This is better. With this conversation, it's finally starting to feel normal again. I was really starting to panic a little while ago. Wendy really is a great friend. Just like Stan is a great friend. So what if I'm cognizant of an attraction to her? I would hate to fuck up both of my great friendships because of a little sexual tension.
"Good. Hey–I'll be right back. Excuse me," Wendy says as she starts to stand up from our table.
Due to my recent track record, I turn my head towards the sports game on at the bar to avoid any temptation of watching Wendy walk away. It works like a charm. God, I'm doing so good right now!
I continue watching the game, smug smile plastered on my face, very satisfied with myself indeed. I knew I could do this.
Not too long after Wendy returns to our table, our waitress brings us our food. She asks if we want another beer, but luckily Wendy declines, so I don't feel bad doing the same.
Wendy and I continue our casual conversation while working on our sandwiches.
Suddenly, I hear a group of waitresses singing a proprietary version of the happy birthday song. I look up to see our waitress carrying over a slice a cake with a single candle in it. Once the song is finished and the chocolate cake is set down in front of me, I look across the table to Wendy. She is beaming so brightly it almost competes with the lighted candle on the cake. I'm so transfixed by this comparison I don't even realize I'm blowing the candle out.
The wait staff applauds and walks away, leaving me with a smiling Wendy and a piece of birthday cake.
"Want some?" I ask her, and hand her a fork.
"Thanks," she answers, accepting the utensil.
We both stab at the cake with our forks and have a taste. The chocolate is really rich, but tastes delicious. I take another bite.
Wendy looks at me and smiles. "Kyle, you've got some frosting on your…" she laughs while reaching towards me. My posture stiffens as she leans into me, eyes focused on my mouth as if she was leaning in for a kiss. It seems like she's moving in slow motion. Suddenly, her hand pauses an inch from my mouth and her fingers retract. She bites her lower lip and withdraws her hand. "It's right here," she says softly while gesturing to her own face near her lips. But rather than gazing at the offending spot on my face, her eyes are locked on my own.
I awkwardly swipe at my mouth, and break away from her stare to inspect my hand. Sure enough, the smallest bit of chocolate frosting is left on my finger. I look at the traces of chocolate with exaggerated blinks before returning my attention back to Wendy.
"Got it…" she murmurs, still looking intensely into my eyes. Finally, she takes a deep breath and looks away toward the center of the restaurant. I also take a deep breath at this time because I realize I had been holding my breath and my lungs were burning.
Okay, so what the hell just happened there?! Just when I think I feel normal, she goes and does that. Why does this sort of thing keep happening?
There is an air of awkwardness about our table, at least to me, when our waitress returns with our check. Before I can take the black folder from its resting spot on the table, Wendy snatches it up first.
"My treat. Happy birthday," she says as she reaches into her purse for her wallet.
"Wendy…" I start to warn.
"No, I insist," she says stubbornly, but with a smile.
"Well thank you very much," I say gratefully. What a nice gesture…
"Not a problem," she says, still rummaging through her purse, although her wallet is already in her hand. She looks perplexed when she finally looks up to me. "You know what? I think I left my phone in your apartment again," she laughs.
"Good thing we have to go back there anyway," I laugh. "I hope this doesn't become a habit with you!"
"Don't lie; you know you love having me come over," she kids, but for some reason, neither of us laugh at her joke.
After settling our bill, Wendy and I walk back to my car in silence. Wendy appears to be looking up towards the unusually blue sky when my cell phone rings. Out of curiosity, I check to see who it is. It's Kenny. I decide to take the call.
"Hey Kenny," I greet.
"Hey dude, just checking in. What are you doing?" Kenny's ebullient voice asks over the phone.
"Umm…I just got finished eating," I say.
"Oh, are ya with Stan? How's he feeling today?" Kenny asks.
"No, I'm not with Stan, but I was earlier. He's pretty hung-over," I report.
"That figures. You at home?" he laughs.
"No," I answer pithily.
Wendy touches my arm to get my attention. "Who is it?" she inquires.
"Kenny," I mouth silently to answer her question. Wendy nods in acknowledgment.
"I hear someone in the background, who are you with?" Kenny suddenly asks.
"Wendy came over because she left her phone at my place, and we stopped to get something to eat," I respond straightforwardly.
"What?! You're with Wendy right now?" Kenny asks incredulously, his volume noticeably increased.
"Uh, yeah…?" I answer meekly, moving the phone from my ear an inch to offset his loudness.
"What are you doing Kyle??" he asks in a disapproving tone.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I look over at Wendy, but she doesn't appear to be listening too closely to my conversation.
"Kyle, she talked about you the whole drive home last night," he says, as if this should explain his displeasure.
"So?" I respond, losing my patience. With my suddenly terse tone, Wendy looks over at me quizzically.
"I'm serious dude. I saw you guys at your party. What's going on with you two?" Kenny demands.
Right, like I can talk to Kenny about Wendy while she's standing right next to me.
"Listen Kenny, I gotta go. I'll call you later," I say distractedly. Wendy and I are back at my car and she's waiting on me to unlock the door.
"Kyle!" I hear Kenny yell as I summarily end the call. He's totally overreacting, but I'm not really in a position to have a discussion about it right now. Luckily, he doesn't call back and I drive Wendy back to my place without any further interruptions.
Once we're back at my apartment, I let Wendy inside so she can retrieve her phone…again. However, instead of simply collecting her phone and leaving, she sits down on my couch tiredly. Taking her cue, I take a seat beside her.
"Last night must be catching up with me now—I'm exhausted!" she smiles at me.
"Yeah me too!" I concur. "Thanks again for lunch and helping me clean up earlier."
"No problem. I had a nice day with you today," she smiles.
"Yeah, it's been a great birthday," I say as I lean back into the couch.
"I had a really good time with you last night too," she says more quietly, looking down into her lap.
I chuckle. "I thought you didn't remember last night," I tease.
"Well, that's not entirely true…I do remember the good parts," she looks seriously at me.
With that statement, I suddenly notice our thighs are touching as we sit juxtaposed on the couch. I don't remember consciously sitting that close to her…
"Did you get everything you wanted for your birthday?" she asks me softly, turning her upper body to face mine.
"Well, no," I quietly respond. "Not everything." I turn toward her. Now we're both facing each other, but we're still so close…
At this very moment a perfect storm of ambivalence is crusading inside my head. One, I'm cursing myself for being in this situation with my best friend's girlfriend despite all my precautions earlier today. But at the same time the moment feels perfectly predestined, and I can not imagine being anywhere else.
So when Wendy leans in and kisses me, I selfishly kiss her back. At first, the kiss is almost like a question…it's a gentle kiss…there is no rushing, no urgency; just the sensation of soft lips teasing mine. However, the kiss soon changes as she shifts her body weight on top of me. This kiss is more adamant, more primal. It is this kiss that scares me, and presumably her, because after a few seconds she abruptly pulls away and retreats to the other end of the couch.
We look at each other incredulously for a moment before Wendy breaks the trance and jumps up. "I'm so sorry, Kyle…I've got to go now." Face bright red, she grabs her purse, remembering to grab her phone along with it, and rushes out my front door without saying another word. I don't even attempt to get up to follow her. I can't. I'm too busy burying my head into the couch cushion.
A/N: Sorry if this is going really slow; I know the story timeline so far has barely spanned 24 hours. I promise the pace will quicken. However, I'm still thinking this will be a longer story, so patience might be required. Thanks!! Oh, and I know the whole frosting-on-the-face-here-let-me-get-that-for-you is pretty cliche, but I guess I watched too many soap operas growing up. :)
