Mitchie's Prov
"Pass me that dusty pink one." I asked Caitlyn as I twisted and turned studying the dress I was in now.
The one I was wearing was very plain, white mini dress with white lace floral pattern ¾ length sleeves. But after not feeling very colourful for the past week I didn't really want to wear white on my first trip out since getting better.
"Here you go." She smiled handing it to me.
I held it up against me, it was a dusty pink one shoulder bodycon dress draped in chiffon with a silk strip around the waist.
"I like it." Caitlyn complimented.
"Me too." I smiled. "This is the one."
"Finally, only six dresses later." She laughed running her hands over the pile that lay on my bed beside her. "You're really going to a lot of trouble for tonight…anyone in particular you're trying to impress say the birthday boy?" She asked coyly.
"I'm not doing this to impress Jason." I frowned at her as I stepped out of the white dress and into the pink one.
"Shane, then?" She persisted.
"I'm not trying to impress him either." I frowned turning around and gesturing to my zip so she would do it for me. It had been funny watching the exchange between Jason and Shane as Jason invited him more out of obligation as he didn't see him when mentioning it to me and Shane not really wanting to go but unable to give his true answer as I stared at him warningly. "I'm not looking to impress anyone I just want to have fun tonight since it's my first night out since I've got better."
"I've shoes that would go with that." She smiled changing the subject quickly going to her closet.
Ring! Ring!
I looked at the caller I.D and smiled I was expecting this.
"Hello." I smiled answering. "Not calling to cancel, I hope." I almost laughed.
"No, just making sure you're still feeling well enough to go." Shane answered. "Because if you're not I'd be happy enough to sit home with you and miss the party."
I laughed out loud, "Nice try." I giggled. "I'll see you shortly." I was still giggling as I hung up.
Jason's twenty second birthday was taken place in the famous Roosevelt Hotel at the Tropicana pool bar. It was spectacular my breath was taking away the moment we walked in it was like a proper little oasis in the middle of the city with its lush foliage and quaint little cabanas with their own roaring fire places positioned around the beautiful turquoise pool.
"Wow." I breathed staring enviously at the people actually in the pool I should've brought my swimming stuff.
"This is a bit ostentatious for a twenty second birthday, isn't it?" Shane rolled his eyes behind me.
"He didn't have a twenty first so he's making up for it." Nate answered.
Shane and I both stared at him me with shock because I didn't even know that but Shane stared daggers at him, "Traitor." He mouthed when he thought I wasn't looking.
"He sought me out to invite Caitlyn and me; I didn't go looking for him." Nate defended himself apologetically.
"Mitchie!" I heard Jason before I seen him.
He looked good in a checked red shirt; light brown leather jacket and acid wash jeans as he weaved through the crowd towards us.
"Happy Birthday!" I smiled hugging him tightly. "This place is awesome."
"Thanks." He smiled letting go of me to greet everyone else he even had a smile for Shane he was so happy.
Shane's Prov
Naturally Prince Charming escorted us to our own cabana taken Mitchie by the arm leading her ahead monopolising her as usual. Then he insisted on staying as we were greeted with complimentary drinks before whisking her off to meet his parents and other friends and family members without extending the offer to the rest of us.
I kept my eyes on them as he introduced her to groups of people and watched as she charmed them within the first minute, her whole personality was charming and caring no body could resist her. But when I went for a drink I lost them, I considered going looking for them but I made myself stay with Caitlyn and Nate being jealous wasn't helping, showing her I was jealous would make things worse.
I ended up getting lost in conversation with them only turning to look for them once or twice.
"Hey Jason." Caitlyn smiled over my shoulder interrupting Nate.
I looked around automatically but not to see him to see her…but she wasn't with him.
"Where's Mitchie?" I asked without thinking.
"She got caught up talking to my cousins." He smiled almost smirked- as if I should be jealous she was meeting his family he mustn't have realised we were so close when we were kids she had already met mine- as he sat next to me.
I rolled my eyes turning away from him to ignore him as he started making small talk with Caitlyn and Nate. Something occurred to me as he spoke to them –more sucked up to them- I remembered what I'd said to him the night we were with Mitchie when she was ill about Caitlyn telling me about it. Was he trying to butter them up to get in with them…that slimmy S.O.B…but my mind was quickly taken off him when I finally spotted her.
The crowds were thinning because it was getting late and it was just by chance but I found her by the pool her light pink ridiculously high shoes with a bow in her hand as she sat at the edge of the pool to put her feet in. She was sitting alone out of the way of any people probably catching her breath although everyone couldn't help but like Mitchie -which wasn't a bad thing- it got a little over whelming for her so I didn't go over to her letting her have her space.
Mitchie's Prov
I was partied out and peopled out, everyone was lovely and the party had been great but I was feeling it now the tiredness was sweeping in fast as I sat down by the pool and these shoes were killing my feet I was grateful for the ice cold water.
"Hi." A pleasant voice with a slight accent greeted above me.
I looked up to find a guy that was around six foot of hotness and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face when I took all of him in. He had the same Mediterranean tan as Shane, a mop of chocolate brown hair with his fringe swept to the side and deep brown eyes to match and on one of arms was a sleeve tattoo. His dress sense was very emo/rock, he wore a black plain shirt under a thin black and grey sweater vest that hugged his muscular chest and arms, tight black skinny pants and black converse.
"You're Jason's girlfriend, right?"
I wonder if he noticed how my face fell before I almost choked on my words to correct him, "No, just his friend."
"Oh." His lips twitched up a little at one corner before his attention was somewhere else. "Is that guy your boyfriend…or date?" He asked gesturing across the pool.
I looked over in time to see Shane try to casually look away.
I shook my head, "He's my best friend." I corrected automatically.
"Huh." He smiled obviously happy about my answer sitting down beside me making me smile in return.
"Mitchie." I smiled at him after a while.
"Alex." He smiled back showing off his perfect white teeth.
"How do you know Jason?" I asked conversationally.
"We used to play basketball together, you?"
"He was my T.A last year."
"So, you go to Berkeley then, I graduated last year."
"Did you grow up here?" I asked noting the accent again.
"No, I just moved here for college I grew up in Quebec." Ah French Canadian that explained it. "You?" He asked interestedly.
"California girl born and raised." I smiled.
"Oh." He frowned for a moment I thought he had bought into the whole stereotypical California girl rumours but when I looked he was frowning over my head. I looked around out of curiosity a group of boys were waving at him and pointing at there watches.
"Do you have to be somewhere else?" I asked unable to push the sudden disappointment out of my tone.
"Yeah, we're supposed to go catch the highlights of tonight's game the…"
"The Lakers and Knicks game."
"Yeah." He smiled his eyes filling up with star struck awe for a moment. "…some of us have bets down." He smiled pushing himself up and offering his hand to help me I smiled brightly taken it. "So" He started nervously when he let my hand go. "You wouldn't wanna hang out some time would you?"
"Hmm…that depends…" I teased.
"On what?"
"On whom you put your bet on?" I smiled.
He chuckled, "Lakers all the way." He smiled. "Is that the right answer?" He pretended to act nervous as he waited for me to answer.
"Definitely." I smiled flirtatiously as I slid his phone out of his jeans pocket and typed my number in. "I'll see you soon." I smiled given him a wink as we parted.
"Huh, I always pegged you as more a two men sorta girl." I knew the smarmy voice before I looked up from the ground.
And like some nightmare there he was in all his slimy obscurity that annoying smirk in place.
I didn't react how I wanted I held my tongue he got off on people's reactions he loved the attention, "Christian." I greeted indifferently. "What are you doing here?"
"Crashing the party." He smiled. "Really Mitchie don't you have enough men fighting over you, was there really any need to add another?" He persisted.
"Jason and Shane are only friends." I couldn't help but frown now.
"That's not the way they see it I'm sure." He smirked.
"Look." I hissed the last of my patience wearing thin already. "They know I date so if you're thinking about stirring up more trouble like last semester you'll not succeed, so why don't you take a long walk off a short pier?" I suggested walking around him to get to our cabana.
"Who was that?" Shane asked as I joined them.
"Christian." I nearly growled his name sitting in the space Jason and him made for me between them.
"Shane and I were just about to come help you but it didn't seem you needed it." Jason smiled approvingly.
"No not him…" Shane interrupted. "…the guy talking to you by the pool." Shane asked trying to sound nonchalant.
"That was Alex."
"Alex St-Pierre?" Jason asked showing more interest than he probably meant too.
"Uh…I didn't get his last name but maybe, he had a tattoo said he played basketball with you?"
"That's him." Jason said, I thought he frowned but he quickly looked away.
Shane stared at him in interest for a while, longer than he ever looked at Jason willingly before.
"He was cute." Caitlyn chimed in. "Not as cute as you." I heard her reassure Nate missing the look he must have gave her. "Did you get his number?" She asked eagerly when she was satisfied he was content.
I nodded excitedly getting pulled into the girl talk automatically, "No definite plans yet though but he promised to call me."
"Good." Jason muttered quietly but I heard even over Caitlyn's reassurances he'd call.
"What does that mean?" I asked challengingly.
He looked like a deer caught in headlamps when I confronted him, "I just mean shouldn't you slow down on all the dating, haven't you been out twice already this week."
I pulled a face, who was he my dad?
"I'm just having fun, maybe you should try it." I frowned a bit put out with his attitude, usually this was Shane and I's argument. Speaking of Shane I felt him snigger at my other side making me crabbier as I turned on him too, "Both of you."
Knock! Knock!
I peeped through our peep hole and immediately started feeling guilty.
"Hi." I mumbled opening the door.
"Hi." He mumbled back in the same guilty tone.
"I'm so sorry, Shane." I spat out quickly. "I didn't mean what I said last night or imply anything by it."
He smiled letting me know I was forgiven, "You beat me to it."
"You didn't really need to apologise though, besides sniggering at me telling Jason off you didn't do anything."
He looked confused for a moment then thoughtful, "Huh, you're right for the first time I didn't cause this argument." He smiled obviously proud of himself making me laugh.
Ring! Ring!
"Come on in." I yelled running for my phone.
"Hello." I answered turning back to Shane who was making himself comfortable at the other end of the couch.
"Hey." Jason mumbled guiltily making me smile at the coincidence.
"Hi Jason." I greeted, Shane made a face at his name and I punched him as I sat down beside him.
"Uh…" My easy breezy tone seemed to confuse him he was expecting me to be angry and I should've been if Shane hadn't lightened my mood. "I was just calling to apologise."
"Don't worry about it." I interrupted quickly. "I'm sorry I snapped at you I just hated you trying to tell me what I should do…but I think I overreacted so I'm sorry too."
"Well I'll forgive you if you forgive me?" He joked.
"Deal." I smiled until my curiosity kicked in. "Why didn't you want me dating Alex?"
"I think you could do better but it's not my place to say and I never will again." He promised.
"He was jealous." Shane frowned answering for him at the same time.
"Someone else there?" He asked.
"Yeah Shane's here." I frowned at him saying his name. "He came over to apologise. You guys must be running on the same clock or something." I tried to joke.
"Except he's always a step behind." Shane muttered I punched him again but it didn't seem to faze him as he sniggered.
"Oh, you guys hanging out?"
"I guess so, now the awkward parts over." I giggled. "Wanna come over too?" Shane looked disgusted at my invitation.
"Sure I'll be there in a few."
"See you soon." I smiled hanging up sticking my tongue out at Shane.
Knock! Knock!
"Shane! Can you that?" I called from the bathroom still beaming because of my last phone call.
Alex had called, as promised, and asked me out when I hung up with Jason and I was ecstatic.
I heard Shane mumble probably about how he didn't want to let Jason in as he walked to the door and open it.
"Hey." Shane greeted unenthusiastically.
"Hi." Jason's tone was the same. "Where's Mitchie?"
"She's in the bathroom; when I called in she was in the middle of washing her hair so she's just finishing up." Shane explained.
"Oh right." Jason answered as I heard the door close.
I relaxed as I heard the silence and continued rinsing my hair over the bath tub last thing I needed was a fight breaking out when I couldn't stop it. It was still quiet a part from the noise from the T.V. when I finished and turned off the shower.
"Hey Jason." I smiled peeking around the door. "I'll be out shortly." I smiled again before starting to towel dry my hair.
"She seems happier today." I heard Jason comment absently.
"Yeah." Shane didn't sound very pleased. "You're friend Alex called her." He explained.
"Really?" I could just imagine the frown Jason wore.
"Yep." I bet Shane had a matching frown. "Out of curiosity why don't you want her going out with him? Is he a bad guy or something?"
"Honestly, I just didn't want more competition its bad enough having to compete with you."
"Hmm…" Shane mumbled thoughtfully as if he agreed.
Suddenly my good mood went out the window, "O.k." I almost shouted as I walked out of the bathroom towel still in my hands. "We need to talk."
Both boys jumped at my entrance but then looked confused.
"Which 'we', you and me…" Shane asked. "…or you and him?" He added reluctantly.
"All of us." I frowned. "I heard you two talking." I confessed, Jason looked embarrassed but Shane didn't seem bothered. "Look." I sighed. "I dunno what I thought would happen maybe that this would all sort itself out without me having to do anything but I guess that was sorta stupid. But I can't have you thinking that…even without "competition" I would choose between you." I paused to exhale loudly, this was why I hoped everything would sort itself out I did not want to have to say these things and watch their faces form the same hurt expressions even Shane's cool façade was showing its cracks. "I'm not saying this to hurt you I'm saying this so I don't hurt you…maybe I was right last night when I said you both should start dating too."
Despite my intention to save them from hurt they both seemed hurt and rejected at my words.
