It had been a difficult night. Russell had taken on a very strange role as caretaker to Timmy, who was still shaken from having just come out to his mother. He'd made tea, drawn a bath, attempted to massage Timmy's shoulders, anything that seemed like a stereotypical romantic gesture. Timmy wasn't sure how to feel about the whole thing...he could never quite understand when Russell acted so much the antithesis of himself. But something was happening every time he did, layers gradually peeling away from the years of abuse. There were a lot of layers to peel away, but each one erased a touch of hatred, replaced it with a touch of affection.
As much as Timmy had tried to resist it, he was falling more and more in love with Russell every day. Oh, make no mistake, there were too many problems to count. But as he watched him this morning, toiling away in the kitchen over breakfast, having just burnt the second batch of toast and taking a bite out of the blackened bread to cover his pride, Timmy knew somehow that he was precisely where he needed to be.
"Russell...?"
Russell forced himself to swallow his charred breakfast. "Yeah, babe?"
Timmy flinched slightly - although he'd granted permission to use pet names, he wasn't used to it. "Uhm, thank you for last night...and for everything."
"What do you mean, everything?" Russell placed a plate in front of Timmy consisting of runny eggs, pink bacon, and burnt toast. He picked it immediately back up, shoving it back onto the counter. "Yeah, don't eat that, go to the diner or something. What, am I trying to kill you?"
Russell turned to walk away, and Timmy grabbed his arm. The men made eye contact, Timmy's face soft, thoughtful. "Russell, I hope you realize something. These last few weeks, I've struggled to make a decision...I chose you. Thank you for making yourself worthy of that choice."
Russell laughed softly. "Man. Dumb choice, probably."
Timmy stood, grabbing Russell by the shoulders. "Why must you constantly do that?"
"Do what?"
"Put yourself down. Before we were together romantically, all you ever did was talk yourself up, I've never known you to be anything other than a complete and total egomaniac. If I were to make a list of the things I hate about you, it would be right up there along with voracious hypersexual and unrefined-"
"Were you going somewhere with this, Tim?"
"Why now, why the passing snide remarks against yourself?"
"I don't know. Guess all I've ever heard was how I wasn't good enough. When I'm alone, that's when it comes out, or when I'm with family, well, they say it for me. So, like...I'm talking for my parents, I guess."
"There's this whole other side of you in which you berate yourself in this way? So...so you're comfortable enough with me to let your guard down." Russell looked away uncomfortably. "Your parents aren't here, Russell. You're a grown man, I've just paid you a compliment. It's taken me quite awhile to arrive at a place where I could pay you such a compliment, and I meant it. Please take it."
Russell looked back at Timmy's face, studying him carefully. How could somebody care so much about him? God, he was beautiful. "I wish I could tell them about us, Tim. I wish I could tell my dad to fuck off, I wish..." He shook his head. "You might've just given up your family for me and I can't even suck it up for a jackass who doesn't give two shits about me. I'm sorry, dude, but that was seriously stupid of you to do that. I'm not...I'm not worth it. I know what you just said, but I'm not."
Timmy wrapped his arms gently around Russell, now. "Shut up."
"Yeah, but Tim-"
"Just shut up. I've made my decision. Please, shut up."
Russell sighed out heavily. "I don't deserve you."
"You're right, I'll give you that one," said Timmy. "You don't. But I'm here for some reason, so take it and shut up."
Russell laughed against Timmy's shoulder. "Yeah...okay."
Timmy hadn't forgotten...he hadn't forgotten the feelings of animosity, the fact that everything in his life had changed in such a short period of time and he was still floating, unsure of where he was in the universe aside from being Russell's husband. He hadn't forgotten about the condoms in Russell's pockets. But as always, as he had done for five long years, he forgave rather easily, realizing that his affection for this feeble, flawed man somehow allowed him to pretend the rest didn't matter.
The storm was coming soon enough.
Jen had invited Timmy out with her and Audrey for coffee. At first he'd been reluctant; he didn't like the direction this was headed, becoming one of the 'girls'. He missed being one of the guys, he craved the company of the men, some much needed testosterone, but he was developing a true connection with Jennifer that they'd never had before, and he appreciated this. Indeed, she was the one person in the circle who seemed genuinely accepting of him and Russell now, without pretense or awkwardness, and he'd been able to confide in her in recent days when he felt otherwise alone in the world.
She granted him a friendly smile and a nudge on the shoulder. "I love this place, but the prices are nuts. And the coffee really isn't that great."
"You invited me to an overpriced coffee shop where they sell mediocre coffee? Thank you, Jennifer, so glad I could make it."
"Pft, hush. It's an atmosphere thing. And I'm paying."
They ordered their coffee and some assorted pastries and set about looking for a table.
"So Timmy, what happened yesterday? Your text was super vague."
Timmy looked around the little coffee shop as they sat down, brightly lit and plastered in colorful decor. There wasn't much of a crowd, and Audrey hadn't arrived yet. "Yes, I had an awful night, but I...I don't know if I want to talk about it."
Jen placed a hand to Timmy's arm gently. "Well, listen, I'm here if you need to talk."
"It's just..." He sighed out. "Yes, well, I spoke with my mother."
Jen gasped lightly. "No, oh my god, really?"
"In retrospect, it wasn't a complete disaster, but she didn't want to talk about it and we sort of just left it hanging in the air. I didn't actually tell her, she inferred from the situation. It was strange, it was very strange, I still can't figure out precisely what happened, and I believe if I speak much more about it I'll make a fool of myself and-" He shook his head. "Mm, no."
It was now that Audrey joined them at the table, greeting them both with a smile.
"Sorry I'm late, Jeff has the baby but it's sort of like pulling teeth. I still have to do a little walk through with him, y'know? He's scared to change a diaper, I kid you not he puts on a mask and gloves each time, and don't get me started on nap time, I think he cries more than she does. I have to leave him with a list about a mile long, it's just...it's crazy."
"I guess it's a mom thing," said Jen. "It's okay to be over-protective, men need guidance with this stuff, they don't know what they're doing. They can barely take care of themselves, is it any wonder you'd worry about leaving him alone with a baby?"
The women laughed lightly and then looked to Timmy apologetically, laughs dissipating.
"You're not like most men," Jen assured sincerely.
"It's all right," said Timmy. "A bit of harmless jest, I quite understand, both sides give as good as they get. Fascinating being on this side of the fence for a change. I concur at any rate that Jeff doesn't quite strike me as Mister Mom."
"Well, that's not really fair of me," said Audrey, "he's learning."
"I don't know how I'd handle fatherhood," said Timmy thoughtfully. "Oh...I suppose...I suppose this isn't something I'll be finding out anytime soon...not that I wanted to, I just hadn't thought much of that. Of the possibility being stripped away. Odd, there's always something new to think about in all of this."
"Never know," said Jen. "Same sex couples have kids all the time now, don't write it off just yet."
"Hmm..." Audrey clicked her tongue thoughtfully. "Y'know if that test turns out, you're technically a step-dad already."
"Step-father to a woman what - five, six years younger than me? Delightful." Timmy took a sip of his coffee now, and grabbed a bear claw from the center of the table, taking a large bite. He spoke with a full mouth. "Good grief, I forget how old he is sometimes."
"On the upside," said Jen, "you'll never have to change her diaper, or burp her, or give her a bath."
Timmy reiterated: "She's a young, attractive woman who hereditarily resembles the man I presently engage in sex with on a regular basis, Jennifer. Giving her a bath frankly doesn't strike me as such a repulsive proposition." He took another sip of coffee, then eyed both women sheepishly, realizing what he had just said. "Oh...oh dear, did I just say that aloud? Not that I would ever entertain such a thought, I just meant to say that...the way you phrased it..." He took another bite, shutting himself up.
Jen was grinning. "Timmy! I like this side of you." She nudged his arm playfully. "You've got kind of a dirty streak behind that prim and proper facade."
"I knew," said Audrey. "It's always the quiet ones. Plus, remember how long he's been hanging around with Russell, that man's bound to have poisoned his mind a little."
"Indeed, you're not wrong, at that." Timmy looked back to Jen. "Speaking of all this, children and what not, I believe you texted me yesterday and said you were going to fess up to Adam about your pangs for motherhood."
"Ah!" Audrey grew excited. "How'd it go?"
Jen shrunk a bit. "Oh, no. That didn't work out..."
Audrey reached for Jen's hand. "Oh, I'm sorry, hon. What did he say? I thought for sure he'd be on board."
"I didn't even get to ask him...he didn't sound like he was really into the idea, I dropped it." She turned her face down sadly. "Maybe it's for the best."
Timmy shook his head. "Now that's no kind of attitude to have. You need to march right back up to Adam and try again, tell him how you feel about this. This clearly means a great deal to you."
"We barely talked last night," she said. "I don't know, there was something in the air like we didn't want to talk about it...I'm not sure what happened."
"So we both had less than stellar evenings," Timmy concluded. "I'm so sorry. Please give it another chance, what harm can it do? Adam is hardly a menacing figure...he's your husband, he cares deeply for you. If you can't face him, then who on earth can you face?"
Jen gave a weak smile. "Thanks, Timmy, you're right. I don't know why I'm being so weird about this."
Audrey turned to Timmy. "You had a rough night, too?"
"Oh..." Timmy looked to Jen as if for assistance.
Jen looked back questioningly. "Is it okay to tell Audrey?"
Timmy nodded.
"He came out to his mom yesterday."
Audrey's eyes went wide. "Oh...oh, wow. Your parents didn't know until now?"
Timmy hadn't wanted to discuss this further. He let out a heavy breath, sipped his coffee, gathered his thoughts. "My family is native Indian. The climate in India regarding homosexuality is, uhm...still not...not particularly positive. Quite the opposite, in fact. I'm rather afraid of the repercussions."
"Your parents seemed pretty liberal when I met them," said Jen.
"They're quite traditionally Indian, but seeing as Simran and I are so Westernized, I suppose that yes, they've grown more liberal as a result," said Timmy. "But...but not to this extent. Not to the extent that their son would suddenly come out as gay." He shook his head. "No, not gay. Bi...bisexual." He sighed. "I don't know, I don't know anymore."
"Well, what word did you use yesterday?" asked Audrey.
"We didn't get that far. There were certain implications, Russell spoke to her very briefly, she told him to be good to me...I tried to talk to her and she cut me off. I have no idea what I intended to say to her. How do I explain this to my mother when I barely understand it myself? Russell and I have discussed this at great length and I...I don't know what I am, anymore. I'm not generally attracted to men."
"But you're attracted to Russell," said Jen.
"Am I? Well, yes, I suppose I am..."
Audrey asked her next question with a great deal of hesitation. "What...exactly do you find attractive about Russell?"
"Oh, please don't ask me that."
"Just idle curiosity."
Timmy inhaled through his teeth, searching for a response. "Well, I suppose it's his...well, he's got quite a nice..." He exhaled sharply. "It's not so much the way he looks, it's uhm...it's the things he does." The women both sneered mildly at this, confused.
Audrey shook her head. "He does terrible things. Particularly to you."
Timmy tried to elaborate. "Not...not those things. And honestly, he's really made an effort to try and treat me more like a human being and less like-"
"A piece of dirt?" said Audrey.
"Pond scum?" offered Jen.
"I'm feeling less like dirt or scum these days, yes. I mean to say, it's the...the other things he does."
Jen nodded in recognition. "Ohhhhh."
Audrey turned to her. "What?"
"He means sex."
Audrey sneered a little harder. "Oh."
Timmy was quick to amend Jen's answer. "No no no...well, I suppose, but no, uhm. I mean to say...once we actually...once we were actually together something happened. He changed somehow, he's bizarrely gentle with me at times...he extends a very real effort to care for me, I don't really know how to explain this." He thought a moment, a very subtle smile coming across his face. "He does have nice eyes. Funny, before all this I really couldn't have told you what color his eyes even were."
"What color are they?" questioned Audrey.
"Blue, he has blue eyes."
Jen scoffed. "What? No, he doesn't, does he seriously?"
"Trust me, his eyes are blue. I've spent a lot of time staring into those eyes, late at night when the world is drifting away and it's just the two of us..." Timmy's voice was softening, growing dreamy. "There's something behind those eyes that holds all at once some sort of grand mystery and all the comforts of the universe in those moments. And then he smiles so very gingerly and there's a sparkle to those eyes as if the cosmos have just shifted in order to reach out and speak to me, as if to say he'd been sent for this very purpose, to reveal to me this very secret...that I'm not alone."
The women stared at Timmy, silently, until he looked back at them. Realizing he had just waxed poetic over something as stupid as Russell's eyes, realizing how utterly ridiculous he had sounded, he slouched a bit in his chair with a heavy sigh. "And this is why I've taken to drinking in recent days."
Audrey cleared her throat, choosing her words carefully. "Timmy, that was...wow, maybe the most beautiful, most romantic thing I've heard in my entire life. Early romance is amazing sometimes. Jeff used to write me love letters."
Jen gushed. "No!"
"He did," said Audrey. "Super romantic. Nothing like that, but...well, romantic for Jeff. He once referred to my breasts as basketballs and his heart as the court of love and...well, not the greatest example."
Timmy shook his head. "But isn't that sort of thing for people who've just met and started courting? I mean, we've known each other for so long..."
"Yeah, but there's a real shift when you decide to take that plunge," said Audrey. "Can you really imagine fawning over Russell's eyes before now?"
"Oh, good heavens, no, I'd have been more inclined to blacken them - I still am, frankly, but I suppose the impulse is waning...he really has changed."
"Hm, and that's all you, y'know? Can't believe how much you've changed him, I didn't think it was possible. Gotta hand it to ya."
"Listen," said Jen, arriving at a conclusion. "Here's what you tell your mom. You're obviously not gay. Maybe you guys aren't even bi. You know what you clearly are? Russellsexual."
Timmy shook his head with a mild laugh. "Uhm...what?"
"Russellsexual. You're into Russell, and he's Timmysexual, he's into you. Why do you need to define it past that? Labels are for canned goods. You're not a canned good, Timmy."
Timmy smiled. For the first time something made sense, something clicked, and his confusion seemed a little less intense. "That's lovely, Jennifer. Thank you."
"Any time."
Jen and Timmy opted to swing by the office on their way home to pawn off on Adam and Russell the extra crullers and donuts from the coffee shop - their eyes had been far bigger than their stomachs.
They stopped by Adam's office.
"Surprise!" said Jen, holding out a bag.
"Hey, what is this...?"
"Pastry delivery," said Timmy. He had pulled out his phone and taken to texting Russell.
"Oh, sweet!" He looked to Jen with a grin. "Am I supposed to tip, or...?"
Jen walked to Adam and pecked him sweetly on the lips. "There. Tip received."
Russell came bounding into Adam's office. Timmy turned to him, confused. "I texted you 30 seconds ago, how on earth-"
"Smelled donuts." He walked swiftly past Timmy, snatching a donut from the bag in Adam's hand. He turned slowly back towards Timmy. "Oh, uh...also...heeeyyyy, you came to see me!" He walked up to Timmy, wrapping his arms around him, navigating the donut back to his mouth over Timmy's shoulder.
"Yes, well...I realize I rank only slightly below baked goods, so no harm, no foul."
As Russell went back for another donut, Timmy spoke.
"Jennifer's invited us out to dinner tonight."
"Yeah," she said, "you guys are under so much stress right now, I thought you could use a night out. Just the four of us...well, I might invite my friend Allison to come along. She's pretty laid back, not a big deal. She's had trouble meeting guys since she moved back to town, thought we could check out the action at the bar after dinner while you guys hung out."
Russell shrugged. "Sure, whatever." He looked to Timmy. "You feeling up to that, are you okay?"
Timmy nodded. "Yes, I think so."
Russell gave him a serious look. "You sure? I mean..."
"I'm okay, Russell. I'll be okay."
Jen looked to Russell with a curious expression. She approached him, staring him straight in the eyes. He sneered at her, confused, and finally she walked away with a satisfied smile, looking to Timmy with a nod. "Yeah, they're blue." Timmy returned the smile knowingly.
Russell walked to Timmy, pointing a thumb back towards Jen. "What-"
Timmy cut him off. "So, I was thinking..." He looked to Jen and Adam, considering whether this was a conversation to be had in front of others. He grabbed Russell by the arm, leading him to the hall. "Excuse us, won't you?"
Outside Adam's office, Russell took to licking donut remnants off his fingers. "What was that about?"
"I just wanted you alone a moment."
Russell raised a brow. Timmy rolled his eyes.
"I was thinking that perhaps sometime next week, permitted the results go the way you're wanting...you and I should go out with Emily."
"Really?"
"Yes. I feel perhaps I've been a bit standoffish in this situation. It's important to you, and it's important to me as well. I'd like to get to know her."
"Yeah. Yeah, okay, I'll let her know." Russell reached for Timmy's hand. "That...that means a lot to me."
Timmy nodded with a smile. "I know."
Back inside the office, Jen was watching Adam sloppily eat a donut, the powdered sugar covering his face. He looked so much like a child, sweet and innocent. She was trying to take Timmy's advice...she wanted to bring it up now, right now, get it out in the open. She repeated the sentence in her head over and over: Adam, I want to have a baby. She was about to say it, she had opened her mouth to speak when-
"Hey, Jen?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you get any of those donuts with the jelly in the middle? I love those, those kick ass."
...Maybe she'd try again later.
Jen had chosen a semi-casual restaurant with an attached bar by the name of Rocky's. Burgers and beer, she said, what more could you ask for? The guys all agreed that sounded pretty good right about now, and nobody was in the mood for anything stuffier. Jen notified the group that her friend was merely running a few minutes late and they found a table, proceeding to sit and discuss the menu.
Russell tapped Timmy on the shoulder. "Wanna split something?"
"I know better. Splitting with you means I get your table scraps. Like a dog."
"Nah, not anymore, you've been elevated from dog status."
Jen leaned her chin on her hand and looked to Russell whimsically. "Awh. He says the most romantic things."
"Har-de-har-har." Russell stood, bounding from the table. "Just order something, if it's food, I'll eat it. I'm gonna go drain the ol' snake, don't wait up."
Timmy stood with a slight grimace. "Charming. In any case, I believe I'll follow suit. And yes, I'm sure whatever you order will be just fine." He turned to walk away, then turned back around. "But he won't eat a burger if it's too well done, just a note..." Again he turned to leave, and again he turned back around. "And no onions, he'll throw a terrible fit over onions..." Once more he turned away, and then- "And if the fries are too crispy he'll- you know what, we'll order when we return, excuse me just a moment."
With Timmy and Russell gone, Jen focused her attention back on Adam, who was focused fully on the menu. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity...maybe she could fit it in right now... Hey, Adam, let's have a baby!
"Hey, Adam-"
"You know what sounds really good? Pie. Do they have pie here?"
Jen groaned, letting her head hit the table - she had Adam's attention now. "Uh, Jen? You okay?"
"Fine," she muttered against the table. "Just fine." She picked her head up with a sigh. "I really need to talk to you about something, Adam! Can you stop thinking about food for five seconds and just-"
"Oh, my God!"
"Well, geez, I'm sorry if that's too much to ask, Sir Eats-A-Lot..."
Adam pointed towards the entrance; he looked and sounded as if he'd just seen a ghost. "It's Allison...honey, it's Allison..."
Jen turned around. "Oh!" She smiled a broad smile and waved towards the woman now making her way towards them. When she finally looked back to Adam, realizing he was stunned speechless, she waved a hand in front of his face, looking for a response. "Adam?" Finally, she resorted to shaking him. "Adam!"
"It's Allison..."
"Yeah, of course it's Allison, I invited-" A pause. A realization. "Wait, you've never even met her, how did you recognize her?"
"Timmy's Allison..."
Jen's voice went soft, stunned. "Wait...Timmy's ex, Allison?"
"Yes."
"...The one Russell called a skank?"
"Yes."
Panic hit. "...No!"
"Yes, Jen, yes!"
"Oh, my God! I didn't know, I swear I didn't know!" She looked all around her in desperation. "Uhm, uhm, uhm, the guys are still in the bathroom, go, go, go!"
"Well, what am I supposed to do?!"
"I don't know, Adam, just keep them in there, don't let them see her! She's almost here, just go!"
"I can't keep them in the bathroom forever!"
"JUST GO!"
Russell and Timmy were about to walk out of the bathroom when Adam bombarded them. Casually. Casual bombardment, with a wide, casual grin. Nothing major.
"So, how have you guys been?"
Russell and Timmy looked to one another, then back to Adam, curiously.
"We're fine," said Timmy. "But uh- why are we having this conversation in the restroom?"
"As opposed to...?"
"As opposed to not the restroom."
Adam fumbled for an excuse. He forced laughter, hit Timmy on the shoulder. "Hey, come on, guys! A little mano a mano time, huh? Before the ladies cramp our style."
"Well," said Timmy, "first of all, you just suggested we engage in hand to hand combat."
"He's got a point though," shot in Russell sarcastically, "it's crazy macho in here. The urinals and eau de pee what's doin' it for ya there, all manned up, are we? Come on, let's get outta here."
Adam put up his arms, blocking Russell and Timmy from moving any further. "No, no, no...uh...hey, the acoustics in here are awesome!" He repeated himself harmonically, singing lightly. "No, no, no...staaaaay in the baaaathrooom...heeeey, hey, hey..."
Timmy and Russell were staring now, slack jawed.
"It's really fuuuun in the-" Adam dropped his arms. "Okay, I'm starting to feel a little stupid."
Timmy nodded. "You are a little stupid."
"You're a lot of stupid," corrected Russell. "What the hell is this, why are we standing here singing in bathroom?"
"You know what would be better?" said Adam, trying to retain his cover. "A guitar. These acoustics are perfect for guitars!"
"None of us can even play a guitar," said Timmy.
"I've seen you guys play guitar," said Adam. "You guys can rock a guitar."
Timmy was growing exasperated. "I barely know one chord, and the last time I played it led an entire restaurant to think I was in a homosexual relation-" he looked to Russell, then looked down a moment. "Yes, well." Then, back to Adam: "Listen, I'm having a lovely time, really, but I think it's time to leave."
Adam wriggled almost violently, seeking a solution. "No, no, you can't, I-" He grabbed Russell by the arm, leading him into a stall. He turned back to Timmy. "Cover your ears and hum."
"What? Why?"
"Just do it, cover your ears and hum!"
"This is ludicrous, why do I hang out with you people?" Timmy groused, but did as requested as Adam closed the stall door behind him and Russell.
Russell looked fit to punch Adam in the face.
"Okay, don't freak out, seriously, I have to tell you something, don't shoot the messenger!"
"So just tell me already!"
Adam listened to make sure Timmy was humming. He spoke through the door: "Timmy, can you hear me?"
He received back a mild: "A little."
"Hum louder!"
Timmy hummed louder.
Adam whispered close to Russell's face. "Allison is out there!"
"...Yeah, Jen's lame friend Allison was coming to dinner, I know that, why the hell are you coming on to me to tell me that, what are we gonna make out? Back it up, geez!"
Adam backed up a little, growing slightly more frantic. "No- dude- Allison, Allison. Timmy's ex-girlfriend, Allison."
Russell froze. Deadpan. And then his eyes widened. "No way."
"Yes way."
Russell was frozen; he was malfunctioning.
"We didn't know it was the same Allison, and we just didn't want you guys to freak out or anything or- Russell?" Russell was staring blankly through Adam. Nothing. No response. "Oh my god, why did I tell you?! This was a terrible idea!" Adam hit himself in the head. "Ngh, Adam, what are you doing?! I'll try to get rid of her, Russell, don't freak out, okay, just don't freak out..."
All at once, Russell left the stall and walked back to Timmy, yanking his hands from his ears, cutting off his humming. "You can't go out there."
"Why not...? What's happening?"
Russell was locked in place, staring at Timmy, unable to speak, petrified. Adam inched his way out of the stall, past Russell and Timmy.
"I'm...I'm just gonna...ah, crap!" And with that he left the bathroom, head hung in shame.
"Russell, this is absurd, what on earth is going on?"
Timmy found himself being dragged back to the stall Russell and Adam had just left a moment ago. Russell pinned his back firm against the side of the stall. "I can't let you go out there."
"Russell..." Timmy lowered his voice to a reprimanding whisper. "I know we've gotten a little strange as of late, but sex in a public restroom is where I draw the line."
"No, I'm not...!" Russell paused thoughtfully, biting a lip. He looked Timmy up and down with a soft growl, shaking the thought away. "There's...there's somebody...you just can't go out there until the coast is clear."
"What in heaven's name are you talking about?"
Russell closed his eyes, leaning his head against Timmy's chest. He knew he couldn't keep him here; he'd have to let him go. He'd have to trust that everything would be okay.
No - he's yours. Don't let him go. Wait a minute; just a minute. She'll be gone in a minute.
He had to trust him...
Russell led Timmy back out of the stall, back to the bathroom door. He opened the door and peered out; he could see her, sitting at the bar with Jen. There she was...that stupid little redheaded mouse, that bimbo, stay away from my man you little-
"Russell, what's going on?"
Russell sighed, moving over, pointing. "Allison."
"Jennifer's friend Allison?" Timmy scanned the crowd. He saw her. He froze. His voice sank down softly. "Oh-oh, my god. That's- that's my Allison."
Russell glared at Timmy. He didn't like how he'd phrased that - his Allison. Perhaps Timmy realized this, because he quickly back peddled.
"That...that is...is to say, Allison whom I used to...used to date."
Timmy's voice was nervous. Russell was regretting his decision.
"Don't go out there," said Russell flatly. A command...perhaps more so a request, pleading, begging.
Timmy looked to Russell with a furrowed brow, confused. "Why? What on earth do you think will happen if I go out there?"
Russell's face was letting his feelings through. Apprehension, fear.
"You're scared. You're jealous."
"No."
"Yes...yes, you are. You're being ridiculous, it's been over between Allison and I for years. I can speak to somebody I was once involved with and have it mean nothing, nothing at all. You speak to Liz..."
"I hate Liz! Look at Allison and tell me you don't still wanna hit that."
Timmy looked back at Allison...he said nothing.
"Yeah, exactly. Don't go out there."
"You're being ridiculous."
Russell watched Timmy go. For awhile he stood, shocked, focused on each step Timmy took, his heart racing faster and faster. And then his fear was replaced with something else...frustration, anger. Timmy had made a choice. Wrong choice, buddy. Wrong fucking choice. He followed him, slamming the bathroom door with a growl.
