A/N: Once again, welcome new readers!
This is the longest chapter so far. I know some of you are upset with Edward. I mean, the man is gay and screwing his friend's girl. However, in his defense...Chapter 10.
Chapter 10 – Facing the Music Time
We sit side by side like children waiting to be scolded by their parents. These consequences are going to be more than scolding.
We're going to lose people we care about, at least one each…maybe more.
I'm not ready for this.
Jasper looks stressed. Victoria looks…like Victoria. She loves this, she revels in our discomfort. It pisses me off even more than being caught.
"What are you doing here, Victoria?"
"Investigating." Her gloating tone from earlier is lighter, replaced with a strong hint of vagueness.
"Investigating what?"
"You and Edward, of course." She has more to say, and for once I hope she'll keep talking. "I told Jasper three weeks ago that you two were either fucking, or about to fuck. Either way I told him you were no longer just friends. He didn't want to believe me. Didn't want to think that you could betray his brother or that mine could do something as stupid as play games with your lives."
Edward tenses. All I can think about is three weeks ago. What happened to put us on her radar?
The bar…she went in search of Jasper…and told him? We were that obvious? How has Peter or Riley not noticed yet?
"It's not a game," Edward replies, his hands clenching into fits. He predicted this assumption, so he's calm in his response. Maybe he's been practicing for this too.
Jasper speaks for the first time since we've entered the room. "What do you call it? You're gay. When I met your sister, she introduced you to me as her gay brother, and now you're having sex with my brother's girlfriend. They've been together for two years. He loves her and you're using your hold over her to experiment. How is that not a game?"
I want to argue with that, but he's right. Edward does have a hold over me. It's even stronger than ever now since we've shared so much more.
"It's not a game because she was mine first. It's not a game because there is nothing about what we do that's experimenting. It's not a game because I'm not gay." His words are acidic and they shock me.
Mine first? What does that mean?
"In the four years since I've known you, you've been gay. You've only been with men. When did that change?" The anger in Jasper's voice is now concern, but there's still agitation. Yes, Peter is his brother, but he's also thought of Edward as one, too. He joined our group right after high school; they grew close.
He's torn, and that's why I didn't want him to know.
"It changed the night I brushed my hand against Bella's breast and got an erection."
They gasp.
I'm not surprised he tells them. He's always been quiet, yet blunt. When you can get your point across in the least amount of words, why not go for it?
"I'm not gay; I just like sex." Victoria starts to speak, but he continues. I know what she was going to say. That what we're doing is just about sex. She wants to find a reason for us to stop this, she doesn't want Peter hurt, but our feelings seem to be expendable.
I'm glad he doesn't let her say it because even though he's already told me we're more than sex, my insecurity is still prominent.
"I had my first sexual experience when I was thirteen with a boy at summer camp. It felt good, and I wanted more, so I got it. After that, girls didn't interest me. They talked too much, and wanted ridiculous things. I didn't even bother to try. In high school, I was always surrounded by other boys because of the teams I played on, and there was always one that wanted to make me feel good. Then she came."
He looks to me, and kisses me, unashamed of our company.
"She didn't talk endlessly about unimportant things, and all she cared about was laughing – having fun. I found myself wanting to be around her all the time. So I did. I made her my friend…my best friend. She supported me in everything I did, and I let her cry on my shoulder when she was hurt. The assholes in her life came and went, but I was always there. She became mine."
I've never heard this before.
I moved at age sixteen to a new school. He was the first person to introduce himself to me. Before him, I felt like the new kid. No one approached me. I was so taken with him. He was gorgeous and didn't hide his interest in only wanting to be with other boys. No one chastised him for it; if anything, they celebrated him and his openness. I was the only girl he smiled at, and wanted to be around. I wanted more from him, but he never showed that type of interest. I took what I could get - friendship. I turned my sexual attention elsewhere because he was unavailable.
A/N: My kid is graduating from 5th grade this week, so between ceremony, celebration, "you're all kinds of awesome, kid," time and a little work thrown in for good measure, I'll be tons of busy. So on that note, next update may not be until Friday or Sunday. I made sure not to leave things on a cliffie...sort of.
The alerts are blowing up my inbox...sure wish it was reviews instead. *pouts* Nonetheless, reviews get you teasers.
~Browns