Randy had a hard time accepting that he had lost Katie. She wouldn't look at him. Not at school, not at home. It was the worst feeling he had ever felt and he had brought it upon himself. Friday came too fast for him and the sick feeling in his stomach. School ended. He watched Katie get out of Roman's car. He watched her walk into the house and he knew she immediately began getting ready for her date. Her very first date. With another guy.
Depressed he walked around the backyard, kicking at stones, picking them up, tossing them. He hit the one solitary tree that stood in the middle of the yard, tearing his knuckles, but he didn't feel the sting of torn flesh. The pain in his heart canceled out any physical anguish. Finally, he had worn himself out and his bed sounded like the best plan. He didn't want to go out like he usually did. He didn't want to hang out with his friends. He didn't care to talk on the phone or watch a movie. He just wanted to disappear into a dream where he was not expected to follow the code of the social elite. Where he was free to show how he truly felt for Katie. He walked with his head down, his hands in his pockets, shuffling his feet defeated. He came around the side and heard the roar of a large engine that caused him to lift his gaze. Sheamus pulled into the driveway across the street and he sunk to the ground and laid his back against the side of the house. He watched as Katie emerged with a smile looking gorgeous in a blue sundress that barely reached her mid thigh. The spaghetti straps on her shoulders were so thin and he knew he would have spent the night kissing those completely bare shoulders that showed the lightest patches of freckles. He loved those freckles, but when he shut his eyes to imagine kissing each one, he was met with an image of the pale red head doing the honors instead. He cradled his head in his hand and cried. His friends would condemn him for his show of weakness. His friends would mock and tease, but they weren't around. Others pain was a source of amusement, like they weren't human themselves, like they didn't experience sadness.
And why did he care? Why did he still need them to like him? Roman stepped outside and he saw him crossing the street, coming his way. He envied him. He had walked away from the social elite in a moment, ditching two of the hottest cheerleaders who cornered him at his locker that day, taking Andy's hand and walking away without giving a damn about the mean words they shouted at him. They began to talk behind his back, they teased him and he shrugged it off without no remorse.
"Sucks to be popular." Roman gruffly remarked, standing like a statue over him.
'Yeah." Randy sighed and wiped away his tears, hoping his buddy didn't notice, but he knew he had.
"Well, I'm not about sit around here doing nothing all night. Want to catch a movie?"
"Don't do me any favors, Roman. I know you don't want to drag along a third wheel tonight."
"Andy is studying tonight." he laughed. "She actually told me that I had to stand in line. Her grades are more important and she said I can accept that or find another date." He laughed. "Damn I think I love that girl. Anyway. There's no one else I care to go out with, except you."
"That really sounded bad." Randy forced a laugh. "I may seem desperate right now, but I'm not low enough to date ya buddy."
"There's my friend." Roman laughed, helping him to his feet. "Besides, I don't know this guy Katie is going out with. I want to stay close until I know he's cool. You want to go or not?"
"sure." he wasn't thrilled about witnessing Katie's date. Each kiss would only rip another hole in his heart, but he had always had Roman's back just as he had always had his.
He didn't think they would easily find which theater Sheamus had taken Katie to, but Roman seemed to know exactly which one and which movie.
"It's showing in three of them." Randy rubbed his temple as he stared at the signs above the doors in the big building.
"We'll just check them all." Roman shrugged. The movie had just begun to show the previews, but there were a lot of people and Randy doubted it would be that easy, but he followed him anyway into the first. They sat in the back row and casually scanned. "Not here."
ON to the second, they sat in the back and to Randy's surprise, they spotted the red head only three rows in front of them. They kicked up their feet on the back of the empty chairs in front of them and snacked on their popcorn. This theater wasn't as full as the last and he guessed it was because its chairs were much older. It was one of the original theaters in the building back when it only housed three theater rooms. The screen was slightly smaller but it was good enough for him. The sound was still amazing and he liked the smaller crowds when so many others opted for what they believed was the best.
They were also able to sit in the corner of the back row where a wall came down two rows, hiding them from the view of anyone coming and going in the center aisle. So, he wasn't worried that Katie might see them spying on her, not unless she was to turn and look directly behind her. Randy did not know what was going on in the movie. His eyes were glued to Katie and Sheamus., especially after he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He watched him whisper and witnessed her laugh at what had been said. He watched and stared. Sheamus turned her, stared into her eyes and then kissed her half way through the movie and Randy stared with narrowed slits, his fists curled and he wanted to jump over the seats and tear him apart. That was his girl the red head was kissing!
"Don't." Roman must have known what he was thinking and he whispered commandingly, then popped another handful of popcorn into his mouth. "Good movie for a chick flick." he acted like it was no big deal. It was a big deal!
The movie ended and they waited until the new couple pasted, too busy talking and smiling to notice the her two bodyguards, then they slipped out. Neither of them had any idea where they were heading next so they had to follow them, carefully. Roman was oddly good at that and they pulled into a diner that all the kids like to hang out in.
Randy smiled. It wouldn't be odd for the two of them to show up there and Katie would have no reason to believe they were following her. He felt like a stalker as he walked into the diner and took his spot at his favorite booth. His eyes met with hers and she seemed to become uncomfortable. He pretended not to care that she was there, keeping his eyes from turning her way, talking to the girls that surrounded him like metal to a magnet. He laughed, but it was not genuine. Only an act so she would believe he wasn't hurting, but he was. He was devastated.
Sheamus however did care that he was there. He did notice the difference in Katie who didn't sit as close, who had moved slightly away the moment Randy walked into the establishment. Katie was quieter, talking less and her eyes kept darting each time she wanted to laugh. She seemed scared to show that she was enjoying herself. Seemed to feel guilty for it. Did that mean she still cared? Did it mean part of her still wanted him?
But Sheamus didn't know, did he? Had he heard the rumors about him and Katie? He was sure he had, but they all painted Katie as a hopeless dreamer who had made up the story. Some people even spread rumors that she had stolen his ring. Some people said that he had been nice to her during the break and she had taken it wrong. They all laughed at her. They all teased and ridiculed and he had done nothing. He had let it go on and said nothing. Nothing!
He wanted to scream out. Tell them all to go to hell, take her by the hand and leave with her, but he wouldn't. He just kept imagine the things people would say at school. He imagined the jocks that were now his friends pushing and picking like they did other guys that were outside of their league. It was a horrible existence, one he avoided by being on the inside. He never liked it. He never agreed with it, but he had to play along or it would be him – again. He couldn't go through it again. Those kids had bullied him when they were very young, but somehow they had forgotten the braces of the boy that was far too skinny and tall for his age. They had forgotten the zits and they had forgotten the accidental explosion of gas on the first day of school that had made him the brunt of their jokes all through elementary. Even his best friend didn't know that secret and he would never speak of it. He would never take a chance of that old nickname resurfacing. Never!
"Are you okay, luv?" Sheamus noticed she had been distant. Her eyes were fixed on Randy and the girl who sat on his lap. His arms draped around her waist and hers around his neck. He had moved on easily enough, so why shouldn't she? At least Sheamus had taken her on a real date. At least he wanted to be seen with her. Randy was embarrassed by her, so how could he truly love her. No, he didn't. He just wanted someone he could screw anytime he wanted. Someone he could go to when there was no one else. She wouldn't be that girl for him. She wouldn't hurt that way.
She smiled and tried to enjoy herself which she had been doing for the most part before Randy's appearance. No, that wasn't true. During the entire movie she had found herself daydreaming. Every move Sheamus made, she wondered if it would have felt the same if it had been Randy instead. Of course, it wouldn't have been the same. Sheamus's kiss was okay, but she didn't feel what she had felt when Randy's lips had touched hers.
"I'm just a little tired." she lied. She was ready to go. Ready to go somewhere where Randy was not.
"Okay." Sheamus was a good guy. "I'll take you home." He didn't seem disappointed at all. He seemed to understand and his own yawn indicated that he was feeling just as worn out. She guessed he was probably exhausted. He got up much earlier to take care of the farm animals his family raised. His father didn't believe in buying meat from the market. He believed it was bad for his family with the chemicals they gave the animals and he helped tend a large garden after school.
She loved his accent. Loved the way he talked and laughed when he said phrases that were odd in her world, but every day sentences in his. He had a contagious laugh and a beautiful smile. She knew he would be good to her and imagined him a romantic. He sure didn't mind throwing his arm about her in the hallway even after he was told she was not the best person to hang around if he cared about his social standing.
Sheamus took her home and he actually walked her to her door. He kissed her good bye in an old fashioned way, but he was unable to say an easy goodbye. Her mother opened the door and insisted he come in so she could get to know him properly. Of course, Sheamus was respectable saying all the right things, making no excuses to get out of it and he sat in there living room on an ottoman while her mother asked him question after question. He seemed nervous and she thought it was cute.