We Used To Be 20

The Ennapode

Collette

I was walking around the small town my mother had decided was the perfect place for our vacation. I was hauling my little brother Luke to the library. I saw Casey on a porch and I mentally marked the spot. Where Casey was Alex was sure to be around. That girl was awesomemazing, I couldn't loose a person who thought the way I did. I mean the girl liked Edgar Allen Poe, and spoke 2 languages. My brother was complaining by the time I dropped him at the house, he was bored, his feet hurt, yada yada. I ignored him and scurried back out to where I remembered seeing Casey. I paused when I was sure I was in the right place. I was unsure what to do next. That was until I heard a voice behind me.

"Well hello beautiful," I heard Tom's voice and I turned.

"Hello," I said partially stunned. I took in his image. He was shirtless.

"You don't look happy to see me," Tom said.

"I am just confused, I came back because I saw Casey here and I assumed Alex would be here but if she was over here to see you…"

"No, she lives right there," Tom pointed to Alex and Casey's house. "I haven't talked to anyone but my mom and Bill all day."

"That's sweet," Collette said absently. Her brain was planning on how it could get Tom alone for a while.

"Sure…"

"So what are you doing?"

"Yard work…" he said.

"That's nice of you," she said still scheming.

"It's my punishment I got in trouble…"

"Oh?"

"Yea…"

"Tom-" I looked up to see a woman standing in the door of the house in front of me. "Oh hello!"

"Mom, this is Collette, she's my…" Tom broke off unsure how to continue.

"Girlfriend!" I said seizing the opportunity.

"Really?"

"Yes, he asked me out today, I figured maybe he wanted to try not being such a slut, begging your pardon," I was proud of myself for how this was going.

"Really?"

"Yea, I came over here to see Alex and I stopped to talk to Tom," I said.

"That's nice of you to come see Alex, I don't think she socializes very well," Tom's mother smiled at me. "Why don't the two of you come in!"

"We would love to!" I said dragging Tom with me.

Casey

I saw that Collette girl on her way back and I decided it was time to go inside. Besides I had to clean up before the Aunt and Uncle got here. I got the kitchen cleaned up easily. I decided I should go check on Alex. She was probably in her room hiding. She did that when she was upset. I figured today counted as upset. I didn't knock. I wasn't expecting anything except maybe a few flying objects of she was still upset. I just stared. Never in a million years would I (not being drunk) imagine this. Alex and Bill were on the bed. They weren't doing anything though. Alex's back was to me and she was curled into a bal against Bill's chest. Bill wasn't asleep. He looked up at me. His eyes were still warm and comforting as he looked up. I was silent for a moment I had nothing to say about the look in his eyes. In all my years with boys and dating I had never seen that look.
The serenity and beauty the moment I had walked in on changed how I saw things for that moment. Maybe Alex had been right the whole time about love, maybe I didn't care. Something in the scene scared me as much as it comforted. The idea of trusting someone so completely scared me. I just walked away I left them alone with my mind whirring.
I walked down the stairs and looked out the front window. I could see shirtless Tom talking to Collette. I watched as Simone came out and the three vanished into the house. I was really wondering what was going on. Tom wasn't the type of guy to introduce their not yet girlfriends to his mom or maybe, I thought, I'm just not the type of girl he wants to introduce to his parent that way.
I sighed and went back into the living room. My brain curse it was thinking. I had always been happy to play round and have fun. It had never occurred to me there as something more even if Alex had always preached it. I was learning more and more how right Alex usually was.
Usually I was quite happy being me. I wasn't really the jealous type. I didn't want Alex's brain or athleticism, any of it. Yet sometimes like today I wondered what it would be like to be the good one. What I had just seen the feelings between Bill and Alex that was something I would never find in a club.
Seeing Tom and Collette and Tom's mother had driven that point home. Tom wasn't a settle down type of guy. Apparently I had just slept with him but now he had someone new.

Bill

I sat and watched as Alex slept. Her face smoothed out. Pain, frustration, and worry faded away. She was so beautiful so peaceful. This is what she should look like she shouldn't always look tight, cold, and in pain. If I closed my eyes I could see the younger her and the wide carefree grin she had had. I looked up as Casey entered and back down as she exited. I didn't notice the look in Casey's face, the confusion and realization. I was intent on Alex. The warmth of her body against mine, the lines of her face, the curves of her body, all of it captivated me. I watched as she slowly awoke. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked at me her green eyes bright from the emotions earlier, they were also warmer, more liquid than usual. Her eyes were sharp, the Technicolor pieces were separated by sharp crossing lines, the edges of the shards had softened It was both strange and beautiful, much like Alex herself.

"How do you feel?" I asked.

"Great," she said in a quiet purr like voice snuggling closer. I smiled and pulled her closer. I knew she was tired and emotionally drained which was probably why she was being so open.

"Good," I said letting my fingers slide over her silk like hair.

"When do you have to be home?" she asked.

"I don't if you need me," I said surprising myself, it was true I would stay here if she needed me no matter what. I didn't have a curfew so I was free to do as I pleased God knows Tom does.

"That's sweet," she said looking up at me.

"It's true," I told her. Something told me she wasn't use to promises of comfort and trust. I felt like I was always on the edge of saying something that went to far but I had to say it because she needs to hear it. Basic things she should have heard her whole life from parents, friends, and by now boyfriends, 'I love you', I'm here', 'It's going to be okay', and all those other small things we take for granted. She tugged on my shirt and I let her pull me down so I was lying next to her. I kissed her forehead and wrapped my arms around her again. She turned her face up to me so I kissed her mouth, nose, eyelids, and watched her smile. I could tell she was slowly drifting back out so I sung quietly, a slow song, the words coming from somewhere inside of me. I just lay there with her watching her sleep, whispering the things I anted to tell her but couldn't. Casey came up. I knew it had been hours but it was too soon. I don't DAYS would have been enough time like this.

"Bill, my aunt and uncle will be home in a little bit you might want to leave or at least get to less intimate position…" Casey said and left. I appreciated the warning but hate to wake Alex up. I had to though. I couldn't let her wake up with me gone and not know why.

"Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"Your aunt and uncle are coming home we need to move," she sat up slowly.

"What time is it?"

"1800" I said and her eyes went wide.

"I'm sorry you must be starving!"

"What?"

"You've been here for HOURS just sitting here!"

"I'm fine," I tried to calm her but she wasn't listing.

"I can make you dinner, I should make dinner anyway!"

"No, Alex you need to chill out, I can go home and eat. You go take a shower, make yourself presentable, and let Casey worry about food."

"Presentable?"

"You covered in blood," I reminded her.

"Oh yea…" she got up and I got up.

"I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay," she gave me one last hug then I saw myself to the door.

Authoress Note

Sorry it took so long…

I have exams…..]

Review please!