Chapter 34: Patience
"Spring? Hello?" Colin called out for Brandi when he got into her bedroom, but she wasn't listening to him "Brandi?" he tried one more time, louder this time. Brandi was resting on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.
"Yes!" Brandi woke up from her thoughts.
"You were lost there for a moment. What were you thinking about?" Colin was getting out of the shower and was now trying to dry his hair with a towel.
"Oh…" Brandi sat up on her bed "It's nothing."
"Still thinking about Seth coming in tonight?"
"I…" Brandi couldn't lie to Colin "Yeah… still am."
"Are you sure you'll be fine? Are you sure you don't want me to be here? I can stay, you know? I could postpone my…"
"Colin…" Brandi got up and placed both her hands gently on his face "That's something I gotta do on my own. I don't want your help and I don't need it. I'll be fine. I've had my heart broken before. If that does happen, it's not gonna be something new, so… I'll deal with it."
"If he does break your heart, you know you can just call me and I'll come back here and kick his ass." Colin's offer made Brandi giggle "Spring, don't laugh! You know I could and I totally would do that, right?"
"Yeah, Col, I know, baby. And thanks for the offer." she giggled again and pecked him on the forehead.
"What time is it?" Colin asked.
"It's 4:30. We have to get going."
"I guess so. I don't want to, though." Colin put a puppy dog face on.
"I don't want you to go, either." Brandi hugged him tight "Do you promise to visit me next holiday? Please? My mom would never let me go to New York."
"Of course I'll come, B. I'm missing you already! But you gotta talk to your mom about letting you go to New York! I miss doing all the things we used to do back in New York!"
"Yeah! Like going to Virgin MegaStore just to listen to the albums and not buying anything."
"Yeah. And hanging on Central Park, just looking at those rich and snob people outside The Plaza Hotel."
"And trying on every single piece of clothing on Bloomingdale's."
"And also, not buying anything." Colin added.
"Yeah!" Brandi giggled.
"See? You gotta go back to New York, even if it's just one day!"
"My mom wouldn't listen to me. But you know she'll listen to you. So, maybe you should try to convince her, baby."
"Hm…" Colin stopped for a while "You really think she'd listen to me?"
"I'm sure she will. She adores you and you know it."
"Ok. Then I'll try to convince her sometime. But now we have to go."
"Ok, let's then."
Colin grabbed his luggage and Brandi her purse and they headed for the car.
"What time, dude?" Seth asked while pacing around the pool house.
"It's 6:05. And would you stop pacing around? You're making me nervous, and I don't even have a reason to be nervous."
"Sorry. It's just that I can't wait to go talk to her."
"So… you're not worried anymore?"
"Worried?" Seth looked at his friend "Worried about what?"
"Well, the obvious things you were worried about this morning. What if she doesn't like you back and what if…"
"I…" Seth interrupted, but then stopped to think more about it "I… I don't care what happens. I mean, chances are better now that Colin is leaving, so it means that she is not marrying him like I thought she was. So, that's good."
"Yeah, like she was really marrying him." Ryan rolled his eyes.
"Anyways!" Seth continued "I don't have that to worry about anymore, so… now I think I have a better chance of getting a yes."
"Getting a yes on what?" Ryan frowned.
"On…" Seth thought again "On… On anything I ask her, I have a better chance of getting a yes. Like… Do you wanna have dinner with me sometime, Brandi? Yes. Do you wanna come over my house sometime, Brandi? Yes. Do you like me, Brandi? Yes. And some day, who knows… Will you have my babies, Brandi? Yes."
"Yeah, man, keep dreaming." Ryan collapsed onto his bed "And do you know already what you're gonna say to her?"
"Yep. Everything. Right here." Seth pointed to his head.
"Good. Ok. So, we'll still have some time to kill before 8. Wanna play some Playstation?"
"Why? So you'll lose your samurai head once again? Just like last time that you didn't even see me coming?"
"Yeah, ok. I let you win that time, Seth. You were not feeling good about Brandi and all…"
"Yeah, right. That's what you think, my brother."
"Let's play then and we'll see about that."
"Uh! Challenging! I like that."
Brandi got inside her car and wiped the tears away. It was really hard saying goodbye to Colin. Especially after spending so little time together. She'd sure miss him dearly. He was her best friend and she never wanted to lose that.
She looked at her watch. 6:30 p.m. Time to go home and get ready. Seth would be there in an hour and a half.
Before she started driving, she got her purse and looked inside it for some tissues. Going over her purse, she frowned when she felt something hard and square inside it. She took it out and looked strangely at it. A CD. What was that CD doing there? She hadn't put a CD inside her purse!
"That's odd." she kept the frown on and opened the object. When she took the CD out of its box, a small paper fell from it. She got the piece of paper out of her lap and read it out loud "I'll see you tonight." she recognized Seth's handwrite from the other letter he had sent her with a CD.
She quickly placed the CD inside the CD player. It started with a rock ballad that she knew pretty well. A smile formed on her face as the lyrics started.
Shed a tear 'cause I'm missing you
I'm still alright to smile
Girl, I think about you every day now
Was a time when I wasn't sure
But you set my mind at ease
There is no doubt you're in my heart now
Said, "woman, take it slow and it'll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience"
Said, "sugar, make it slow and we'll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience"
Patience, mm... yeah
I sit here on the stairs 'cause I'd rather be alone
If I can't have you right now, I'll wait, dear
Sometimes I get so tense, but I can't speed up the time
But you know, love, there's one more thing to consider
Said, "woman, take it slow and things will be just fine
You and I'll just use a little patience"
Said, "sugar, take the time 'cause the lights are shining bright
You and I've got what it takes to make it
We won't fake it, oh, I'll never break it
'Cause I can't take it"
(whistle)
(Little patience, mm, yeah, mm, yeah)
(Need a little patience, yeah...)
(Just a little patience, yeah...)
(Some more patience, yeah...)
I've been walking the streets at night
Just tryin' to get it right (need some patience, yeah...)
It's hard to see with so many around
You know, I don't like being stuck in the crowd (could use some patience, yeah...)
And the streets don't change but, baby, the names
I ain't got time for the game (gotta have some patience, yeah...)
'Cause I need you yeah, yeah, but I need you, ooh... (all it takes is patience, yeah...)
I need you, ooh... (just a little patience, ooh...)
I need you, ooh... (is all you need)
This time...
(Patience – Guns 'N Roses)
"Ok. Time to go!" Seth got up from the sofa "Oh" And told ya, sucker, that I'd bit you yet again! Now, bye!"
"Yeah, yeah. Like I didn't let you win again." Ryan said and then whispered so Seth wouldn't listen "Shit!" he couldn't believe he had lost to Seth yet again.
"Wish me luck, man!" Seth yelled when he was almost at the door.
"Good luck! You go get her, man. Make me proud!"
"Don't worry! I will!" Seth closed the door behind him and headed for the car.