A/N: Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. I was not coming up with any
good ideas. Thank you to those of you that are reading my other story,
Connection. Well, Wednesday my good friend Matt leaves for boot camp. I'm
gonna miss him so much. Lately he's been the only friend that's cared
about me. It's gonna be hard. I've been crying all morning about it. He
was nice enough to buy me, Jessy, another friend, and Kristen Denny's last
nite. Things with him and Kristen are SO NOT good. It was pretty bad
between them last nite. Some how I ended up being the one trying to stop
it all. But tonite should be good. It's our last nite together and our
friend, Ben is bringin some Smirnoff and Skyy Blue and the...........8 of
us are gonna have a good time. In a chem-free dorm with nothing but
minors! Lol Oh well, we have like 2 more weeks of classes, what are they
gonna do? Kick us out?! GO FOR IT!!! I don't wanna be here anyways! Lol
Anyways, here's the next chapter!!!!!
***************************
"Do you want the bathroom first or second tomorrow?" Trish asked as we stood next to the conveyor belt of luggage.
"Actually Jeff and I have decided to stay together from now on," I answered as I tapped my foot impatiently. "Besides, I'm flyin right out after the house show up to Maine for Jessy's wedding."
"Oh yeah! Tell them congrats for me," Trish smiled. "Is she excited?"
"I actually haven't talked to her since last Friday, something I have to do tonite cause I completely forgot to tell her about Jeff and Shane," I replied. "Jesus! Where's my fuckin luggage?!"
"I don't know hun, but I'd say it's not here," Trish said as she grabbed her last bag.
"Great!" I exclaimed as I angrily threw my hands in the air.
"We ready to go?" Jeff asked as he and Shannon smiled at us.
"No. My fuckin luggage must have gotten lost!"
"Luggage claim," Shannon sighed.
"Dude, we seriously don't have time for this shit!" I cried.
"It's okay Case," Jeff chuckled as he wrapped his arm around my bare tan stomach. I smiled as we walked over to the desk. Trish let out a sigh as she and Shannon watched us walk away. Shannon smiled as he rested his arm on her shoulder.
"What's the matter Trish?" he asked.
"I guess I always pictured Jeff and I together. I mean don't get me wrong. I love Casey and I'm glad she's with someone she loves. But why does that someone have to be Jeff? Why couldn't she stay with Shane?" Trish answered.
"Shane didn't make her happy the way Jeff does. You must have known from the look on her face whenever they were together," Shannon said as they looked at each other.
"Honestly, I never saw any different look."
"You didn't see the sparkle in her eyes? You didn't see how her face would always light up when he would walk in the room? Or the instant smile that adorned his face whenever he saw her? Or how when they would touch they'd shiver with joy? Or how about that spark between them? Or............."
"Shannon!!! Shut up!!" Trish yelled in an almost annoyed tone. "Yes! Okay? Yes, I saw all that! But Shannon, I'm not used to losing the guy! Especially to some unknown runaway who just miraculously shows up looking like a drowned rat!"
"Um.......Trish," Shannon said softly looking over her shoulder at me as I stood behind with my face as pale as possible.
"No, I'm not finished!" she yelled. "I love Case, really I do, but let's face it, when she walked into our lives she was on the lacking side of the looks department."
"Trish, stop," Shannon demanded as he saw tears form in my eyes.
"I don't know how she did it, but she stole the man I've been in love with for years in a matter of days!" Trish continued.
"Damn it Trish! Cut it out!" Shannon yelled.
"Why? It's not like she knows how I feel!" She laughed.
"She does now!" I cried as I fought back my tears. She turned around slowly, her mouth open in shock. She bit on her lower lip as her face became an embarrassed flush color.
"Casey, I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to hear any of that," she said quietly.
"If you were really sorry, you wouldn't have said it," I replied through clenched teeth.
"If I could take it all.........."
"No, Trish, I thought you were my friend," I interrupted her angrily.
"I am your friend. I was just a little angry."
"I thought you were on my side about this whole Jeff thing!" I yelled as Jeff walked up to us.
"What's wrong?" he smiled as he held my hand. I looked at him and shook my head as I turned back to Trish.
"Ya know what? If you really feel like I stole him from you, then you can have him!" I cried as I put their hands together and ran off.
"Casey!" Trish yelled after me.
"What the hell just happened?" Jeff asked as he continued to hold Trish's hand in confusion. Trish's chin quivered as tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall as she watched me run out of the airport. "Why'd my girlfriend just run out of here? And why am I holding your hand and not her's?!"
"I'm gonna go talk to Case. Trish, you try and explain yourself to Jeff," Shannon said as he ran off to be with me.
"Trish?" Jeff asked dropping her hand and crossing his arms.
"Case? Sweetie? You okay?" Shannon asked as he spotted me sitting on the concrete sidewalk. He sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
"I didn't know she felt that way," I cried.
"I know. I think she's just upset that she doesn't have anyone," Shannon said.
"She hates me."
"No she doesn't.
"She must if she would say those things about me. I wonder who else feels that way about me."
"Sweetie, no one hates you. If everyone hated you, you wouldn't have people around you 24/7."
"Shan, why's my life a fuckin soap opera?" He just laughed at me before placing a quick kiss on the top of my green and blue hair. "If I had known she felt that way about Jeff I probably would have let her have him."
"If you had done that than none of you would have been happy. You would have been with Shane and wishing you had Jeff. Jeff would have been thinking bout you anytime he was with Trish. And Trish, well, she'd probably be the only happy one out of the group of you. But I think in the end things would have been hellish for you all."
"I honestly thought Trish was on my side about this whole thing. I thought she was happy for us. One of the few that were," I said as I looked up at him.
"She is. She's very happy for the two of you because you're both her friends and she loves you. And if you two are truly happy than she's happy," Shannon said.
"Why would you say those things, Trish?!" Jeff exclaimed as he threw himself down on a bench.
"Because I was jealous, upset, and I guess a little mad," Trish answered drying her tears with a tissue.
"You know how sensitive she is. You know how emotional she can get. Why would you say that shit out in the open?!" Jeff said.
"I didn't think she would hear them. Jeff, I think you two are great together. Really I do. But I can't help the way I feel either," she answered.
"Trish, I didn't know you felt this way about me. Why didn't you say something?"
"Because when we dated for that little bit and it didn't work out. I didn't want to hurt our friendship cause I think we have a pretty good one."
"We do Trish."
"I'm sorry Jeff. I really am," Trish apologized as Shannon I walked towards them. She looked up at me and smiled. "Casey, I'm so sorry. You know I would never try to hurt you in anyway."
"Yeah," I said softly.
"Casey, I don't wanna be with Trish. I just wanna be with you. I love you," Jeff said as his concerned green eyes stared deeply into my blue eyes. I smiled at him as he jumped up to wrap his arms around my waist, lifting me in the air. "You believe me right?"
"Yeah, of course. I love you too Jeff," I said as I kissed him deeply. "So, is my luggage here yet?"
"Let's go see," Jeff smiled as he took my hand and we walked to the luggage claim desk.
********************************
"So, do you and Shane need Jesse or me to come and pick you two up from the airport?" Jessy asked as I began to change for the show.
"No, Jeff and I will be renting a car," I replied casually.
"Wait, Jeff?" she asked.
"Yeah, Jeff."
"What about Shane? Isn't he comin with you?"
"No, Jeff is coming with me."
"Why? I thought you two weren't on speaking terms."
"Well, Shane and I broke up cause I don't love him."
"You're in love with Jeff."
"Yep, I'm in love with Jeff."
"Awwwwe, that's so cute. But I figured I'd be goin to your wedding to Shane."
"Yeah, that aint happenin," I laughed.
"So you two are a couple now?" she asked.
"Yeah, we are," I answered.
"Are you and Shane friends?"
"Um, that's a shady area."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, we talked and I tried we like straightened things out with him, ya know, gave him an explanation type thing. Afterwards I told him that I definitely wanted to be friends and shit, but we don't talk now. We try not to make eye contact even. So that friendship thing went down the drain. I really don't know what to do because I do love Shane. He's still a very big part of me. It's really weird not having him in my life."
"Then get him in your life," I heard Shane say. I turned towards the door and almost dropped my cell phone on the floor.
"Shane," I said blinking my eyes furiously.
"Whoa! Shane's there?!" Jessy yelled into the phone.
"Yeah, um, Jess, I'll see ya tonite," I replied as I hung up the phone.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation with her," Shane said shyly.
"That's okay," I answered feeling very uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry for kinda avoiding you. You just have to understand that this is all still pretty hard on me," he said.
"I know. But it's also hard on me too. Just knowing how much I've hurt you, hurts me."
"I know. But I miss you Case. I need you to be in my life in some way."
"Me too. Our relationship started off of one phone call and continued onto many other phone calls. I mean you are one of the main reasons I have a cell phone even," I laughed.
"Yeah, I am to thank for that, huh?" he smiled. "Wow, it feels good to joke around like that with you again."
"I know. I've missed it a lot. I love you Shane. I really do."
"I know me too."
"Yeah, cause your ego is gigantic!" I teased.
"HEY!!" he laughed as he lunged at me playfully. We fell to the floor laughing as he rolled off me. "So, tomorrow is the Jessys' wedding right?"
"Yeah. She's so excited and really nervous. She can't wait for me to get there," I smiled.
"Tell them good luck for me," he said as we sat up.
"Of course. So, um, did you tell your parents?"
"Yeah, my dad asked me how I lost such a great girl like you to some other man. He asked what I was doing wrong and if I wasn't pleasing you right," he laughed.
"Sorry," I chuckled.
"Ah well," he said as we stood. "OH! I have your high school ring."
"Ya know what? I don't wear it. You might as well keep it. Plus you let me keep your t-shirt. It's only fair," I smiled.
"Are you sure? Jeff won't want it?"
"Nah, it's yours."
"Do you wear my t-shirt?"
"To bed sometimes."
"And Jeff doesn't care?"
"I don't care if he does or doesn't. We're friends, or at least I hope we are. He knows that I'm his," I answered.
"Yeah, we're friends. I think we just proved that," he said.
"Casey!!! You're up in 5!" a tech yelled. I grabbed my hardcore belt, hoisted it on my shoulder, and Shane followed me out the door.
***************************
"Do you want the bathroom first or second tomorrow?" Trish asked as we stood next to the conveyor belt of luggage.
"Actually Jeff and I have decided to stay together from now on," I answered as I tapped my foot impatiently. "Besides, I'm flyin right out after the house show up to Maine for Jessy's wedding."
"Oh yeah! Tell them congrats for me," Trish smiled. "Is she excited?"
"I actually haven't talked to her since last Friday, something I have to do tonite cause I completely forgot to tell her about Jeff and Shane," I replied. "Jesus! Where's my fuckin luggage?!"
"I don't know hun, but I'd say it's not here," Trish said as she grabbed her last bag.
"Great!" I exclaimed as I angrily threw my hands in the air.
"We ready to go?" Jeff asked as he and Shannon smiled at us.
"No. My fuckin luggage must have gotten lost!"
"Luggage claim," Shannon sighed.
"Dude, we seriously don't have time for this shit!" I cried.
"It's okay Case," Jeff chuckled as he wrapped his arm around my bare tan stomach. I smiled as we walked over to the desk. Trish let out a sigh as she and Shannon watched us walk away. Shannon smiled as he rested his arm on her shoulder.
"What's the matter Trish?" he asked.
"I guess I always pictured Jeff and I together. I mean don't get me wrong. I love Casey and I'm glad she's with someone she loves. But why does that someone have to be Jeff? Why couldn't she stay with Shane?" Trish answered.
"Shane didn't make her happy the way Jeff does. You must have known from the look on her face whenever they were together," Shannon said as they looked at each other.
"Honestly, I never saw any different look."
"You didn't see the sparkle in her eyes? You didn't see how her face would always light up when he would walk in the room? Or the instant smile that adorned his face whenever he saw her? Or how when they would touch they'd shiver with joy? Or how about that spark between them? Or............."
"Shannon!!! Shut up!!" Trish yelled in an almost annoyed tone. "Yes! Okay? Yes, I saw all that! But Shannon, I'm not used to losing the guy! Especially to some unknown runaway who just miraculously shows up looking like a drowned rat!"
"Um.......Trish," Shannon said softly looking over her shoulder at me as I stood behind with my face as pale as possible.
"No, I'm not finished!" she yelled. "I love Case, really I do, but let's face it, when she walked into our lives she was on the lacking side of the looks department."
"Trish, stop," Shannon demanded as he saw tears form in my eyes.
"I don't know how she did it, but she stole the man I've been in love with for years in a matter of days!" Trish continued.
"Damn it Trish! Cut it out!" Shannon yelled.
"Why? It's not like she knows how I feel!" She laughed.
"She does now!" I cried as I fought back my tears. She turned around slowly, her mouth open in shock. She bit on her lower lip as her face became an embarrassed flush color.
"Casey, I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to hear any of that," she said quietly.
"If you were really sorry, you wouldn't have said it," I replied through clenched teeth.
"If I could take it all.........."
"No, Trish, I thought you were my friend," I interrupted her angrily.
"I am your friend. I was just a little angry."
"I thought you were on my side about this whole Jeff thing!" I yelled as Jeff walked up to us.
"What's wrong?" he smiled as he held my hand. I looked at him and shook my head as I turned back to Trish.
"Ya know what? If you really feel like I stole him from you, then you can have him!" I cried as I put their hands together and ran off.
"Casey!" Trish yelled after me.
"What the hell just happened?" Jeff asked as he continued to hold Trish's hand in confusion. Trish's chin quivered as tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall as she watched me run out of the airport. "Why'd my girlfriend just run out of here? And why am I holding your hand and not her's?!"
"I'm gonna go talk to Case. Trish, you try and explain yourself to Jeff," Shannon said as he ran off to be with me.
"Trish?" Jeff asked dropping her hand and crossing his arms.
"Case? Sweetie? You okay?" Shannon asked as he spotted me sitting on the concrete sidewalk. He sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
"I didn't know she felt that way," I cried.
"I know. I think she's just upset that she doesn't have anyone," Shannon said.
"She hates me."
"No she doesn't.
"She must if she would say those things about me. I wonder who else feels that way about me."
"Sweetie, no one hates you. If everyone hated you, you wouldn't have people around you 24/7."
"Shan, why's my life a fuckin soap opera?" He just laughed at me before placing a quick kiss on the top of my green and blue hair. "If I had known she felt that way about Jeff I probably would have let her have him."
"If you had done that than none of you would have been happy. You would have been with Shane and wishing you had Jeff. Jeff would have been thinking bout you anytime he was with Trish. And Trish, well, she'd probably be the only happy one out of the group of you. But I think in the end things would have been hellish for you all."
"I honestly thought Trish was on my side about this whole thing. I thought she was happy for us. One of the few that were," I said as I looked up at him.
"She is. She's very happy for the two of you because you're both her friends and she loves you. And if you two are truly happy than she's happy," Shannon said.
"Why would you say those things, Trish?!" Jeff exclaimed as he threw himself down on a bench.
"Because I was jealous, upset, and I guess a little mad," Trish answered drying her tears with a tissue.
"You know how sensitive she is. You know how emotional she can get. Why would you say that shit out in the open?!" Jeff said.
"I didn't think she would hear them. Jeff, I think you two are great together. Really I do. But I can't help the way I feel either," she answered.
"Trish, I didn't know you felt this way about me. Why didn't you say something?"
"Because when we dated for that little bit and it didn't work out. I didn't want to hurt our friendship cause I think we have a pretty good one."
"We do Trish."
"I'm sorry Jeff. I really am," Trish apologized as Shannon I walked towards them. She looked up at me and smiled. "Casey, I'm so sorry. You know I would never try to hurt you in anyway."
"Yeah," I said softly.
"Casey, I don't wanna be with Trish. I just wanna be with you. I love you," Jeff said as his concerned green eyes stared deeply into my blue eyes. I smiled at him as he jumped up to wrap his arms around my waist, lifting me in the air. "You believe me right?"
"Yeah, of course. I love you too Jeff," I said as I kissed him deeply. "So, is my luggage here yet?"
"Let's go see," Jeff smiled as he took my hand and we walked to the luggage claim desk.
********************************
"So, do you and Shane need Jesse or me to come and pick you two up from the airport?" Jessy asked as I began to change for the show.
"No, Jeff and I will be renting a car," I replied casually.
"Wait, Jeff?" she asked.
"Yeah, Jeff."
"What about Shane? Isn't he comin with you?"
"No, Jeff is coming with me."
"Why? I thought you two weren't on speaking terms."
"Well, Shane and I broke up cause I don't love him."
"You're in love with Jeff."
"Yep, I'm in love with Jeff."
"Awwwwe, that's so cute. But I figured I'd be goin to your wedding to Shane."
"Yeah, that aint happenin," I laughed.
"So you two are a couple now?" she asked.
"Yeah, we are," I answered.
"Are you and Shane friends?"
"Um, that's a shady area."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, we talked and I tried we like straightened things out with him, ya know, gave him an explanation type thing. Afterwards I told him that I definitely wanted to be friends and shit, but we don't talk now. We try not to make eye contact even. So that friendship thing went down the drain. I really don't know what to do because I do love Shane. He's still a very big part of me. It's really weird not having him in my life."
"Then get him in your life," I heard Shane say. I turned towards the door and almost dropped my cell phone on the floor.
"Shane," I said blinking my eyes furiously.
"Whoa! Shane's there?!" Jessy yelled into the phone.
"Yeah, um, Jess, I'll see ya tonite," I replied as I hung up the phone.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation with her," Shane said shyly.
"That's okay," I answered feeling very uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry for kinda avoiding you. You just have to understand that this is all still pretty hard on me," he said.
"I know. But it's also hard on me too. Just knowing how much I've hurt you, hurts me."
"I know. But I miss you Case. I need you to be in my life in some way."
"Me too. Our relationship started off of one phone call and continued onto many other phone calls. I mean you are one of the main reasons I have a cell phone even," I laughed.
"Yeah, I am to thank for that, huh?" he smiled. "Wow, it feels good to joke around like that with you again."
"I know. I've missed it a lot. I love you Shane. I really do."
"I know me too."
"Yeah, cause your ego is gigantic!" I teased.
"HEY!!" he laughed as he lunged at me playfully. We fell to the floor laughing as he rolled off me. "So, tomorrow is the Jessys' wedding right?"
"Yeah. She's so excited and really nervous. She can't wait for me to get there," I smiled.
"Tell them good luck for me," he said as we sat up.
"Of course. So, um, did you tell your parents?"
"Yeah, my dad asked me how I lost such a great girl like you to some other man. He asked what I was doing wrong and if I wasn't pleasing you right," he laughed.
"Sorry," I chuckled.
"Ah well," he said as we stood. "OH! I have your high school ring."
"Ya know what? I don't wear it. You might as well keep it. Plus you let me keep your t-shirt. It's only fair," I smiled.
"Are you sure? Jeff won't want it?"
"Nah, it's yours."
"Do you wear my t-shirt?"
"To bed sometimes."
"And Jeff doesn't care?"
"I don't care if he does or doesn't. We're friends, or at least I hope we are. He knows that I'm his," I answered.
"Yeah, we're friends. I think we just proved that," he said.
"Casey!!! You're up in 5!" a tech yelled. I grabbed my hardcore belt, hoisted it on my shoulder, and Shane followed me out the door.
