**These next few chapters may be a little OCC, sorry.*
Kurtis heard someone knocking on Lara's front door. The day before had been nothing but bad feelings in the pit of Kurtis's stomach since the phone call. And now, he just stayed in bed and listened to the person knocking, knocking, knocking .
"What do you want?!" Lara's mom screamed. No more knocking.
"Is Lara here?" a male voice asked. Kurtis sat up. Some guy was at the door asking for Lara. That can't be good. The feeling in his stomach pulsated.
"Of course she is! She only lives here . LARA!"
"What do you want?" Lara called back.
"Some guy is here for you!" Kurtis could hear Lara skip down the stairs.
"Hey, Glen, how are you?" He slumped against the wall. *Who's Glen?*
"I'm fine," Glen answered. "How about you?" Kurtis didn't hear the answer; the pain in his stomach was killing him. *Who's Glen?*
"You're welcome to stay here for a while. I have extra rooms." His heart pounded in his ears. Why was he feeling this way? It's obvious this guy is just some friend of hers. That was all, right?
"Yeah," he assured himself out loud. "That's all." Downstairs, Lara was laughing. *I don't understand. How can this Glen guy make her laugh so easily?* Before he knew what to say, he was downstairs, standing in the dining room doorway.
Lara just looked at him and said, "Yes?"
"Who's this guy?"
"This," she said gesturing her hand toward the man next to her, "is my friend, Glen." Kurtis winced when she said friend. To Kurtis, Glen was nothing special. He had brown hair (not has dark as Kurtis's and Glen didn't have the facial hair either), he had dark eyes too, and they had a sense of coldness to him. Although that's not what caused Kurtis to hate him right away.
"Oh," Kurtis said, trying not to sound disapproving, "is he staying here or something?"
"Kurtis, can I talk to you in another room?" She grabbed his arm has soon as she asked, giving him no choice, and dragging him into the other room. "What is your problem?"
"Who is that guy?"
"I told you."
"That's not what I mean," he snapped.
"You know what," she said stepping closer, "If you're going to act like that, then leave." She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.
"Lara-"
"Kurtis, don't." She walked off and he just stood there.
"What was the problem?" he heard Glen ask.
"I don't know. Let's not worry about it."
Lara's mom was in the doorway of the music room with the butler and Larson, watching Kurtis. "Lara's an ungrateful bitch," Lara's mom whispered. "I think that guy actually likes her too."
Larson said, " He does."
"Uh," the butler said, "but what can we do?"
"We can do something," Lara's mom said. "Let's go make a plan." The three of them went into the library. Kurtis came back upstairs and went in his room. He stuck a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. He didn't know what to do. Leave? Or stay and fight it out?
"I'll fight it out," he said. There was a knock on the door. "Yes?" Lara walked in.
"Are you ready to tell me what this is all about?" she said.
"Surprised you care."
"Ok, for starters, drop the attitude. Once you've done that, you can put that cigarette out, no smoking in my house."
"I'm sure Glen is allowed to smoke."
"Oh please?"
"So what was he?"
"Excuse me?"
Kurtis repeated himself, "I said, 'what was he?' A boyfriend, a close friend, someone you slept with ."
"Oh Kurtis please! You are so pathetic! He's my friend, all right? And it's none of your business what he was."
"You know, maybe I should leave. I was thinking about staying anyways, but now, I'm not so sure. I don't think I can stay here and watch you two fuck around with each other."
"Whoa, I haven't done anything with him," she said. "And like it should matter to you anyways."
"It does matter!"
"Why?"
"Because I love you." They sat in silence and he was sorry he had said it.
"Kurtis . I-"
"I've made up my mind," he interrupted. "I'm going." He walked out and down the stairs with her following. The front door slammed behind him. Lara sat on the floor.
Larson was outside the gate when Kurtis came out. Kurtis asked, "What are you doing out here?"
Larson said, " I heard you and Lara arguing and decided to meet you outside." Kurtis walked past him. "Hey, where are you going?"
"Back home, to Utah."
"You can't go! Then that new guy will win her over!"
"He's already got her."
Larson gasped, "Kurtis Trent, you're not giving up, are you?"
"Maybe."
"You can't give up! You don't seem like that type of person. Plus, we're going to help you. Now, go find a hotel to stay at until you calm down, then come back here, ok?"
". . . . All right." He started to walk away, then stopped and said, "Hey, uh, Larson. Thanks."
"No problem. Personally, I don't like him. He made Lara laugh at me." Kurtis smiled a little and left.
In the house, Lara was sitting on the floor. "LARA!" her mom yelled to her, "Get up here!" Lara slowly lifted herself off the ground and met her mom in the music room. "Shut the door." She shut it. "Come here."
"Mom," she said as she walked over, "I didn't do anything."
"Yeah, I know. Come here and tell me what the problem is."
"There is no problem."
"Ah, bull crap," Lara's mom said. "Tell me, why did that Kurtis guy leave the house?"
Lara sighed, trying not to cry, "I don't know. He seems to think Glen and I are involved with each other. We were, during school and we've been friends ever since, but-"
"But Kurtis thinks something is going on now. He likes you, Lara. He's just jealous. He wants you to look at him and not Glen."
"Things can't always go Kurtis's way. I haven't seen Glen in years and if Kurtis can't handle that, then-"
"If you don't cut him a break, you're going to lose him. Do you want to lose him?" Lara didn't answer. "By your reaction to when he left, I don't think you do. Give him time to think, he'll come back." Lara nodded and smiled. So her mom was a little weird, but when she wanted to, she could still be the best. She gave her mom a quick hug and went out in the hall. Glen was at the bottom of the stairs.
"Hey," he said, "You want to go for a walk or something?"
"No thanks," she answered. She felt guilty just looking at him. "I just don't feel like I can right now. How about later?"
Kurtis was lying on a hotel bed, thinking. He needed a cigarette, but unfortunately, he didn't get a room he could smoke in. He could go outside, but he didn't feel like getting up. He wanted to talk to Lara; that's what he really wanted. He picked up the phone and dialed her number, she answered. "Hello? . . Hello? Anyone there? . . . Damn people." The phone clicked and the dial tone rang loud in his ear. He called again. "Hello . Who the hell is this? Stop calling!" Click, dial tone, redial. "What?!"
"Lara," he said.
"Yes? . Kurtis? Where are you?" He didn't respond. "Kurtis?" She sounded worried. "Kurtis are you there?"
"I'm here."
"Are you all right? Where are you?"
"I'm sorry, Lara. I shouldn't have said that to you."
"Said what to me, Kurtis?"
"That . never mind." He could hear her saying something has he hung up the phone. The pain that had finally subsided now returned.
The next day, Kurtis decided to go back to Lara's. Larson was at the gate. "I thought you'd come back today," Larson said. He opened the gate, and Kurtis stepped inside. The two of them went in the house. Lara, her mom, the butler, and Glen were at the dining room table. "Kurtis is back."
Lara said, "Go ahead and sit down."
"No thanks, I'll stand," he said looking at Glen. Glen shifter in his seat under Kurtis's gaze.
"We need to talk later."
"No thanks."
"Stop saying that."
Lara's mom said, "I think it's time for another story." She was suddenly dressed has a minstrel. "This I the story-" she strummed her olden time guitar every fourth word- "of a Mr. Trent."
"What?" Kurtis said.
"He is a lonely man; he was a lonely boy."
"This is ridiculous." Being humiliated by Lara's mom in front of Glen was one of the last things Kurtis wanted.
"SHUT UP! When he was six, he had an imaginary friend named Joe. Joe was a horny bastard."
"Please stop."
"Ah let her continue," Glen said. Kurtis glared at him. "This might be interesting."
"She doesn't know a God damned thing about me!"
Lara sighed, "Guys, please. Knock it off."
"I'm continuing! Now SHUT UP and LISTEN," Lara's mom screamed. She cleared her throat before going on. "You know, I think I met Joe once. . . Yup. I have a lot of naughty memories of us."
Kurtis said, "I can't stay here." He walked out the door and Lara followed. He turned around and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye, Lara." He headed for the gate. Larson shoved Lara back inside and went after Kurtis.
"Stop, Kurtis! Wait," Larson called has he caught up. "Come on, don't leave. You can do this, man."
"I just can't stand seeing that guy." *Or being laughed at by him* "I'm going to kill him," Kurtis sighed.
"Well leaving isn't giving you a very good start."
"Why are you doing this again?"
"I told you. Now, you go inside and talk to Lara. You're frustrated, I know. Take a few breaths and try again." Kurtis stood there for a moment, thinking and trying to calm down. It was almost funny. Kurtis acting the way he was; Larson suddenly being helpful. Kurtis took a deep breath, letting it out again in a sigh. In the window, Lara was watching. He thought she looked worried. "I can have her come out here," Larson offered.
"Yeah, that'd be good," Kurtis nodded has he answered. He watched Larson disappear into the house. Lara came out after a few minutes. He kicked at a rock while she was walking over. He felt so stupid. He sighed, "Listen, I'm sorry I-" she hugged him and he stopped in surprise.
"You don't have to leave," she said into his shirt. He rested his hands on the small of her back. "Don't leave."
". . All right. But on one condition." Lara looked up at him; he was smiling. "I'm sleeping in your room with you."
"Maybe, but it would only be for one night. . I'll think about it." She smiled at him. He wanted to kiss her, but held back, afraid to ruin anything. For pretty much the rest of the day, Kurtis stayed in his room. He wanted to avoid the sight of Lara laughing with Glen.
Kurtis scoffed, "Glen, what a joke." Lara's mom yelled about something. It was always the same. Lara's mom yelled, then Lara would tell her to shut up, her mom would say no, then Glen would tell Lara's mom (nicely) to be quiet, and Lara's mom would call him a suck up, then continue yelling. Kurtis thought Lara's mom was something else, he just didn't know what.
He didn't know how late it was when someone knocked on the door. "If you're anyone but Glen you can come in," he said. The door opened.
"Why would Glen want to come in?" Lara asked. She shut the door behind her. Kurtis shrugged. "Are you tired?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"'Cause I am."
"And?"
"Are you coming?" When he didn't respond, she said, " I thought about it. Are you coming?"
"Yeah." He held back his grin. She smiled.
"It's only for tonight," she said. "Don't look so happy." They both lay in Lara's bed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Kurtis carefully put his arms around her waist, trying not to wake her up. He kissed her forehead and fell asleep with her in his arms.
**Sorry this took so long to update. My typing program was down for a while. I'll put more up ASAP*
Kurtis heard someone knocking on Lara's front door. The day before had been nothing but bad feelings in the pit of Kurtis's stomach since the phone call. And now, he just stayed in bed and listened to the person knocking, knocking, knocking .
"What do you want?!" Lara's mom screamed. No more knocking.
"Is Lara here?" a male voice asked. Kurtis sat up. Some guy was at the door asking for Lara. That can't be good. The feeling in his stomach pulsated.
"Of course she is! She only lives here . LARA!"
"What do you want?" Lara called back.
"Some guy is here for you!" Kurtis could hear Lara skip down the stairs.
"Hey, Glen, how are you?" He slumped against the wall. *Who's Glen?*
"I'm fine," Glen answered. "How about you?" Kurtis didn't hear the answer; the pain in his stomach was killing him. *Who's Glen?*
"You're welcome to stay here for a while. I have extra rooms." His heart pounded in his ears. Why was he feeling this way? It's obvious this guy is just some friend of hers. That was all, right?
"Yeah," he assured himself out loud. "That's all." Downstairs, Lara was laughing. *I don't understand. How can this Glen guy make her laugh so easily?* Before he knew what to say, he was downstairs, standing in the dining room doorway.
Lara just looked at him and said, "Yes?"
"Who's this guy?"
"This," she said gesturing her hand toward the man next to her, "is my friend, Glen." Kurtis winced when she said friend. To Kurtis, Glen was nothing special. He had brown hair (not has dark as Kurtis's and Glen didn't have the facial hair either), he had dark eyes too, and they had a sense of coldness to him. Although that's not what caused Kurtis to hate him right away.
"Oh," Kurtis said, trying not to sound disapproving, "is he staying here or something?"
"Kurtis, can I talk to you in another room?" She grabbed his arm has soon as she asked, giving him no choice, and dragging him into the other room. "What is your problem?"
"Who is that guy?"
"I told you."
"That's not what I mean," he snapped.
"You know what," she said stepping closer, "If you're going to act like that, then leave." She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.
"Lara-"
"Kurtis, don't." She walked off and he just stood there.
"What was the problem?" he heard Glen ask.
"I don't know. Let's not worry about it."
Lara's mom was in the doorway of the music room with the butler and Larson, watching Kurtis. "Lara's an ungrateful bitch," Lara's mom whispered. "I think that guy actually likes her too."
Larson said, " He does."
"Uh," the butler said, "but what can we do?"
"We can do something," Lara's mom said. "Let's go make a plan." The three of them went into the library. Kurtis came back upstairs and went in his room. He stuck a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. He didn't know what to do. Leave? Or stay and fight it out?
"I'll fight it out," he said. There was a knock on the door. "Yes?" Lara walked in.
"Are you ready to tell me what this is all about?" she said.
"Surprised you care."
"Ok, for starters, drop the attitude. Once you've done that, you can put that cigarette out, no smoking in my house."
"I'm sure Glen is allowed to smoke."
"Oh please?"
"So what was he?"
"Excuse me?"
Kurtis repeated himself, "I said, 'what was he?' A boyfriend, a close friend, someone you slept with ."
"Oh Kurtis please! You are so pathetic! He's my friend, all right? And it's none of your business what he was."
"You know, maybe I should leave. I was thinking about staying anyways, but now, I'm not so sure. I don't think I can stay here and watch you two fuck around with each other."
"Whoa, I haven't done anything with him," she said. "And like it should matter to you anyways."
"It does matter!"
"Why?"
"Because I love you." They sat in silence and he was sorry he had said it.
"Kurtis . I-"
"I've made up my mind," he interrupted. "I'm going." He walked out and down the stairs with her following. The front door slammed behind him. Lara sat on the floor.
Larson was outside the gate when Kurtis came out. Kurtis asked, "What are you doing out here?"
Larson said, " I heard you and Lara arguing and decided to meet you outside." Kurtis walked past him. "Hey, where are you going?"
"Back home, to Utah."
"You can't go! Then that new guy will win her over!"
"He's already got her."
Larson gasped, "Kurtis Trent, you're not giving up, are you?"
"Maybe."
"You can't give up! You don't seem like that type of person. Plus, we're going to help you. Now, go find a hotel to stay at until you calm down, then come back here, ok?"
". . . . All right." He started to walk away, then stopped and said, "Hey, uh, Larson. Thanks."
"No problem. Personally, I don't like him. He made Lara laugh at me." Kurtis smiled a little and left.
In the house, Lara was sitting on the floor. "LARA!" her mom yelled to her, "Get up here!" Lara slowly lifted herself off the ground and met her mom in the music room. "Shut the door." She shut it. "Come here."
"Mom," she said as she walked over, "I didn't do anything."
"Yeah, I know. Come here and tell me what the problem is."
"There is no problem."
"Ah, bull crap," Lara's mom said. "Tell me, why did that Kurtis guy leave the house?"
Lara sighed, trying not to cry, "I don't know. He seems to think Glen and I are involved with each other. We were, during school and we've been friends ever since, but-"
"But Kurtis thinks something is going on now. He likes you, Lara. He's just jealous. He wants you to look at him and not Glen."
"Things can't always go Kurtis's way. I haven't seen Glen in years and if Kurtis can't handle that, then-"
"If you don't cut him a break, you're going to lose him. Do you want to lose him?" Lara didn't answer. "By your reaction to when he left, I don't think you do. Give him time to think, he'll come back." Lara nodded and smiled. So her mom was a little weird, but when she wanted to, she could still be the best. She gave her mom a quick hug and went out in the hall. Glen was at the bottom of the stairs.
"Hey," he said, "You want to go for a walk or something?"
"No thanks," she answered. She felt guilty just looking at him. "I just don't feel like I can right now. How about later?"
Kurtis was lying on a hotel bed, thinking. He needed a cigarette, but unfortunately, he didn't get a room he could smoke in. He could go outside, but he didn't feel like getting up. He wanted to talk to Lara; that's what he really wanted. He picked up the phone and dialed her number, she answered. "Hello? . . Hello? Anyone there? . . . Damn people." The phone clicked and the dial tone rang loud in his ear. He called again. "Hello . Who the hell is this? Stop calling!" Click, dial tone, redial. "What?!"
"Lara," he said.
"Yes? . Kurtis? Where are you?" He didn't respond. "Kurtis?" She sounded worried. "Kurtis are you there?"
"I'm here."
"Are you all right? Where are you?"
"I'm sorry, Lara. I shouldn't have said that to you."
"Said what to me, Kurtis?"
"That . never mind." He could hear her saying something has he hung up the phone. The pain that had finally subsided now returned.
The next day, Kurtis decided to go back to Lara's. Larson was at the gate. "I thought you'd come back today," Larson said. He opened the gate, and Kurtis stepped inside. The two of them went in the house. Lara, her mom, the butler, and Glen were at the dining room table. "Kurtis is back."
Lara said, "Go ahead and sit down."
"No thanks, I'll stand," he said looking at Glen. Glen shifter in his seat under Kurtis's gaze.
"We need to talk later."
"No thanks."
"Stop saying that."
Lara's mom said, "I think it's time for another story." She was suddenly dressed has a minstrel. "This I the story-" she strummed her olden time guitar every fourth word- "of a Mr. Trent."
"What?" Kurtis said.
"He is a lonely man; he was a lonely boy."
"This is ridiculous." Being humiliated by Lara's mom in front of Glen was one of the last things Kurtis wanted.
"SHUT UP! When he was six, he had an imaginary friend named Joe. Joe was a horny bastard."
"Please stop."
"Ah let her continue," Glen said. Kurtis glared at him. "This might be interesting."
"She doesn't know a God damned thing about me!"
Lara sighed, "Guys, please. Knock it off."
"I'm continuing! Now SHUT UP and LISTEN," Lara's mom screamed. She cleared her throat before going on. "You know, I think I met Joe once. . . Yup. I have a lot of naughty memories of us."
Kurtis said, "I can't stay here." He walked out the door and Lara followed. He turned around and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye, Lara." He headed for the gate. Larson shoved Lara back inside and went after Kurtis.
"Stop, Kurtis! Wait," Larson called has he caught up. "Come on, don't leave. You can do this, man."
"I just can't stand seeing that guy." *Or being laughed at by him* "I'm going to kill him," Kurtis sighed.
"Well leaving isn't giving you a very good start."
"Why are you doing this again?"
"I told you. Now, you go inside and talk to Lara. You're frustrated, I know. Take a few breaths and try again." Kurtis stood there for a moment, thinking and trying to calm down. It was almost funny. Kurtis acting the way he was; Larson suddenly being helpful. Kurtis took a deep breath, letting it out again in a sigh. In the window, Lara was watching. He thought she looked worried. "I can have her come out here," Larson offered.
"Yeah, that'd be good," Kurtis nodded has he answered. He watched Larson disappear into the house. Lara came out after a few minutes. He kicked at a rock while she was walking over. He felt so stupid. He sighed, "Listen, I'm sorry I-" she hugged him and he stopped in surprise.
"You don't have to leave," she said into his shirt. He rested his hands on the small of her back. "Don't leave."
". . All right. But on one condition." Lara looked up at him; he was smiling. "I'm sleeping in your room with you."
"Maybe, but it would only be for one night. . I'll think about it." She smiled at him. He wanted to kiss her, but held back, afraid to ruin anything. For pretty much the rest of the day, Kurtis stayed in his room. He wanted to avoid the sight of Lara laughing with Glen.
Kurtis scoffed, "Glen, what a joke." Lara's mom yelled about something. It was always the same. Lara's mom yelled, then Lara would tell her to shut up, her mom would say no, then Glen would tell Lara's mom (nicely) to be quiet, and Lara's mom would call him a suck up, then continue yelling. Kurtis thought Lara's mom was something else, he just didn't know what.
He didn't know how late it was when someone knocked on the door. "If you're anyone but Glen you can come in," he said. The door opened.
"Why would Glen want to come in?" Lara asked. She shut the door behind her. Kurtis shrugged. "Are you tired?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"'Cause I am."
"And?"
"Are you coming?" When he didn't respond, she said, " I thought about it. Are you coming?"
"Yeah." He held back his grin. She smiled.
"It's only for tonight," she said. "Don't look so happy." They both lay in Lara's bed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Kurtis carefully put his arms around her waist, trying not to wake her up. He kissed her forehead and fell asleep with her in his arms.
**Sorry this took so long to update. My typing program was down for a while. I'll put more up ASAP*