"Delia"
Delia sighs contently; Bright's voice is so calm and sweet in the morning. With a stretch she opens her eyes, shocked to see her roommate, Jill sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Oh Hey." Delia mumbles disappointed that the calm sweet voice in her ear did not belong to Bright.
"Don't oh hey me...you had a boy here last night."
Delia sits up with a groan, "It wasn't like that."
"Yeah I know. You're sleeping in my bed...alone. It really wasn't like that."
Delia glances at the clock, which reads 9:43, "What are you doing back from Jake's so early?"
"He's having breakfast with the 'rents' today, and he hasn't told them about me yet so..."
"Yes you're a bit intense when meeting new people, best Jake prepares them first.."
"I'd be really mad at you if what you said wasn't true. But hey don't change the topic. Who's the beef cake sneaking out of here at 7 this morning."
"He left that early?"
"Well I didn't actually see him leave, Jake went to go get the paper and they crossed paths. J said the mystery man was quite a looker. Good for you."
"Are you guys really that boring that you're more concerned with my love life than your own."
"So he is a love interest." Jill smirks at her friend.
Delia groans again, wiping the sleep from her eyes, "No he's just..."
"One night stand?"
Delia stares at her friend.
"I know stupid me. But seriously kiddo, J and I just want to see you happy......no more crumb bums, ok?"
"Well mystery man is far from a crumb bum, not that it matters."
"Uh huh, so you still haven't told me exactly why you're sleeping in my bed and housing none boyfriend beef cakes."
"He broke up with his girlfriend, and was going to spend the night roaming the city streets, I just didn't see the point in it so I let him crash here."
"Right......rebound?"
"Jill it wasn't like that."
"Ok. So who is he?"
"Bright."
"Bright." Jill looks at Delia curiously.
"Amy's brother."
Jill's eyes go wide, "Bright...the love of your adolescent life. Bright, hunk from the pictures?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God."
"Its no big deal, he was visiting his girlfriend and some how," Delia rolls her eyes, "Ephram and Amy Forgot to tell me that he was in town."
"Aw so you guys hung out all day yesterday?"
"Playing board games with Amy and Ephram."
"Interesting."
"And then he walked me back here, his girlfriend goes here. And he found out she was cheating on him so...."
"Aw poor guy. At least you were there to pick up the pieces."
"Shut up. I told you it wasn't like that."
"Whatever. Hey! I bet your bed smells amazing."
Delia laughs, "Excuse me."
"Well whenever I'm at Jake's I always find myself smelling his sheets, its kind of a mix of clean laundry and cologne........and from those pictures of Bright I bet your bed smells even better."
"You're insane."
"Am not, here lets check it out." Jill replies diving onto Delia's bed.
"No, get out of my bed. Knock it off."
"Gees you are so uptight. I'm going to take a shower."
"You do that." Delia watches her friend leave before lying down on her bed, slowly bring the cotton sheets up to her nose. "Amazing." Delia mutters to herself.
Ephram and Amy's Apartment.
Same time: Bright and Amy are sitting around the breakfast table talking. Ephram is still asleep.
"Wow. I can't believe it."
"It's just as well. I wanted out anyway." Bright replies, taking another bite of cereal.
"So what are you going to do now?"
"Well, I took the whole weekend off to be with Alison, so I guess I'll head home, if I leave by 11 I could be home before dinner and still have tomorrow to myself."
"Oh come on. Just stay here until tomorrow, why rush off. You'll just be going back to a place you hate."
"I don't hate it there."
"But you're not happy."
"Well, no. But what else am I supposed to do. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and career wise that doesn't get you very far."
"No, but that place doesn't help, I mean you're living within a 10 minute radius of our parents, going to a job you hate."
"Well what do you suggest?"
Amy smiles "Stay here."
"Right, so instead of being under the microscope of mom and dad I'll be under yours."
"You know I don't care what you do, come on."
"And what about you and Ephram."
"What about us?"
"You guys just got engaged, you're probably going at it like rabbits these days, you guys really don't need me crashing on the couch interrupting your alone time."
"Don't be stupid, Bright. Besides it'll only be temporary we'll find you a place nearby and you can figure out what the hell you want to do."
"Why Amy?"
"What?"
"Why are you making such a big deal about me staying here."
Amy sighs, "You're Ephram's best friend, he'll finally have someone besides me to hang out with when he's not performing and I'm working."
"Is that all?"
Amy turns to bright, a serious look on her face, "Ok so maybe I miss you too."
Bright sighs, "I'm 27, I shouldn't have to crash on anybody's couch. I should be off on my own, settled down even."
"That's not how it works, Bright. You'll get your act together, you will. When the time is right."
"I don't know..."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Get comfortable on the couch I guess."
"Smart man. I'll go tell Ephram."
Bright grins wickedly, "Let me."
2 minutes later:
"Ephram." Amy coos.
Ephram groans, "In a minute."
"I have to tell you something."
"Ok. Later, come back to bed."
"But..."
Bright shakes his head wildly.
"Ok hon, I'm coming." Amy replies, amusement in her voice.
Bright dives into the bed.
Ephram bolts up, "What the hell?"
"Hey buddy!"
"I told you had to tell you something." Amy replies
"And that something is that instead of you coming back to bed, you're sending your brother to spoon with me."
Amy giggles, "Not exactly."
"I'm staying!" Bright exclaims.
"What?"
"Life sucks. It hates me. I have no girlfriend, no prospects my job is crap and so now I'm moving in with my little sister and her boyfriend."
Fiancé." Amy corrects him.
Bright shrugs.
"It's only temporary. I just can't see him going back there to nothing, you said it yourself last week he'd be much better out here."
"Ok."
"That's it?"
"What? Am I supposed to do protest? He's my best friend, besides if I say no you'll be mad at me and refuse to have sex with me for at least a month."
"Dude that's harsh. I guess that settles it I'm here to stay." Bright grins brightly at his friend, hopping of the bed. "I'm going to go break in my new bed." Bright says making his way to the couch.
Amy lies down next to Ephram.
"So the witch is dead?" Ephram raises an eyebrow.
"Looks like it."
"Thank God, that girl had some issues."
"Yeah, she just wasn't his type."
"Did he crash here last night?"
Amy shakes her head; "No he showed up around 7:30 with bagels...I don't ask a lot of questions when there are bagels involved."
"Ah." Ephram wraps his arm around her. "So I guess it be just like junior year all over again, you me and Bright."
"Thank God I have other friends to hang out with now."
"Like who?"
"Laura."
"She's boring, she doesn't count."
"Delia."
"Um hi, my little sister she definitely doesn't count."
"Bright's my brother and he's your friend."
"He's a year older than us, Delia's still a kid."
"She's 19."
"Exactly she's still young, inexperienced."
"Hey Ephram, what kind of life were you living at 19?" Amy smirks.
Ephram grimaces, "Oh God. Yeah I needed those thoughts in my head Am. In my mind she's still 11 and now you just completely ruined that image."
Amy looks at him seriously, "Seriously though, you have to stop treating your sister like she's a little kid. It's degrading—especially coming from you. Don't you want to give her the same respect you were given when you first moved out on your own?"
"Yeah, but she's still my little sister."
"From now on, there's no age division between you two. No holding it over her head that she's not 21 and no talking down to her."
"Fine." Ephram mutters. "But I'm warning you, you're sucking all the fun out of our relationship."
NYU Courtyard: 4:00pm
Delia and her friends are lounging outside under a tree. Everyone is laughing and having a good time. Delia is off in her own little world.
"So Del, what do you think?" Ryan, an eager redhead history major asks grinning at Delia
"I don't know. Think about what?"
"Movie tonight? Late show?"
"What Movie?"
The boy shrugs, "Whatever horror movie is playing."
"I don't know, I'm kind of beat and have a paper do on Monday that I haven't started."
"Ok....rain check?"
Delia smiles lamely, "Sure."
Ryan grins, "Solid."
Delia shakes her head with laughter, "Well I should probably go get started."
The boy nods as Delia gets up to leave, his hand grazing the back of the girl next to him.
Delia walks away laughing to herself a she turns towards the dorms she notices a tall figure standing by the gate of the courtyard.
With a genuine smile on her face Delia walks over to Bright, "Hey."
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?" Delia asks suspiciously.
"Just taking a stroll." Bright smirks.
"No, I mean in New York, I figured that you'd probably have gone home."
"Yeah well, what can I say Amy couldn't bear to see me leave."
"Right...." Delia smiles, looking down at her feet.
"But yeah, it looks like I'll be around for a while."
"I'm glad."
Bright scratches the back of his head, "So what are you doing now?"
"Um I was heading back to my dorm but...."
"Yeah, You know I just want to thank you for last night."
"Anytime, you're like family."
A flicker of disappointment is evident in Bright's eyes.
"But really it was no big deal I was happy to have you."
"Oh yeah?"
Delia smirks, "You made my bed smell amazing.......like a forest of pine trees spent the night in my bed."
Bright laughs out loud, "Hey missy that is very popular very expensive cologne I wear."
"Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure they sell that same sent down at Wal-Mart for $4.99."
"Shut up who asked you anyways." Bright replies folding his arms across his chest.
"You're right, nobody. See you later 'Old Spice." Delia replies with a grin turning on her heels.
"Wait." Bright says, his voice suddenly gruff.
Delia send Bright an unsure glance, "What?"
"What are you doing later?"
"What's later?"
"9?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Amy and Ephram want me to go see that new teen slasher movie with them, and as much as I love a good cinematic blood bath, I can't sit through two hours of Amy screaming her head off and then pawing at Ephram.......it's disgusting."
"Wow, you really know how to entice someone." Delia replies wryly.
"So does this mean I'm going solo?"
Delia feigns defeat, "No I'll go. But only because I feel sorry for you."
"I'll buy the bon bons."
"Now you're talking." Delia grins. "So what time should I meet guys?"
"Well what are you doing now?"
Delia shrugs.
"Now's good, I think Amy's already sick of me and Ephram being back together."
"Yeah well you two were always pretty sickening." Delia smiles, "Give me 5 minutes. I want to change."
"Ok." Bright takes a step back, "I'll wait here."
Leaning against the gate, Bright watches Delia leave.
"Bright?"
Bright mutters to himself at the sound of Allison's voice.
"What are you doing here?" Allison asks, an air of superiority in her voice.
Bright clears his throat, "Just, uh waiting for someone."
Allison tilts her head towards Bright, a sweet expression spreading across her face, "Oh Bright. There's no need for you to make up stories."
Bright looks her in the eye, "What?"
"Breaking up is hard. I'm upset about it too."
"Ok........" Bright trails off, becoming frustrated.
"But Bright, standing by the gate of my school waiting for me to come out, that's a little bit desperate."
"Desperate? I walked out on you."
"Yes, and now you're obviously regretting it, which is why you're still here in New York, pining for and I'm sorry Bright. What I did to you was terrible, but now that we're not together anymore I'm seeing Paul. I'm sorry I've moved on." Alison says snidely.
"I'm actually just here waiting for someone."
"Oh Bright you don't have to make excuses, I understan---"
"Hey." Delia interrupts softly. "You ready to go?" Delia asks as Alison sends Bright an angry glance.
Bright looks up at Delia with a grateful smile, "Yeah, uh. Alison this is Delia."
"Hi." Delia says sweetly.
Alison's face contorts, "You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm Sorry?" Delia gives her a confused look.
"Alison." Bright says warily
"You're that malevolent football player." Alison says coarsely.
"Allison." Bright's voice booms as he becomes angry.
"Malevolent, as in evil? I don't what I did to you but I don't think name- calling is necessary." Delia replies calmly.
Allison scoffs, "God Bright, this is a new low even for you. You break it off with me because I found somebody else, and you're all reading schnooking some doe-eyed, bouncy impressionable freshman slut."
"Hey!" Bright raises his voice, "Delia is not a slut. Besides it's not like that, Delia is Ephram's sister."
Allison laughs madly, "Of course she is, that would make sense. She's coarse enough to be that foul-mouthed cretin's relative. But really Bright, she's what 17? Have a little class"
"Alright you know what that's enough. The only one here who's done anything wrong is you Allison. You cheated on me---I'm just here picking up Ephram's sister, my friend so we can go to a movie—nothing is going on."
Delia looks at Bright innocently, "Well unless you count that kiss last night, and the tonsil hockey this morning."
Bright looks at her shocked until he sees Alison's furious gaze.
"What? She practically screams.
"Well I'll admit I initiated it, but can you blame me. What a catch handsome, sweet, and oh man he's got to have the best ass I've ever seen." Delia says dramatically, allowing a smirk to creep onto her face.
Bright looks down at his feet, stifling a laugh.
Allison gives one last look in Bright's direction, when he makes no effort to dispute Delia's claim she screams angrily before running off towards her dorm.
For a moment there is silence between Bright and Delia.
"Ready for that movie?" Bright asks hoarsely.
Delia nods, as the head towards the apartment, "I'm sorry about that." Delia says quietly.
Bright looks over at her, studying her face, "No, I'm the one who should be sorry, the things she said were uncalled for and so untrue."
"Bright what she said to me doesn't matter---but she was pushing you down, trying to make you feel bad about yourself, like you did something wrong—like you were lost because she's not in you're life anymore."
Bright shrugs, "I don't care what she says about me."
"Yes you do, and she shouldn't push you around like that, she's just mad because she knows what she's lost."
Bright grins suddenly, "Well she does now, so best ass you've ever seen. I had no idea it was that good."
Delia goes to smack Bright in the arm, but he catches her, taking hold of her wrist, eventually losing his grip so he's merely cupping her hand.
Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, both Delia and Bright stare down at their hands.
Delia looks up at Bright, sending him a warm smile before linking her fingers through his and giving him a reassuring glance.
"Del—"
"Don't" She replies simply, continuing to walk forward.
Bright watches her, amazed how unaffected she is by the barriers she just broke down, unaware of the way his heart is beating at that very moment.
"What time is the movie?" Delia asks, not looking at him.
"10."
"Cool. I want to get a large popcorn, and maybe some snow caps, I haven't had those in forever."
"How bout it you in?"
"Huh?"
Delia squeezes his hand, once again reminding Bright that they linked together. "Popcorn, snowcaps?"
"Yeah sounds like a plan." Bright replies with a smile, squeezing back.
They finish the walk in silence, to passerby they resemble an average New York city couple out for an afternoon stroll, they don't see the awkward glances and shy smiles, they have no idea that everything has changed, but it has. And it will never be the same again.
.
Delia sighs contently; Bright's voice is so calm and sweet in the morning. With a stretch she opens her eyes, shocked to see her roommate, Jill sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Oh Hey." Delia mumbles disappointed that the calm sweet voice in her ear did not belong to Bright.
"Don't oh hey me...you had a boy here last night."
Delia sits up with a groan, "It wasn't like that."
"Yeah I know. You're sleeping in my bed...alone. It really wasn't like that."
Delia glances at the clock, which reads 9:43, "What are you doing back from Jake's so early?"
"He's having breakfast with the 'rents' today, and he hasn't told them about me yet so..."
"Yes you're a bit intense when meeting new people, best Jake prepares them first.."
"I'd be really mad at you if what you said wasn't true. But hey don't change the topic. Who's the beef cake sneaking out of here at 7 this morning."
"He left that early?"
"Well I didn't actually see him leave, Jake went to go get the paper and they crossed paths. J said the mystery man was quite a looker. Good for you."
"Are you guys really that boring that you're more concerned with my love life than your own."
"So he is a love interest." Jill smirks at her friend.
Delia groans again, wiping the sleep from her eyes, "No he's just..."
"One night stand?"
Delia stares at her friend.
"I know stupid me. But seriously kiddo, J and I just want to see you happy......no more crumb bums, ok?"
"Well mystery man is far from a crumb bum, not that it matters."
"Uh huh, so you still haven't told me exactly why you're sleeping in my bed and housing none boyfriend beef cakes."
"He broke up with his girlfriend, and was going to spend the night roaming the city streets, I just didn't see the point in it so I let him crash here."
"Right......rebound?"
"Jill it wasn't like that."
"Ok. So who is he?"
"Bright."
"Bright." Jill looks at Delia curiously.
"Amy's brother."
Jill's eyes go wide, "Bright...the love of your adolescent life. Bright, hunk from the pictures?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God."
"Its no big deal, he was visiting his girlfriend and some how," Delia rolls her eyes, "Ephram and Amy Forgot to tell me that he was in town."
"Aw so you guys hung out all day yesterday?"
"Playing board games with Amy and Ephram."
"Interesting."
"And then he walked me back here, his girlfriend goes here. And he found out she was cheating on him so...."
"Aw poor guy. At least you were there to pick up the pieces."
"Shut up. I told you it wasn't like that."
"Whatever. Hey! I bet your bed smells amazing."
Delia laughs, "Excuse me."
"Well whenever I'm at Jake's I always find myself smelling his sheets, its kind of a mix of clean laundry and cologne........and from those pictures of Bright I bet your bed smells even better."
"You're insane."
"Am not, here lets check it out." Jill replies diving onto Delia's bed.
"No, get out of my bed. Knock it off."
"Gees you are so uptight. I'm going to take a shower."
"You do that." Delia watches her friend leave before lying down on her bed, slowly bring the cotton sheets up to her nose. "Amazing." Delia mutters to herself.
Ephram and Amy's Apartment.
Same time: Bright and Amy are sitting around the breakfast table talking. Ephram is still asleep.
"Wow. I can't believe it."
"It's just as well. I wanted out anyway." Bright replies, taking another bite of cereal.
"So what are you going to do now?"
"Well, I took the whole weekend off to be with Alison, so I guess I'll head home, if I leave by 11 I could be home before dinner and still have tomorrow to myself."
"Oh come on. Just stay here until tomorrow, why rush off. You'll just be going back to a place you hate."
"I don't hate it there."
"But you're not happy."
"Well, no. But what else am I supposed to do. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and career wise that doesn't get you very far."
"No, but that place doesn't help, I mean you're living within a 10 minute radius of our parents, going to a job you hate."
"Well what do you suggest?"
Amy smiles "Stay here."
"Right, so instead of being under the microscope of mom and dad I'll be under yours."
"You know I don't care what you do, come on."
"And what about you and Ephram."
"What about us?"
"You guys just got engaged, you're probably going at it like rabbits these days, you guys really don't need me crashing on the couch interrupting your alone time."
"Don't be stupid, Bright. Besides it'll only be temporary we'll find you a place nearby and you can figure out what the hell you want to do."
"Why Amy?"
"What?"
"Why are you making such a big deal about me staying here."
Amy sighs, "You're Ephram's best friend, he'll finally have someone besides me to hang out with when he's not performing and I'm working."
"Is that all?"
Amy turns to bright, a serious look on her face, "Ok so maybe I miss you too."
Bright sighs, "I'm 27, I shouldn't have to crash on anybody's couch. I should be off on my own, settled down even."
"That's not how it works, Bright. You'll get your act together, you will. When the time is right."
"I don't know..."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Get comfortable on the couch I guess."
"Smart man. I'll go tell Ephram."
Bright grins wickedly, "Let me."
2 minutes later:
"Ephram." Amy coos.
Ephram groans, "In a minute."
"I have to tell you something."
"Ok. Later, come back to bed."
"But..."
Bright shakes his head wildly.
"Ok hon, I'm coming." Amy replies, amusement in her voice.
Bright dives into the bed.
Ephram bolts up, "What the hell?"
"Hey buddy!"
"I told you had to tell you something." Amy replies
"And that something is that instead of you coming back to bed, you're sending your brother to spoon with me."
Amy giggles, "Not exactly."
"I'm staying!" Bright exclaims.
"What?"
"Life sucks. It hates me. I have no girlfriend, no prospects my job is crap and so now I'm moving in with my little sister and her boyfriend."
Fiancé." Amy corrects him.
Bright shrugs.
"It's only temporary. I just can't see him going back there to nothing, you said it yourself last week he'd be much better out here."
"Ok."
"That's it?"
"What? Am I supposed to do protest? He's my best friend, besides if I say no you'll be mad at me and refuse to have sex with me for at least a month."
"Dude that's harsh. I guess that settles it I'm here to stay." Bright grins brightly at his friend, hopping of the bed. "I'm going to go break in my new bed." Bright says making his way to the couch.
Amy lies down next to Ephram.
"So the witch is dead?" Ephram raises an eyebrow.
"Looks like it."
"Thank God, that girl had some issues."
"Yeah, she just wasn't his type."
"Did he crash here last night?"
Amy shakes her head; "No he showed up around 7:30 with bagels...I don't ask a lot of questions when there are bagels involved."
"Ah." Ephram wraps his arm around her. "So I guess it be just like junior year all over again, you me and Bright."
"Thank God I have other friends to hang out with now."
"Like who?"
"Laura."
"She's boring, she doesn't count."
"Delia."
"Um hi, my little sister she definitely doesn't count."
"Bright's my brother and he's your friend."
"He's a year older than us, Delia's still a kid."
"She's 19."
"Exactly she's still young, inexperienced."
"Hey Ephram, what kind of life were you living at 19?" Amy smirks.
Ephram grimaces, "Oh God. Yeah I needed those thoughts in my head Am. In my mind she's still 11 and now you just completely ruined that image."
Amy looks at him seriously, "Seriously though, you have to stop treating your sister like she's a little kid. It's degrading—especially coming from you. Don't you want to give her the same respect you were given when you first moved out on your own?"
"Yeah, but she's still my little sister."
"From now on, there's no age division between you two. No holding it over her head that she's not 21 and no talking down to her."
"Fine." Ephram mutters. "But I'm warning you, you're sucking all the fun out of our relationship."
NYU Courtyard: 4:00pm
Delia and her friends are lounging outside under a tree. Everyone is laughing and having a good time. Delia is off in her own little world.
"So Del, what do you think?" Ryan, an eager redhead history major asks grinning at Delia
"I don't know. Think about what?"
"Movie tonight? Late show?"
"What Movie?"
The boy shrugs, "Whatever horror movie is playing."
"I don't know, I'm kind of beat and have a paper do on Monday that I haven't started."
"Ok....rain check?"
Delia smiles lamely, "Sure."
Ryan grins, "Solid."
Delia shakes her head with laughter, "Well I should probably go get started."
The boy nods as Delia gets up to leave, his hand grazing the back of the girl next to him.
Delia walks away laughing to herself a she turns towards the dorms she notices a tall figure standing by the gate of the courtyard.
With a genuine smile on her face Delia walks over to Bright, "Hey."
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?" Delia asks suspiciously.
"Just taking a stroll." Bright smirks.
"No, I mean in New York, I figured that you'd probably have gone home."
"Yeah well, what can I say Amy couldn't bear to see me leave."
"Right...." Delia smiles, looking down at her feet.
"But yeah, it looks like I'll be around for a while."
"I'm glad."
Bright scratches the back of his head, "So what are you doing now?"
"Um I was heading back to my dorm but...."
"Yeah, You know I just want to thank you for last night."
"Anytime, you're like family."
A flicker of disappointment is evident in Bright's eyes.
"But really it was no big deal I was happy to have you."
"Oh yeah?"
Delia smirks, "You made my bed smell amazing.......like a forest of pine trees spent the night in my bed."
Bright laughs out loud, "Hey missy that is very popular very expensive cologne I wear."
"Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure they sell that same sent down at Wal-Mart for $4.99."
"Shut up who asked you anyways." Bright replies folding his arms across his chest.
"You're right, nobody. See you later 'Old Spice." Delia replies with a grin turning on her heels.
"Wait." Bright says, his voice suddenly gruff.
Delia send Bright an unsure glance, "What?"
"What are you doing later?"
"What's later?"
"9?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Amy and Ephram want me to go see that new teen slasher movie with them, and as much as I love a good cinematic blood bath, I can't sit through two hours of Amy screaming her head off and then pawing at Ephram.......it's disgusting."
"Wow, you really know how to entice someone." Delia replies wryly.
"So does this mean I'm going solo?"
Delia feigns defeat, "No I'll go. But only because I feel sorry for you."
"I'll buy the bon bons."
"Now you're talking." Delia grins. "So what time should I meet guys?"
"Well what are you doing now?"
Delia shrugs.
"Now's good, I think Amy's already sick of me and Ephram being back together."
"Yeah well you two were always pretty sickening." Delia smiles, "Give me 5 minutes. I want to change."
"Ok." Bright takes a step back, "I'll wait here."
Leaning against the gate, Bright watches Delia leave.
"Bright?"
Bright mutters to himself at the sound of Allison's voice.
"What are you doing here?" Allison asks, an air of superiority in her voice.
Bright clears his throat, "Just, uh waiting for someone."
Allison tilts her head towards Bright, a sweet expression spreading across her face, "Oh Bright. There's no need for you to make up stories."
Bright looks her in the eye, "What?"
"Breaking up is hard. I'm upset about it too."
"Ok........" Bright trails off, becoming frustrated.
"But Bright, standing by the gate of my school waiting for me to come out, that's a little bit desperate."
"Desperate? I walked out on you."
"Yes, and now you're obviously regretting it, which is why you're still here in New York, pining for and I'm sorry Bright. What I did to you was terrible, but now that we're not together anymore I'm seeing Paul. I'm sorry I've moved on." Alison says snidely.
"I'm actually just here waiting for someone."
"Oh Bright you don't have to make excuses, I understan---"
"Hey." Delia interrupts softly. "You ready to go?" Delia asks as Alison sends Bright an angry glance.
Bright looks up at Delia with a grateful smile, "Yeah, uh. Alison this is Delia."
"Hi." Delia says sweetly.
Alison's face contorts, "You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm Sorry?" Delia gives her a confused look.
"Alison." Bright says warily
"You're that malevolent football player." Alison says coarsely.
"Allison." Bright's voice booms as he becomes angry.
"Malevolent, as in evil? I don't what I did to you but I don't think name- calling is necessary." Delia replies calmly.
Allison scoffs, "God Bright, this is a new low even for you. You break it off with me because I found somebody else, and you're all reading schnooking some doe-eyed, bouncy impressionable freshman slut."
"Hey!" Bright raises his voice, "Delia is not a slut. Besides it's not like that, Delia is Ephram's sister."
Allison laughs madly, "Of course she is, that would make sense. She's coarse enough to be that foul-mouthed cretin's relative. But really Bright, she's what 17? Have a little class"
"Alright you know what that's enough. The only one here who's done anything wrong is you Allison. You cheated on me---I'm just here picking up Ephram's sister, my friend so we can go to a movie—nothing is going on."
Delia looks at Bright innocently, "Well unless you count that kiss last night, and the tonsil hockey this morning."
Bright looks at her shocked until he sees Alison's furious gaze.
"What? She practically screams.
"Well I'll admit I initiated it, but can you blame me. What a catch handsome, sweet, and oh man he's got to have the best ass I've ever seen." Delia says dramatically, allowing a smirk to creep onto her face.
Bright looks down at his feet, stifling a laugh.
Allison gives one last look in Bright's direction, when he makes no effort to dispute Delia's claim she screams angrily before running off towards her dorm.
For a moment there is silence between Bright and Delia.
"Ready for that movie?" Bright asks hoarsely.
Delia nods, as the head towards the apartment, "I'm sorry about that." Delia says quietly.
Bright looks over at her, studying her face, "No, I'm the one who should be sorry, the things she said were uncalled for and so untrue."
"Bright what she said to me doesn't matter---but she was pushing you down, trying to make you feel bad about yourself, like you did something wrong—like you were lost because she's not in you're life anymore."
Bright shrugs, "I don't care what she says about me."
"Yes you do, and she shouldn't push you around like that, she's just mad because she knows what she's lost."
Bright grins suddenly, "Well she does now, so best ass you've ever seen. I had no idea it was that good."
Delia goes to smack Bright in the arm, but he catches her, taking hold of her wrist, eventually losing his grip so he's merely cupping her hand.
Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, both Delia and Bright stare down at their hands.
Delia looks up at Bright, sending him a warm smile before linking her fingers through his and giving him a reassuring glance.
"Del—"
"Don't" She replies simply, continuing to walk forward.
Bright watches her, amazed how unaffected she is by the barriers she just broke down, unaware of the way his heart is beating at that very moment.
"What time is the movie?" Delia asks, not looking at him.
"10."
"Cool. I want to get a large popcorn, and maybe some snow caps, I haven't had those in forever."
"How bout it you in?"
"Huh?"
Delia squeezes his hand, once again reminding Bright that they linked together. "Popcorn, snowcaps?"
"Yeah sounds like a plan." Bright replies with a smile, squeezing back.
They finish the walk in silence, to passerby they resemble an average New York city couple out for an afternoon stroll, they don't see the awkward glances and shy smiles, they have no idea that everything has changed, but it has. And it will never be the same again.
.