A/N: hiya! sorry for the lateness... school started up again and it's been hard trying to shift my mind from chem class to fan fiction mode. i hope the wait was worth it though. ) thanks goes out to everyone who took time to leave me a note... very much appreciated. )
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Trust Us
The weekend rolled around and it seemed like things were back to normal... or should I say it seemed like Byron was back to normal.
We had set up a date for Saturday evening, in a little Italian restaurant at the downtown square. My mind was occupied though, as I only half-listened to Byron's chatter about their upcoming baseball game against the rival team from Stamford.
"-- So yeah, the third baseman really has to up his game," Byron said thoughtfully. I nodded and took a drink of water to wash down my Fettucini Alfredo. "I mean if he keeps missing the throws..."
"Byron, can we talk?" I asked bluntly, interrupting him.
"What do you think we've been doing?" he chuckled. I gave him a small smile.
"I mean it. We have to talk about what's been bothering you."
"What could be bothering me?" he asked, grinning. "I'm on a date with the most gorgeous girl in the restaurant." He leaned over and gave me a kiss. His lips had a slight garlicky taste to them.
"Come on, By," I insisted. "I think I've known you long enough to know when something's bothering you." His grin slowly disappeared and his eyes that were lighting up now just looked tired. He looked down to his plate and played with a piece of chicken with his fork. The dim light from the candles on the table cast dark shadows on his face.
"I-I'm just.. worried," he stammered. He took a deep breath and continued, "I mean, yeah, we've known each other for a really long time. So I know what you and Jeff had before... I know how much he meant to you. I know how much you meant to him."
He paused and finally looked up at me. "I don't know if he came back to re-kindle whatever's left of your relationship. I'm – I'm just scared I'm going to lose something that means so much to me. Geez, and we haven't even been going out for long. Great, a one year relationship with Jeff versus a three day one with me. How am I even sure that this is for real?"
"So you've been doubting our relationship ever since we came back from the trip?" I asked, surprised and slightly hurt. He furrowed his eyebrows and replied,
"This our first date, for God's sake, Char. And what am I supposed to think when I see you and Jeff hanging out, being all buddy-buddy?"
"You're supposed to trust me, Byron," I said. "Jeff and I are over. It's been over for a really long time. And what makes you think that I can switch my emotions at a flip of a button? There is nothing left but friendship between me and Jeff. What you and I have is real, and I haven't doubted it for a single second," I told him sincerely.
"So I'm the big jerk, huh?" he asked dejectedly. I reached over and took his hand in mine.
"The jerk that I'm totally crazy about?" I asked, smiling. "Yeah, you are." That got a smile out of him. "I just need you to trust me. Trust us," I said seriously. He leaned over and kissed the side of my neck. He still could definitely made my insides all fluttery.
"I will," he promised, bringing his lips to mine.
--
After dinner, we headed over to over to Craig's place, where everyone was meeting up just to hang out for a few hours. Let me just say that Craig's basement is a teenage boy's paradise. Being the only kid, Craig has been spoiled rotten ever since he was born. His basement has a pool table, a wicked stereo system and a big screen TV attached to every available video game console out there.
I was just glad that things were okay between me and Byron. I was happy just to relax with friends and not worry anymore.
We got there at about eight that evening. The usual gang was there, minus Jenny, who had to baby-sit her sister that night. Craig's dad let us in and we made our way to the basement. Right away, Byron joined Adam and Craig, jumping on the couch, grabbing hungrily at the video game controller. I rolled my eyes and laughed, looking over to the game of pool the other guys had going on.
I turned my head around and had to look twice when I was surprised to see a girl that I didn't know within the group. She had long wavy blonde hair and seriously had model potential. She was wearing a tight tanktop and an ultra-mini skirt.
... She was also hanging onto Jeff like she was never going to let go. My stomach had this sinking feeling.
Jeff noticed my presence and waved me to come over. I stuck a big smile on my face and walked over, saying hi to everyone. Jeff introduced me to The Blonde. Her name was Britney. Surprise, surprise.
There was an awkward moment of silence, which Becca broke to excuse her and Vanessa from the pool game, inviting me to come along and get a drink from the bar. Vanessa hopped up to sit on the counter and I took a seat on the stool, as Becca grabbed us cans of pop from the mini-fridge.
We were a safe distance from the pool table and music was blaring anyway, so we could barely even hear our own voices when we started to talk.
"Britney??" I asked incredously, waiting for an explanation. Becca grimaced.
"Jordan told me they met her at the Cineplex last Wednesday when they all went to see the movie. Apparently, she was all over Jeff and he, of course, being a guy, welcomed her advances."
"So, what? They're going out now?" I asked. She nodded in reply.
"That's the word." I shifted my attention away from the conversation, as I glanced back to the pool table, where Jeff was "teaching" Britney how to strike the ball with the cue. It rolled into the corner hole and Britney jumped up and down, only stopping to give Jeff a long kiss on the lips. I looked back to my friends.
"I don't even know why she's here," Vanessa piped up. "She doesn't talk to anyone besides Jeff. She just gives me this blank stare every time I try to strike up a conversation with her." Vanessa crossed her eyes and cocked her head to the side. We laughed.
"She goes to Stoneybrook Prep," Becca told us. "I swear, snobby-ism must be a requirement when you get into that school." I quietly chuckled, starting to feel bad that we were talking about Britney behind her back.
"Guys, I'm sure she's perfectly nice. I mean, why else would Jeff like her?" I asked.
"Um, I don't think he's interested in her niceness, Char," Vanessa said pointedly, jumping off of the counter. I stuck my tongue out at her. "Just wait 'til you see them together. It's kinda sickening how she practically hangs off Jeff."
"In any case, it's just a harmless summer fling. I'm sure of it," Becca said. She and Vanessa walked back to join the others, but I elected to stay at the bar and finish my drink.
"Any left for me?" I turned around and saw Byron walking towards me. I smiled and offered him half my can of Mountain Dew. He chugged it down in one swig.
"You wanna see me try and crush this on my forehead?" he asked, gesturing to the aluminum can in his hand. I laughed.
"Um, maybe later," I said, quickly taking the can away before he could hurt himself. He went behind the counter and reached down into one of the cupboards.
"The guys wanted some chips," he explained, returning to the upright position with a large bag of nacho Doritos. "Watch this disappear in about ten seconds."
"I say five seconds." We both looked up and were joined by a grinning Jeff.
"Hey man, sorry about Wednesday," Byron said, offering his hand for a low high-five. "I wasn't feeling too good." Jeff slapped his hand and replied,
"Don't worry about it. Water under the bridge. So things are cool now?" Byron sneaked me a look and smiled.
"Better than cool," he replied. "I should go though." We were starting to hear yells of complaints across the room from Adam and Craig, who were looking for snack replenishment. "We should catch up on things later," he told Jeff.
"Definitely." Byron gave me a quick kiss good-bye before he walked away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jeff quickly avert his glance.
"Stay for a chat?" I offered when we were alone.
"Thanks. But I just came for a drink," Jeff replied curtly, avoiding my eyes. "I should get back to Britney anyway." With that, he walked away. I followed him with my gaze.
When he reached the pool table, Britney automatically wrapped her arms around Jeff's neck and he whispered something in her ear. She giggled and they were soon engaged in a passionate kiss. I was afraid that they were going to go right at it, right there on the pool table.
"Dear Lordie," I muttered under my breath. "I hope Jeff knows what he's getting himself into."