"Someone's happy..." Kelly winks at me. I'm up to my elbows in grease, totally concentrating on the bike in front of me.
"What?" I ask, confused. Happy? Far from it.... Chillin'?.... That's more like it.
"So, how'd it go with that girl last night? She was really pretty." Kelly smiles anxiously waiting for me to say something. Any little detail.
"Um.. it's not that serious, Kel..it was fun. She's nice." I answer, continuing to work on these brakes. Dude these things are shot... I wipe a stray lock of hair from my forehead with a sigh. Man this really is a sweet bike...with a bit of fine tuning....
"Yeah..you like her!" Kelly laughs.
"I do..she's a nice girl. Just a friend." I say.
"Sure. Whatever. This is me you're lying to D. I know you." She points a finger at me. She's right. Like always.
"Yeah, well.. I can't like her for reasons that I can't say at the moment... So I guess I'll just have to shove it away, huh?" I blurt. Man, too much information, dude...
"Huh?" Kelly looks so confused right now. And I'm just as confused, "What do you mean you can't like her? Who says you can't like someone? That's retarded!"
I look up from behind the orange bike, "Nevermind... I just got so many issues right now. I'm... I'm losing it Kel...losing my mind.."
"You need a break, that's why. Why don't you take the rest of the day off.." Kelly offers.
"Nah..that's ok.. I'm off tomorrow anyway, I'll be cool." I say.
"You sure, now?" She stares at me like she's trying to read my mind or something.
"Positive.. plus I just wanna get these bikes done with, so tomorrow, while I'm not here, they wont pile up like mad." I say.
Kelly pauses. She turns to walk away, then stops, spinning around to look at me. "Dustin...thank you.. I don't think I've ever truly just said thank you..for everything."
"For what?"
"For being here. Helping me. Working your ass off for my little establishment. You truly mean a lot to me. I don't know what I'd do without my partner in crime." Kelly winks.
"Wow.. Kel..that means so much to me...you just don't know..but you shouldn't thank me.. I should thank you.. seriously...you believe in me when no one else does. You have faith in me and know that I can do whatever I really want as long as I put my mind to it.. and get rest!" I throw at her, the most sincere face.
"Oh, Dustin, you're gonna make me cry! Stop it!" she laughs, sniffling a little.
"We rock! No lie! Me and you are the shit!" I excitedly blurt. Kelly laughs, slapping a high-five. A greasy one..oops.. "Sorry..."
"A little grease never hurt anyone.." Kelly shrugs. I smile and me and Kel bullshit and joke around for the rest of the day.
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I put my key into the ignition and turn. Aaahhhh.. how I love that sound... I reach over my shoulder and throw my safety belt on before turning on the radio. Oh great, Coheed and Cambria... I think immediately about Tori..
It's 5:30 and I'm on my way home. I can't wait to see her... My phone rings as I start to drive off..my phone has a love of ringing as soon as I get in my car.. it's Hunter...
"Hello." I answer.
"Dude, I am so bringing the alchohol!!" Hunter gloats. Speechless, I pause.. I didn't invite Hunter only because I didn't want to have to deal with Blake..at all...but Hunter knows about tonight? Um..ok.. Tori told him, I guess...
"Um..ok.." I finally find words, if that's what you wanna call it.
"Dude, you ok?" Hunter asks.
"Yeah..um.."
"Dustin.. you do know that I'm coming down right?"
"Well...um..look..." I start, "The reason why I didn't call you up and invite you was because of Blake...its just way too uncomfortable of a situation..you understand right?" I hope he does. I really don't want to lose Hunter as a friend, too.
"Oh yeah...I understand totally..but you're ok now, right? That's what Tori said." Huner asks, unsure.
"Tori said what? Wait I'm so lost.." I hold the phone to my ear while I drive with my left hand. Not good...please don't let me get pulled over...
"She said that you're totally ok with Blake coming tonight."
"What??" I pull over on the side of the road. "Wait....Tori didn't tell me anything! She didn't tell me Blake was coming tonight at all!" I yell into the phone. I can't believe she'd do that!
"Uh..oh..dude, I had no idea...honestly.." Hunter says.
"She... I .... Oh man, dude!!! How the hell does she not even warn me that he's coming!! No offense, but you're brother is not exactly my favorite person right now!" I bark. My mind is going crazy and my blood is boiling.
"Dude, I thought you knew.. I swear!" Hunter sounds as if he's the one at fault.
"Dude, it's not your fault! I want you to come! All I need now is to get into it with Blake tonight! God, now I'm not even gonna feel comfortable in my own damn house!" I slam my hand against the steering wheel. My skin feels hot and I don't know what to do with this anger.
"Dustin.. I'm gonna have a long talk with my brother tonight before we get there. On the way, I'll threaten him. It'll be ok, bro....if I can help it." Hunter reassures, "I don't like this fighting just as much as you dont. Trust me."
"I can't believe Tori!" I yell out, "I am so fucking angry at her right now! When the hell was she gonna tell me about this?"
"Dude, like I said... I thought you knew." Hunter speaks softly on the other end.
"Well, I guess I know now.." I spit, sarcastically. I sigh. I shouldn't be taking this out on Hunter. No way. "Well, I'll see you tonight then... I gotta go handle this."
"Alright man. Don't worry... he'll be good, ok.." Hunter says.
"Yeah.."
"See ya."
"Word."
-click-
Oh man! So, I never could ever be mad at Tori, huh? Bullshit!! I angrily drive off. Drive home.
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I swing open the door to our apartment. Tori is sitting on the couch preparing snacks.
"So, when the fuck were you gonna tell me that Blake is coming?? When?? Tomorrow???" I bark, not even waiting until I shut the door behind me to confront her.
"Excuse me?" Startled, Tori jumps up.
"Oh, oh...So, now you don't know what I'm talking about? I can't believe you!" I flail my keys around, too pissed to sit, I stand near the door. I don't even bother to bottle up any emotions, or anything at this point. For what? To cater to Tori's feelings like she so lovingly caters to mine? Yeah, whatever!
"Stop yelling at me!" Tori walks over to me, her hands at her hips.
My eyes pop out of my head, "Stop yelling at you? Because you're too special to take it? Because you're too high and mighty to do anything wrong?" I scold.
"What? What the hell-"
"When were you gonna tell me you invited him? C'mon, when?"
"I'm sorry, I –"
"Sorry?? You're always sorry, Tori! Always! And then I have to feel like the bad guy! I have to be the bad person because I don't want him in my house!"
"This is not only your house, Dustin! I'm not going to keep him away because of your little problem!" Tori yells back at me.
"My problem? Fuck, Tori!! Are you for real?" I turn to walk away, but I just pace around the living room. I don't want to fight. I don't want to fight with her. I can't believe what I'm hearing from her mouth right now...
"Dustin, the whole world doesn't revolve around you and your issues ok..." Tori calmly speaks as if its nothing.
I feel like a dagger has just pierced through my heart. How can she say that? How can she hurt me so much? Like, I'm so insignificant. Tears begin to fill my eyes. A mixture of hurt and anger. "So I guess it doesn't matter to you at all how I feel.."
"What?"
"So, my feelings are petty... I guess I just have to push them aside like I always do, huh? You know, 'cuz I'm Dustin, Yeah, I'll get over it, right? I always do."
"Dustin, I didn't –"
"Well, you know what, if Blake is that goddamn important to you that you have to go behind my back, then fine...do what the fuck you want.. but don't expect me to be any part of it!"
"Dustin, you are acting like a complete moron!" Tori angrily stomps her foot down, "You're such a baby! Get the fuck over yourself already! I can't believe you!"
"Me? Oh my God!! It's always me! Always my fault! And the other night – My fault too, huh? 'Cuz you didn't want me to finger you...sure, ok, I got you..." I sarcastically yell. Tori looks at me, disgusted.
Her arms crossed, "I am not a slut!"
"Did I say you were?"
"Fuck you, Dustin! Fuck you!" Tori grabs for a pillow and throws it at me.
"That's how it is?" I say catching the pillow before it hits me.
Tori says nothing. Tears in her eyes. She won't even look at me.
"Fine.. I say, nodding, "Fuck your party! I hope it's worth it!" I open the door and slam it behind me, furiously making my way down the stairs.
Suddenly , I hear Tori open the door, "Fine! I don't care! Be a dick, Dustin!! Fuck you!" She screams. Then a loud thud echoes throughout the building as she slams the door to our apartment.
I jump into my car and skid off. My mind isn't right, right now and my hands are shaking. I don't know what to do, where to go, what to feel. My brain starts to comprehend everything that's just happened and a huge sheet of heartache paralyzes me as I drive to nowhere. How can the one person that I love more than anything cause so much pain? And she doesn't even realize it half the time! She wants to choose Blake over me, fine! Fine! Let her choose him, then! Whatever! I have Ivette and she likes me for me! Fuck this! Fuck love! I hate love! I hate it.. I hate loving her so much..But my God.. I love her so much. A tear falls down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away. No! No way! I refuse to cry! In an upset state, I find myself driving towards Ivette's house...