Chapter 19: Tawny Has Her Own Problems

Tawny: The Oceanview Club, Near the Beach, Sacramento: 7:12pm: 15 June

The beach part of Ren's party had been somewhat eventful. Kate's friend Claire managed to go the whole time and never realized Lizzie, Miranda, and Gordo were present. I have no idea how. I suppose she was very distracted. Mandy showed up, and was actually civil, and I have no idea why. It had to be ulterior motives of some sort, unless she really was trying to make peace with Ren. Ruby had concocted some kind of spontaneous plan to destroy her once and for all, and I was slightly concerned she would kill her. I was only concerned because Mandy was an attractive girl, and it would be a waste of her physical beauty to kill her.

Lizzie liked Kate. It became apparent when I saw them interact with one another. Kate liked Lizzie too, and it was completely obvious. It all fit together so perfectly. One of them just needed to tell the other, and hopefully the other would spill. Kate wouldn't do it, I could tell. She was the type to never tell. It had to be Lizzie, but once she admitted it, I would have to confess about liking someone, who I had denied having any feelings for, for years. We made a deal, but it was before I knew Lizzie liked Kate, the Kate that I met that was here, that Ren incidentally ended up inviting to her party, unwittingly and having no idea about anything else. The universe was working against me these days.

Lizzie had figured me out, just hadn't put it all together yet. She was smarter than she let on, at least about people. She could give me a run for my money in the analyzing business with a little practice. She must have been able to view me differently because she hadn't known me for years. I don't know, but she was right on, and it shook me enough to make me give up on the bet with Louis. I couldn't hide anymore because someone had seen through the cover, which meant more people would eventually. I couldn't tell her not to tell Kate because I had already told her to act on her feelings, and I also knew Kate liked her, so it would be completely wrong not to tell her, but once she did, I was also obligated, and the secret would be out.

I was sitting at a table in the Oceanview Club with Gordo and Ren. I found it to be a seedy place, personally. None of us were talking. Ruby had managed to whip out some alcohol before we left the beach, and most everyone had drank a little. I hadn't. We were going to her house after everyone got their fill of dancing. I'd drink then, if I drank at all. Gordo didn't drink either, or Ren, of course. Ren never did anything wrong. She was beautiful like that. Perfection, and yet not, at the same time. She was overcompensating for something too, and it was something I could never figure out. She was too perfect with her grades and everything else. Imperfection had to exist somewhere, and she was hiding it behind all of that, so that no one would notice, but I noticed.

Everyone had departed for about an hour, and cleaned themselves up, so they all looked nice. They had all pretty much all paired off and were dancing now. Louis was with Miranda because Ruby had obviously worked her magic in that area. She had yet to work her magic with Gordo and herself because he was sitting between Ren and I, while she was off with Bobby. Kate was with her boyfriend Ethan, but I remained unsure whether or not they were still together. She had straightened her hair, and was wearing white capris with a pink tubetop. She looked cute, but seemed to be having no fun. Her boyfriend didn't seem to be having that good of a time either. Lizzie was with Twitty, who seemed to be enjoying himself a bit too much. As I watched them, his hands were wandering a bit more than I liked to see. Lizzie didn't quite seem to care though.

Ren looked nice. She was wearing a pink halter top, and a khaki skirt. I didn't dare tell her she looked nice though, couldn't do that, ever. Couldn't ever say what I meant. She had her hair where it was all wavy, and she had on just the right amount of makeup, and she was so pretty, not that I was paying that much attention to her.

I sat and watched the goings on of the dance floor. All it took to understand people was to watch them, and then talk to a few, then you saw patterns, and that was all. Kate ditched Ethan, who latched onto Mandy within seconds, then Kate went and stood by the wall. She kept searching the crowd, looking for someone, and I didn't doubt who it was. She found her, dancing with Twitty, whose hand looked like it was about to go down her pants at any second. Lizzie looked up, and in her direction, then Kate turned her head quickly, and Lizzie did the same. Did no one else notice this, or was I the only remotely observant person here? I was probably the only remotely observant person here because almost everyone was nearing drunkenness, and Ren was dense when it came to people, Gordo just straight up wasn't paying attention.

I watched the same thing happen several more times, and neither girl would make any effort to approach the other. It was frustrating, and like watching a train crash. I sighed, and turned to Gordo, and Ren, who both looked terribly bored. They had a lot in common, and were very obviously related.

Ruby approached our table, and sat across from the three of us, "Why don't you guys find someone and go dance?"

I shrugged, and Ren said, "There's no one here I really want to dance with."

"Stop seeming to bummed, Ren." She focused her attention on Gordo quickly afterward, "You come dance with me."

"I'm really not that good."

"Oh hush yourself." She protested.

"Go on, Gordo. Have fun." Ren nudged him with her shoulder.

"Fine…" He gave in, and disappeared with Ruby onto the dance floor.

I hopped over into his seat, next to Ren, "What's up?"

"Why don't you go have fun?"

"I'm Tawny, I don't have fun at things like this. It isn't how I roll." I grinned.

She shook her head, "You're weird."

"Why aren't you having fun?" I asked her, accusingly.

"I don't know."

"Go dance with someone."

"Who?"

"Some guy…I don't know who." I looked toward the dance floor to check up on the Kate and Lizzie situation. It was still the same: Kate sulking by the wall with her arms crossed, acting like she didn't care, and Lizzie and Twitty being all dirty, and Lizzie acting like she didn't notice Kate sulking by the wall.

"Ew…look at Lizzie and Twitty…"

"I know." I groaned.

"Why don't you go dance with Kate? She's over there by the wall all by herself."

"And leave you here at this table all by yourself?"

"Yes, I give you my permission to do so." She laughed.

"I already took off my clothes for you."

"So go dance with Kate, and we'll have sex later."

I rolled my eyes, and sneered, "I don't want to have sex with you." I looked toward Kate, "But I will go dance with Kate."

"Good." She smiled at me as I got up.

I sighed once I was a good distance away from her. I couldn't not dance with Kate, Ren had told me too, and I couldn't say no to her. Well, I could say no, but then I would still do whatever she said. It was a shame she was joking about the sex later.

Kate slapped on a smile when I got to her, "Hey."

"Wanna dance with me, or keep standing by this wall looking depressed?"

"I'm not depressed."

"Right." I took both of her hands, and pulled her into the crowd, "I know who you like." I whispered.

"I don't like anyone."

"Liar. You told me in the bathroom at the mall."

We started dancing, and continued to talk.

"I'm not lying."

"Lizzie."

"What?" She stopped suddenly, and looked at me.

"It's her. I'm right."

She seemed completely shocked, "No…"

"Yes." I said, putting my hands on her waist and pulled her close to me again.

"How do you know that?"

"I can tell." I moved my arms up, and put her hair behind her ears, "Tell her."

"No, I-"

"Tell her, Kate." Then I had an idea, and it was a stupid idea, but I thought it might work, and just because it might work, I figured it was worth trying.