Hey hey fellas! I'm baaa-ck!

So sorry it took so long...my computer's giving me no consideration thatI ended up paying someone for a typing job, and I officially became a lazy ass. As you have noticed I've changed the title of the fic--John Cena is not considered a misanthropic anyways. Like it?

Must've been blabbing too much...here's Chap 13!

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"I'm hungry. I'm going to the concession stands, esses."

"Ed, no! We have to find a spot first!"

"Well hurry up and find one now! These things are heavy!"

"FYI! We're all carrying something!"

I sighed as I hoisted my backup higher above my shoulders while Eddie and Rey continued to babble on. There were other people with us—Rob Van Dam and Charlie Haas were both smirking and Dawn Marie, Jackie and Torrie were giggling at the two Latinos little argument. The girls were carrying beach blankets; Rob and Charlie brought the umbrellas, Eddie and Rey bringing the separate coolers of beer and soda, while I volunteered to carry the girls' bags.

"Alright you two. Babble on," I said loudly. "Because I already found ourselves a spot. So go on and be my guest."

There. That shut both of them up as they shrugged, reached into their wine coolers and got themselves a beer. The girls already spread their blankets on a spot almost to the shore, shedding off their tank tops and shorts to show off their bikinis. As I set down their bags on the sand, Rob and Charlie already assembled the umbrellas on the sand and ran off to buy ice cream. I was taking off my shirt just as a group of 16-something high school girls passed by and gawked at me. I winked at them in return. They giggled maddeningly and continued to walk.

It was the first day of summer for everyone in Long Beach, described by lots of people in different ages throwing themselves in the water and the sand. After eating dinner at Sam's, we couldn't come in a better time, but we decided to go here in afternoon because it spread like wildfire around school campus that there was going to be an open beach party for the SC and RRC. It was already proven correct because I've already seen a lot of familiar faces around. The sun was still shining, the water was clear, and the sand was barely stifling.

I have to admit, I've been in a good mood as of lately. With the company of Torrie, Eddie and Rey, the movie last night was wicked awesome. SpongeBob was still a dumbass. But nothing could change my Torrie-hanging days, just as the two Latinos called it.

Rob and Charlie went back with sundae cones for each of us. When Charlie gave one to each of the girls, the high-flying black belted known in RRC was trying to assemble another umbrella in the sand, but it was too heavy and he was already losing grip on the cones. I rushed up to him.

"Need any help?"

Rob looked up, looking confused. "I thought you hated me, bro."

I rolled my eyes, sniggering. "You were in RRC then, and I hate the people there. Look who you are hanging out with now."

"So am I officially in the club?"

"Only if you give me one of those sundaes."

He laughed and handed me one as I opened the umbrella and stabbed it on the sand right above the blankets. The three girls were already at the beach, their high-pitched laughter catching the attention of Eddie and Rey. The Latinos took off their shirts and joined them, their trunks flapping in the wind. I brushed the sand off my blue trunks and sat with Rob and Charlie, joining in their chat. I ate my ice cream as I listened.

"I thought you had that big dinner at Sam's, Cena," Charlie suddenly told me. "You are such a hog."

"Oh, just shut it Charles," Rob objected. "He may be a hog, but at least a very good looking one. Just look at those six packs. Even the junior high girls around here are getting the sands wet with all their drooling."

I smiled cockily. "Thanks for the comment, ninja-dude. But I'll keep Charlie's opinion in mind or I might be blocking instead of running next year."

They laughed appreciativelyat my gibe.

When it was the hour of the sunset, the girls and the Latinos already finished up playing in the shore and went back to the blankets, totally wet and sandblasted. As I watched, Jackie edged closer to Charlie in a purple tie-dye and Dawn wearing a slinky red number making her way to Eddie.

Then I checked out Torrie in her simple green getup as she approached me, and the way she smiled at me said that she finds me quite me interesting as well, which was a really good thing. When she sat down next to me, we've been the object of significant looks and smiles. I guess we weren't as smart as we thought we are. But what the heck, they figured it out at least.

Eddie opened the cooler again. "Anyone up for strong and light Buds?"

Soon we were settled down together, simply chatting and drinking beer, emptying the cooler. Although it was really hard to swallow the bitter stuff because Eddie and Rey started telling these unknown locker-room moments, jokes and candid stories, which is really funny shit. When Eddie finished up about 3 cans, he had gotten worse.

"…and then the bulbheaded hombre Kurt Angle told me to stop laying it up there! He told me, 'You are not Michael Jordan to do that kind of thing!' and I said, 'Hey! You need to get laid, holmes!'"

I laughed loudly along with the others, never minding the judgmental stares from the people next to us. Eddie was just so damn funny—maybe it was because of the joke or his perfect impersonation of the King of Heels Kurt Angle. I just couldn't stop myself, and it seems the others can't too.

"Hey, isn't that Randy Orton?" Rob blurted out after gulping a whole can.

Torrie and Dawn immediately looked around. "Where? Where?"

"I think he's over there, guys." Jackie pointed out.

I followed my gaze to where Jackie's finger was pointing. Tall, tan, and tattooed…it was Randy strutting near the shore, all right, along with two voluptuous blondes following her. I saw his lips move as if he was making a comment, then the two girls laughed heartily and sauntered off while waving their goodbyes at him. For a while he just stood there, hands on his hips, when the same group of schoolgirls who passed by me earlier just walked past him and leered at him this time. He smiled cockily and blew a kiss to them, making them giggle the same way.

Rey whistled, amused. "Now that's what I call swoon-worthy."

"So I guess it's him minus Evolution," Charlie observed.

"God, he looks so hot and look at that ass," Dawn murmured. "But his loss. At least I have Eddie."

"Yeah. At least you have me," Eddie said proudly, draping his arm over his new girlfriend's shoulders.

You got it right. Dawn is Eddie's new girl. They had only been dating for two weeks, but Eddie was absolutely crazy about her that whenever Rey and me are with him it was Dawn this, Dawn that. But this was the happiest I've already seen out of him and I'm just feeling glad for him. In fact, he looks a lot happier than with the time he was dating what's-her-name who was caught hanging with Evolution, like Rey told me.

Speaking of Evolution, Randy was still standing there on the shore, his red trunks contrasting to the orange sky. And none of his so-called friends were around, so I guess he was really flying solo for now.

"Shouldn't we invite him here with us?" Torrie suddenly suggested.

"No!" Eddie and Rey answered in unison.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that, only if he wasn't hanging with a bunch of steroid freaks like Hunter, Ric and Dave…" Charlie said quietly.

"But he is alone!" Dawn argued.

"He is, "Rob piped in. "I guess it's safer that way,"

Everyone forgot their argument and looked at Rob, baffled.

"What do you mean 'safer'?" I asked.

Rob laughed softly. "I know you all hate him because he is acting like Hunter Jr., but I don't blame you. Compared to the rest of the Evolution guys…Randy is the nicest one."

"Yeah right…" a few of the debaters scoffed.

"It's true!" Rob insisted. "If you don't believe me, ask my fellow draftee. Tell 'em Miss Jackie."

All eyes turned to Jackie. "Very well, then," she began. "Randall Keith Orton may be the youngest member of the faction. He's arrogant, he's cocky, he's good at everything he does and enjoys giving misery to the lowlifes. When he's not in Evolution, he just turns into this huggable teddy bear. It was really hard to believe that under that jerk was a smart, sweet classic heartthrob. But still, he was like, every RRC girl's dreamboat. No offense, Cena."

I held my palm up. "None taken. Do continue."

"Anyway, he may not have much friends outside Evolution, but that was where me and Rob came in. And trust me, based on my own experience, he even offered me to become his study buddy when I was getting lost in my math. And if it weren't for him I would've gotten an F! My final word is: the guy wouldn't even hurt a fly without Hunter telling him to. And that's what Mr. RKO is all about!" Jackie finished.

"Great speech Jackie," Rob told her with a laugh.

She smiled. "Thanks."

A unanimous reply of "Oh…" was heard in our circle, but I remained silent. Who am I to comment when everything Rob and Jackie said was true?

"Well if Rob and Jackie told their stand, I believe them," Eddie finally said. "Reel him in, ninja-boy. I would love to meet him."

Rob nodded. "Certainly." Then he stood up from the balnket and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey Orton!" he called.

The tall guy turned around and saw Rob, looking surprised then he grinned. "Hey there RVD!"

"Get in here! A lot of my friends here want to meet you!"

"Sure, be right with you!" And then Randy sprinted from the shore towards our blanket. It was a little far, so he had to run. And then I suddenly thought of a monkey version of David Hasselhoff as I watched him get to us. Tee hee hee…

"He looks like someone out of Baywatch Hawaii," Dawn breathed. "Don't you think he's cute, Tor?"

"Yeah…" Torrie answered, mesmerized.

"Okay everyone, he's coming," Eddie reminded us. "Let's just be nice to him. Comprender?"

Everyone nodded silently, just as Randy finally towered above us. Rob and Jackie stood up to give him a hug.

"I'm glad to see you guys," he told them, and then he looked around to each of us. "You starting a party without me?"

"Silly rabbit," Jackie scolded. "I would like to introduce you to my boyfriend, Charlie Haas."

Charlie stood up to shake his hand. "Great finally meeting you."

Randy smiled. "Same here, and you're lucky. Jackie's a great gal."

"Thanks."

"Here's Torrie and Dawn Marie…" Jackie continued.

The two girls smiled shyly at nodded at Randy. He bent down and kissed both their hands. "Why, aren't you just the two of the prettiest girls I ever did see."

Torrie and Dawn giggled and reddened.

"While this one is Latino Heat and Mr. 619…Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio!" Rob introduced.

Eddie and Rey held their hands up and smiled at him. "Ola amigo!"

Randy chuckled and also held his hand up. "Ola to you too."

"And that hot shot right there is John Cena," Jackie declared, pointing her pink tipped finger at me.

I jumped at the sound of my name. I looked up at Randy, who was now smirking at me cockily, daring me to challenge.

Fine then. Two can play that game.

"What's up?" I greeted him.

Randy shrugged and sat down beside Torrie. "Oh…just chilling."

The rest of the guys fell silent as Randy and I smirked at each other. I felt eight pairs of eyes clacking to both of us.

"You…you both sound like you know each other very well," Rob said slowly.

I guess now's the time to let the cat out of the bag. I was about to talk when Randy interrupted.

"As a matter of fact, we do." he informed, speaking for me. "Don't we, John?"

I nodded foolproof. "Absolutely Randy."

"Oh shit! You used to have a relationship as gay men aren't you?" Dawn deduced, paranoid.

Suddenly everyone just chuckled, letting the early tension seem to have faded away, letting me know that I'll have to thank Dawn someday. But Torrie, who was in the middle of all this, looked absolutely shocked.

"John, is this true?" she asked me.

"Yes, me and Randy know each other very well, and no, we never became controversial," I responded. "If I find out a guy has the hots for me, don't let me know."

"So Orton, uh…when and where did you and John first meet?" Jackie queried.

"Sixth grade," Randy replied. "Then we went to high school together on Ohio Valley."

"Isn't that sort of a boot camp for future SC and RRC athletes?" Charlie said.

"Bingo!" I dared to joke. "One point for Haas!"

"So if you've known each other for a long time, you must have known what Johnny looked like?" Rob asked curiously.

"Hey! Since when did my looks became the subject of all this!" I demanded.

"Don't worry John. Tell your side first," Randy regarded calmly. "Tell your friends what I looked like."

Everyone looked at me expectantly.

"Randy was a premature pimp," I got out.

The three girls stifled giggles while the rest of the guys snorted beer through their noses and let out choked guffaws. I was expecting Randy to hide under the blankets, but he was sitting down casually, smiling.

"Interesting. How can you say I was a pimp?" he said nonchalantly.

"How can I not?" I said disdainfully. "You were twelve years old you already have the chicks and the hens lining up."

"That young?" Torrie piped in. "Impressive."

"Yeah. Impressive is the word," I burst out. "I was just his second shadow."

"Why were you a second shadow, holmes?" Eddie asked nosily.

They all looked at me expectantly like I was their medical experiment, probing the hidden information within me with their accusing eyes. Oh dang, I talk too much.

Randy, on the other hand, was sending me a message with his patented cocked eyebrow, as if he was trying to say, "Should I tell 'em? ''

I shrugged as a reply. "Be my guest."

"I'd be happy to tell," Randy informed them. "John Cena was a total recluse when I first saw him. He was really quiet, in fact. Everyone made fun of him because he was the classified as one of the tall, lanky, and had a mouth full of braces type of kid."

He paused, and then continued. "Then the tryouts for the football team happened. I was lining up to give my application to the team captains when I saw him right there, lining up with the other new recruits. The bigger guys thought he wouldn't make it for five minutes, but when the drills started, he was declared the fastest runner in Ohio Valley High. The captain tried to test him by getting him all the tackles and obstacles crap, but he was still winning them over. He got everyone thinking that there's nothing he won't do. He was ultimately accepted, and I admit I was pretty impressed. When I came up to him and first talked to him…why, he was the sanest guy in the world!"

"You were laughing so hard because I talk funny," I reminisced. "Damn those braces."

"That too," Randy said with a smile.

Hours wore on, the sun was already down, and the party circuit lights all over Long Beach and brightened the horizon of seawater and sand. People were already setting up the said open party blankets away from ours. But Randy continued to talk, as if he was stuck in a deserted island for years and was now brought back to civilization. Most of his stories were about some unknown mishaps in RRC inside and outside campus. Now he was talking about when he spent his Christmas with Evolution, when he stole his little brother's walkie-talkies in a snowy night in his Missouri home.

"…and then Ric yelled, 'Come quick!', and then Dave suddenly came bursting through the door, looking like the Abominable Snowman!" he finished.

Everyone went in hysterics—but I didn't this time. Eddie and Rey were giving me significant furtive glances from time to time, and it gave me a pang of guilt. I'm not a moron, and I know why they were doing that. So I impulsively stood up and walked right behind them.

"Can I borrow you guys for a sec?" I whispered to them.

To my surprise, they both nodded, agreeing. The three of us walked away from the blankets, safely out their earshot, since Randy was telling another anecdote and they were all tittering their hearts out. When I turned to the two Latinos, they were observing me warily with judging expressions.

My eyes went down to my feet. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about—''

"J, stop it." Rey interrupted.

I looked up at them questioningly. "Huh?"

"Come on, Johnny. We're Mexicans, not idiots," Eddie said good-humoredly. "We know. What bugs us is why you didn't tell us about it, esse. But I guess Pretty Boy got you covered. That's love, amigo."

"Guys…Randy is from Evolution." I reminded them.

"Yeah, and he shouldn't be," Rey declared. "The guy acts nothing like Ric, Dave or even Hunter. We figured it was all a front."

I didn't say anything.

Eddie laid a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry holmes. Any friend of yours is also a friend of ours."

"Eddie's right, J," Rey agreed. "Randy's one cool dude. So I dig him for that."

A relieved smile broke from my sullen expression. Finally they understood. God, I just love these guys.

"Oh now that's what I call a smile from a hunk!" Eddie quipped. "Those braces are definitely worth it, holmes."

In a way of expressing my thanks, I stepped forward and bear hugged both of them. Besides it was only a friendly hug—but still a hug nonetheless.

Corny? So sue me.

"Hey Eddie," Rey called.

"Yes, Rey Rey?" Eddie responded.

"I think I'm turning gay."

"Me too, esse vato. John is a beautiful guy, and he's leaning against us. If I wasn't with Dawn, I would've pounced on him right now."

I laughed and shoved both of them playfully while they sniggered like kids. I admit I'm acting like a fag, but I couldn't help it.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Eddie exclaimed. "About your little order, John…"

My brows were bunched. "You guys did do me 'the favor' right?"

"Of course we did," Rey answered. "I even took a picture of him out of my 619 cam."

I was amazed. "Really? Can I see it?"

Eddie was already digging into his trunks pocket. He handed it to me, and I observed it a little.

I smirked. "Oh, everyone's gonna love this."

I hid the picture behind me and walked towards the blanket, Eddie and Rey following behind. Noticing our presence, they all looked up, including Randy.

I cleared my throat. "Torrie, we have something to show you."

The blonde blinked at the sound of her name. Not wasting any time, I handed her the picture right across the blanket, letting her look at it.

Her green eyes widened. "Oh my God!"

Hearing Torrie's reaction, Charlie, Jackie, Dawn, Rob and Randy started jockeying for positions close to her so they could see the picture.

The picture taken was actually a snapshot of Rene Dupree in an unknown location, gagged and hands roped behind him, his face black and blue from too much torture. And his arms were held up, as if he was begging for mercy. If you were really the sadistic type, you would really love it. I know I do!

"Is that Rene?" Randy mused, and then he turned to the three of us. "You guys are geniuses!"

Eddie and Rey smirked, impressed with themselves, while I just shrugged.

"You guys are just so mean!" Dawn scolded, but she couldn't peel her eyes off it.

Rob, Charlie and Jackie didn't say anything, for fear of offending someone. And by the way, Torrie'e eyes never left the picture.

I bit my lip and thought maybe I've gone a bit too far. Then again…all these and more was for the sake of sweet chocolate flavored revenge. No one gets their hands on Torrie. They have to go through me first, if they can.

I knelt down in front of her. "Now would be the time for you to say something?"

Torrie took a deep breath and finally looked at me. "All this torture…was this 'the favor' you were talking about?"

"Yes. Actually it was Eddie who invented this. Take it away Latino Heat."

"Oh, si si!" Eddie said excitedly. "Now class…how many times did the Frenchman hit John Cena here?"

"Twenty," they all said unanimously.

"Well since Rey and I are doing it, we gave Rene a special twenty," Eddie explained. "I gave him about the correct number of blows with a steel chair, a kendo stick, and my own bare hands. But Rey here is a little guy, so there's a special ten blows for him."

Randy examined the picture again. "Fifty blows all in all? But you guys looked like you gave him more than fifty!"

Rey snickered. "That's the beauty of it."

We ended up snickering as well.

"But aren't you worried he might tell on you?" Torrie asked me worriedly.

I let out a hollow laugh. "Hell no girl! We found the bitch and shit in his bag. If he ever tried to whale on us I'll give him a special times twenty offer from each of us. He'll have the time of his semi charmed life."

"And you did this all for me?"

I shook my head. "No."

Torrie looked surprised.

"We did this for us." I professed.

Those words certainly flushed Torrie's cheeks. "Thank you."

I smirked as the rest of the guys went into a chorus of "Awwww…" but I didn't mind. The moon already shone the whole stretch of the beach, and the light reflected on her pretty face that made my stomach knot. All that mattered was the moment.

Then an invisible blow came to my chest. I put my hand over it and took a couple of deep breaths. After that I got myself back in control. Good thing no one noticed, since it was already dark.

Rey suddenly grabbed our attention. "Oh snap! Aren't The Rolling Stones having this one-night concert at the Staples Center two weeks from now?"

Everyone nodded excitedly, looking to have this arrange of plans, until Jackie intervened. "It would be fun if the tickets weren't all sold out."

Disappointed, the rest of us muttered and frowned, until Randy cleared his throat loudly, making everyone shut up.

"I have connections with the concert facilitators," he told us. "Maybe I could make some arrangements so we could all go."

"Wait, wait, wait," I cut him short. "Is this Evolution free?"

"Definitely," Randy answered quickly. "You have my word they will not know anything about it."

We all looked at each other, then at Randy, who was rather gulping stupidly like a little kid.

"Welcome to the Chain Gang, esse!" Eddie said happily.

After that, the rest of the "Chain Gang" gave Randy a little initiation rite of their own (I really couldn't describe how to say it), but at least his little announcement saves me from not spending all of my money. Finally I'm going to the concert of the legendary rock icons, and personally I can't wait.

Somewhere in the commotion, someone's knee suddenly knocked behind my head, lunging it forward.

Into the lips of Torrie.

She looked equally shocked as I am, our lips still stuck together. When I pulled my head back, those pretty orbs were still wide open. And no one saw anything else except us.

Then the blow to the chest came once more, this time stronger than ever. We both looked away from each other, me reaching a nearby beer can and opened it with shaking hands.

"Hey Torrie, the college kids are starting up the party nearby," Dawn invited. "Wanna come?"

"Yeah, s-sure," I heard her reply shakily.

I was already gulping down the beer when Torrie stood up and walked in the middle of Jackie and Dawn towards the direction of a bright Christmas light covered shanty surrounded by beer kegs, Hawaiian plastic leis and SC and RRC college kids in bikinis and trunks, loud party music and laughter deafening Long Beach. A few seconds later Eddie, Rey, Charlie and Rob stood up and followed the girls.

I continued swallowing the half of the beer can, and when I was finished my eyes were already squinted, and I felt a brain freeze coming up. Then I belched. Loudly. Without covering my mouth.

Randy sat down beside me. "Dude! Are you all right?"

I made a face. I thought I was alone. "I just drank a beer can non-stop. So yeah, I'm feeling good."

"You're a weird guy, Cena. Always been," Randy said jokingly. "Anyway, thanks for sticking up for me that time. I thought your friends might actually stone me to death for good."

"No problem. Your former classmates actually gave them a reality check." I notified him. "And besides, Eddie said it was easy to accept you because of what he calls a tough love."

Randy batted his eyes at me. "Oh sure, John. You know how much I love you."

His silly expression made me feel quirky and disgusted at the same time. Believe me, you don't wanna see it. "Quit it before I throw up all over you."

"Are you really sure you're all right?" Randy asked again. "I mean it's not like Torrie was your first kiss or anything…"

I threw the beer can at him. "How did…how many damn eyes do you have!"

Randy ducked and laughed. "Well I know a true sucker when I see one."

"Sucker. Puh…" I snorted. "The pimp speaks."

He laughed again, then the humor died when the shindig in the shanty finally started. I rested my elbows on my knees, watching Torrie socializing with other college kids on a safe distance.

I smiled dreamily. "Ever been there before, Randy?"

Randy gave me a surprised expression. "Been where?"

"You know. There."

It took the blockhead a million years to figure out what I'm trying to say. "Oh…there. I see."

I nodded.

"Yeah. I've been there, done that, never going back in there again."

"Why?"

"Remember Stacy Keibler in our high school days?"

"I guess," Of course I remember. Stacy Marie Keibler, the most sought after quintessential beauty from Baltimore and Randy's first love before he switched to pimping.

Randy's blue eyes were set straight ahead. "Didn't work out."

"Man, you couldn't even complete a fluent English sentence whenever you're three feet from the girl," I said sarcastically. "What are you chances with her?"

"I know that's the problem," Randy shot back. "I've had a crush on her since our freshman year but my pride was keeping me from coming clean. I finally had the chance to tell her at prom night until I saw that Andrew Martin with his paws all over her. Trust me, I didn't like the feeling."

I pretended to cringe. "Ouch."

"I know we're not actually together-together, but it felt like I was dropped like a bad habit," Randy continued. "That was when I realized that relationships, commitment, and loyalty are just a bunch of horseshit."

I drew back a little, surprised. Randy barely talks this way. And when he talks this way, this means he's serious. And he ain't playing with no one in this kind of mood.

"You still see Stacy around, don't you?" I asked.

Randy shrugged. "Anyone who goes on Ohio Valley ends up in SC or RRC anyway, so yeah I still her. And seeing her makes me remember again and it would just leave me a bad taste in my mouth."

"Just spit it out then!" I told him, exasperated. "It's not like she's the only one you should pant for. Try the others in your place. I swear, most of your girls are just sizzling."

Randy brightened a little. "Yeah? Name one."

I began thinking. "Uh…Trish Stratus?"

"Eeeeh! Wrong! She's with Jeff Hardy now."

"What about Lita Dumas?"

"Eeeeh! Wrong again! She's with Matt Hardy this time."

"Damn, those Hardy boys are strong!" I said, overwhelmed. "What about Lilian Garcia. The girl's got a nice voice to boot."

"Nah. Not my type of girl. Too conservative," Randy said timidly. "But I did make sense on the whole relationship thing, right?"

I felt my face scrunch up. "Well, I've went out on a lot of dates and…I don't know, Randy. The way you explained everything just seemed so…brash."

Randy laid a hand on my shoulder. "Man, I'm just warning you. Especially now that you're with Torrie—''

I slapped his hand away. "What has Torrie had to do with your silly little brainstorms?"

"I'm just saying. You're so into her, and after this month you may end up hanging yourself rightin front of her bedroom window."

"Now, why the hell would I do that, bro?"

Randy turned away. "All girls do that!"

I cringed for real this time. Randy's looking way too serious again. We usually don't talk about male heartbreaks often.

"They flirt with you then throw you off the next!" Randy said when he noticed my perplexed expression. "I'm not a girl, for Christ's sake. I may be a toy for breaking hearts, but at least I'm not a fool. So let them come and flock loose around me. When someone gets too close around my personal space I'll let them know how it feels."

"And you're happy with that?"

"What are you, deaf? Yes!"

Hmmm. Funny, Randy's "yes" sounded more like a "no."

But deep down in my gut, Randy made a little sense. In the dating world, if they didn't like the one they meet, people end up lying and hurting others just to get rid of them. The same thing happens of the person likes them too much. When I was younger I found the whole thing ridiculous. Now I grew up, I found it as a fact, based on some personal experiences.

I looked at Randy. I couldn't really understand what he's whining about when it comes to issues like dating. The guy's so easy to admire, in fact. He's good looking, no doubt about that, not to mention talented, intelligent, and popular, wealthy, yadda yadda yadda. Any girl would just cut off their arm just to be his girlfriend.

Relationship…commitment…loyalty…

……

Then it hit me like a bucketful of cold water.

Randy just didn't want to hurt someone, or rather, got hurt by someone else. A fear of intimacy, to be exact.

Talk about a personality disorder. No wonder he acts like Hunter sometimes.

But no…this is not about Mr. RKO anymore. This is me I'm talking about.

All these happy weeks together with Torrie, why hadn't I realized this just now? Sure I care for her; I care for her a whole deal.

I looked back to where Torrie was. She was just there, enjoying herself, and I'm not even there. Was there ever a time I made her happy? Whenever our worlds would clash we both end up getting sick or battered. And I'm just talking about our physical welfare.

I don't wanna lose Torrie. God knows I don't want that.

But this wake-up call didn't even come at a better time. I felt my chest constricting, my senses failing to cooperate with me, and for the first time ever all I wanted to do was to go home to go lock myself in my room to die and rot. I raked my hair distractedly, as if trying to sweep away the subject out my head.

Randy seemed to notice my unusual actions. "Hey man, are you okay?"

"What does it look like?" I said defensively. "Of course I'm okay."

"John, you are not a very good liar." Randy nagged.

I sighed. "Look…let's just…just forget I asked you, all right? Better yet, forget everything we talked about."

"But John, I really wanted to—''

"Randy, please. Just forget it."

Randy drew back, looking rather offended. Then he stood up, raining sand all over me.

"All right. Fine," Randy said icily. "I'm going it the shanty and get us some beers. We both need to chill."

"Go ahead. No one's stopping you."

He said no more and walked briskly to the party area, disappearing into the growing college kids crowd. All of them were so lively, so happy, talking in different groups of people.

I really am stupid. If it wasn't for my goddamned curiosity, I would've been there, enjoying myself, and would've partied all night, knowing this was only the beginning of the summer getaway.

But after now, I really didn't feel like partying much. I was way too preoccupied on thinking about my own emotional breakdown with this Torrie situation.

And now I ask myself again—does she feel something for me other than the feeling of friendship?

If she does, when will it last?

(t.b.c.)

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Ack! I just hated doing that!