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11-Insecurities Part I
"You have to tell him or I will!"
JJ paced his office as Dee began yelling at him once again for the same reason. This started two months ago and is brought up every time they meet. JJ had learned weeks ago how to tune him out.
"One week! And then you'll never be able to tell him!" Dee yelled. JJ knew very well when the wedding was. He was, after all, the Best Man and was worked well because of it. This weekend he had 'planned' the bachelor party, but yet had no idea what was going to happen.
Some of Drake's high school buddies and his two brothers were to attend, along with other coworkers and friends. JJ totaled it would be fifteen people; the majority was straight, so he was at a lost of where to go. He got so desperate, he asked Ted to plan it. JJ had no idea what he had planned, but he imagined it involved semi-naked girls.
Dee was still madly in his tirade as JJ thought about what disasters the week had ahead. Tomorrow night was some dinner for the wedding party and the families. Then the bachelor's party (and bridal shower) was Saturday. Next Friday, pictures are to be taken. Then Saturday, the tenth of June, is the beginning of the end.
JJ and Drake had made-up long ago, realizing that both of them depended on each other. But JJ had pretty much accepted fate, only a few times had his mind drifted off into bad territories. It doesn't help when Dee keeps bringing it up and pressuring JJ to tell Drake his feelings.
"So are you going to do it?" JJ heard Dee say. He spun around and faced his torturer.
"Why won't you let this drop?" JJ asked exasperated. "It'll never happen, so it won't matter if I tell him or not. And I'd prefer to keep his friendship, thank you very much." He then strode right past Dee and out the door.
Dee sighed heavily and settled himself into a nearby chair. So much for Plan A, but JJ's unwillingness wasn't going to dampen his spirits. And when a certain someone appeared, Dee had a whole new idea brewing in his head.
"Hiya Drake!" he chirped. The other man grunted and collapsed into his chair. "Rough day?"
"Fucking rough week," Drake muttered.
"Ah. Nerves?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Drake slouched deeper in his chair. "I don't know. I just feel…"
"Like your doing the wrong thing?" Dee offered. He received no answer. He smiled inwardly, hoping things would travel down the right path. "Is that what you feel?"
"I dunno. Maybe." Drake ruffled his hair. "What do you think? Do you think I'm doing the right thing?"
Dee couldn't have asked for a better opening. "Well, if your asking my opinion--which you haven't done yet, and I'm surprised--I will give you an honest answer."
"So…"
"I think you're a fucking looneytoon to even consider marrying her," Dee answered brutally. He glanced at his friend and saw that Drake looked like he had run into a brick wall.
"You tell me this now?" Drake asked while pounding his head on his desk.
"Never asked before," Dee stated somewhat resentful. "And if you want to know something else…"
"Do I want to know?"
"You need to know." Dee got up and closed the door. He then dragged his chair over to where Drake was slumped in thought. He leaned in close, their faces inches apart.
"Someone loves you more than Cyndi ever could," Dee informed. "And you're either too blind to notice or you don't want to believe the obvious."
"Who?" Drake questioned.
"Take a wild guess."
Drake didn't want to play this game at all. He stayed silent. Dee stared at his friend for a long time, irritated at the silence. After several long and quiet minutes, Dee said, "Your partner."
Drake raised a questioning eyebrow. "JJ?"
"Who else?" Dee chuckled at the thought of his hyper friend. "Don't tell me you've never really noticed."
"Well, there's been times…but love? Never even crossed my mind. I thought he loved you."
Dee shook his head. "No." Dee wanted to expand further on his knowledge, but thought JJ should be the one to elaborate. The chair scraped against the floor as he stood up. "Think about it before you make any more decisions," he suggested. He patted his friend on the head and exited the room.
Drake felt like he had been run over by an eighteen-wheeler. What Dee had revealed had come somewhat of a shock. All those times with JJ came flooding back into mind. Up on the rooftop, suggestive comments, and Valentine's Day. He realized how oblivious he must seem, but he's known about it all along. He never wanted to admit the possibilities, fearing his best friend would take things too far…and win.
JJ wanted to barf from the combo of sappiness and alcohol. He was stuck in a room full of too-happy people, and he began to realize what a claustrophobic-pessimist must feel like. The dinner party was for the families and wedding party to get to know each other. And frankly, JJ would rather slit his throat. On the bright side, which wasn't very bright, his friends were there. But Ted was gawking over some attractive bridesmaid, while Ryo and Dee were too lost in each other. Of course Drake couldn't even be bothered, let alone be approached; Cyndi insisting that they always be attached at the hip.
JJ had met way too many people in a short span of five minutes. Cyndi had gleefully introduced him to her bridesmaids right away, maybe in some hope to get him to be straight before the wedding. There were her two sisters, Scarlet and Dixie. Both looked identical, with long, brown hair and green eyes. They were just as Barbie-dollish as their sister, and worst of all, really tall. JJ would have to walk down the aisle with Scarlet, the Maid of Honor. JJ was not known for being real tall, and walking next to her would classify him as a midget.
There were three more bridesmaids he was introduced to. Anna was a short, stocky girl, and if JJ had seen her on the streets he would have thought she was a man. Daisy was skinny all around, making her head seen way too large for her body. Lastly, was Jill Madden, who seemed just as thrilled with the wedding as JJ. She was the most beautiful, and Ted obviously picked up on that, trying to charm her with his lacking skills.
Even with more fake excitement, Cyndi had shown JJ off to her parents. Her father, Bobby-Joe, scared the living daylights out of JJ. He may have been trained to fight well, but this man could easily snap him in half like a twig. Bonnie was her mother, and JJ was just as scared of her as her husband. These people were giants; they had big, muscular, hairy arms with huge, burly bodies and looked like the stereotypical hillbillies. If they ever found out what he did to their future son-in-law they'd probably crush him to dust. He made a note to himself to run away to Guadalajara if they found out he almost did the nasty with Drake.
Of course JJ knew most of the groomsmen. Ryo, Dee, and Ted joined him, along with one other guy. Kyle Bixler was Drake's friend from high school. JJ had yet to lay eyes on the man, Drake only pointing wildly at a crowd of people saying he was in there.
Then there was Drake's family. They seemed normal enough and nice too. There was just a LOT of them. JJ spent the majority of the evening counting all of the Parkers. The first two were his parents, Shirley and David. Drake had four siblings; two brothers, two sisters. Drake's oldest brother was Aaron, and he had five kids with his wife. Eric was the second oldest in the family, married with four children. Courtney was the next in the line, also married with four children. Britney was the fourth born, engaged. The total JJ came up with was twenty-four. Don't even dare ask JJ for any more names, for he could not remember them to save his life.
There were even more people there, mostly from Cyndi's side. She had some random friends that came too. Drake also had a couple of friends from his old hometown that had showed up. JJ hadn't been introduced to any of them, but if he had, he was sure he would have no idea who they were come next week.
With everyone ignoring him, he turned to his last hope: a Sex on the Beach. Instead of the drink, he was wishing for the actual thing. But the drink would do for now. He couldn't wait to get out of there. He thought about faking sickness; that could also easily get him out of the bachelor's party tomorrow. But he felt that would be very childish playing hooky.
He caught a glimpse of the future newlyweds. Sickness rumbled in his stomach. Maybe he wouldn't have to pretend being sick. Cyndi was all touchy-feely-kissy-wissy with Drake. However, Drake was paying no attention to her, his eyes locked on JJ.
"Shit," JJ cursed in his glass. He watched with a pounding heart as Drake made his way over to him. As he sat down, JJ clanked his empty glass on the table.
"I need to ask you something," Drake said warily.
"What?" JJ acted like he was all cool with this whole ordeal, but he really wanted to breathe fire and watch everyone burn to ash.
"Are you…"