Bare-Back Mountain

Chapter Thirteen:

Next day- Three o'clock sharp:

My heart froze in my chest. That bitch! I- I'm seeing things. I accidentally ate one of those funky purple mushrooms. Or- or... inhaled noxious gases.

I can't believe what I'm seeing.

That two-timing-

I leaned in to hear what they were saying.

"-listening to?"

"Huh?" He pulled out an earphone. "Sorry- what?"

"What are you listening to?"

"Everytime We Touch... it's by Cascada." He replied, offering her the misplaced earphone. She waved it away.

"That's ok. Sounds good but..." He laughed.

"Yeah I know. It's... odd right?" She nods. "Well..." He sighs. "It just reminds me of... someone." What? WHAT? So not only was he just playing around with me but now our song- our song!- was really his and some other tramp's song and while he was kissing me he was just thinking about her? Whoever this mystery bitch is she's going down!

"Someone?" She asked but he blushed and looked down. "Sorry... never mind."

"No. It's cool." But he didn't answer the question! "So why'd you ask me to come?" His i-pod's off now. Eve leaned in.

"I know." She's inches away from his face, his own turning red.

"Um- huh? Know?" He seems to think. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Ray." Eve's hand are on Joe's shoulders. "I know." He gulps. "I just want to know what your feelings are. I won't tell Ray. I just-" She sighs. "It's just been bothering me."

"Why-? You don't like me do you? I-" He's pulling away from her in his temporary panic. Pulling away from Eve? No guy can resist her. This is getting good- like watching a soap opera only with less people and...

ok it's not like watching a soap opera.

"No! I just want to know!"

"Why? It's none of your business!"

"Oh but it is."

"Yeah? How." Yeah. How, Eve? What the hell was she thinking...? I could see her thinking, eyes flashing. She's a fast thinker though. Took her less than a second.

"Truth is..." Buy your time. C'mon Eve. Truth is...? C'mon. What is it? You can't say anything. If you say "Ray's my friend" he's not going to fuckin' tell you! If you say you like him, he might lie and say he likes me just to get you away. So come on Eve. Pull out that Royal Flush. Or were you bluffing? But Eve's who she is- the queen of hearts pulls out: "Katie's my best friend." She sighed. "I dunno... we weren't close in the beginning but now... she's so upset. You like her, right?" Joe looked to the side. She's good.

"I- Yeah I really do. Did." He looked right into Eve's eyes. "But I like some one else." At this he slouched over, hands on his face. "I'm so bad with relationships though. I- I really messed it up. I mean- never mind. It's... confusing." I'm going to mess up this mystery bitch SO BAD. "Eve. Can you... can you keep a secret?" Eve simply nodded, her self-assured smile on her face. But Joe hesitated, slumping down on the bench, elbows on the back edge of it. There was a long pause.

"I think I- oh man this sounds so..." But Eve was giving her 'Go on' nod and so- "I really... it's Ray. The other person I like." Oh my GOD I was the mystery bitch! I mentally did a happy dance.

"Ray you can come out now." Eve said, her voice impassive. Happy dance done.

"What?" Joe looked around.

"What the hell? YOU BITCH!" I stood up from my spot in the bushes before I even realized what I had done. "Oh crap." They both stared at me. Eve had a small smile on her face and Joe simply stared, eyes locked to mine. He's going to murder me. He's going to think- shit I'm screwed. He's going to run away and never want to see me again. He's going to- Eve stood, dusting off her dress. She slunk away silently, winking at me. Nonchalant little-

But then I heard it. Joe was laughing. He was doubled over, grabbing his sides, laughing. The world has gone insane! But my grimace broke too and I smiled, enjoying the sound.

"I'm..."

"Don't-" laugh "say it-" laugh "Oh you looked funny! The look-" laugh "on your face!"

"Ok ok!" I sighed, my smile even bigger. "But I am." His laughter subsided and he looked to the ground.

"It's not you who should be sorry. I guess I really didn't explain myself. At first... well... it was getting back at Katie. That's all I wanted to do. But then-" He shook his head. C'mon tell me! You know you want to. You fell passionately head-over-heels madly- "I dunno Ray." What happened to-? "I just... couldn't get you out of my head that night at all and I... instead of feeling like I made a mistake, what I did with you, I felt I made a mistake ever liking Katie. Weird, huh? But... I don't know. You mess with my head, let me tell you that much." He laughed, leaning back on the bench. His eyes searched mine for a minute. "Does it make sense, all this, does it make sense to you?"

"No. And that was a terrible question. Nothing tends to make sense. That's like asking why I fish." I rolled my eyes and he stood.

"I think you and I have a lot of catching up to do." Keep going. "For instance..." He was right in front of me, looking up into my eyes. "I see you've taken a shower." Mental wince. Damn her. Damn Eve- well... alright if there was one time I ever wanted to kiss her it'd be now! My chibi cheerleader danced around, flipping his skirt up showing off gorgeous underwear with Joe's face imprinted on it, only with little hearts instead of eyes. Go Ray! Go Ray!J-O-E-Y you ain't got no alibi! You gay! Gay, gay, gay gay! WOO!

"...damn sexy." I whispered, looking back into his eyes. "Now... where were we?"