Bare-Back Mountain

Chapter Fourteen:

So everything ended up perfect and Joe and I got married. We eventually adopted and lived out our days on the mountainside, growing happily old together.

The End.

And if you fell for that, Congratulations! Here's a dunce cap.

Moving on.

"So Eve, what would've been your back-up plan had I not been in the bush?" I leaned over, stirring my grape soda (why I had a spoon in it, I'll never know). She smiled.

"You were mumbling out loud like a crazy person. Happy? You must've said 'damn sexy' eight times..." WHAT? She laughed. "I kid! I kid!"

"You BITCH! But seriously- what would you have done?" She shrugged, a goofy grin on her face. I stared. "How you get on in life I'll never know. So how are you and Dan?"

"Randy."

"Randy?"

"Randy."

"O...k..."

"So how are you and Joe?"

"Randy?"

"Really! So you've-"

"Not that randy."

"Ah. When are you thinking of-" She smirked.

"Oh come on! That's the last thing- Ithinkaboutitallthetimeareyouinsane?" I exhaled loudly, sitting back in my chair. "He drives me crazy! I swear, he's one big walking sexual innuendo! Half the time I don't know whether to walk away from him or molest him!"

"Hopeless." She sighed.

"Hopeless." I agreed. "So... what do I do? Or are you going to magically appear and help this situation?" She pretended to think. I knew she was pretending because blondes can't think.

I kid! I kid!

No seriously she's drawing this answer out on purpose.

"I'll... do... nothing." Did I hear that right?

"What? Where's the 'ooh look I'm Eve! You can come out of the closet now, Ray! You can come out of the bushes, Ray! You can come out of your clothes for Joe now Ray!' Where's that? You've been the ringleader this entire time and, and- why are you shaking your head?"

"Ray... I- I can't help you." She put her hand on my shoulder. "When you're ready, you'll know."

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT CRAP! I'M READY NOW!" The bell above the door resounded and a gentle wind swept through the room. In came Joe. I leaned in to Eve and hissed, "Not ready not ready!"

"Hey Ray. Eve." He smiled and sat across from us. "Not interrupting...?" Eve shook her head.

"Not at all! Ray and I were just talking about- ow hey!"

"You're not supposed to say 'ow' when someone nudges you!"

"And who said you could nudge me?"

"Me!"

"Uh-" We both turned our attention back to Joe. Shit. "What were you guys talking about?" I hesitated but Eve...

"We were talking about you of course." How... nonchalant of her. I'll kill her!

"Nothing bad! And not that we even were! I mean, more just little things or..." Dead end. "...something...?" He sighed, smiling.

"But hey, we do need to talk later." Eve pretended to stretch.

"Hey I got to clean the bar so I'll catch you later. K?" We both nodded (even though I'm pretty sure... hopefully... that she was talking to me...) but she left, pulling up her hair in her classic ponytail as she went. I gulped. One on one... I wanted to grab Eve's skirt and tug her back kicking and screaming.

"So... what'd you want to talk about?"

"I can't really talk right now. I'm on break so I didn't have much time but I want you to meet me on Starry Hill, k?"

"Great! What time?" Like a date? I got a date! I got a date!

"Um... nine o'clock sound ok? Actually six would probably be better..."

"How about seven thirty then."

"Great. Seven thirty." He stood. It was almost as though a huge wheight had been lifted from his chest. His smile was broader. But I wasn't convinced. "Wait-" I paused, trying to think about what I wanted to say. This could either have a really negative effect or... or... Just say it!
"it's not..." I was looking down, my face colored by a light blush. "It's not... bad... is it...?" I heard him laugh but didn't look up yet. But then I knew it was. He hesitated, his laughter stopping. It was silent for a moment before he whispered,

"I'm not sure."

My heart sunk.