A/N: A few things you should note: First of all, if you didn't already know, "Emily" is Alex's mom and "Chad", of course, is Emily's boyfriend. Also, the bit at the top of this chapter is written in italics because it's overlap from the last chapter. Thirdly, the Chad incident at the end of this chapter will come into play later on the story… And finally, thanks for the reviews. As always, reviews are much appreciated.
2 –The Strip Club (Jay's POV)
"We were together for three years…" I sigh, "Did it mean anything to you?" I immediately regret asking. I don't even know what the fuck's got into me tonight, I just… I just need to know, I guess.
Lexi looks pissed. "Did it MEAN anything to me? Damn it, Jay, I could ask you the exact same question. YOU cheated on ME with every skank at the ravine!"
I look down at my shoes because I can't face her knowing what I'm about to say… "Well, maybe if you would've spent more time with me, maybe if you hadn't been using me as a fucking experiment to see if you liked guys, then maybe I wouldn't have had to cheat on you."
Lexi is quiet for awhile. I can't tell if she looks more like she wants to deck me or give me a hug.
"Get out," she finally says. I was kind of expecting it, but it still catches me off guard. I can't leave. Not now.
"… but I'm still watching the game…" I say lamely. It's the only excuse I can think of for letting me stay.
She sighs –obviously annoyed. "Fine," she says as she opens her apartment door "I'll be… somewhere. "And I don't want to see you still here when I get back," she adds before she slams the door shut behind her.
I lean my head back on the couch and sigh. Why do I always have to go and fuck things up?
Seriously.
Even when I try to make things right, they always just… end up sucking.
I chuckle at my use of the word "suck". Brings back memories of Cause Girl and…
Damn it. That's how this whole fucking problem started.
I lay my head down on my hands and let out a groan. Why did I have to cheat on Lexi? Why did I have to ruin the one good thing I had going in my life? And why the fuck don't I get a second chance?... And could I sound any more emo right now? I'm almost as bad as Nash… At least I'm still nowhere near as bad as Manning, though. I guess there's hope for me yet… If only I could get Lexi out of my head…
I groan again. This is so fucking unfair! She could have at least tried to be with me one more time before she decided to go the gay way… Of course, right now, even if she were straight she still probably wouldn't give us another chance.
I'm a cheater.
And that's all I'll ever be to her.
… And that's why I can't just leave right now. I can't just have her out of my life forever. So maybe we won't get back together again –we can still be friends, right?... But, if I leave now I don't know if she'll ever even talk to me again. I have to make it up to her. And I have to do it tonight.
The game ends and I change the channel to Law & Order. The show is so fucking boring that it gives me time to think things over. After that the news comes on, giving me even more time to think things over. About half an hour into the news, Lexi finally shows up again. "I thought I told you to leave." She sounds pissed. Really pissed.
"Well, technically you never told me to leave –you told me to 'Get out' and then that you didn't want to see me here when you get back," I say being a smartass as usual.
Alex rolls her eyes. She looks like she's about to just kick my ass out of the apartment herself. "Fine, I'll say it now then: LEAVE."
I get up from the couch, but I don't head for the door. I put my hand on her shoulder, but she brushes it off. "Lexi, please! I'm sorry, alright? Just… don't make me leave."
"Give me one good reason why I should let you stay," she challenges –still as pissed off as ever.
"Because I'm just so damn sexy," I respond with a wink.
Alex rolls her eyes at me again. "Wrong answer. Now go," she points at the door. Why do I always have to be such a smartass all of the time?
I take in a deep breath and do my best to not piss off Lexi any further. "Look, I just… I just really want us to be friends…" I pause and take in another deep breath, "You're the best thing in my life right now… And… I don't want to lose you… not again."
…And now my transformation into Manning is complete. Fuck.
Well at least it looks like Lexi's softening a little. I guess I finally said something right for a change. "Okay… you can stay if you want…" she says after a long hesitation. She grabs the remote and crashes onto the couch. "Just no interrogations this time, alright?"
I nod. That was more than alright. The fact that she's even letting me stay is amazing enough. Almost makes me want to act like Manning more often… almost… I take a seat at the opposite end of the couch (so as not to press my luck) and watch her flip through channels… She must have passed through every channel at least three times by now and she looks about ready to slam the remote into the TV. "You know, glaring at the TV isn't going to change the fact that there's nothing on."
She sighs and leans back into the couch. "Maybe we could watch a movie or something."
I smirk. "Actually, I have a better idea…"
"That would be a first," she jokes.
I put my hand over my heart. "Ouch, Lexi. That hurt… but really. Instead of sitting here doing nothing lets go out."
She raises one eyebrow skeptically. "Out where?"
"Well… I was thinking since I was such an ass earlier that I could make it up to you… How about we head out to the strip club downtown. My treat."
Alex rolls her eyes at me before going back to flipping through channels. "Why is it that guys think they can get on a lesbian's good side by just taking her to a strip club?"
"Because they can," I answer.
She slaps me on the arm –but it's a playful slap. I think I might actually be getting somewhere. After flipping through the channels one more time, she sets the remote down and stands up. "Fine. Let's go."
I stand up as well and smile. "I knew you'd give in to my charms eventually."
She laughs as she heads for the door, "You're taking me to a strip club, not a romantic dinner for two."
"Oh but come on, Lexi, let's face it –I'm irresistible. By this time next week you'll be all over me."
"Riiight. I'll be all over you and-" she stop mid sentence.
Chad's up.
He's up and still very drunk. I look over at Alex and have a pretty good idea of what she's thinking right now. I'm guessing it's something along the lines of 'Fuck.' Chad gets up, stumbles over to the kitchen and gets himself another beer. He glares at both of us. "What the fuck are you two doing?" he asks harshly.
Lexi shoots him a dirty look. "We were just heading out," she answers –more so he doesn't get angry than because she wants to.
Chad grunts in response. "And where's your mother?"
"She's asleep in her room," I answer him this time.
Bad idea.
Chad gets up in my face. "Was I asking you?" I shake my head 'no' just so he'll back away a little. His breath is disgusting. He backs up a little and takes a sip of his drink. "That bitch didn't buy enough beer again. I swear, I need to teach that woman a lesson," he says –talking about Emily like it's no big deal.
It's a big deal to Lexi, though. She grabs Chad by the shoulder. "You lay one finger on my mom and I'll have you arrested!" she spits.
He laughs.
And then he pops her one square in the jaw.
Of course, Lexi barely even flinches. She's the toughest chick I've ever met in my life and, right now, I can't help being reminded of why I fell for her in the first place. She doesn't take any shit from anyone. She still amazes me to this day. She grabs me by the wrist and heads out.
And Chad flipping her off is the last thing I see before she slams the door shut behind us.
