Chapter 6: Green With Envy

Winter thawed into spring and their relationship was still going strong. They argued and made up often, but what couple doesn't fight? They spent most of their time together when they weren't working or if Zeke wasn't busy with wrestling, which made their relationship rather discrete. Although she occasionally enjoyed flaunting her boyfriend, she liked their discretion. After the Jimmy Jr. incident she enjoyed their low key, drama-less relationship.

The two of them walked back to the restaurant hand-in-hand, talking about their days and enjoying what little alone time they had before working. It was an unusually warm April day, which meant that a lot of the traffic would come from kids and teenagers who wanted ice cream. They were almost to the restaurant when they heard a familiar voice call to them.

"Oh my god, are you guys going out!?" they asked. They turned around and saw Jocelyn and Tammy, who was still in her school uniform. She didn't look very different. Her hair, still a platinum blonde, was in a ponytail and her face was caked in make-up as always.

"Uh, yeah." Tina said quietly.

"Oh my god, that's so cute," Jocelyn said, "how long have you guys been going out?" She asked.

"'Bout three months." He said as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"What do you think, Tammy? Isn't it so cute?" She asked, secretly longing for Tammy's approval.

"I guess," Tammy scoffed, "What happened with you and Jimmy Jr.? Thought you two would have nerd babies by now or something." It was very obvious that Tammy was jealous. She had pursued Zeke the second she moved into town.

"Nice to see your attitude hasn't gotten any… better." Tina said. She was never good at comebacks.

"Still terrible at trash talking I see," Tammy said as she crossed her arms.

"Well, to answer your question Jimmy Jr. and I are no longer associates." Tina said, trying to steer the conversation into a different direction.

"Oh, so you wouldn't be mad if someone like, oh I don't know, a frenemy tried to date Jimmy Jr.?" She asked.

"No, not at all." Tina said confidently. Sensing the tension, Zeke took Tina's hand and started walking.

"Alright, well we gotta go to work. Maybe we'll see y'all later." They walked away from them and Zeke could feel the tension in the air slowly lessen the farther they walked away. "You alright, T?" He asked as he stroked her hand.

"Yeah." Tina said quietly. She was annoyed. She didn't feel threatened by Tammy, or Jimmy Jr. for that matter. She didn't like the idea of Tammy trying to make her jealous and bringing unnecessary drama into her life when she was perfectly happy with Zeke. Her "threat" just meant that she still liked Zeke, and was jealous that Tina is dating him instead of her.

"I know you're not," he said as he kissed her head.

"I just don't like drama." Tina replied.

"I know you don't. Don't sweat Tammy. She's just-"

"An awful person?" Tina asked monotonously.

"Well, that and jealous. She ain't got nothin' on you, girl."

They returned to the restaurant and started working immediately. Since it was a busy day, Gene and Louise were team soft-serve, Linda was washing dishes and Bob was manning the grill. Tina joined in on soft-serve and Zeke helped with food prep and serving. They were busy well into the evening and it eventually slowed down. The siblings sat at the counter and conversed. Louise looked out the window and something caught her attention. "Why is Tammy outside talking to Jimmy Jr.?" She asked as she got up.

"Maybe she's asking him for skin care tips. Because she looks like a mom and he's got a great complexion." Gene said. The two of them were standing in front of Jimmy Pesto's, as if they were waiting for Tina to look over. The second she turned her head, she saw the two of them lock lips. Their eyes closed briefly and opened again just to make sure they were watching.

"Agh, sick!" Louise exclaimed. She hurried to the door and opened it, "do you mind taking that somewhere else!? Some of us want to keep our appetites for dinner!" She shouted as she slammed the door. "Unbelievable!" She exclaimed.

"Louise," Bob scolded.

"Oh, you don't find it weird that Jimmy Jr. and Tammy, who Tina used to be friends with, do that heinous display the second the found out Tina's dating Zeke!?"

"Well, yeah it's disturbing, but it's a good thing," Bob said as he cleaned the grill, "now Tina doesn't have to worry about either of them messing with her relationship and causing unnecessary drama."

"Dad, that's exactly what they're trying to do!" Gene shouted.

"Alright, calm down you two," Linda interjected, "whatever happens between them is their business. As long as Tina's happy and doesn't let it get to her, right Tina?" She asked, turning to her. Tina felt all of their eyes pierce through her. She really didn't care about what they did. She cared that Tammy and Jimmy Jr. were going to great lengths to make her jealous and uncomfortable. It was immature to say the least.

"Yeah, no I don't mind," Tina said, "they're right, though. She's just trying to start drama and it's painfully obvious, but I'm better than that. Like I always say, I'm a smart, strong, sensual woman." Zeke smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Oh God," Bob groaned.