Sins 12

Sure enough Tyler was right, Reid was already making moves on other girls. He seemed to be putting distance between them so she let him. He was still too hurt to really form any kind of lasting commitment right now.

He continued to be friendly towards her but took a girl out to dinner that night. The girl, who neither of them even got to hear her name, lasted one night. Before Reid had another one. Tyler gave up a long time trying to keep track of all their names. He just mentally referred to them as bimbo number whatever.

Reid came home early from his date to find Tyler doing homework. Tyler looked at the clock "why are you home so early?' asked Tyler. Reid sighed and fell face first into his bed. "Because I was just about to do it and couldn't" said Reid. Tyler turned to look at Reid in amusement "couldn't?" said Tyler.

"I couldn't stop thinking about her" said Reid "about who Jenny?" said Tyler. He secretly hoped not. "No not her, Max" said Reid in frustration. "Why were you thinking about Max?" said Tyler.

"I don't know but I keep doing it, hell I did it last night with Barbie and tonight with Carol" said Reid "you dated a girl named Barbie?" said Tyler. "That's not the point," growled Reid. "So what is it your thinking about with Max?" said Tyler. He tried hard to hide the smile on his face. It was funny that playboy Reid couldn't make a play without thinking about another girl.

"Oh just everything from the way she smelt to how soft her hair was" said Reid in a far away voice. Tyler widened his eyes in surprise. No way could Reid of all people be in love? "So why does that bother you?" said Tyler. "Usually something like that wouldn't but I started to compare the girl I was with to her, and the girls I was with were hollow compared to her, does that make any sense?" said Reid.

He sounded genuinely confused and very lost. Tyler almost felt sorry for him. "Actually it does" said Tyler he didn't say any more so Reid popped his head up and said "and?"

"And what?" said Tyler "and what does it mean, am I losing it man?" said Reid. Tyler laughed and Reid hurled his pillow at the younger man. "No your not losing it" said Tyler. "Then what's wrong with me?" said Reid. "Maybe nothings wrong with you" said Tyler.

"Oh there is something definitely wrong when I can't get it up for someone who looks like they should be in playboy" said Reid. "Maybe that's not what you want," said Tyler.

"Oh will you please make sense baby boy just spit it out I'm not in the mood for riddles" said Reid. "Ok let me put it this way, how do you feel when you're with Max as opposed to the other girls?" said Tyler. He had given up on his paper in favor of his best friends love life.

Reid rolled over and stared at Tyler and then sat up slowly. He seemed to be really thinking about it. "The other girls feel hollow to me," said Reid "and Max?" said Tyler Reid sighed wistfully "like I can do no wrong, that the world is perfect, what does that mean?" said Reid

Tyler laughed at him Reid grabbed Tyler's pillow and held it up in threat. "It means you love her, dumb ass," said Tyler. Reid lowered the pillow a shocked look on his face. "Seriously?" said Reid. "Yeah man and from the sound of it you've got it bad," said Tyler. Reid slid off the bed and paced "do you think she likes me back? "Reid asked.

"Well she did agree to go with us to the concert this weekend" said Tyler. "Yeah she did didn't she?" said Reid "and she went after you when you needed someone to just be there" said Tyler. "Yeah, I did and she has no idea how bad I did," said Reid he sank back down to the bed.

"But I've been avoiding her and dating other girls all week" said Reid "don't worry she still likes you, I explained how you are" said Tyler

"Great she'll never speak to me again," said Reid sourly

Tyler laughed out loud "man give me some credit, I wouldn't do that to you" said Tyler. "So do you think she still likes me?" said Reid "oh yeah, most definitely" said Tyler. Reid was sitting on the edge of his bed his head on his hands. "I'm really screwed up aren't I?" said Reid. "No man you just needed to find someone" said Tyler. He rolled his chair closer to his buddy and rested his hand on his shoulder.

"Just try not to run away from it, ok" said Tyler "I don't run away from things" said Reid indignantly "yes Reid you do, but only when they involve your emotions" said Tyler. He said it sadly as though the knowledge hurt him. "Just don't run away from this, stand your ground, it's the most important thing you'll ever do" said Tyler.

Reid sat there blinking in shock. Tyler had just thrown him a curve ball and he was reeling from it. Sometimes Tyler did that to them. He pulled out some sage wisdom from somewhere that made so much sense it was scary. Not to mention very accurate. Tyler had turned back to his homework and began typing again.

He was oblivious to his friend's complete look of shock. Reid had thought he had them all fooled with his act. Maybe he had fooled the others but he never did seem to be able to fool Tyler. It was as though the boy could read your inner emotions and from somewhere pull out a road map when you got lost.

It was an ability that would serve him well when he ever found the right girl. That was if he ever got over that painful shyness to find one. It was odd Tyler seemed to be the only one of them who could do this particular ability. Reid frowned at Tyler's back sometimes that boy scared him. "Hey baby boy?" said Reid. "Yeah Reid" said Tyler "thanks man" said Reid Tyler shrugged "your welcome" he said without stopping his typing.

"Do you think she's mad at me?" asked Reid. Tyler sighed and rubbed his neck "no Reid she's not mad, confused maybe but not mad." Said Tyler. "Do you think I should apolo gize?" said Reid. Tyler looked at him funny, was Reid asking him about girl advice."Yeah it might be a good idea," said Tyler

Reid laid back on his bed his arms behind his head. Tyler went back to typing his paper he wanted to finish the damn paper. "Tyler?" said Reid "yes, Reid" said Tyler in exasperation "lets make sure she has the time of her life at that concert" said Reid Tyler smiled at his friend. "Already planning to" said Tyler "now do you mind I have to finish this," said Tyler. "Whatever man, night" said Reid and he grabbed Tyler's pillow and buried his head in it and went to sleep.

Tyler frowned at the empty space his pillow used to occupy and sighed in frustration. He still had no idea why he put up with Reid's shit. He went back to typing and finished the paper to the background noise of Reid's snores.