Chapter 2: Done
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The shock held out for a few more seconds then Parker finally smiled strangely at me. "Wow, uh, you look good."
Thoughts flicked back and forth in my head. Did she mean I looked good-looking? Or that I looked good for my age? Or did she just say that because everyone at reunions said that type of thing?
I blurted out quickly, "You look good too." I suddenly became aware of everything I was doing. The smell of cigarette on my clothes (I wondered if she still hated that smell), the way I wasn't very clean-shaven (didn't she say once she hated guys with fuzz on their face?), and the way I was becoming slowly flustered and red in the face, not knowing what to say.
Awkward silence.
"So...uh..." I stammered, poking my mind for something interesting to say. "Have you...seen Lily or Robbie at all? Since graduation?"
"Uh, well, I saw Lily, actually. Recently. Robbie was there too." she pulled a loose hair behind her ear. God, she was beautiful.
"Really? Where?"
"Her wedding, actually." She replied, cool and calm like a cucumber.
"What?" I said surprised. "Really? Wow...I didn't know. Who to?" What the fuck! Lily Randall had gotten married? And I didn't know? I mean, yeah, we didn't talk for 10 years, but still, I would at least think my parents would know about it, since the families are still tight. At least I thought they were.
"This guy in the music business. Really successful and all that crap." She shrugged it off. In the music business? Lily said she would never, ever, ever, ever go out with someone in the same business at her. Then my brain did a little check on that quote. Oh, yeah, she said that on that night she was fucking drunk.
"Oh." I finally said, suddenly becoming interested in the scuff on the top of my shoe.
"Yeah." Parker said back, and she too became intrigued by the dirty spots on her shoes.
We stood there for a few minutes, pretending to be engrossed in our footwear until Misty came bumbling out.
"Ray, didn't I fucking say that..." She hobbled over to me, then became aware that I wasn't alone. Her eyes almost bugged out of her skull. "Oh, you met with a friend."
"This is, uh," I really, really, really didn't want to tell her who I was talking to. "Parker."
This time, I think her eyes did pop out of her skull. "Oh."
God. I should not have told her about Parker. "Um, Parker, this is Misty."
Parker's smile was as sweet as could be as she said, "Pleasure to meet you." And on cue, her hand swooped down, waiting for Misty to respond.
For a few seconds, Misty just stared at it, like it was a dirty rag. Then I pinched her side and she suddenly became Ms. Nice. Her hand clasped Parker's and her face became a welcome mat. "Oh, hello, it's great to meet you too." After she let go of Parker's hand, she said, "I've heard soooo much about you."
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I pinched Misty as hard as I could, but Misty's smile was still perfect. Her eyes did give a warning glance to me though.
Her eyes looking as clueless as can be, Parker questioned, "Really? Ray's told you about me?" Her eyes searched me, and I thought I could see a glimmer of hope in her eyes. I prayed to God that she couldn't see the wishing and wanting and missing in mine.
"Yeah, that you were a really fun girl to hang out with in high school." Misty nodded, then added, "With Robbie and Travis and Lily, too."
Parker's hope faded away right before me as her smile dimmed but didn't vanish. "Oh."
Trying to stop the awkward silence from starting, I spoke up, with a brand new shiny grin on my face. "So, Parker, have you got yourself a boyfriend?"
Glancing away from my eyes, she said, "Uh, yeah, I do."
My heart broke, but my face was still as plastic as ever. "Oh, really? What's his name?"
A small pause, then she said, "Kevin."
Kevin. I always hated that name.
"What about you? Any new girls?" Her smile reappeared, cheery as ever.
"Uh--" Misty started cackling at the thought of me, Ray, having a girlfriend, but I nudged her to shut up. I gave her a look, that said, Please just shut up and go along with this. "Actually, Misty's my girlfriend."
"Wh --" I gave her a look pleading that she'd just agree with it. "Yeah, we are soo close. We've only been going out for a few months, but I feel like I've known Ray, like, all my fuckin' life, ya know?" She wrapped her arms around my hips, but instead of it being a cute little gesture, her nails dug into my skin. I know she was dying to ask, "What the fuck possessed you to tell her that?"
Parker's face looked like someone just died as she looked at us cuddle (Did she look like that because she didn't like Misty? Or because she still liked me? Fuck, I'm over thinking again..), but she coughed up a nice comment, "Yeah, I know. Congrats; you guys look really cute together."
"Thanks!" Then, turning to me, Misty gave me a devious look. "And I will see you later." Then she continued to give me one hell offa kiss on my mouth.
As she pulled away, I so wanted to smack her, but instead I just grinned and said, "Sure," Misty waved daintily, her eyes dancing, saying, Hah! That's what you get!
After she left, Parker said, "She's nice."
"Yeah," I agreed. There was another small silence before she spoke up again.
"You know, Ray," she started, her eyes shifting to the ground next to me. "I...I didn't want to lose you." My eyes clicked up to meet her, and then she hurriedly added, "You know, as a friend."
"Yeah, I..." I took a breath, "I didn't want to lose you either. As a friend."
"Just...that night...what happened...it was such a mistake. I mean, with Robbie and Lily. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was drunk and...Well, things happen."
My mind snapped, and all the saddness and anger just bubbled inside me. "Yes, it was a mistake. Things happen, right?" I said rather nastily, "Don't tell me you didn't know what you were doing. You were drunk, right, but you didn't have to go have a sloppy make out session with Robbie and then tell Lily you wanted to break up with me!"
Parker jumped to her defense. "No, no! I didn't tell Lily that! She was drunk, too, and when I told her I was sick of fighting, she thought I didn't love you anymore. And then when you came in..." her voice lowered. "She was so hammered...she just thought she was doing the right thing, you know. Her telling you instead of me having to tell you. But," she looked me straight in the eye, "I didn't want to break up with you. I still loved you."
"Yeah, and Robbie too, I guess." I snarled, rage storming inside me.
She looked lost for a minute; not knowing what to say, then said quietly, "I didn't love him. I was drunk. I didn't know what I was doing."
My anger started to cool as I stared at her; she was just as beautiful as the day we broke up. Her hair curly; her dress simple yet sophisticated; her make-up natural; her perfume so delicate and feminine. Suddenly the pit in my stomach had become so huge, and it kept twisting my insides up. I wanted so much to hold her, to kiss her, to be 18 again.
But I wasn't. I was 28, and she was over me. And I was over her. Kind of.
"I'm sorry, Ray." she finally spoke again, her eyes had sparkles of tears in them, but I knew she wouldn't cry in front of me.
I stood there. not knowing what to say. Then Misty came out, drunk as ever. She hung on to me and whined, "Ray! You fucking done here yet?"
I opened my mouth as I looked at Parker. She was older, she had a boyfriend, she was getting on with life. I need to too. "Yeah," I replied, "Yeah, I'm done."
Parker looked up at me, and I could see her desperately wanting to say something, but I just closed my eyes and let Misty lead me into the building.
I'm done.
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NOT DONE! NOT DONE! A couple more chapters; maybe only one? I dunno, we'll see. But how ya enjoying it so far? Don't you just LOVE Misty? I love how she says the word "fuck" like every single fucking sentence, you know?
Hahaha, I missed fanfiction.
See ya homies until next time!
Love,
Allie