Continuation of "Irregular Around the Margins"

Long Term Parking
Julie/Brett/Matt/Landry, Post-Irregular Around The Margins, PG13, 1302 words, Title from the Sopranos

Brett watched Matt the next day at practice. Every movement he made, Brett made a mental picture of. Something was up with him. Something was up with him and Julie. He didn't know what it was. But he knew something was up. And he had to figure it out. As soon as possible.

So he waited outside after practice for Matt. No time like the present.

"Hey Matt," he shouted. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"What's up? What's going on?"

"What's going on with you and Julie?"

"Excuse me?"

"She came to my house yesterday crying her eyes out because of you. Because of what you did. And I wanna know what it was." Brett began shouting at Matt, in front of everyone around them.

"I didn't do anything to her. You need to get your facts straight Brett. It' not like that at all." Matt began to walk away. Brett didn't know what to say back.

Landry watched as Matt forcefully slammed the car door.

"What was that all about?"

"Just be quiet and drive me home."

"Okay."

Landry drove Matt home in silence.

--

Brett ran his hand through Julie's hair, as he kissed her cheeks, lips, neck. He wanted Julie all to himself. And he wasn't going to let Matt take her away. He could go fuck himself for all he cared.

"My mom and Dan are out for the night. I don't know when they're coming back. You could… come inside, watch a movie or something."

"Sure."

Once the movie began, Brett's plan went into motion. He began kissing her again, but this time moved his hand under her shirt, making his way for her breast. But before he could get there, Julie pushed him away. He stopped, sitting up on the couch, about five seconds away from flipping out on her.

"Is there something I'm doing wrong here?"

"What are you talking about?"

"What does Matt have that I don't? Is that why you're always with him now?"

"Always with him? I'm sorry but you're freaking out over something that isn't even that big of a deal."

"I'm sorry, I just –"

"You know what… can you just take me home? I'm not in the mood to talk about this subject."

"Fine."

Julie quickly got up from the couch and walked out. Brett was soon behind.

She didn't kiss him goodbye that night.

--

Julie found Matt at his locker the next morning and quickly walked up to him.

"Hey, can we talk for a second?"

"Sure, what's going on? How are you?"

"I'm doing alright. How are you? You doing okay?"

"Yeah. As good as I can be. I guess."

"Okay. I just wanna make sure you're okay. Because I don't think we should be talking to each other."

"Is this because of Brett?"

"I just don't want him getting freaked over nothing."

"And not talking to me anymore is the best way to solve that problem?"

"Well I –"

"You know what… fine. You rather not talk to me anymore because you don't want to upset your boyfriend, than that's okay. I don't care. I'll just remind myself not to talk to you when I have a girlfriend. You know, don't wanna get her upset over nothing."

Matt slammed his locker shut and walked off.

--

Julie and Brett walked into the party that night and headed straight for the bar. Julie didn't tell Brett about her talk with Matt earlier that day. He'd really get upset over that. And it just wasn't worth it.

"You want anything?" Brett asked as he grabbed the Vodka bottle.

"Not right now."

"Okay then." Brett poured the contents of the bottle into a shot glass and drank it.

Julie looked around and saw Matt sitting with Landry. He knew she was there, but wouldn't make any kind of eye contact with her. She didn't expect him to either.

--

About an hour after arriving at the party, Julie lost track of both Matt and Brett and was surprised to find her slightly drunk self playing quarters with Bradley.

"See, I'm a pro at this. Can't beat me." She said to him.

"I haven't even tried yet. You just wait."

Julie began laughing, before getting up from her chair. "I'll give you some time to practice. It's a little claustrophobic in here. I'm gonna go outside for a second."

Julie went outside to find Matt standing at the side of the deck, just staring at her. She started walking towards him.

"Wow," he shouted at her. "First me… then Swede… then Brett… and now Bradley. You sure do get around a lot." He went back to drinking his beer, completely unaware of what he even said to her. And even if he did, it wasn't like he cared anyway.

Julie on the other hand, was completely aware of what he said. She couldn't believe he would say something like that to her.

"What did you just say to me?" she screamed.

"I guess dumping me had its advantages. I should have never even bothered trying to become friends with you again. What a waste."

Julie felt her blood boil. If he wanted to throw around nasty comments, then she could do the same.

"You shouldn't have bothered? I'm the one who shouldn't have bothered. It obviously didn't do me any good considering the fact that you screwed two different girls right afterwards. You know what… you're just a jealous, pathetic, piece of crap!"

By now, everyone outside stopped what they were doing and watched as Matt and Julie went at it. Word quickly spread to the partygoers inside the house.

"I'm pathetic. Wow. You are so fucking original. You come up with that all by yourself? Let's me remind you that it was YOU who cheated on ME! So I'm not going to stand here and apologize for hooking up with a few other girls, I'm not gonna regret doing what I did, because I tried fixing what YOU BROKE! And I hope you feel upset over it too BECAUSE NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL! Now you know what it feels like to have someone you love break your heart."

Landry found his way outside and tried to break this fight up before it got even uglier than it already was.

"Matt… that's enough."

Matt pushed Landry away from him and then turned all his anger towards him.

"And you… you have no room to talk. You call me your best friend but you're just like everyone else. You come and go whenever you want. Rather be in your own little world with Tyra, doing whatever you two want than actually be with me. Help me with my problems. I need you. And you weren't there. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE! So you know what, screw you."

Matt walked away from everyone and left the yard from the side gate. Landry began chasing after him.

All eyes were now fixed on Julie who couldn't help but cry. Brett ran out to find her there alone, and quickly took her home.

Brett sat in his car once he pulled up to his house. It was pretty clear all his fears about Julie dumping him for Matt weren't even true. He drove himself crazy over nothing. And now he's screwed everything up. The situation between the three of them wasn't exactly perfect, and he had to go and make it worse. Julie won't speak to him, Matt hates him, and soon so will everyone else. He was just like his car was, sitting in the driveway: stuck on park with no where to go, no way to move forward. But he had to try, had to try and fix things. Or all three of them were doomed.