Show down

"Yuki be quiet they'll hear us." I said in a hushed whisper. We were hiding behind the corner of the restaurant Thomas and Candy were walking into for their date. "Sorry but you know I can't stay quiet for a long time. It's just too hard!" I rolled my eyes "Fine but hum a little quieter." We were planning on ruining Thomas's date. He had know idea we knew where he was going. Yuki and I planned to walk in causally and act all surprised to see Thomas and Candy there. Then like annoying neighbors we were going to invite ourselves to sit at the table and chat with them non-stop ruining there alone time. It is probably the most childish thing in the world to do but I was desperate. I wanted nothing more than Thomas to be mine. Then when I won Thomas's attention he would finally see me than more then just a friend.

I watched Thomas and Candy agonizingly slow get out of his car and walk into the restaurant. "Okay Yuki there going in how do I look?" I turned in a little circle. I was wearing a short black back-less halter top dress. It accentuated my slender frame perfectly. Showing just a little peek of cleavage and the black went well with my ivory toned skinned. Two inch sling back heels adorned my feet my dark brown hair was in an elegant twist on top of my head. The whole look was courtesy of Yuki's closet she always had something fabulous to wear for any occasion she was into all the latest fashion and her parents had the bank account to support her fashion fetish. "You look perfect Thomas will flip when he sees you!" Yuki said giving me one of her bright smiles. "Now, how do I look?" She struck a pose with her arms up. She looked breathe taking in her strapless red dress it was knee length with a high split up one side of it showing one of her long slender legs her pale skin seemed to glow coupled with the bright red of the dress. Her long black hair was curled and framed her round face nicely. She was wearing a pair of black pumps and a matching black clutch bag.

"You look like a model as always." I said. "Lets go in their seated and they've already ordered." I grabbed Yuki's arm and we strolled causally around the corner and into the restaurant like we just got back from a party and decided to stop for dinner. We giggled and laughed although neither one of us said anything funny. We walked up to the booth were a guy in a black vest handed us two menus. "Table for two." He asked giving us an odd look. He looked like he was in his early twenties. "Yes, Yuki said giving him a flirtatious smile And I would like it right next to that couple over there." She said kindly and pointed to Thomas's table. It was along the window side of the small formal restaurant. Vest boy looked at us with a knowing smile suddenly. "Doing a bit of spying ladies," I smiled "Where on earth would you get that idea!" I said putting my hand on my cheek dramatically.

"All we want sir is a table by that couple over there so we good friends can have dinner." Yuki said innocently I covered my mouth trying to keep from laughing. He looked at us for a moment "Fine right this way." He led us to the empty table right next to Thomas and Candy's table. Their heads were bent close and they were staring into each others eyes. I snapped my teeth together. Yuki gave me a warning look "I'll do the talking while you calm down." She said all I could manage was a slight nod. "Geez Bree get a grip. You're acting ridiculous." I didn't deny it she was right I was acting ridiculous it almost seemed like I was jealous of Candy. We reached the table and pretended to sit down until Vest boy walked away.

"Oh my goodness, Yuki said, Bree look who's here!" I stood beside Yuki. I gasped putting on a look of utter shock. Thomas looked as if we were his worst nightmare come to life. Candy looked mad enough to bite through metal. Good I thought get as mad as you like so Thomas can see what a prick you really are. Thomas composed his face and cleared his throat. "Hey what are you guys doing here?"

"We just stopped in to have dinner." I said with perfect enthusiasm. "How are you guys!?" I grabbed a chair and pulled it up to their table Yuki did the same.

"Where on a date here you can not just invite yourself to sit with us it's rude." Candy complained. Her voice was probably the highest pitch on earth. I didn't see how Thomas could stand it. "Well we just did." I said mimicking her voice perfectly. Yuki put a hand on my shoulder a gesture of warning not to mess this up. "We're all friends here we should catch up we wont stay long we promise." Yuki said sweetly.

Thomas looked at Candy she glared back at him. "Your just going to let them ruin our date tell them to see you another time." Candy leaned back in her chair and folded her arms.

"Hello we're right here." Yuki said

Candy ignored her "Tell them Thomas!" Thomas looked down at the table he knew he was going to make someone angry tonight I just prayed it wasn't me.

"Oh relax Candy we said we weren't going to stay long just chill all we want is to have a drink with friends right Bree?" Yuki looked at me meaningfully she had another plan going I knew that look.

"Yea Candy just one drink then we'll leave." I smiled at her.

Yuki summoned the waiter without waiting for her reply. "Two cokes please." She said and turned back to face us as the waiter scurried off to fulfill Yuki's order. "Well you to look absolutely gorgeous!" Yuki gushed "Candy crème is your color. And Thomas That tux is fabulous!" Yuki was beaming I knew her plan must be good. She only did this much complimenting when she was setting someone up for a major catastrophe. I was honestly scared for Candy. Thomas must have sensed it to he knew Yuki almost as good as I did he looked at me I just stared back.

"Bree can I talk to you for a minute?" the way he said it I knew there was no getting out of whatever he was going to do. "Sure." I said swallowing back the lump in my throat. Yuki looked worried we weren't really anticipating Thomas's reaction only Candy's. We walked to the far back corner of the restaurant. He whirled around quick and grabbed my arm roughly. "What are you two up to? Are you trying to give me problems?" His green eyes pierced mine I still couldn't help but notice how beautiful he looked angry, Ridiculous.

"Nothing, ouch let go of my arm your hurting me!" I said snatching my arm from his grip. "We just came back from a party we went to with my mom. We stopped in to have dinner. I had no idea you would be here." he didn't know I knew were he would be going for his date. I didn't say that part out loud though. He just stared for a moment

"I don't believe you. I know you better than that you and Yuki can be resourceful Yuki especially." "Who told you I would be here?" I looked away from his gaze darn it this wasn't going as well as I planned. "Tell me was it my mom?" I shook my head. "Your lying she was the only one who knew where I would be."

"Fine ill tell you but after we go home okay?" he looked at me his eyes burning into mine. "Fine." He said but you and Yuki better leave soon."

I hung my head in defeat. I turned and walked back to the table I sat back down beside Yuki. She looked at me from the corners of her eyes her and Candy were having a mild standoff both were leaning back in there chairs with there arms folded glaring at each other. "Yuki we should go we really shouldn't intrude on Thomas and Candy's …private time." I almost choked on the word. Yuki looked at me reading the emotions I knew must be plain on my face.

Before she could say anything the waitress came back with our drinks. Yuki smiled angelically "We will leave as soon as we finish our drinks." Yuki said She picked up the drink the waitress sat in front of her and accidentally bumped my drink. Everything seemed to go in slow motion then my drink tipped over sideways over the table and onto Candy's lap. She jumped from her seat and screamed Yuki jumped up too as she did her drink slipped out of her hand and spilled on the front of Candy's crème dress. "O my goodness I'm so sorry!" Yuki said clasping her hands to her mouth Candy looked dumbfounded, Thomas stood everyone was silent. I couldn't help it I burst out laughing by this time everyone in the restaurant was staring at us. I was in hysterics I held my stomach tears were pooling in my eyes. Candy looked at me like I suddenly grew a third eye.

"You think this is funny?" Candy said her voice was even higher than normal. I didn't think it was possible. "Obviously I do I'm laughing aren't I?" I said trying to control my laughter. Candy's eyeballs almost popped out of her head. I burst out laughing again this time Yuki joined in with me. A lady in a uniform approached our table the name tag pinned on her shirt read Manager in a gold fancy print below that was her name "Bonnie". She had the fiercest look on her long face as she stopped in front of me. My laughter died in my throat. "Is there a problem here?" her voice was hard as nails on chalk board. She took in all of us with her hard dark eyes. They finally rested on Candy who was still standing with her arms still held out in front of her like the idiot she was.

"Oh!" she said as she looked at the giant dark stain that marred the front of Candy's dress. "I apologize if we caused a disturbance Ma'am" I said standing. "As you can see our friend Candy here had a moment of clumsiness and spilled her drink on her dress. Yuki let out a snort. I elbowed her she was going to ruin my perfect composure. Thomas cleared his throat covering up a laugh. My lips twitched as I fought back a smile. Candy looked like she was going to blow a blood vessel. Bonnie's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Well if there is such a problem I would ask that you notify one of our staff for assistance so you do not disturb our other guest."

She turned all her focus on me. "I do apologize really I do." "As a matter of fact we were just going to leave so we can get Candy cleaned up." I turned to look at Candy and gave her the most sincere smile. "We better be going guys we've caused enough commotion as it is." I turned back to Bonnie before Candy had time to react. "We will pay our bill at the door is that okay with you?" Bonnie's face softened as I gave her my most angelic smile. Yuki's master skill of manipulation was surely rubbing off on me. I tell you the girl could win an academy award for the acts she puts on. "That's fine ill escort you out." The way she said that hinted that we were definitely not welcome back. We followed Bonnie out of the restaurant. Yuki dropped a ten on desk at the entrance "For the drinks." she said to Vest boy. "I knew it was only a matter of time before your true intentions were revealed." He grinned at Yuki and I.

I rolled my eyes and walked out into the cool Seattle night air. Candy and Thomas were still at the desk they had to pay more for their meals. "How much did you tell Thomas?" Yuki said suddenly sounding fierce. I backed up slightly "Whoa calm down we should have known that he would have figured out our plan sooner or later." "I'm just relieved that he still doesn't know I like him." "I bet he thinks we were just doing this as a joke." "Yuki relaxed. "I guess your right, but how long do you think you can hide your true feelings for him Bree?" "You have to tell him sometime." "Don't you think it would be better than sneaking around and crashing his dates?"

"No, you know as well as I do that we've been friends for so long" "What if he doesn't feel the same way and then things will be all… weird and awkward."

Yuki sighed "You can't live in fear of the 'what ifs' you never know he might feel the same way."

"I don't know he's so hard to read sometimes." "You know that." She shook her head in agreement. Thomas would put is arm around me and then the next minute he would completely dis me. It's so frustrating. I looked up into the dark sky slipping into my thoughts again. I thought about what Yuki said maybe I should tell him it would make things easier, or maybe it wouldn't. I was still contemplating this when something white flashed out off my peripheral across the narrow street. I turned but didn't see anything. I stared for awhile but the street looked normal to me a bunch of closed store fronts. I had the eerie feeling I was being watched. "Yuki did you see something across the street just now?" she looked at me "No why?"

"I thought I saw something." Before she could respond Thomas and Candy walked out of the restaurant.

Candy immediately stumped up to where Yuki and I stood by the curb. "What in the world was that in there?" She said through clenched teeth. Her face was bright red. "You did this on purpose didn't you she said louder stabbing a finger in my face. I snatched her hand out of my face. "Watch where you point those fingers sweetie you might end up missing a few." Candy's nostrils flared. She drew back her hand and slapped me across the face. I stumbled back clutching my face I was in total shock. "You little prick!" "You really think your slick don't you!?" "You and your little shit faced friend set this up! I knew it all along you want Thomas for…"

She didn't finish her sentence my fist connected with her right eye. She fell and I jumped on top of her and continued to punch her face. "Bree!" I heard Yuki shout from behind me. Strong arms grabbed my arms from behind and stopped me from hitting her but not before I got one more punch in and my fist came down on Candy's nose and gave a satisfying crunch. Candy screamed in pain blood splattered my fist and the ground beside her. "Bree that's enough!" Thomas grabbed me and pinned my arms behind me.

I didn't resist him I was that angry at Candy all I wanted to do was inflict more pain on her break her jaw bone. I stood next to Yuki as I tried to get a grip on my self-control. My knuckles throbbed and ached. Thomas kneeled down to where Candy laid on the ground still screeching and holding her nose. "Let me see your nose Candy." Thomas said calmly. I couldn't believe he was actually being this nice to her she threw the first hit. A few of the people who happened to walk by stopped and stared at the scene that Candy started. "Thomas it's broken!" "That little prick friend of yours broke it!" "I told you to dump them a long time ago, now look what she did to me!"

Fresh hot anger flared again and my vision began to blur. Her words hit the last nerve I had left. I lunged at her again Yuki grabbed me from behind again. "Bree calm down!" Candy looked up at me she sat up and backed away from me still holding her nose. "Candy you need to be quiet. You're going to provoke her again." "I'm taking you to the hospital to get that nose checked out. Your eye looks pretty bad too." Candy glared at me and then at a Thomas. "Guys its time to go I'm sure somebody has probably called the cops by now." Yuki said. Leave it to her to think clearly in any situation.

"I'm not going any where with any of you!" Candy said. "Candy don't be difficult you need to get some help." Thomas said reaching is hand out to her like she was some scared puppy. She backed up and stood up. "I'm not going any where with you." She said again firmly. She gave Thomas her infamous death glare. Thomas stood "Fine take a cab." "Come on she doesn't need our help." Thomas said walking to the end of the street where his car was parked. Yuki and I followed behind him our heels clicking in unison. The small crowd that gathered before dispersed as we left.

We got into the car and Thomas started the engine. We were all silent still processing tonight's events. Thomas pulled into the street with ease and we drove down the street. I looked back over the seat I saw Candy still standing there glaring at the car. I turned back around I couldn't help but grin in satisfaction. I shot a quick glance at Yuki in the back seat she was grinning back at me. Thomas was the only one who seemed a little disturbed. "You okay?" I asked him. There was a moment of silence before he answered "I'll be fine." He said I stared at him for a long while. "Remind me to never get you mad Bree. "You have one mean right hook." He chuckled and looked over at me. We all burst out laughing.

We drove down the mildly busy Seattle streets in silence. The night would have been perfect in my sight if it weren't for the fact that even in the car I still had that eerie feeling of being watched. I stared out the window looking at the store fronts and little shops. Even as Thomas pulled in front of my house and Yuki and I got out she was staying the night again. As we walked up my house pathway to my door I still felt with a cold chill that I was being watched. I scanned my street everything looked normal the houses stood in neat rows street lights bright. I thought I saw something crouched in the darkest corner of one of the houses but I couldn't be sure.

Thomas pulled out of my drive way and drove in the direction of his house which was only a couple of blocks from mine. I shrugged and followed Yuki into my house. I pulled the door shut and locked it tight against the cool watchful night.