Fulton

I left the dining room as soon as I could. I knew Portman will be looking for me to play beer pong and as much as I love kicking ass at the pong table, I also knew that Tammy would be almost hanging on me the whole time. I kind of just wanted to hide from her right now. Which is why my heart leapt into my throat when I heard the backdoor open and someone join me on the deck.

"It's a little chilly out here," Julie said as she sat down on the step next to me.

"A bit," I responded.

"So are you going to tell me why you are out here sitting in the cold on what Connie is describing as the biggest day of our lives so far?" Julie asked, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Depends, are you going to tell me what you are doing out here?" I replied.

"Well, I caught Captain checking me out and Portman just flat out hit on me, so I decided to get some air until the world started rotating the right way on its axis again."

"I'm trying to stay away from Tammy," I replied flatly.

"What happened to her being the love of your life?" Julie asked gently.

"She's not the girl she used to be. She was strong and self assured and happy. Now, she is the judgmental, clingy, sad person. I feel like she is only with me because I am Fulton Reed, hockey player."

"Do you still love her?"

I took a deep breath, "No. I loved who she was. I never loved who she is now."

"Fulton, there is no crime in falling out of love with someone. You just need to cut her lose so you don't lead her on."

"Yeah, I know. I just hate to hurt her. Even though I don't love her anymore, I still care about her."
"I know, but it's not fair to either one of you to continue it."

There was a long silence between us, both of just looking at the stars.

"So Portman hit on you?" I ask with a smile.

"Yeah, well, it was bound to happen someday. He is running out of girls to sleep with. Especially since Connie put Delta Nu off limits," Julie replied.

Ever since Connie had started living in the Delta Nu house, Portman had been sneaking in to see girls using her name to get through the house mom. Connie had been oblivious until the house mom sat her down and had a talk about her not being mature enough to be in committed long distance relationship with Guy if she was sleeping with Portman every night. A few minutes later, an embarrassed, pissed off Connie had showed up here and threatened to castrate Portman if he ever touched a Delta Nu again.

"At least the Captain thing was welcome news," I said, an evil grin on my face.

"Why are you obsessed with the idea that I am in love with Charlie Conway?" Julie asked shaking her head.

"I'm not obsessed with it. I just think the two of you would make a good couple," I replied, merely shrugging my shoulders, "Plus, you know, there is the fact that you love him."

"And that's enough fresh air for tonight," Julie said getting up, "good luck at beer pong."

"Cat," I said standing up, "you do realize that you're the reason he only dates other girls?" The confused look on her face told me that I wasn't making sense, "I mean, he hasn't been in a relationship since high school. He just has a few dates and then he moves on to the next girl because he is waiting on you."

"Has he told you this?" Julie asked slowly.

"No, it's just something I have observed," I responded, "Charlie has never admitted it to me. I doubt he has admitted it to himself."

"I think you are wrong," Julie says, looking down at her feet, "I am just Cat to him."

Portman opened the door at that time, "Fult, there you are. We have to kick Jeffie and Clarkson's asses again, come on!"

"Later Cat," I said as I followed Portman's retreating figure, "just think about what I said ok?"

She looked at me and smiled before nodding.