A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, guys! And a special extra thanks to FeJoy29 for her especially long review. ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Disney or any of these characters except the Wheatons. So far, at least.
Monday was Labor Day.
Since we had no school, Eric wanted to invite his friends over, but he asked my permission first. It was so cute, I have to admit. I thought it was extremely considerate that he thought about what I wanted too before doing what he wanted.
"Hey, Brie?" He came knocking on my bedroom door again. "Would it be okay if my friends came over?"
"Yeah, sure. You don't have to ask me," I waved my hand for extra reassurance.
"Oh, well, I just wanted to make sure in case you didn't like them," Eric said, running his fingers through his thick dark hair, almost nervously. He was referring to Chad, Zeke, Ryan, and Jason, whom I'd been introduced to at school. I had immediately liked them too. Zeke and Jason were also on the basketball team, and were very competitive and obsessed, as were Chad and Eric. Ryan was more into acting, singing, and dancing with his twin sister Sharpay. I felt sorry for Ryan because he had to put up with Sharpay's infinite drama everyday, but he seemed totally used to it.
"Yeah, no, I really liked them," I nodded reassuringly. "They're really cool."
"You sure? Chad said if he came he'd bring his…um, friend…Taylor over, who decided to bring her friend Kelsi…who chose to bring Martha…and Zeke's bringing his girlfriend Sharpay…so, we're pretty much going to have a get-together. You should definitely join us, because you know, they're your friends too. I would force you to come to the bowling alley with me, but it's closed today," he winked. "But I'm still holding you up to it."
"Okay," I smiled, turning to the next page in my chemistry textbook and placing it upon my lap. "What time are they coming?"
"Well, once I call them, they'll be here in like…" Eric pressed his lips together and stared towards the ceiling as he pondered in exaggeration. I giggled lightly. "Maybe two minutes? Three? Tops is four."
"Okay," I giggled, biting the eraser tip of my pencil as I contemplated the next question.
"We'll be in the game room," Eric informed, inching out of my room. "When you're finished, you can come down. Take your time, really."
"Thanks, Er," I called out as he retreated from my room.
"No prob." I heard him holler from the staircase.
I giggled again, rolling my eyes and turning back to my chemistry homework. I tried to do it faster than I normally would, kind of excited, as pathetic as it sounds. I never really had a group of friends before. I moved so much that it was impossible for me to be situated so fast and accepted among the school. But here, with Eric's help, and just knowing that I wouldn't be moving again…that just made everything seem final. And that, instead of making it harder, made it feel easier.
Five or so minutes later, I was trampling down the steps leading to the game room, which was a whole huge section off of the basement. It was carpeted a gray blue, the walls were painted white, and it was equipped with any game you could think of. There were closets that lined the walls were crammed with board games, and then additionally there was a pool table, air hockey, and foosball. There was also a little bar in one corner that I guessed Preppy used for guests, plus a refrigerator behind the counter for drinks and snacks.
The center of the room inhabited a few white sofas, which were covered with expensive leather. Currently lounged on those very sofas was "the gang", as Eric referred to them—Sharpay was curled up next to Zeke in a loveseat; Taylor and Chad occupied another one, sitting a good three feet away and looking rather fidgety and nervous; Kelsi was sandwiched uncomfortably between Jason and Ryan, stealing glances at either one every few seconds; Martha was relaxing on a single recliner; and there was Eric, sitting on a davenport.
As I stepped into the room, everyone suddenly turned to look at me, their heads snapping up towards the staircase and their jumble of words immediately catching in their throats. The atmosphere grew intolerably thick with heating intensity, and I felt suffocated by the overwhelming attention. I lowered my eyes. No one even blinked.
I gulped, smiling the best I could and trying not to grow more nervous and freak completely. Eric scooted over on his two-person sofa, motioning for me to share the couch with him. I briskly walked over to him, reposing quietly in the seat beside him. Still, their transfixed gazes were burning holes through my head. I stared down at my lap, playing with my clammy fingers, my tongue bit in between my teeth.
Eric coughed into his fist. "Anyone want to…drink something?"
"You got some good beer?" Jason asked.
"Dude, you know my dad would flip if he found us drinking down here," Eric sighed.
Kelsi, Martha, Zeke, and Ryan all turned their attention to Eric after he announced alcoholic beverages, but I continued to feel like I was under the microfying glass as Sharpay, Taylor, and Chad seemed to scrutinize me, analyzing every detail about me. Their squinted eyes traveled up and down my form, and I wiggled in my seat uncomfortably, desperate to be out from their inspections. I knew they weren't doing this on purpose, but I couldn't help feeling my urges to slap them till they stopped.
"Eric, your dad's never home anymore," Zeke rolled his eyes. "C'mon, man, just once."
Eric heaved a sigh again, threading his fingers through his almost-black hair again. "Fine," he mumbled in defeat. "But…um, Chad, you need to come with me." Eric stood up quickly, grasping Chad by his forearm and yanking him to a standing position.
"Yo, dude, be careful! I need that arm for basketball!" Chad fought irritably, wrenching his arm out of Eric's death grip and reluctantly following Eric up the stairs. I heard him mutter under his breath, "Idiot."
"How much do you want to bet they come back with sodas?" Zeke huffed in an annoyed attitude, jumping up from his girlfriend's tight embrace and residing to the pool table, digging his hands in the pockets in search for the colored balls. "Eric's too much of a goody-good."
"Shut up, Zekey," Shar crossed her arms, offended. Taylor told me the other day that Sharpay used to have a little thing for Eric while they were in middle school.
"So…when are you guys' parents getting married?" Martha asked genially, switching the topic eagerly, and leaning forward in her seat in interest.
"November first," I replied, nodding.
I understood suddenly. They had been staring at me because they hadn't known Eric's dad was getting married to my mom. I had forgotten that they hadn't known. No wonder.
"Why didn't you tell me Eric was going to be your stepbrother?" Sharpay asked, her manner signaling to me she was somewhat hurt. She almost seemed jealous that I lived with him.
I shrugged. "I'm sorry, Shar…but it just never…came up. It's not that big of a deal, is it?"
Kelsi clucked her tongue. "Well—maybe not, but, you know, it was kind of a shock. I mean, I remember when Mr. Wheaton and Charity got a divorce, so you know…naturally I'd be in surprise."
I nodded again in understanding.
"Guys, where's the black eight ball?" Zeke yelled from across the room, still peering in the deep pockets for the missing ball.
"Check the cabinet where all the pool sticks are, babe," Sharpay hollered back. Zeke searched through the cabinet exclusively reserved for pool supplies, punching his fist in the air in victory after a few seconds.
"Found it!" Zeke exclaimed. "Ryan, dude, come join me. If you win, I'll pay you fifty."
Ryan dwelled over to Zeke, adding in mocking arrogance, "I don't need any money. I've got well enough."
"Whatever dude, just play me."
Jason sighed tiredly, turning over on the couch. "What's taking Danforth and Wheaton so long?"
"I'll go check on them," I blurted, wanting to exit the scene. I felt a tad awkward with many of them still stealing glancing at me, and I wanted to escape the examinations for just a moment. I just needed a breather. I bounced to my feet quickly, trekking up the stairs and making my way towards the kitchen, but I stopped suddenly, my heart jolting as I heard voices.
"Stop fucking staring at her! You guys were making her so nervous."
"I couldn't help it! Just knowing that she was—"
"—Shut up, Chad, what if they hear downstairs?"
"No one will ever hear! This house is too fucking big!"
"Chad, what if someone comes up here or something? What if she comes up here and hears us? Just keep your voice down."
Suddenly, I heard a ringtone echoing through the enormous kitchen, but it abruptly stopped as the owner of the cell phone answered.
"Dude, I've been waiting for you to call forever! What have you decided?"
It was Chad's voice.
"One second, man, I just need to tell Eric something."
I peeked into the kitchen cautiously, and Chad had covered the mouthpiece of his phone before whispering to Eric, "The Cap says hi. Just take the drinks down 'cause this may be a while." Eric obeyed, and I muttered a prayer of thanks to God that Eric left the room using the other doorway.
Chad pressed the phone to his ear again, speaking in a loud whisper.
"What am I supposed to say?!"
Pause.
"Nothing?! You expect me just to sit back and do nothing?!"
Longer pause.
"I am not a stalker! I can't do that, man, I can't. I'd feel so terrible about it…"
Chad shook his head vigorously, and he looked very unsure of himself as he finally sat down on a counter stool, his fingers shaking. His whole expression suddenly changed as the person on the other side of the conversation spoke. Chad's face fell, and I swear I saw his eyes brim with tears. He swallowed with difficulty, managing to choke out a vague, "Oh."
Pause, but not because of the other speaker. Chad wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, drawing in a deep quaky breath.
"I'm sorry, man…I know you must be dying…I know, I understand…I'll execute the plan then…"
Pause.
"Who can I tell?"
Longer pause.
"That's it?"
Pause.
"No, I understand, I promise. She's in good hands…You want me to talk to her?! Dude, it's one or the other! Not both!" Chad's eyebrows furrowed together in mild anger, but his face softened once more.
"Oh…okay…I see…"
Sigh.
"I will…I know…we all miss you, Captain, so come back soon. Hopefully you didn't forget about us and good ole Albuquerque…Practices are really that rough, huh? Now I'm glad I didn't go to that boot camp with you, even if it does mean missing school…"
There was an excruciatingly long pause. Chad bit his lip hard, his eyes creasing. He closed them for a brief moment, sighing before answering gravely, "I will. I promise."
At this, he hung up the phone, shutting it with a snap but not standing up. He sighed again, his forehead connecting with the cool surface of the marble countertop.
I raced back away from the kitchen and down the stairs to the game room again once I saw him stand, and I breathlessly sprawled onto one of the sofas just as Chad came plunking down the steps. At once, he made a beeline for Taylor, weaving his fingers with hers.
"Taylor, I need to talk to you," he stated firmly, his face stone hard and serious. Taylor nodded, chewing the inside of her cheeks nervously, and grabbing her coat that was lying across the sofa. "We're leaving, Eric, but thanks for the invite," Chad called to Eric, whom was rummaging through the refrigerator behind the bar. Taylor was staring at the floor, her mind obviously clogged with worry and questions.
"So soon?" Eric asked disappointedly, almost in a pout.
"Yeah, um, something came up," Chad said this, gritting his teeth to Eric as if to give him a sign. Eric's eyes widened tremendously as he seemed to understand, for he nodded knowingly, and brushed the early exit off his shoulders easily.
"Sure, man, I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Okay. Bye, guys," Eric waved with one hand, the other selecting a Corona from the refrigerator. Chad quickly swept Taylor for the room, guiding her out through the back door with a hand on the small of her back.
Questions were shooting in my mind like crazy. I felt sickeningly dizzy.
Who was Chad talking to? He called him Captain, so was he the captain of the basketball team? And what did he mean he didn't want to act like a stalker? What was it about talking to 'her'? Taylor? Is that why he needed to talk to her? Is that why they left early?
I was so confused that my head started to hurt, and I excused myself to my bedroom to rest. I made a mental note to ask Sharpay. I knew I couldn't ask Taylor or Chad directly, and I especially knew she'd spill. That diva couldn't keep secrets very well, even though she was an actress. I spent the remainder of the day doing homework and mulling everything over in my brain, hoping to find an answer.
I didn't get one.
A/N: Disclaimer: I also don't own Corona beer.