Chapter Three
~ And I could tell you
His favourite colour's green
He loves to argue
Born on the seventeenth
His sister's beautiful
He has his father's eyes
And if you asked me if I loved him
I'd lie ~
I'd Lie by Taylor Swift
James had work after school that day and, seeing as it was so close to school, he declined a lift and said he'd walk. Secretly, it suited me because Laurent had called yesterday and asked if we could meet up at Forks Diner for a coffee. I didn't want to tell James because he would insist on escorting me; he didn't trust Laurent one inch.
I pulled up in the parking lot of Forks Diner and saw Laurent standing outside with his perpetual joint in hand. He grinned lazily and waved to me as I pulled up.
"Nice car" he commented as I got out "Mummy and daddy get you a birthday present?"
"Shut up you pot smoking jackass" I laughed and then I gave him a quick hug and we stood outside while he finished his joint.
"How was school?" Laurent asked me as we went inside the warmth of the diner and I shrugged "Probably not that much different to when you were there, same teachers, same subjects same relief when it's Friday and horror when it's Monday"
He chuckled as we took a booth and the waitress came over and we both ordered a coffee and I also had a sandwich because I hadn't eaten since lunchtime. I asked Laurent if he wanted anything, God knew he didn't eat as often as he should, and he said that he was fine.
"You're too thin" I told my friend severely as the waitress walked away and he shrugged, not appearing too concerned.
"Go on, order yourself a decent meal, you know I'll pay for you" I begged him but Laurent shook his head and I swore "Damn you and your male pride, Laurent"
"I have money, I could buy myself a decent meal if I wanted it" he told me and I snorted and said in a low voice so no one else could hear "You have no money, I know you've been sleeping rough this last week, has the price of pot gone up, Laurent?"
"Never you mind about my expensive habits, dear girl" he told me "I can deal with it myself"
"Maybe I should report you to chief Swan" I muttered darkly "Then you'd get clean"
"I'd also get in the slammer and that is not a place I want to end up" he told me and I sighed and Laurent knew he'd won. No matter how much I hated his addiction and the fact that he was homeless and didn't eat enough, I couldn't bring myself to report him. I'd long vowed that I would never give his name to the police unless he didn't somethings stupid to get money of if he ended up in hospital and refused to go clean.
The coffees and my sandwich arrived and I took a long sip of the hot drink, luxuriating in it. Ah, there was nothing like a coffee in the afternoon to motivate you for the rest of the day.
"So" Laurent said, after taking a long swig of his coffee "Have you asked your blonde friend from your baby days on a date yet?"
I nearly choked and the coffee suddenly tasted bitter. I swallowed with some difficulty and said "That's none of your business"
"Is that a no?"
"Get out of it, Laurent"
"Because, seriously, I think it's about time you and him got together"
"James doesn't feel that way, about me" I forced out with some difficulty and Laurent rolled his eyes "How do you know that?"
"I've known him all my life, Laurent" I said "I know everything about him. He's so forward and open and honest..." I sighed and then said "If he loved me he'd tell me and..."
"Vic" Laurent cut me off, looking very serious; even though I knew his brain would probably be somewhat fuddled with weed. Maybe that was why he'd asked the question about James in the first place, he usually only asked about me and James when he'd been smoking, perhaps marijuana - like alcohol - made you lose your inhibitions somewhat. "You know everything about this guy except what he looks like naked"
I blushed the same shade as my hair and glared at my friend but he went on unfazed "You probably know his favourite colour, what tests he's passed and failed, if he has an argumentative disposition or not, like any good friend you know his birthday, however there are not many friends that buy expensive presents and give a card with a fifty dollar note tucked in it and endure a night full of Linkin Park music and action movies" I blushed again. Laurent knew what I did for James' birthday because he was the only person patient enough to come shopping with me when I went to by James' presents. Laurent might be a homeless pothead, but it was nice to have a guy's opinion on what to buy another guy.
"You could tell me if he's got Charlie's or Renee's eyes and you deny that you're in love with him"
"I'm just a very attentive friend" I told Laurent, taking another sip of my now strangely tasteless coffee.
"You're an idiotic little girl who drives her future soul mate to school every morning and won't tell him you're in love with him"
"I'm not in love with him! Please drop it now Laurent"
Laurent shrugged but let it go and I took a bite out of my sandwich. If it was so obvious to Laurent, who didn't go to school, didn't see James and I together very often, and smoked pot every day, why couldn't it be obvious to James? Why couldn't my best friend see that I was head over heels for him?
