Blossom

Chapter theme song: 'Ex Again' by: Eric Bellinger ft. Jhene Aiko

I angrily bit into my tuna sandwich, glaring from afar. They were perched up on a tree up ahead with a picnic sprawled down below. She was giggling about something, twirling her hair as she grinned like a love struck school girl. I watched as Brick wrapped a lone arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him before offering her another cup of hot-chocolate. I took another bite of my angry sandwich, still glaring. She was a pretty girl I had to admit, a little different than what I was used to seeing him entertain his time with but beautiful nonetheless. She was a deep mocha complexioned woman, around my height of five three even with a full head of soft coils and curls. She had a toned physique that could make a lingerie model green with envy while being masculine enough to not be considered fragile and dainty. I kept asking myself what he saw in her and what exactly she had that entranced him so quickly. My mind kept pushing the thoughts of sex and intimacy but that could not have been the case. They barely knew each other…right?

"Hey, you." I snapped out of my trance, looking at Shane return with the two ice-cream cones, one vanilla and one chocolate, he had promised. "Got you a little something."

I forced a small smile, thanking him before taking a well-deserved lick. I kept darting my attention between Shane and Brick and the girl he was with. They were now laid out against the picnic blanket cuddling and kissing. I don't know why but it made my blood boil. I gave my cone another lick, this time a bit more forceful than I intended. "You ok?"

I looked at Shane, smiling. "Yeah, just peachy."

"Seems like you are pissed off at that ice-cream cone over there." He chuckled. "Did I get the right flavor?"

"Oh, yes. It's fine, really. I am just looking at Brick over there with...that woman."

Shane took a lick of his own cone, scooping up half his sprinkled topping in a single swoop. He swallowed. "You mean April?" he pointed in her direction. "She is pretty sweet; I had a small chat with her on the way here."

I fumed in memory. I don't know whose bright idea it was to have a 'family' picnic today, let alone have us all ride together to the park, but the ride was nothing short of awkward. Of course the two couples, Bubbles and Boomer and Butch and Buttercup sat peacefully and happily together; joking, laughing, and talking amongst themselves during the short drive to the plaza. Brick and I, on the other hand, had tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. I sat with Shane and expected to see Brick lazily wander into the mini-van alone with his signature red hooded sweatshirt and smug attitude. To my surprise, he towed in one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen and introduced her to the 'family' as his girlfriend.

Our eyes met briefly before he escorted her into the vehicle, sitting next to her while allowing her to cuddle into his arms. She shot me a snotty glance when she caught my peeping at them from the second row, but I brushed it off and overdid the theatrics with Shane.

"What does she do?"

He shrugged, biting into his cone. "From what she told me briefly, she is an art student and an avid skateboarder at some local skate park near downtown."

"That's it?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me. I watched Shane's brows furrow in question, I quickly avoid them to eat my ice-cream. "I mean, oh."

"If I didn't know any better I would think you are a trying to be nosey in your friend's personal life."

I pretended to be repulsed by the idea of knowing anything about Brick Jojo; but the fact was that I was desperate to know. Since the night he confessed his love to me, things have been weird between us and we haven't spoken in over three weeks. "Me, care about Brick JoJo's life?" I sucked in a breath. "I could care less what that man does in his spare time."

"You sure?" Shane questioned, getting an unfamiliar vibe. I never told him that Brick and I used to date, let alone screw around for a while until feelings became too much to ignore. Shane was a smart man, so I am confident he can sense there is some tension between the two of us but prayerful that the poor boy doesn't look too deep into it for his sake. The last thing I want him to know is I basically see my ex-boyfriend daily and although we aren't speaking currently, he professed his undying love for me and I cannot explain for the life of me why it makes me so angry seeing him with another woman when I have a perfectly good man beside me.

I nodded. "Absolutely." I kissed him on the cheek. He kissed me on my lips as my reward, my chocolate ice-cream intermingling with his vanilla as we swirled out tongues together in an erotic dance. I tossed the rest of my cone into the grass, wrapping my arms around his neck before laying him gently on our checkered blanket. He broke free from our tango, getting one last good taste of his treat before allowing it to join with mine somewhere near the willow tree. I pounced on him gently, straddling his waist as I began to rock back and forth against the growing bulge in his pants.

He bit his bottom lip, letting out a low, raspy moan as his hands found their way into my braided hair. "You are amazing you know that?"

I blushed, kissing him again. "So are you."

"What are you doing tonight?" I paused to think momentarily, contemplating if all my homework was completed and if I had the early morning shift at the library tomorrow. Once I was cleared of both I replied and told him I was free. "Let's go out to dinner, a romantic dinner for two anywhere you like on me."

"Are you asking me on a date, sir?"

"Why, I think I am my lady." He wriggled his eyebrows for good measure, letting out some creepy laugh he learned from one of his favorite movies. I giggled, giving him another peck on the cheek. "So, does the lady accept?"

I nodded. "I would be honored."

I got from atop of him to stand, reaching out a hand to pull him up. We brushed off a few pieces of grass and stray dirt before packing up our picnic blanket and basket. It was a quarter past five and the sun was beginning to set. As romantic as the scenery was, I had to hurry and find the professor to get him to take Shane and I home so I could get ready for my date. I was in the mood for Mexican food and this cute little Mexican restaurant in downtown Townsville have great food, an upscale, high-class ambience while providing a fun atmosphere. There was also a limitless margarita bar past eight as well for the first fifty patrons and I wanted to be one of the first in line.

Shane excused himself to find a restroom so he would be jittery during the car ride home, leaving me to finish packing up all the stuff from our semi-romantic picnic for two. I glanced back over near the tree where Brick and April were resting, but they were gone. I scanned the area, hoping to find them making out or something along those lines but to my disappointment Brick and that lovely woman he calls his girlfriend were nowhere to be found. I had to mentally kick myself and tell myself to stop being so creepy and stalker-like. Here I was, spending time with one of the most romantic guys to ever rush into my life-literally- and I was too busy thinking about Brick JoJo and his girl toy. I could not explain it but it seriously bothered me knowing he had a girlfriend, especially since just three weeks ago he confessed his eternal love to me…in not so many words.

I let out a low sigh, finally folding up the blanket and grabbing my shoes to head towards the car. I saw my sisters cuddled up with their men, waving. They asked me if I was planning on leaving so soon and I replied that I had a date later this evening. They both gave me thumbs up while Bubbles immediately bolted up to bum rush me for a hug, swinging me around. Although my sisters preferred me with Brick, they took a liking to Shane and found him to be a complete gentleman and easy to get along with more so than they could with Brick. It was weird at first, especially when he would come over to see me and find the five of them sitting on the living room sofa watching movies and it suddenly grew quiet. But eventually, all tension eased up a little and my sisters and Boomer and Butch came around to actually finding Shane to be a pretty good guy. Now, all that was left to do was try and do the same with April…

"Where you guys going?" Bubbled chirped excitedly. "Is it anywhere fancy?"

I shook my head. "He said it could be my choice but I just want to get something a little laid back yet a little tasteful to get that downtown experience."

She nodded, thinking. "What about that seafood restaurant near Mrs. Bellum's apartment? The mayor took her there and she brought back leftovers but didn't have a taste for them anymore so she gave them to me. It was really yummy."

"I was thinking more along the lines of Mexican."

"You should hit up the endless margarita restaurant on Fifth Avenue!" Buttercup called out from the arms of Butch, grinning. "Butch and I went there the other night and got completely wasted."

I laughed in remembrance. Buttercup came home around four in the morning the other night drunk as a skunk. She reeked of alcohol and tortilla chips and could barely stand, let alone walk up the stairs to her bedroom. Apparently it was the big hockey game on that night and she and Butch got a little carried away with all the excitement at the bar. She ended up passing out on the stairs while Butch didn't even make it through the front door- making his bed in the front lawn next to the sprinklers.

"That's where I want to go. Shane and I are headed out to change and we were going to make our way down there right after."

"Really!?" A female voice called out from behind, startling me. It was April standing next to Brick JoJo. He had his hood up, as usual, smoking a cigarette; trying to not make eye-contact with me. I immediately blushed, looking down at my bare feet and wishing I had decided to paint them earlier this morning instead of leaving those ugly islands of chipped polish. "Brick and I was headed that way as well."

"Oh." I deadpanned.

"You guys should double date." Bubbles giggled, jumping up and down. "I always wanted to do that but Buttercup and Butch talk too dirty and Blossom and Brick…"

"No!" Brick and I shouted in unison, scaring each other and ourselves. I cleared my throat to speak first. "I mean…I'm sure they want their alone time. Brick and April don't want to be bothered with Shane and I on a romantic date."

"Oh, we don't mind. Do we, Brick?" April turned her dark brown eyes towards Brick, smiling widely. She encased him in a small hug, pecking him on the cheek. I frowned.

"April, let's not do this here."

"Oh, come on. I think a double date will be fun."

Before I could form a rebuttal, Shane had resurfaced; startling me slightly when he came up from behind to kiss my neck and wrap his strong arms around my waist. I immediately turned around and kissed him-with tongue- but felt instantly guilty afterwards. It was not a kiss to show him how much I wanted him, but to make Brick JoJo cringe in anger. I don't know what came over me, but I was angry as that…that…bitch touching him.

"What I miss?" Shane asked, looking at the five of us. There was a small silence between Brick and I.

"Blossom just told us you guys were headed on a dinner date at the uppity Mexican place on Fifth Avenue and I figured since Brick and I were headed that way as well, we could double date."

Shane shrugged, smiling. "I don't mind."

"I do." Brick and I said again, blushing. He coughed.

"I'm just saying, I'm sure Blossom wants to enjoy her evening alone with her man and not be worried about us, April."

"Oh come on, babe." She looped her arm around Brick's, leaning in to nuzzle him gently. "This will be fun!"

All Brick and I could do was glare, silently cursing the other. Tonight was going to be interesting.