Chapter 12
“Where’s Amy?” Jeff asked later that night as he looked at his brother lying on his hotel bed reading a book.
Matt shrugged, not moving his eyes from his book. Jeff rummaged through his bag, looking for the flannel pants he knew he had packed.
“She didn’t look too happy after the taping,” Jeff said, smiling as he found the pants he was looking for, “is she ok?”
“Don’t know,” Matt mumbled annoyed, looking up from his book at Jeff, “Why?”
“I’m just surprised you two aren’t rooming together, ever since you guys hooked up you’ve never stayed in separate rooms,” Jeff said pulling his multicolored hair into a ponytail.
“Speaking of which, why aren’t you with what’s her name?” Matt asked, sitting up and stretching.
“Jamie,” Jeff answered, emphasizing her name, “is staying in her own room, because I didn’t want to make her feel pressured.”
“Right Jamie,” Matt said, his voice full of disgust as he said her name.
“I don’t know what your problem is!” Jeff said angrily, standing up quickly and clenching his fists at his sides.
“You want to know my problem?” Matt asked standing up, “She is. She’s not good enough for you Jeff. Why can’t you open your eyes and see that?”
“Shut up man,” Jeff said through clenched teeth, trying to hide his anger.
“What do you see in her anyways?” Matt asked, “She’s not all that good looking. Is it all about sex?”
“I care about her,” Jeff said, turning away from his brother in pure disgust, “and if you even think that sex is all I care about, you don’t know me as well as you think.”
“Maybe you don’t know Jamie as well as you think,” Matt shot back. Jeff turned around angrily and glared at Matt, “well, maybe it wouldn’t kill you to try and get to know her.”
“Jeff, stop. I’m trying to help,” Matt said holding up his hands and trying to calm both himself and his brother down, “All I’m saying is…”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Jeff interrupted, “Just shut up Matt.”
“Whatever,” Matt groaned standing up and walking towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Jeff asked, watching his brother make his way out of the room.
“I’ve need to talk to Amy,” Matt said quietly.
“I think she’s staying with Nora,” Jeff called after his brother. Matt stopped and turned around, looking at his brother quizzically.
“Did you talk to her?” Matt asked, walking back into the room and shutting the door.
“Yup,” Jeff said with a small smirk.
“And…” Matt asked.
“And you’re a complete asshole,” Jeff replied.
Matt groaned as he walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him. Jeff looked at the door, then picked up his flannel pants and headed into the bathroom.
*~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~
Matt walked down the hall of the hotel. He ran a hand through his hair as he tried to find the room Amy was staying in. He wasn’t paying attention as he turned the corner and crashed right into someone else.
“Sorry,” Matt mumbled, as he looked up to see a surprised Jamie standing there.
“I’m really sorry Matt,” Jamie apologized, as she realized who she crashed into, “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Matt nodded, acknowledging her apology, but kept walking. Jamie sighed and bit her fingernail as she watched Matt’s retreating back.
“Matt?” she called out before she even realized what she was doing.
Matt turned around and looked at Jamie curiously, almost annoyed, “yeah?”
“What’s your problem with me?” Jamie asked, walking up to Matt and wringing her hands together nervously.
“I don’t think you’re good enough for Jeff,” Matt said simply, then regretting it as he watched Jamie’s lips turn into a frown and her eyes looked at the floor.
“I’m not good enough for him?” Jamie asked cautiously, looking up at Matt.
Matt shrugged, although he regretted saying it like that, it was the truth and the way he felt.
“I care about him a lot,” Jamie said softly, looking closely at Matt’s face, “and I know he cares about me.”
“Listen,” Matt said, his voice filling with frustration, “why don’t you cut out this bullshit act before you hurt Jeff more than you already have!”
Jamie’s face filled with shock as Matt said those words, “I would never do anything to hurt Jeff…”
“I’ve seen in it happen a hundred times,” Matt interrupted, “especially in this business. So why don’t you save us all the time and heartbreak and get the hell out of my brother’s life.”
“But…” Jamie started, her voice shaking.
“But what Jamie?” Matt asked angrily, “you know what? Forget it, I don’t have time for you and your bullshit games. I need to go find Amy.”
With that Matt turned and made his way down the hallway, leaving a shocked Jamie alone in the middle of the vacant hotel hallway. She watched until Matt walk away until he turned another corner, then brought her hand up to her mouth in time to silence a sob as it escaped her lips. She quickly walked down the hallway, trying to muffle the sounds of her sobs. She made it to her door, and pulled her key card out of her pocket with shaking hands. She pushed the door open and stumbled in just as a flood of tears escaped her eyes. She shut the door and leaned against it taking deep breaths. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop the tears that spilled down her cheek.
She didn’t know what to do anymore. She wanted to be with Jeff more than anything, but with Jeff’s own brother so against the relationship, she didn’t know if she could do it anymore.
Chapter 13
Chapter 11