After a long shower, I wrap myself up in my furriest bathrobe. It’s pure white and soft as hell. It always makes me feel good. I pad into the lounge and join Ali on the couch. She’s eating a bowl of pasta. We watch an old film in silence for a few minutes.
“So, wanna tell me what’s up?”
I glance at her. “What makes you think ANYTHING’s up?”
“Jady, this IS me y’know.”
I sigh. “Ok, Brian said the three words.”
Her eyes widen. “But that’s GREAT!”
“It is?”
She nods. “Nick said them to me last night.”
“And you didn’t feel…well, WEIRD?”
She looks puzzled. “What’s weird?”
“Well, I mean they barely know us.”
“They know enough,” she giggles. “Besides, I figure if they can spend a whole 48 hours with us and STILL want to be with us, they gotta be ok.”
I giggle. “True.”
“So, what’d you say back?”
I shrug. “Nothin’.”
“NOTHING?! Oh Jady. You gotta say it back.”
“Why?”
“Because you love him,” she reaches for my hand and squeezes it gently. “Duh.” Hearing her say that makes me realise she is right. I DO love Brian.
“But it’s SCARY,” I whine.
“Sure it is. It’s relationships. But you don’t want to lose him do ya?” I shake my head. “Then you gotta tell him. Besides, it’s better bein’ scared together than alone.”
I look at her and laugh. “Since when did you become the wise sage?”
“So what did you say? When did he say it? Did you get scared at all?” she bombards me with questions, and I laugh at her over-eagerness.
“Of course I said I loved him back,” I gave her a playful glare, then move my eyes back down to my food. Taking another bite, I chew and swallow it, then continue. “It was last night, after we had sex. I probably said the worst thing I could have, he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“What happened?” she asks, concerned.
“I told him I was a virgin. He said it would make him feel special if he was my first and he was so happy about it, I HAD to.”
“I understand. I would have done the same thing. But Ali, sooner or later, he’s going to find out.”
“How? I mean, it doesn’t really matter, and there is no way he can find out.”
“You thought your parents wouldn’t find out. Look what happened! And it IS a big deal! If Nick finds out he’s going to think you are cheating on him, and he won’t be very happy.”
“I know, but surely he won’t. AJ doesn’t even know yet. Hell, he’d probably be proud of me.”
She laughs dryly. “Yeah, probably.”
Brian throws himself down on the couch the minute he walks through the door. He is tired, and he is scared. The look on Jade’s face when he had said he loved her… He’s afraid he’ll never see her again. She’d be all polite every time he called, think up excuses for why she couldn’t meet him, and slowly fade him out of her life. Well, he wasn’t gonna make it easy. He picks up the phone and dials Kevin’s number. Maybe he’d have some advice. Kevin picks up on the fourth ring.
“Hey Kev, it’s me.”
“Hey Bri. Forget somethin’?”
“Nup. Just wanted to talk.”
“Shoot.”
“I told Jade I love her.”
“Yeah? I’m guessin’ she didn’t react good.”
“You could say that… She kinda clammed up and then ran into her house like I’d just attacked her with an axe.”
Kevin smothers a chuckle at Brian’s analogy. “Geez, I’m sorry bro. She’ll come round.”
“You didn’t see her face Kev. No, I’ve lost her. Well, at least AJ’ll be happy…” Brian’s voice trails off as he realises his cell phone is ringing. “Hang on Kev, my cell’s ringing.”
Kevin rolls his eyes. “Ok. Don’t forget I’m hangin’ though.”
Brian pulls out his cell phone and answers it. “Hello.”
“Hi Brian,” it’s Jade.
“Jade, er…hi.” He has so much to say to her that he can’t process thoughts into words.
“I love you too honey,” she says simply. “Call me tomorrow.”
She hangs up before he can say another word. A slow grin spreads across his face as he puts the phone down and picks up the other one.
“Ah, you’re back.”
“She loves me.”
“Who does? Jade?” Kevin sounds confused. “But you were sayin’… Oh, that was her on the cell, right?”
“Bye,” Brian hangs up and heads towards the door, leaving an infuriated Kevin on the other end of a dead line.
“What the…” he looks at Kristen. “Brian HUNG UP on me!”
I smother a yawn and glance at the clock. It only reads 21:46 but I’m exhausted. I guess that’s what a barbecue does to you. Ali is practically comatose on the couch next to me, we should really go to bed. But we both agree that going to bed before 11pm is for geeks. And we’re determined to see this film through to the bitter end. It’s called Grease 2 and is, quite frankly, terrible. Well, compared to the first one anyways. There’s a knock at the door and we look at each other.
“Oh, you go Ali.”
“You’re nearest.”
“I’m whacked.”
“So am I.”
“Oh jeez,” I drag myself up.
“I’ll go next time.”
I roll my eyes. “Like there’s gonna be ANOTHER visitor tonight…” I head out to the front door and open it, pulling my bathrobe closer around me.
“Hey, honey,” Brian grins at me and holds out a bunch of flowers which he’s obviously just picked from a neighbour’s garden.
I take the flowers with a laugh and stand back to let him come in. “Thanks.” I shut the door and turn to face him. “You didn’t have to come over.”
“I wanted to,” he pulls me close for a kiss and wraps his arms around me. “My girlfriend tells me she loves me for the first time, I wanna be with her.”
I smile and kiss him deeply. “I love you.”
“I love you too Jady,” he runs his fingers through my hair and pulls me closer to him.
“Do you believe me Brian?” I ask, worried that he might think I was only saying those words out of fear of losing him.
He smiles into my eyes. “Baby, all you have to do is look at me the way you do and I believe the moon is made out of cheese and that elephants can fly.”
I giggle. “But they do. Didn’t you ever meet Dumbo?”
He grins. “Ah, I forgot about Dumbo.” He kisses me. “Can I stay?”
“Of course you can,” I step back and take his hand to lead him into the lounge. “But you gotta sit through the last hour of Grease 2 with us.”
“Man, that film sucks.” He sits down in the fluffy black chair, pulls me onto his lap and grins at Ali. “Hey Ali. No Nick?”
She smiles at him. “Hey. Nup, I think AJ dropped him off at home.”
“Okay, I can’t stomach this right now, I just ate!” I yell, frustrated. Watching Brian and Jade kissing on the chair is not fun. It makes me miss Nick. “I’m going to get something else to eat.”
Walking into the kitchen I stare at the phone, praying it’ll ring. About twenty seconds later, I give up and open up the refrigerator door. Oh well, Nick’s probably just busy rehearsing with AJ, or whatever it is they were supposed to be doing. I can’t believe I already miss him. We’ve only been away from each other for a few hours, but something inside me keeps telling me I need to be with him. Closing the fridge I sit on the kitchen counter. Why can’t I just tell him about me? He’s going to ask sooner or later. What do I tell him? ‘I’m from Brooklyn, I’m a former prostitute, and I’ve slept with about two hundred guys before you. Still love me?’ I can just see the look on his face.
“You what?” he yells, backing away from me. “You little slut!” Disgusted by my touch he throws a chair between us. “Don’t ever come near me again, I don’t want anything to do with you!” He slams the door on his way out, leaving me there on the floor crying my eyes out.
Then again, there’s always scenario number two. Just in case he happens to be the understanding boyfriend I want him to be.
“Ali! Why didn’t you tell me this before? You didn’t have to lie to me! Oh God, baby, this must be killing you!” He wraps his arms around me in a comforting hug. I sit there crying in his arms.
“I’m sorry! I’m a horrible person!”
“No baby! You’re perfect! You don’t have anything to be ashamed of. We love each other, and that’s all that matters.”
Hell no, I’m a lot smarter than that. I know it isn’t going to be that easy. Taking in a deep breath I close my eyes. Why worry about this now? I can stall as long as I want. Walking back into the living room, I see Brian and Jade still kissing in the black chair, I roll my eyes and throw myself across the ‘pink monster.’