All The Pretty Girls
Rating: G to PG-13-ish.
Some language.
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dizzy198333@hotmail.com
Summary: An AU fic. Jessie and Katie never met
in highschool, but are now both at college in the same year, studying the same
course.
PART 16
Dum dee dum.
Of course we had to come here on a night when the place is packed.
Typical!
At least we managed to find a table, but Jessie's getting the drinks
and it's taking ages. There's a huge queue at the bar. Typical!
And the one time this year that I show up on time to anything, and
Tad's late. Typical!
Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a bad night?
Ow! That could be why. The acute pain of being elbowed in the ribs
by the hulking figure who has slid into the seat beside me further
confirms my notion.
"Ah. Tad. How nice of you to join us," I say through clenched, yet
smiling teeth.
"I'm fashionably late, Singer," he smiles, "I learned from the best!"
I laugh. At least with Tad there's none of that awkwardness like
when you usually hang out with an old friend for the first time in
forever. He just launches straight into trading insults and joking
around.
Or perhaps I'm wrong. His face drops immediately as he sees Jessie
approaching us with drinks.
"Oh, Tad, you're here," she says amiably, as she slides into her
seat, "How are you?"
"Huh?" he asks, a little bewildered, "Uh, I'm fine, why are you
here?" he asks in the same breath.
Jessie stiffens slightly, and darts her gaze quickly towards me then
back to Tad, "Um, I uh..."
Tad just moves his gaze slowly between Jessie and I, Jessie's not
saying anything so I take the opportunity to speak up.
"I brought her with me," I respond, he looks at me blankly so I
elaborate, "Jessie and I are..." I hesitate, what's the most tactful
way to put it? "We're..." Together? A couple? An item?
Girlfriends? Lovers? Friends? In love? In lust? "We're kinda
dating." Kinda dating? Jesus Katie!
He nods, "Oh. Okay."
"It is?" I ask.
"Not really," he answers frankly.
"Okay," is all I can think to say.
He continues, "I mean the girl who I'm in love with tells me she's
gay and dumps me, goes off to college and leaves me, is friends with
my best friend one week, and her lover the next, and I'm still in
love with her and she..."
"...is sitting right across from you and can hear you," I point out
with my usual tact.
"You're still in love with me?" Jessie takes this opportunity to
speak up.
"Uh," Tad falters, embarrassed by his revelation...and I'm
embarrassed for him, "Yeah."
"Oh," she answers quietly, "I wish you weren't..." she pauses, "uh,
for your sake," she clarifies.
"Me too," he agrees. "I'd really better go," he says abruptly, as
he rises and begins to leave, "I'll see you both later."
"Tad wait!" I call after him, I turn quickly to Jessie, "Sorry...I'd
better..." I begin to apologise, as I start after Tad.
"No," Jessie objects, placing her hand on my arm to stop me, "I'll
go. It's my fault...sort of...I'd better talk to him."
"Ok," I reply and Jessie chases after him.
**********
Dum dee dum. What is taking her so long? I've been sitting here patiently for fifteen minutes. I could really use a drink, but if I get up I'll lose my table, so I'm content with twiddling my thumbs for the moment.
I figure that either she'll be able to coax him back inside, or
he'll speed off in a taxi. And whichever scenario, it should only
take about seven, or two minutes respectively. Not fifteen.
I decide to wait another ten minutes before going to look for her.
I get to the five minute mark of my ten minute wait, when boredom
wins out, and I rise from my seat to head out the front door.
When I reached the outside, and quickly looked around, searching
through the people milling around, my jaw drops open as I see her.
It's weird. Earlier when I was considering scenarios, I thought
worst case scenario is that they're having a marathon screaming
match out the front, being terribly dramatic, and that's why they're
taking so long. Or even, 'they've been kidnapped' crossed my mind.
But not this. Not in my wildest dreams did I consider that I would
walk out the front door to see this.
Jessie kissing Tad. Jessie's lips pressed against Tad's, Tad's arms
around her waist, drawing her close. Jessie kissing Tad!?
Sometimes, when I think about how I would respond to certain things,
I thought that faced with this situation it would be me having a
marathon screaming match in front of a myriad of passers by. I
would be dramatic and forthright! But I surprised myself. Mouth
still hanging open I turned and left, I didn't even let her know I'd
seen her. I hopped in my car and drove off, and I didn't even turn
around.