Page 15

CHAPTER 15

MORE THAN JUST TONIGHT BY PICTURE THIS

Parker Thompson:

I walk into my apartment to the sound of gunfire on the TV, very loud gunfire, and screaming between my roommates about the video game they’re playing. I fight the urge to freak out but I can feel anxiety and anger welling up in my chest. I make a beeline for my bedroom, not even stopping to say hi to Xander and Drew who are on the couch. Since I started dance lessons with Brianne three weeks ago, my life has felt tight and awkward and completely derailed from everything it was before.

I close my door behind me and for the first time since I slept with her, I feel regret. Because I wanted her then and I want her now. I like Brianne and I am actively trying to not think of her or about her. It’s really fucking hard when all I can think about when I look at my own bed is her and the way we were together in my sheets. On my mattress. In my bedroom.

I think about us and what happened and what could happen every single time I’ve been with her. Then, I think about her saying this was a huge mistake and that same hurt hits my chest. I put my bag down and before I can even take a seat, there’s a knock on my door.

“Go away, Xander” I mumble and he knocks again.

“Open up, pouty pants. I will break the door down,” he threatens.

“Xander—”

“Parker, open the door you little baby,” he knocks again and I open the door with force.

“What, Xander? What do you want?” I snap and he, as well as my two other roommates, walk into my bedroom. All three of them sit on my bed.

“We’re staging an intervention.”

They all stare at me from my bed.

“I am not sitting through a fucking intervention. What do you mean by intervention?” I get defensive instantly.

Xander stands up and motions between my other two roommates, signaling for me to sit down.

“Sit. Now,” he insists.

I do, considering my roommates have infiltrated my room and aren’t leaving anytime soon. At least they won’t until I listen to them or at least pretend to.

“You have been moping around our apartment for three weeks, and haven’t talked to us. Not about where you’ve been going two nights a week and why you’re sad when you get home. You haven’t even talked about what happened in general with you and Brianne Archer,” Xander says.

“I have talked to you,” I argue.

“I said hi to you for a week straight and you didn’t even look at me. That is a big fat lie,” Nico argues.

“I didn’t hear you,” I lie.

“Doubtful,” Andrew argues from my left side.

“Okay, maybe I just didn’t want to talk. What’s the problem?” I bark back.

“The problem is we, as your roommates and friends, are concerned for you. We also have no idea what’s happening so we have no idea how to help.” Xander crosses his arms over his chest.

I have a feeling if I don’t talk about it soon, I’m going to blow up about it. I’m going to freak out on someone who doesn’t deserve it. Someone who doesn’t need to know I’m in deep shit like Bellamy or Lawson. I grind my teeth and Xander raises his eyebrows at me. There are worse people I could have to talk to…

“Come on, Parker… We want to be your friend. We can’t when you… when you act like you,” he tells me and I scoff.

“What do you want me to say? It’s not easy for me to just talk about my feelings or feel like you guys are my friends when I’ve always thought of you as just my roommates,” I ask, not knowing where to start.

“First of all, ouch,” Nico starts. “But second of all. I know… Actually, we all know you’re not keen on talking about your feelings. I get that. I respect your privacy dude, but… We’re not just anyone,” Nico shrugs and unfortunately, he’s right. I’m not admitting that, though.

“What have you been doing at night on Tuesday and Thursday?” Xander asks.

“Coach Corbin is forcing me to take a dance fitness class with a student teacher to help my technique on the field,” I admit.

“Wait, do you wear ballet clothes?” Andrew asks and I glare at him.

“No, you idiot,” I mumble.

“Wait. Dance… Is Brianne your student teacher? Is that why you’re all mopey when you get home at night?” Xander asks.

“I am not mopey,” I argue.

“Dude, you’re mopey,” Andrew nudges me.

“How about you tell us what happened the night of Brianne’s birthday party… That’s where we should have started,” Nico slightly shoves me with his shoulder.

“She… I mean I went because I wanted to celebrate her birthday. I had no intentions. She was drinking and so was I. She came onto me. More than once. She kissed me, she touched me, she suggested we sleep together. I wanted to so I took her home with me. We were both willing. She was completely into me and I was very obviously into her… Then, she woke up in the morning and… Well, you saw what happened,” I tell them.

“What happened in the car? When you took her home?” Drew asks.

“She told me she wished it never happened and that she shouldn’t have done what she did with me. She apologized too. She felt bad but her attitude has changed,” I explain.

Xander sucks in a breath through his teeth almost as if he can feel the sting of rejection I felt that day and every day since.

“Damn…” he mumbles.

“Yeah, and she hasn’t spoken to me in any of our rehearsals. We’re there for three hours at a time some nights and she hasn’t said anything at all except her stupid fucking ballet terms and to do better and tuck in my tail,” I explain and shake my head when my roommates look at me like I’m crazy. “It’s a ballet thing. Anyway, I’m forced to stare at her and watch her and be near her and it’s painstaking not getting to even say a word. She hates me. She won't talk to me, it’s just overwhelming,” I admit.

“So, you haven’t really spoken in a month?” Nico asks. I shake my head.

“How was her demeanor the last time you guys spoke? Is it tense in the dance studio?” Andrew asks. I shrug and sigh.

“Kind of. It’s like the two of us want to be comfortable but what happened between us is playing in the back of our heads. She always stares at me… like she wants to say something more but she never does. The way she left, like what happened meant nothing to her also hurt my feelings. I don’t want to be the first person to make an effort,” I tell them.

“So, it’s not because she doesn’t want you,” he tells me, and I scoff.

“Considering how things went the night of her birthday, I could have assumed that,” I tell him.

“I mean still. She still wants you,” he tells me.

“Because you’re an expert? This sounds delusional,” I tell all of them.

“He’s the only one out of us that has gotten any action and almost has a girlfriend so, yes,” Xander tells me,

“Considering he’s almost had a girlfriend for a month now and none of us know her makes me question if your logic is right,” I fight back.

“Okay. I know more than you. She’s still into you. There’s a reason she’s not wanting to talk to you,” he explains.

“I know the answers already guys. She’s best friends with her brother. She feels like she’s… like she’s betraying him by sleeping with me. She thinks I’m not worth the trouble,” I explain, the last words stinging as I speak them out.

“You and Bellamy Archer are friends, sure, but it’s not like you guys are attached at the hip. You’re not like… Like Lawson is to him,” Nico fights.

“I’m aware. That’s why I went for it with her. I had every intention of going about it the right way, taking her to dinner or something because I had fun with her the night of her actual birthday but I drank alcohol and made a dumb choice and now she hates me,” I explain.

“Wait, answer this. Does she know that you wanted to do it the right way? Or does she think… Does she think you wanted to smash then pass?” Xander asks. I roll my eyes.

“Don’t know. Didn’t really have a chance to talk to her. Remember she ran away after that night? She didn’t want to teach me either. I basically had to beg her to not go to her professor and drop me from dance lessons. We just don’t speak,” I explain.

“Right… So, maybe just be extra confident and more normal than you’ve been. Try your best to let her know that you’re interested in her… Not her cooch,” Nico tells me.

“Nico, if you ever say cooch again it will be too soon,” I mumble.

“I was just being honest,” he shrugs.

“So what exactly do you want from Brianne?” Andrew asks me and I sigh.

Be honest and they will leave.

“I want a chance to be more than a hookup or a regret. I actually like her—what I know about her, which isn’t a lot, but it’s enough to make me want to know more and that’s never happened before,” I tell them.

“Nico is right, then, even if he doesn’t know how to say it. If you make it clear that you want her in more ways than just the one, that you didn’t get what you wanted out of the experience and you think it could be more, maybe she’ll come around to it,” Xander tells me.

“But Bellamy—”

“Is not your problem. My mom told me once that I can’t base my feelings on how someone else will feel. I think maybe you should take that advice. I’ll tell my mom you said thank you,” Andrew smiles. “Since you don’t have one…” He adds on and I roll my eyes.

“Wow, thank you, Andrew. I had no idea,” I nod.

“Just saying,” he shrugs.

“So, I just butter her up until she talks to me?” I ask.

“Don’t say butter her up like she’s a chicken or something. That’s weird. Woo her the old-fashioned way. At the very least, make her want to actually talk to you. Do something to make her feel like she should at least clarify everything between you. A gesture, like flowers and… and I don’t know, name some things she likes,” Xander waves me on, expecting me to talk.

“Dance and cheer and… and music. She really likes music,” I tell them.

“You don’t ever listen to music. Come to think of it, you’re kind of like a robot. Are you sure you were even born and not created?” Andrew asks me.

“Dude, fuck off…” I scoff. “I do listen to music. I started listening to some of the artists she recommended… I would… I mean I’d listen to more if it was something that brought us closer together,” I admit, feeling stupid for even saying the words out loud.

“How cute. Little Parker has a big ol’ crush,” Xander smiles at me.

“I don’t need you to make fun of me, asshole. This might be the first time I’m talking about my stupid feelings, but it could easily be the last,” I tell them.

“Parker, one day you’ll learn you can rely on us. Because we might be hockey gods, but we’re also advice gods,” Nico tells me.

“I’m a listening god,” Xander fights.

“You’re none of the above, except the hockey thing,” I admit, knowing each of them can skate and play like no one’s fucking business.

“Game plan… You woo the pants off of Brianne Archer. Bring her over, become the cutest couple known to man, and then invite all of us to be your groomsmen at the wedding,” Nico tells me.

“What about her brother?” I ask.

“He can be a groomsman too,” Nico shrugs and I sigh.

“That’s not what he means Nico. Bellamy doesn’t need to be a problem. Not yet. Cross that bridge when you get to it. Don’t worry about a problem that doesn’t exist. You know, Bellamy is like an avocado,” Xander tells me.

“What?” I ask, wondering what is wrong with my roommates.

“If you try to eat an avocado too soon, then it’s hard and doesn’t mush up or taste good. It has to be just right. If you tell Bellamy Archer too soon, he won't be ripe or ready. If you tell him too late, it’ll be spoiled. You and Brianne being at a certain level, it will be hard for him not to accept it,” he explains.

“This plan is foolproof. She’s totally going to fall for you. Then you’ll have a girl and a family for once,” Andrew tells me and I slap him in the chest.

“Dude! Enough about the family jokes. I was in the foster system, we get it. Shut up,” I laugh despite the seriousness of his jokes.

“Sensitive,” he mumbles.

“Annoying. All of you, now go. I need to go to the gym and also I need to figure out what to do with Brianne first,” I tell them.

“Flirt. When no one’s watching, flirt. Duh. You know how to flirt, don’t you?” Xander asks.

“Of course I know how to flirt,” I roll my eyes. “I have shit to do. Get out. And turn the video games down,” I tell them, ushering them out of my door.

I close it behind them despite their protests and I sigh, pressing my back to the door. I don’t know the first thing about flirting and I have no idea how well this will go with her. My bet is on bad. Very very bad.