Chapter 185: Chapter Twenty-Three

Jaymeson

So I was a creepy stalker. Sue me.

I pulled the baseball hat lower over my eyes and ducked into my sweatshirt. It was an old Seaside one that Demetri and Alec had made famous.

The bastard was making her laugh.

I chomped hard on the licorice and glared as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

And seriously, who took a chick to an action movie? I mean, at least watch something romantic to get her in the mood. I frowned and shifted in my seat.

I leaned over my chair and peered at them hardcore. Score. Her phone was in the cup container.

With a smirk I pulled my phone out and messaged her.

She jumped a foot then grabbed her cell from the cup holder and put it in her lap.

Me

Haven't heard from you in a while…

Priscilla S

Kind of on a date…

Me

Whoa! You've been doing a lot of that lately!

Priscilla S

I know. When it rains it pours I guess.

Me

What's the S stand for?

She hid her phone, while Smith adjusted his arm and squeezed her tighter. Dude, at least let her breathe!

Priscilla S

The S? It's my middle name.

Me

And?

Priscilla S

It's silly.

Me

Try me.

Priscilla S

Serendipity.

Me

That's not silly. I like it ☺ It seems to fit you. You really are a pleasant surprise.

Priscilla S

Thanks. I should go though. It's probably frowned upon to message one guy while I'm on a date with another.

Me

Fair enough. Remember, you're worth a hell of a lot more than a few dates and stolen kisses.

Priscilla S

Is that your way of saying guard my virtue?

Me

That's my way of saying don't let a guy steal your damn virginity just because he appears nice. Night, love.

I put my phone away and watched her reaction. She turned around and looked at the empty seats in the row above her before looking down at her phone.

Holy hell. I ducked my head and chomped down on my licorice so she wouldn't notice me.

When I looked up she'd already turned back around. As much as I wanted to stay, I decided it was best not to hang out on her date, and walked out of the theatre back to my car.

I started the engine and sat.

Cursing, I dialed Demetri's number.

“What?” he answered. “You die?”

“No.” I rolled my eyes. “If I was dead, how would I be talking to you?”

“Solid point.”

“I, um, I just had a question.”

“Okay?”

“Hypothetically…” I cleared my throat. “How does one… get out of the friend zone without ruining the friendship?”

“Hypothetically?” he said in a low voice. “So you're asking on behalf of a friend, yeah?”

“Sure.”

“Alright, so my advice to your… friend… you don't get out of the friend zone.”

“Damn it!” I slammed the steering wheel with my hand.

“Whoa there, don't get so fired up for your friend, Jay.”

“Right, sorry. I've had too much sugar.”

I could practically hear his brain working. “You on drugs, man?”

“No!” I all but shouted. “So I can't get out of the zone…”

“Oh, you're the friend,” he said, sounding bored.

“Shut the hell up and tell me!”

“Who is it?” he asked quietly. I could tell he was trying not to gain anyone's attention. Most likely he was on the tour bus and even though they had a nice one, it was still hard to have privacy.

“Uhh…”

Demetri groaned. “Tell me it's not Priscilla. Tell me you've kept it in your pants and Alyssa isn't going to hunt me down with a machete for even introducing you guys.”

“He's crushing on Pris?” Alec's angry shout awakened an involuntary wince.

I heard a door shut. And then Demetri said, “Sorry dude, you're on speakerphone, Alec's here.”

“Oh good, so my shame's public, that's just bloody fantastic.”

“Priscilla?” Alec said. “She put you in the friend zone.”

“It was a mutual friending!” I defended.

Both of them burst out laughing.

“You know what? Forget it.”

“No!” Demetri said, still laughing. “It's just that, I mean, you've never even had a friend that was a girl, let alone been put into that zone. How is it, man? You going crazy? Take up smoking?

“Remind me again why I called you for help.”

Demetri and Alec mumbled between themselves and then Alec spoke. “Look, the friend zone isn't bad.

“In my opinion, it just makes it that much easier for you to turn it into a relationship, because a relationship is just that. It's a friendship, only so much more.

I paused. “No. Because I'm not a chick.”

“Don't lie,” Demetri said in a low voice.

“Swell,” I croaked.

“So?” Alec asked. “What is it? You want something more with her or are you just shitting us?”

I thought about it. My hands shook as I held the cell to my ear. “Um, you know what? I was kidding. You guys are right. Guys can't just change overnight.

“A few weeks isn't a long time,” Demetri said.

“Very funny,” I sighed. “And it's been two months.”

“Someone should saint you.” This from Alec.

“I'm hanging up now.”

“Catch you later, bro,” Demetri said. “And if you change your mind, remember one thing.”

“Oh yeah? What?”

“Girls like chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.”

“And wine,” Alec piped up.

“And kissing!” Demetri yelled.

“Goodbye.” I pressed End and groaned into my hands. I didn't know what I wanted.

I just knew that it involved her.

And only her.

But I couldn't wrap my head around the process of even trying something with her, without making a complete and total mess out of the whole situation. Every time I thought about it, my head hurt.

If I tried to date her and she rejected me, I'd want to drown myself, and if I tried to date her and she actually fell for me — I'd want more, physically. I would always want more.

I mean, what do you do once you start dating? You date because eventually you see yourself with that person forever.

So why start dating when you know in your heart that sharing forever with someone is just a pathetic fairy tale Hollywood feeds people in order to keep them off anti-depressants?

Sure, Nat and Alec loved each other. But that was rare, as was Demetri and Alyssa's relationship, and even then they all went through the fires of hell and back to end up together.

It wasn't that I wanted easy.

I just knew that in the end, I wasn't cut out for that type of relationship. I'd only end up leaving her. I'd only end up breaking her heart.

Never mind that mine was possibly breaking just a bit at the idea that she could possibly be his. Smith's.

I fought the urge to puke.

“Fine,” I said aloud. “I can do this. I can do this.” I put the car in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot, then drove home.