"One. Two. Three," Dean counted down before turning the lights on. The once dark lounge was now illuminated. By now, I was used to the sudden brightness. We cleaned the place from top to bottom as usual with music in the background.
I ignored the pair making jokes together focusing on picking up every glass at the bar and under tables. Tonight had been loud. We found a girl passed out in a booth who just so happened to be the bride-to-be in the bachelorette party. One of the girls almost burned her hair off when she accidentally got the fiery shot on a strand of her hair.
Like I said, tonight was a mess. "Cherry, what size do you wear?"
"8, why?"
"Dammit. I need sandals. You have spare flip flops?"
"I told you not to wear heels, but you didn't listen," Carter sang.
"Shut up and stay in your corner." I turned my gaze back over to Cherry. She luckily carried a pair in her purse and handed them to me. I hurriedly swapped the pumps for the sandals and relished in the comfort.
I finished placing the washed glasses in their designated locations before finishing up. We all gathered outside, waiting for Gavin to finish locking up. "Have nights usually been this busy?"
"When we have performances, and they keep coming for the dancers." Dean answered. He was partially carrying Cherry who was on the verge of passing out. "I'm calling it a night, see you guys tomorrow."
"You mean later, right?" I joked. The couple got into the car. I couldn't help but laugh when Cherry almost fell out of the car. I decided to walk alongside Gavin as Carter continued catching up with Tiffany.
"You look like you're about to rip someone's head off right now."
"I want to, but I'm not going to. It's all about self-control." My phone vibrated as we reached Gavin's car.
Kyle: I know it's last minute, but drop me off at the airport tomorrow? I'll buy you food.
"Can you give me a ride?" I asked Gavin.
"Why don't you go with Carter?"
"Yes or no?"
"You guys live together."
"I'm going to a friend's house." He shrugged before unlocking the doors to his car. "I'm catching a ride with Gavin tonight, I'll be back by morning," I told Carter before getting in, locking the door, and strapping myself in.
"Uncalled for dramatics."
"Just shut up and drive."
"I'm gonna need the address first, Bailey."
In a span of five minutes, we pulled into the parking lot to Kyle's apartment complex. "Thanks Gav. I owe you one."
"Think of it as repayment for giving you a hard time."
I cooed. "I knew you'd come around."
"Please get out of my car."
"Can I at least get a hug?"
"No, but you can get out my car."
I bidded my farewells before hobbling up the stairs to Kyle's apartment, on the fourth floor. And the elevator was in maintenance, per usual. Knocking three times, I waited for him to unlock the door. "I didn't ask you to come over."
"Well, I wanted to." He opened the door, letting me in. "Where's Sam?"
"Sleeping. He has to wake up early tomorrow." I nodded before stripping out of my stockings. "I need a t-shirt and some boxers with socks please."
"Help yourself." His room had a suitcase in the center, opened, barely any clothes in there. I quickly changed into a pair of sweats and one of his wife beaters. I tied my hair up before sitting on the floor.
"Where are you going?"
"San Francisco."
"To visit the girlfriend."
"It's her birthweek."
"When did my friend become such a romantic?" I began folding the clothes laying around the suitcase. Thirty minutes into packing, Kyle broke the silence.
"I can sense something wrong."
"I'm trying to word it without sounding like a freak." I put the last of his clothing into the suitcase before zipping it up.
"Try me." I joined him on his bed, and we just laid there staring at the ceiling.
"I think I'm jealous. But then again I can't be because he's not mine." I ran a hand through my hair, thinking hard.
"We're speaking in code."
"It's embarrassing." I covered my face. "I don't want to be that person."
"That's just offensive to every person who's been in a relationship. Everyone gets jealous sometimes."
"But I can't be jealous. I can be envious because I want something I don't have. Or in this case, someone."
"You're overthinking things."
"I don't even know why I'm doing this to myself. By the time August ends, he'll be on the first plane out of here." I groaned loudly. "It's like I'm being blindsided."
"That's what love does to you."
"But I'm not in love." I denied and it was true. "Infatuaion, sure; but love, not yet. Probably not ever."
"You are such a pessimist, Bails."
"I've gotta stay level-headed."
"No, you're afraid to say what you're feeling."
"Because I don't know what I'm feeling Kyle. I don't. I'm just as confused as I sound right now and it sucks because I am usually in control of my emotions. And here I am now. I can't even decipher them."
"You aren't PMSing, are you?" I glared at Kyle who raised his hands in surrender. "Just wondering."
"It might actually be mood swings."
"Don't tell me you're pregnant."
"Really?" I shook my head at his presumption. "It's the new birth control I'm on."
"Each and every day I feel like I lose a bit of my masculinity." I smiled at the fact that Kyle was always there even when I talked about the most feminine things. A true best friend. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you are one the best friend's I could've asked for, and for that I am grateful. You put up with all my bullshit."
"Someone's gotta keep you sane around here." And we were enveloped in silence again. "Back to the subject."
"I think I figured it out. Thanks Ky."
~∞~
I dropped Kyle off at LAX and drove his car back to my place. I was left in charge of making sure his car was safe for the next week and a half. I took the elevator to my floor, taking slow steps to my door. As I was about to unlock the door, it was opened.
We just stared at each other. Carter blinked, and my knee jerk reaction: "Ha. You lost." Goes to show how childish I am. I got the reaction I was hoping for though. He moved out the way for me, and I slowly walked past him, dropping my bag by the door and jumping onto the couch.
"Where were you?" He asked tentatively, like I would blow up or something.
"Kyle's. He needed a ride to the airport. By the way, we're on car sitting duty." I hung my head off the armrest, letting my eyes shut on their own accord.
"Are you mad or something?"
"I was. At least I think so." I paused, and thought of my words. "I was feeling quite murderous yesterday, but I'm over it."
"I don't know if I should be afraid or not."
"Tiffany should be afraid." I still had visual of pulling her jet black hair straight out of her scalp. But I wasn't jealous anymore. The sound of Carter's laugh woke me out of my trance. "I hope you're not laughing at me."
"You were jealous."
"I can't be jealous of something I don't have." The air was charged with hesitation. Two people holding back. The worst combination possible because both were afraid to reach out. We all knew I wouldn't do it.
The complete silence in the room made me think that Carter had walked out, so I opened one eye. Low and behold, he was there and staring at me in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I can't be jealous because you aren't mine, but I can be envious." It was a case of déjà vu because I just had this conversation with Kyle hours earlier. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation talking.
"Wait a minute, you're jealous," I shot him a look. "-envious, of Tiffany. She's just a friend Bailey."
"Yeah, but-."
"How many guy friends do you have?" I was left at a blank. "Too much to count, right?" I was at a loss for words.
"Why can't you just let me have my moment?" Sighing loudly, I thought whether or not I should say exactly what's on my mind. "Is this all just a waste of time? You're leaving soon. You've got about a month left here. With me."
"So we should make this month last and cross that bridge when we get there."
"So how does that answer us?" I motioned between him and I.
"Do you want me to be yours?"
"That depends on whether you want to be mine." The butterflies, sparkles, or whatever crap you called it when that nervous feeling hits your stomach, came when he smiled at me.
"Should we shake on it?" I laughed loudly before getting myself up to a seated position and grabbing his arm pulling him towards me. Before he could react, I kissed him forwardly. And in that moment, everything couldn't feel more perfect.
***
Another update. Don't you just love labor day weekend. I feel so accomplished right now.
I shit you not, I got emotional with this chapter because I was listening to I'm Yours by Alessia Cara the entire time (Support her simply because I'm in love with her music and her voice - Four Pink Walls EP out on iTunes) and the lyrics were perfect for the situation and I was too giddy.
But, it all goes uphill until the end you guys. Hint hint.
Chapter dedicated to _wings_of_fire_ for her hilarious commentary while I was taking a break from writing this book.