Only Us (Justin Fields)

|12| Good Enough

Justin

It was Valentine's Day and campus was crawling with red. Well, more red than usual at least. There were balloons and flowers and chocolates as far as the eyes can see. I'm going to be completely honest with you, it made me sick. But it made others happy and in the end that's just as important as my own happiness.

I decide to do something nice and invite Jillian out for lunch. Nothing special, just some good food and good company. We get to my favorite restaurant and find some seats by the window. It was definitely one of the nicer ones on campus and they know my food preferences so I don't have to explain it to anyone. We look over the menu and start the small talk.

"You have any plans for Valentine's Day" I ask.

She gives me those "did you really just ask me that right now" eyes and I had to laugh. "Why would I have plans" she questions.

"You're a pretty girl. Maybe someone got past those walls" I tease.

"Those walls would break for no one on this campus" she assures me.

"Ouch" I scoff.

"You know what I mean" she rolls her eyes.

"You ever done anything for Valentine's Day" I wonder.

"Not that I can remember" she confesses.

"Well I guess you can consider this your first" I smile.

She looks at me weird then I realized what I said. As if on some incredibly awful cue Ryan appears at the table. The absolute last person I want to see after our last conversation. He knows too much.

"You said it was your guys' first Valentine's Day" he injects as he takes a drink of my water. And I wish I was bothered by that but at this point I would have better luck communicating my concerns with a wall.

"It's not like that" I try.

"What are you ashamed of" he asks me. Not even a shift in his facial expression. It's like he doesn't know how stupid he is.

I see Jillian start to get uncomfortable and I pray that for once in this man's life he could take a fucking hint.

"We're just good friends hanging out on Valentine's Day. It doesn't have to be romantic or anything" I defend.

"Interesting" he belows.

"What now" I snap.

"You didn't deny that you were ashamed" he shrugs.

Suddenly Jillian gets up and puts a $20 on the table. "Lilly" I beg.

"It's okay, Justin. It really is" she tries.

"I'm not-" I try but I see that look in her eyes. That look where I know that no matter what I say or do, I will not get through to her.

I get up to follow her out but I know that would only make her more upset. Instead I turn to Ryan who was now sitting where she was eating her food. "You think she will mind" he asks eating another fry off her plate.

"I don't think it's her you should be worried about" I warn.

"Uh oh. I made you mad didn't I" he asks.