Blandview High Musical

49. It's Raining Men

The week came and went. Things with Shayne and I remained tense. It was Friday afternoon and I was practicing in the gym after school. Tomorrow we, Jade, Caylie and I, were all going shopping, lunch and then a little surprise that Jade had planned for us. I wanted to get a last little workout in before our first game next Wednesday after school. I turned around to see Shayne walking into the gym. We hadn't been able to push past the things that had happened on Monday. Shayne still wouldn't confirm if he'd lied or not and who he was with. I stopped passing the ball back and forth with Sylvia. "Let's take a break, yeah?" I said. She just nodded her head. Shayne walked over to meet me by the bleachers. The thudding of basketballs hitting the gym floor nearly drowned out any talking we tried to do. "I need a solid answer about tomorrow." Shayne said. His form was rigid and his hands were stuffed in his jean pockets. I used the towel in my gym bag to wipe the sweat from my face. "I can't. I'm sorry." I said. Shayne rolled his lips together, nodding before turning on his heel and walking away. "Seriously? You're not going to say anything more?" I said. He paused and turned back around.

         "What do you want from me, Gill? So I lied once, big deal." He said, shrugging. "That's just it then? You don't care that you lied to me?" "Gill, I don't have time for this bullshit. You're overreacting and I'm trying to be a good boyfriend." His tone started to soften a little. I swallowed thickly. Maybe he's right. Maybe I am overreacting. He started back towards me to place his hand on my cheek, pulling me into a kiss. "I'm sorry." I said as he pulled from the kiss. "Me too." "I really can't be there tomorrow, I'm not bullshitting you." I said. "I know. Jade's been telling me about what you guys are going to do. I want you to go and have a good time." I wrinkled my brow. "We're just going shopping." I said, smiling. "And then some." He said, pulling away from the hug.

- earlier that week - 

"Hello?" Shayne said, answering his phone. "That better be Gill because I am in the middle of kicking your ass!" Damien shouted from the couch. Currently, the two of them were playing Tekken. "Shayne?" It was Jade's voice on the other end of the phone. "Yeah, what's up?" He asked. She was silent for a moment. "Is everything okay?" He asked. "Yeah, I just—I'm trying to think of how I should say this without you getting really pissed off." She said. Shayne walked over to the fridge, opening it and getting something to drink. "Just say it." He said. She sighed. "Shayne, I wanna take Gill to a strip club." He sucked the soda back into his lungs. "What?" He asked, coughing. "Yeah. Do you remember that club my dad bought me for my 14th birthday? It was supposed to be my big break with making money?" Shayne cleared his throat, setting the soda down on the counter. "Yeah, it was called The Big Banana." Shayne said laughing. "Yeah, well...I had that redone. It's called Velvet Strip now." She said. "Somehow that's better?" He asked. "Just answer the question, dumbass. Do you care or not?" She asked.

Shayne shrugged his shoulders, as if she could see him. "Things haven't been rosy between Gill and I lately. If you wanna take her that's fine. I don't know if she'll be into it." He said. "It's going to be a surprise." Jade said. "She might like it. I don't really know. But I'm not her dad, so it's not like I could say no even if I wanted to." "But you are her boyfriend and you deserve to know where she's gonna be." Jade said. "It'll be fine. Who's dancing?" He asked. "I think Max, Alan, Alex, Romeo...and then there's a new guy. I'm suppose to go meet with them to make sure they know what to do and what not to do." She said. "When are you doing that?" Shayne asked. "Friday after school." "Daddy approves?" Shayne asked. "He doesn't have to. It's my fucking strip club. I can do what I want with it." "You're feisty about that. It's kinda sexy." The word just accidentally slipped out. There was an uneasy pause. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from." He stuttered. "Just don't call me that again." Jade said. "Cross my heart."

"Shayne!!!!" Damien screamed from the couch. "Will you shut up!? I'M ON THE PHONE!" Shayne shouted back. "Tekken?" Jade asked. "Yeah. He's just pissed because I'm WINNING!" Shayne yelled. "Well, go finish your game." Jade said. "Yeah, bye." Shayne left his phone on the counter of the kitchen.