The Speech

Chapter 16

Theo's POV

     Her silence is deafening. I can see her answer on the tip of her tongue, so close to slipping out, but she holds onto it tightly. I step closer to her, hoping it will help elicit an answer from her.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have forced this date on you. I should've left everything the way it was." She says, stepping back.  She collects herself, smoothing out her hair and lets out a sigh.
"Jayden's probably wondering where I went." She says, a small smile plastered on her face, and starts to walk away. I grab a hold of her wrist, stopping her from leaving. She looks back at me expectantly, and I know I need to say something.

"You don't get to do this." I say.
"Get to do what Teddy?" She asks me and I drop her wrist.
"Force me into a date with a girl and then sulk in the corner because I'm having a good time. Why should you get to do that? This whole thing is happening because of you. You do not get to be upset. If anything I should be." I tell her. She just stares, like she doesn't know what I'm saying. And I continue, word vomit falling from my mouth.
"I went out with Haley with the understanding that it would only be a one time thing. Then out of nowhere you're suddenly invested in playing cupid and force not only me, but Haley into a date neither of us want to go on. And we go along with it because heaven forbid someone upset you. And we even enjoy ourselves, but somehow, you're still upset? No! I'm upset, Avery. I'm upset that you meddled with my life, I'm upset that you have the nerve to sulk right now, and I'm upset that I'm here with Haley instea-" I stop myself before I say I want to be here with just her, but it doesn't look like I stopped soon enough. Ten feet away from us Haley stands, a blank expression on her face.
"I think it's time you take me home Theo." She says, her voice unwavering.
Fuck.

Jackie's POV

     What's wrong with a distraction? We all need one once in a while. And I'm not just a distraction, I'm his friend too. Friends are important to have, especially during a breakup. I'm glad these are things we're considering while he's laying me down on the kitchen counter. Oh shut up. I just want to focus on the way his lips feel, attached to my neck. Or his hands gripped onto my hips, pulling me closer into him. All of the things that are currently making my hormones skyrocket, is what I want to focus on... But, no logistics have been established. No ground rules or boundaries for how this whole thing is gonna work.

     Like for instance, we're making out right now, (which is great), but where does it end? So we just kiss for a while and that's all? Or is he gonna want sex? Are we gonna have sex? Just fool around some maybe? I don't know because it hasn't been discussed so I can't even enjoy making out with him because I'm too nervous that he's gonna try to go further and I'm gonna have to awkwardly tell him no, even though most friends with benefits involve sex, and then scurry away embarrassed.

"Why are you getting so pissy?" Shit that's Jayden.
"This isn't pissy, I can show you pissy." Avery remarks.
"Fuck." Dylan says, removing himself from me and pulling me off the counter. Oh wait fuck, Avery's home.
"Just go home Jayden." She says and we hear the front door shut.
"What do I do, my car's in your driveway she would've seen it!" I whisper yell at him.
"Just act casual, you hanging out with me doesn't have to be weird." He says coolly. How does he stay so calm?

"Jackie? Are you here?" Avery calls out before walking into the kitchen.
"Hey... What are you doing here?" She asks, scanning the room.
"I was just hanging out with Dylan until you got back." I tell her and silently pat myself on the back for my nonchalant response.
"Oh, okay. Well I'm glad you're here cause everything went to shit." She pouts, and starts up the stairs, expecting me to follow. I look over at Dylan and he rolls his eyes.
"You gonna go with her?" He asks.
"She needs me, so yes, but I'm sure I'll be here a while. Talk later?" I ask him. He gives a small smile and nods.

     Upstairs Avery is flopped onto her bed face first, shoes are still on and her purse in hand.
"What happened on this date?" I ask concerned. She rolls over to respond.
"Theodork. He lost his shit at me about setting up this date for him and then he blurted that he didn't want to be out with Haley... Then she heard it and made him take her home." She tells me.
"Wow, sounds like he had a shitty night." I say.
"He did? I did! And now Jayden's pissed cause he thinks I got upset when he said Theo and Haley make a good couple. Why would I even get upset about that?" She rambles.
"Are you sure you weren't upset?" I question.
"Are you serious?" She snaps.
You left Dylan downstairs for this?

Avery's POV

     "I just tried to do something nice." I groan. Jackie sits on my vanity stool, looking completely disinterested.
"I'm sorry, am I boring you?" I ask sarcastically. She turns her head towards me.
"Was it really something nice?" She asks me.
"Can you stop fucking doubting me? Gosh." Who is she to question my intentions? You're best friend.
"I'm sorry this blew up in your face, but you did take their relationship into your hands when no one asked you to." She states, finally looking up from her nails.
"God, you sound just like Theo. It seemed like they had a good time Monday so I set up a double date why is that such a big fucking deal!" I shout.
"Do you like Theo?" She suddenly blurts and I feel my heart stop.
"Jackie what the hell. I have a boyfriend, why would you ask that?" I ask, offended. She stands from the vanity and walks over to the bed.
"You haven't liked Haley since she took an interest in him. And right before you told me they had gone out, you were bitterly avoiding Theo. You even made a backhanded comment saying he should go talk to Haley instead of you." It feels like she could keep going, but she stops, waiting for me to speak.
"None of that means anything Jackie." She needs to stop.
"It means something. Setting your friend up on a double date with a girl you don't even like? It's like you did it just so you could keep an eye on them." She rambles and then her eyes go wide.
"Is that why you set it up? To keep an eye on their next date?" She questions.

     Fuck this and fuck her accusations, I'm done.
"I'm over this conversation. Just go hangout with Dylan or something. I don't feel like listening to your fucking conspiracy theories anymore." I tell her and then head to my bathroom. All I wanted to do was vent but no. Her and Jayden can just stick the assumptions up their ass's. I don't like Theo, he's my friend and I'm looking out for him. It was just supposed to be a fun and easy double date, he's the one who made it so fucking complicated. And then Jayden... Then Jackie.  I'm dating Jayden, and I love him. There's no room for any feelings for someone else. They need to drop it.

Dylan's POV

     I hear Avery shouting at Jackie from my room and I'm seconds away from running in there to make her stop when I see Jackie step into the hallway.
"You okay?" I ask her. She rolls her eyes and walks past me into my room. I follow her and she slams the door behind us.
"You're fucking sister is a piece of work sometimes." She says in anger while she paces the room.
"I heard. What happened tonight?" I ask her.
"Theo got mad at her for setting up a date he didn't want to go on and the girl overheard. And as if Avery's going for a record, she's managing to piss off everyone tonight." She says seething. She's kinda hot when she's mad.

      "Why won't she just talk to me? It's like she's scared I'm going to judge her over something! And she should know that I wouldn't. I'm her best friend after all, her secrets are mine and there is definitely no judgment." She stops in her tracks, and looks at me.
"Fuck." She says, sadness in her eyes.
"I get it now." She says, but at this point I have no idea what she's talking about.
"Do you need to go talk to her again?" I ask her. She shakes her head.
"No not yet, I'll let her cool down before I try to have another conversation with her." She walks over and sits on the bed with me.

     "What are the ground rules Dylan?" She suddenly asks.
"For?" I question, even though I know exactly what she's asking about.

"For us. For whatever it is that we are doing. Where do we start and end?" She asks. Slow your mind and stop thinking of kissing her. She needs an answer right now or you lose whatever you've got. 

"We are friends. We can hangout, in secret if it's easier for you. And there is no pressure for anything. Just mutual companionship. That occasionally involves kissing." I tell her. She thinks it over for a moment and then speaks.
"So... Friends that make out sometimes?" She asks and I smile.
"Exactly." I say.
"And it won't get complicated?" She asks.
"If it does, we can stop." I state.
"And when does the making out stop? When you're over May?" She questions.
"It stops when I'm no longer fun to make out with." I say with a smirk. She rolls her eyes.
"Or if I meet a guy." She adds. I stick my hand out to her.
"Officially shake on these terms and conditions?" I ask her and she takes my hand.