The Boy Next Door.

24. Roadtrip

Jared:

Once we said our goodbyes, I do what I always do when I need to think. I take to the road. I go over the Quteniqua Pass and ride all the way to Oudshoorn, where I take the R62 and just keep riding, my eyes on the road, but my thoughts with Cassy. When I eventually become aware of my surroundings, I've reached Barrydale, a small town almost 240kms from George.

When I check my watch, I'm shocked to see it's almost 10h30. I'm suddenly aware that I'm quite hungry. Riding through the town, I come across a restaurant that's open and pull in. I might as well have something to eat. When I'm done, I fill my tank up and head in the direction of the N2. It's another 250km back to George, and since I'm in no hurry to get back, I stick to the speed limit. When I reach Mossel Bay, I turn off the highway and take a slow ride through town on my way to The Point, a popular surfing spot.

It's Sunday, and there's a lot of people driving around The Point or just sitting in their cars, watching the surfers. I find a spot away from the people, and for the next half an hour, I just sit and watch the ocean. A four hour round-trip, and I still have no idea what to do about Cassy.

I'll be lying if I say I'm not fucking freaking out at the moment. I'm still a little shocked at the way my body reacted to Cassy this morning. What's freaked me out even more, is the way she makes me feel. At first she was just my snotty pompous neighbor who I wanted to put in her place, but sometime during the weekend something changed. Without even realizing it, I started thinking about her in terms of mine and we. I started to think long-term.

It hit me like a fucking tsunami on our way back from the showers. The one minute I was still coming down from the best orgasm I've ever had and in the next, I realized what I just did. I fucking played house with her. Washing her and taking care of her like we had a tomorrow waiting for us.

That's what she does. She makes me fantasize about a tomorrow. She makes me forget about the painful lesson I've learned. Sometime between Friday and this morning, I started to think that love is a possibility again.

I can't afford to think like that. I already got burnt once. If I get out now, I can still walk away with my heart intact. I just need to stop thinking of her as anything more than a friend. Fucking her now is out of the question. Already I want more and once I've fucked her, I'm not going to be able to turn back.

I just need to distance myself from her for a bit. That's going to be tricky seeing that she's part of our group now and she's my neighbor as well. I'll just have to start closing my curtains and curb the time I'm spending with the group. As for my physical needs; I'll just have to take care of them myself. After what Cassy did to me this morning, I doubt anybody else will do it for me now.

Feeling better about the whole situation now that I have sort of a plan, I get back on my bike and start the trip back to George. It's just before 17h00 by the time I pull into my driveway. There's no movement next door, which makes me think Cassy is still at Neil's house.

Cassy:

When we get back to George after we had breakfast, we decide to drop the camping equipment off at Justin's house first before we go to Neil's house.

We spend the morning swimming and baking in the sun. By 12h00, there's still no sigh of Jared, and Neil decides to whattsapp him.

When he still hasn't heard from him by 13h00, he whatsapp him again. By now, I can see his getting a little worried. At 14h30, he sends him another whatsapp. Getting no answer, he phones Jared, but it goes to his voice-mail.

This time, I know his worried because he says, "Where the hell is he? I'm really getting worried now."

Then he suddenly looks up at me and asks, "Did something happen between you two?"

"What do you mean?" I ask a little defensively.

"I know he is into you, and you two went off last night. Did you have a fight?" he wants to know.

"No! We had a really good time!" I say, getting a little pissed off with Neil.

Seeing that I'm irritated with his interrogation, he says, "Sorry Cass, I'm not spoiling for a fight. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on with Jared."

"You and me both," I mutter.

"What do you mean?" he asks, concern in his voice.

"Everything was great until after we came back from the showers. Then I could sense him pulling back. When I asked him if something was wrong, he just said he's tired." I say, suddenly feeling depressed.

We're still trying to figure it out when Neil's phone starts to ring.
"About fucking time!" he answers the phone. "What the fuck happened to you?"

Listening to Jared's reply, Neil asks concerned, "You need to talk?"

After Jared replies he then says, "Ok just tell me when you're ready." and after a second, he puts his phone away.

"So what happened?" Tanya wants to know.

"Nothing, his at his home. He took a ride," he says and when everyone just says "Oh" I know I'm missing something again.

On our way to my home later, I ask Ashley, "So what did I miss?"

Looking slightly confused she asks, "Miss when?"

"With Jared!" I say impatiently.

"Ohh, he usually takes a ride when he needs to think," she says, not elaborating on it.

Not knowing what to say to that I keep quiet. When she stops in front of my home, I can see Jared's bike parked in their driveway.

"Thanks for the weekend. See you tomorrow." I say, waving as she pulls away, my thoughts already with the boy next door.

Jared:

My phone's battery died somewhere between Barrydale and George, and once in my room, I plug it in to charge. Checking my phone for messages, I see one missed call and three messages from Neil. In the first message, he just asked, 'You still coming?' That was at 12h00. At 13h00 he said, 'What the fuck bro!' and at 15h30 he said, 'Call me!!! I'm worried about you!'

Picking up my phone, I dial his number.

"About fucking time!" he answers the phone, "What the fuck happened to you?"

"I took a drive." I tell him, knowing he would know what that means.

"You need to talk?" he asks, suddenly serious.

"Not now. I just want to take a shower and then get some sleep. We'll talk later." I decline, emotionally and physically too tired to talk to him.

"Ok just tell me when you're ready." he says.

"Will do. See you tomorrow." I say and press the disconnect button.

After that, I take a long, hot shower, and then I go lie on my bed and thankfully fall asleep almost immediately.