Bad Things

|Chapter Twenty-Two|

I'm relieved when we are all called to sit down for dinner.  Unfortunately, I was sitting at the band's table with Jessica.  Only some of the tension has been cleared out, but I could be an adult.  Noah is sitting directly across from him, and I can't look away from his dark eyes.  The same gentle man that buried a body for me, went to jail for me, but has moved on from me.

I blow out a breath and turn my gaze to Folio sitting next to Noah.  It physically hurt to look at Noah, but Folio has a giant reassuring smile on his face.  It makes me smile in turn.  I hadn't gotten to spend a lot of time with the guys, but I had missed them. 

"Am I going to have to know which fork to use?" I ask Nick quietly.

"I hope not, because I don't know either," I laugh at his response, but I'm startled to hear a utensil clatter on a plate.  I look up and Noah is watching us, I'm sure it looks intimate. I think I'm starting to see that he is jealous.  I'm not sure it matters.

"Clumsy tonight aren't you," Nick challenges, because he knows what he's doing.

"Just slipped out of my hand, man," Noah's jaw is clenched so tightly I wouldn't be surprised if he spit his teeth out on the plate.

"Sure it did," Nick mutters to only me, and I have to hide my chuckle.  I want Noah to be jealous, I don't want there to be a brawl before I get to eat.

The food comes out in stages.  A salad comes out first, no one speaks and the tension is heavy in the air again.  When the next course comes out, it's an array of Hors d'Oeuvres.  I have to say something or we are going to choke in here.

"So, do ya'll have a tour lined up to promote the album?" I ask to no one in particular.  No one says anything at first, everyone waiting on Noah to speak, but it doesn't and it breaks my heart a little more.

"Yeah, were going out in May for 10 weeks," Nick offers finally.

The main course is being served before I get the courage to bring my gaze back to Noah.  He's watching me eat my meal and he doesn't look away when I catch him.  I want him to know that I'm here for him, that I still love him, so I don't look away.

Nick must have noticed Noah looking at me, so he reaches over and puts his hand on the leg of the chair.  From across the table I'm sure it looks like his hand is on my thigh, but he's not touching me at all.

Noah throws his napkin on his plate in a rage and pushes away from the table.  He stomps out of the room,  while Jessica chases after him.  My stomach turns at the thought of her consoling him.  What if she goes into the bathroom to blow him?  I'm no longer hungry and I push the last few bites of food around on my plate.

"I fucking hate this," I tell Nick, who has taken his hand back.  "This isn't doing anything but pushing them closer together.  I told you this wouldn't work, and now I feel icky for trying to break them up.  I don't want to watch him with her anymore, Nick.  If he's happy then I want that for him, but I can't do this anymore."

"Yeah, I don't feel good about this either," he sighs, throwing his own napkin down on the table.  "I'm going to go find him."

Folio and Jolly look solemn as they finish their meals.  Jessica has come back to the table, a self satisfied grin on her face, and I'm afraid she did actually blow him in the bathroom.  When we can finally get back up and mingle again, I head straight for the bar.  I find CC and his wife standing by the bar and I make my way over.

"How's the plan going?"

"It's officially off, I didn't feel good about it.  I think Nick is talking to him now," I finish my drink too quickly and I'm about to go back for another drink when I hear shouting.  CC and his wife look at me and we silently try to figure out what's happening.  "Fuck, that's Noah," I tell them and start in the direction on the commotion.