Esmerelda the Flower

Chapter 23: Christopher

Esme had just taken her and Camryn to the bathroom. That was going to give me time to try  talk some sense into Brandon. But before I could even get a word out he said, "that waitress had a nice rack? Don't you agree?"

I looked at him disgust. Brandon was becoming someone one else. He had no respect for himself or his fiancée. I replied, irritated "man are you serious? Your fiancée just left 30 seconds ago and you're talking about the waitresses boobs?"

Brandon looked at me as if I had a huge zit on my face. He laughed off my comment, "man you've become such a bore. Don't act like we didn't use to rate all the girls in our dorm hall from least to most fuckable."

I cringed at his reminder of my college days. Although I had grown and changed as a person,
I was still ashamed of some of the things I've done. Sometimes I wondered why me and Brandon were still friends.

"That was years ago dude? Okay? And don't try to twist this on me. Have you ever heard me ask you about a woman's chest when I was with Esme? Exactly, no. Because I respect her. You don't respect Camryn at all because you're using her. Man, when did you become such as asshole? You used to be such a fun guy? What the fuck changed?"

Brandon rolled his eyes, "I don't have time for this emotional shit. All I said was she had nice tits? Dude, since when did you act like such a girl? Are you your fucking period or something?"

In that moment I realized two things: One was that Brandon had to change or else we absolutely cannot be friends anymore. And two: I could easily beat the shit out of him. We were both relatively fit guys, but I was fitter, taller, stronger. I could just get up from this table and put him in a headlock if he kept fucking around.

But I didn't.

Instead I sighed, taking a long sip from my glass of wine. Brandon was staring at me, still confused by my confrontation against him. Then his face softened as he continued to speak.

"Look Christopher. I know our relationship hasn't been as strong as it used to be back then. And that's because we changed. Maybe you straightened up and became a model guy but I haven't. I know I'm not perfect, man. And I'll never try to be. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. Camryn's a great girl. And yeah, I get my parents funding if I marry her but that's besides the point. I'd still marry her regardless. I love her, maybe you don't understand but I do."

I processed his words for a moment. In all honestly I still didn't believe him and I still didn't believe his marriage would work. But for the sake of my patience I let it go.

"Yeah sure, whatever man." I replied, half-agreeing.

"Esme's probably talking some sense into Camryn  anyways." I thought to myself.

I then realized that the girls had been gone for way too long. Me and Brandon got up to check, walking towards the women's restroom when we heard shouting and banging.

"What the fuck?" I thought as I neared the women's door. I didn't know what was going on and I didn't want to be the one perverted guy who decided to sneak a peek in the ladies room but Brandon didn't seem to care as he opened the door.

"What's  taking you girls so we heard shouting,- oh shit."

At first I couldn't believe it. There was no way my Esme would ever fight anyone. Especially not her best friend, but it seemed my eyes were showing me the truth. I saw Esme sitting on the ground crying. I immediately sat down with her to calm her down.

After Esme calmed down we left the bathroom and headed to get food and then back home to watch a movie. We were sitting on the couch. Esme's head in my lap as I combed through her braids. I wasn't sure if either one of us was really paying attention.