Catching Feelings

4

"What the hell is this?" Fredo asks grabbing the prop for my costume off my bed.
I shake my head in disgust and adjust my fedora until it's just right in the mirror. "It's a Tommy gun idiot, you know...like John Derringer."
He inspects it a little closer. "Who's John Derringer?"
"Are you serious right now bro? Famous bank robber? From the 30's or something...dude they've made like a hundred movies about the guy." I straighten my suit jacket by tugging on the labels and nod, satisfied with my reflection. "Yep, John Derringer."
"That's John Dillinger Justin...now who's the idiot?" He laughs, tossing the gun back down on the bed.
I turn to face him "You're an asshole, you know that? And where's your costume anyway? This is a costume party you know."
He shrugs "It said 'optional' and I didn't feel like messing with it...actually, I'm surprised you're wearing one."
I ignore his comment, but he isn't letting it go "Why are you wearing one anyway? I thought you said you weren't going to...what changed your mind?"
I remain silent because judging by the smirk on his face he already knows the answer to that question. Sure enough, he suddenly snaps his fingers as though he's just figured it out "Oh! This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Bobbi told us that people who go to costume parties without a costume annoy her, would it?" He raises his eyebrows at me sarcastically.
I start toward the door to leave the room and tell him without turning around "I stand behind my earlier 'you're an asshole' comment Fredo."
His laughter is close behind me so I know following me. "Where is she anyway?"
I backtrack, realizing I've forgotten the Tommy gun and ask "Who? Bobbi? She's over in the other bus getting ready...she claims I take up the whole bus when I'm getting ready." I grab the gun and head back to the front. "I told her she was crazy."
"Yeah, if crazy means 100% right." He mumbles as he pulls a bottle of water out of the fridge. "But listen Justin, all kidding aside...you've got to cool it with her. A few people are starting to notice the way you are with her, and..."
I cut him off "What do you mean 'the way I am with her'?"
He slides into a chair "Just...I don't know...the way you focus on her completely when she's around...and the way you watch her, and...whatever, the point is, if you want to keep her around you have to get it together...you'll run her off if you don't."
"We're just friends! I like her...a lot. We have tons in common and she's funny as hell, she makes me laugh and I have fun with her, okay? Friends...that's all. I'm not into her that way." I lie. "Maybe at first but..."
He gives me a look that tells me he sees right through my bullshit but drops the subject. Just in time too because Bobbi taps on the door a half a second later.
"Can I come in? Everybody decent?" She asks. Little miss manners as always.
Fredo answers her before I get the chance "Come on in, but you must not know us at all if you're asking a dumb question like 'are we decent'."
She laughs and pushes the door open completely and steps into the bus.
"You guys just about ready? I mean if you're not that's fine, but..."
She continues to speak but being much too absorbed in her costume, I barely hear her.I notice her hair, swept into two high pigtails first. The way they bounce slightly with even the tiniest movement is mesmerizing.My eyes fall to her white button up which is knotted just below her breasts, and linger on the one button that is secured above them, displaying their rounded tops perfectly with just a hint of her cranberry red satin bra peeking out. My tongue slides across my lips involuntarily when I see her skirt, which is also cranberry, but plaid and barely grazing the tops of her thighs. I look it over a little longer than I should, then allow my eyes continue their slow journey to find stark white knee socks leading to a pair of Mary Janes.
"Shit..." I think silently "She's a school girl...thank god for Halloween."
I'm still wrapped up in my thoughts when I realize they are both silently starring at me, her face bearing a slight hint of embarrassment due to my blatant inspection of her costume, and Fredo's a smug 'See? Who do you think you're kidding' smile."
Finally, Bobbi pipes up "Well?"
"Well what?" I smile.
They both answer me in unison "Are you ready to go?"
I snap swiftly into action and nod "Ready when you are Bobbi girl..."
She reaches forward and straightens my fedora "Alright then! Let's hit it."

***
I slide into the seat beside Fredo with Justin sliding into the seat right beside me. "Hey it's a Bobbi sandwich!" Fredo says laughing at his own joke. I roll my eyes and shake my head.
"So I hear this club is really poppin..." I say to either one of them.
Fredo nods "Yea I heard the same..I can't wait to get it in baby!"
I look over at Justin,who is paying no attention to anything but my legs. Oh my god this kid "Yo Justin..you awake over there?" I say waving my hand in front of his face.
He shakes his head "Uh sorry what'd you say? I was distracted..." he smirks and licks his lips.
I groan with a smile "Nothing, it wasn't important...so is anyone else dressing up or are you the only party pooper Fredo?"
"Ah whatever Bobbi..I'm sure there will be plenty of people not dressed up, but I do think most of the team is dressing up."
"Cool..I know Allison said she was..I'm just glad we are in a hotel tonight..bus riding and alcohol aren't the best combination for me."
Fredo and Justin both agree with me as we pull up to the club. Justin grabs my hand and to help me out of the car. I quickly pull my hand away once my feet are firmly on the ground. I wouldn't want anyone, especially Justin, to get the wrong idea.
A few hours later I'm at the bar more than half kicked in the ass when Justin comes up behind me and asks me to dance..because I'm not of sound mind I agree a little to eagerly.

***
I grab her hand with a grin and lead her to the dance floor before she has a chance to change her mind. When we're in the center I turn, pull her in and bring my lips close to her ear to be heard over the music pulsing and pounding through the club. "Alright Bobbi girl, you already know I'm a phenomenal dancer, but don't worry...I'll go easy on you."
She rolls her eyes and laughs "We really need to do something about that low self esteem of yours J. Bring it...I got this."
"Oh you've got this huh?" I tease, wrapping my arms around her waist "We'll see. But let me apologize in advance for showing you and your mad dancing skills how it's done."
She gives me a tiny devious smile and spins around. When I close the space between us with a gentle tug on her hips she still doesn'tprotest. We begin to move in perfect time with the music and each other. Her pigtails have left her neck exposed and I boldly place a gentle kiss justbelow her ear, and even through the noise of the club I can swear I hear a soft sigh escape her.
I allow my breath to fall against her skin for just a moment before kissing it again. She pulls away just a little, silently warning me that I've gone too far, but she doesn't move away completely, and she could if she really wanted to because even though I'm holding her, my grip is light, and she could easily break away from me and I wouldn't try to stop her.
I take this little victory as permission and despite that I know there are hundreds of cell phones equipped with cameras stashed in the pockets of the other people in the club, I kiss her neck once more, a little lower this time.
"Justin..." her tone is far from firm, confirming what I already know...she doesn't really want me to stop.
"What?" I whisper as I graze my teeth over her earlobe.
She doesn't answer or complain when I sweep my fingertips across her stomach. My eyes drift closed with pleasure and relief...the skin just below her belly button is so soft and warm it almost hurts. I want her so badly, I've never wanted anything more.
All too soon, the song is over and she is motioning to head back to our table.The rest of the crew has arrived, and we slide into our seats, exchanging conversation, and comments on each other's costumes for a bit.
When the focus turns to Kenny, who is in the middle of some story I'm not paying attention to, I nudge her to get her attention.
She's turns to me, "What do you want now Bieber?" She says it with a smile so that I know she'sjust kidding.
"I noticed something while we were dancing..."
She tilts her head curiously "Oh yeah? What's that?"
I give her a serious look "You have boring earlobes."
She studies me for a few seconds and bursts into laughter "What? Of all the things I expected you to say..."
I shrug "Well they are...something's missing. But it's okay...I got you." I reach into the inside pocket of my jacket, pull the tiny jewelers box out, and place it discreetly on the table in front of her. "Problem solved."
She stares at it with a strange mix of emotions in her expression. She makes no move to open or even touch it so I reach over and snap the lid open to reveal two flawless diamond studs before leaning back in my chair to watch her reaction.
She raises her hand to her mouth in a gesture of surprise, and then lifts her gaze to mine with a little shake of her head shuts the lid and slides it back toward me. "No Justin...I can't accept those. Thank you...they're beautiful, but I can't accept them."
I push it back in her direction "Yes you can."
She shakes her head again, more insistently this time "No I can't..."
"Why not?"
"Because Justin..." she trails off.
"I just saw them and thought you would like them. It's no big deal...I bought Allison a necklace that caught her eye when we were out a couple of weeks ago." That's a lie, but I'm fairly confident she won't want to draw attention to all this and won't ask Allison about it.
She looks as if she buys it, but rejects them again anyway. "Seriously Justin, like I said...they're gorgeous and it was really sweet of you but please don't give me presents." She winces as if she's afraid she's upset me.
I flash her a smile "It's too late Bobbi girl...I already did. You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings would you?"
Her eyes narrow as she gives me a little kick under the table "That Bieber charm bullshit doesn't work on me...Scooter made sure I was given the vaccine for it when he hired me." She jokes.
I sigh with mock sadness and grab the box, pretending to put it away. "OK then..." I begin dramatically "I guess I'll just take them back. I'm pretty hurt though...I hope I don't start crying in front of all these people, that would be so embarrassing. But you've hurt my feelings so badly...crushed them really, so I don't see any way to avoid it. In fact..."
She interrupts my over the top speech with a roll of her eyes "Alright Alright..." she laughs "Don't throw yourself off a bridge."
She holds out her hand and I place the box triumphantly in her palm. She opens it and slips the earrings into her ears one at a time before giving me a smile and a sincere "Thank you Justin...I love them."
My hand moves to tug one of her pigtails playfully "You're welcome Bobbi girl...they look perfect."
She drops her eyes shyly, looks up at me through her lashes and I find myself plotting what I'll do next for the chance to see her look at me that way again.