Catching Feelings

36

The next day after catching a  ridiculously early flight back, we check into a hotel because I hadn't  expected to be home so quickly and had no time to make sure the house  would be stocked with food and all the other necessities.
I check my  watch on the elevator ride up "We're cuttin' it close B...I think we're  gonna have to just drop our bags and go. The last thing we need is to  show up late and piss Scoot off any more than he already is."
She nods in agreement and then nudges me "Nervous?"
I shrug "Nah...it'll be alright."
She gives me a level stare and I backtrack "Yeah...I am. This is bad."
Without  bothering to say anything, because she doesn't have to, she grabs my  hand and gives it a little squeeze, calming me instantly.
A half an  hour later we're settling into our seats in Scooter's office. He stares  at us silently, just long enough to make us uneasy and then launches  into his lecture.
"Well you've really done it this time haven't you  kid?" He begins "But here's what I want to know...are you purposely trying  to fuck up? 'Cause it damn sure seems like it."
"Come on Scoot..." I argue defensively "You know I'm not."
"Do I?" he reaches into his desk, pulls out a folder and lays four blown up shots before us "Sure looks like it."
I  reach forward and sift through them. B on my lap as I hold a blunt in  one hand and a drink in the other. Another of her still seated on my  lap, her holding the blunt in her hand this time and leaning down to  blow a stream of smoke into my mouth as my hand rests on her lower back.  The third shot was obviously taken later in the night when I was too  messed up to be very discreet...my hand lays high on her jean covered  thigh, nearly between her legs and my lips are close to her ear,  whispering something that, judging by the look in her eye, was far from  innocent. The last is the least concerning...I'm caught mid hysterical  laughter, very clearly beyond fucked up, but still not nearly as damning  as the others.
I hand them off to her and cast my eyes away from Scooter as she flips through them with a quiet "Fuck."
"Yeah..." he pipes up "Fuck is right...couldn't have said it better myself Bobbi. Let's start with the most obvious shall we?"
I take a deep breath of preparation.
"I could have sworn I told you two that I didn't want to see or hear about this shit with you two," he holds up the pictures when she hands them back "Guess that's not workin' out so well is it?"
"Like it's my fault some asshole sold some pictures of me!" I snap, instantly regretting it when I see the look he shoots me.
"Um  yeah Justin...that's exactly what this is...your fault! You have these  fucking parties with god knows who invited and then you pull stupid shit  like this! How many fucking times have I warned you?"
I nod but offer no comment.
He  raises his voice a little louder "Do you have any idea of the damage  these can do to your career? Think Little Miss 13 Year Old Fan's mom is  gonna rush out and pick up the new album for her daughter when you're  plastered all over the place getting high, drinking and practically  fucking your..." he trails off for a second "your whatever the fuck she is  to you..."
I roll my eyes "Practically fucking? That's a little dramatic don't you think Scoot?"
"Watch the attitude Justin...I'm not in the damn mood for it." He barks, slamming the stack of pictures down.
I throw my hands up "Okay! I fucked up! What now?"
He ignores me and turns his attention to B "You have anything to say about this?"
She clears her throat nervously "We never meant for this to happen...we never thought..."
He  cuts her off and repeats her words in a soft innocent tone "We never  meant for this to happen..." and then switches back to his normal speaking  voice "And that's right you never thought. You two never do. He's 18...I  can see something like this from him...but what the fuck is your problem?"
He waits for her to answer but I jump in instead "Don't be a dick to her Scooter...take it up with me, but leave her out of it."
He  laughs bitterly "Do you even hear yourself? Do you realize how stupid  that statement was? I can't leave her out!" He gestures towards the pictures "She's right there smack dab in the goddamn middle of it!"
I hold my hands up in surrender "Alright...fine...so what's the plan?"
"What  do you mean what's the plan? There isn't one. You're 18 now, and since  you seem to think you've got your shit under control so damn perfectly  all on your own then that's where we are. This is your bed...you made it,  so now you're gonna lie in it. Simple as that."
"What do you mean 'simple as that'? I ask with annoyance, but I can't say that I'm surprised. "So that's it?
He nods angrily "Yeah, that's it Kid. Deal with it. Now I've got a meeting in 10 minutes so..." He shoves the pictures back into the folder and waves in the direction of the door, dismissing us.