The Relationship Status (1)

Donnie

That no good, conniving little douche bag!! Stephanie rubbed my back a little on the way home. I couldn't stop feeling frustrated. Whether he knew it was Mark or not, why would he even blurt that out? He knew better!

We sat down on the front steps of my house and talked some more.

"Donnie, I get that it's unfair to you that he brought up your parents. I didn't realize they meant that much to you." Stephanie winced.

I mumbled a curse word towards Jordan, sighed, and I explained, "My parents had a rough relationship and had brutal arguments that'd shake the whole house. One day my dad screamed at me while my mom was at the grocery store and Mark was at basketball practice. He was the one that told me that I was the reason they separated and that I shouldn't have been born or else they would've still been together. I knew that he wouldn't have told me that and that he didn't mean it because he was drunk, but it still stuck in my brain. And when Ma sent me to the shrink I hated every minute of it. I always thought, Why the frick is she sending me to a stranger about my personal problems? I don't need this. And so I'd skip a few days. But I didn't realize that it kinda helped me. And so I'd keep my problems in. I'd try to tell my mother, but she was basically on her own when they separated and she was stuck paying bills by herself with two kids. No help from anyone at all. Dad sped off to who knows where. And so, it'd build up and I'd let it out in the worst ways. And so, Jordan kinda triggered it some more. I know he wouldn't have said it if he knew better. And I know I'm a maniac for 'attacking' Jordan like that, but when memories hit you that hard and you're like me, sometimes you can't control yourself... You know?"

I almost thought she'd drift off or something from the way I'd been rambling, but she looked like she deeply listened. And in the end, she replied with, "Donnie, I totally understand. My parents separated, too. I was surprised my father made it home drunk one night. They went at each other like bears. Nothing physical, but it was scary since you can basically hear everything through the walls in my house without putting your ear up to it. But later, he was incarcerated for attempted robbery. He's locked up and two hours away from me. I didn't realize what so close, yet so far meant, until now. And not having Jennifer by my side anymore doesn't help either. I mean, we were best friends since the second grade."

We were all slouched into our own problems like we were in our own dark cloud. I knew this wasn't us. I hated feeling down in the dumps. I tried to perk up, "I think we need to get a bite, and I know the exact place. And it's not Gina's either." Stephanie lifted her head and gave a smile that made me ten times happier.

"Well, let's go then! Show me the way, Wahlberg!" She stood up and gripped her backpack straps. I stood up, grabbed her hand, and led the way.

****************************

It was a place that had a feel of Gina's and the up-beatness of the Mickey Mouse Club. I figured it would be just the place to feel happier. It was one of those places where practically every kid would go for a good time. Some people would just nickname the joint the "Teen Club."

"So, what do you think?" I looked behind me and my smile faded. She was still upset about the backstories.

"It looks great." She mumbled as she looked at the floor. I wanted her to cheer up. She was probably in one of the happiest environments I knew, right next to Disney World.

We sat by a booth and looked at one of the menus silently. And after some lady took our order, I noticed a jukebox in the corner blasting some the popular tunes of the decade.

"Be right back." I told Steph, and I went over to the jukebox. I found one of my favorite's "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz or B15 on the juke.

I walked over to her and bobbed to the beat on the way saying, "C'mon, Steph!"

With her fists under her chin, she said, "Donnie, I don't think I'm in the mood right now... I thought I was, but I don't think I can - Woah!"

"You sure?" I smirked and pulled her from the booth and spun her onto the dance floor. The chorus came and I told her to follow my lead. That chick is full of surprises and she did it again! She's got moves! I twirled her around once in a while and we acted as we danced. Ooh's and ahh's came from other people in the room.

By the end of the song, we were laughing and actually received applause!

"Nice job, Banks!" I high fived her but still got a jolt of energy (You didn't think the entire time I danced with her I didn't nervously sweat, did you?).

She blushed, "Thanks, Wahlberg! That was great!"

I don't know why then, but McIntyre showed up and the room felt like it oddly turned a little darker.

As as he saw us, he walked right over, "Hey, fellas!"

I tried to keep a slight distance, "Um, hey Joey... Whatcha doin' here?" Stephanie stands semi behind me like I'm her protection.

"Ah, ya know, just scoping out if anyone else was worth talkin' to ova here. But here you are!" He gave awkward jazz hands, "Listen, so I saw the fight you and Jordan had. And I'm sorry about that, man. I mean, that's gotta be rough fighting your best friend like that." Don't remind me.

"What's your point, Mac?" I was growing tired of him rubbing it all in.

"My point is, I feel like I could help out with your little predicament." Help?

"And how's that?" I cross my arms.

"Revenge. Duh!"

"Joe, I think I've done enough damage. I couldn't seriously hurt Jor - " I stop everything I'm doing and notice Jordan and Jennifer walk in the door together. I get this jealous/upset feeling in the pit of my stomach.

My body switched gears, "Alright, McIntyre. You wanna play Truth or Dare?"

"Donnie, what are you doing?" Stephanie gritted her teeth and nudged me with her elbow.

"Stephanie, it's fine. Don't worry about it." I gritted back.

"Look, we'll talk about it later, ok? Alright, Joseph! Truth or Dare?" I asked back to my normal tone.

"Dare!" Joe sneered.

"Hmm... I dare you to take Jennifer and make out with her in front of Jordan!"

Stephanie gasped, "Joey! You wouldn't dare!"

"It's Truth or Dare. And I can't say no to a dare! Question, Donnie. Did you want there to be tongue involved?"

"Bonus points if you do!" And I high fived him. "Ready? Annnd, start!" Joey ran over to Jordan and Jennifer's booth and he took her and made out with her for about thirty seconds at least! Jordan was stunned but his surprised look quickly turned to rage and Joey and Jordan took it outside.

Stephanie looked mad when I turned to look back her.

"We're going home." She gripped her hand onto mine and we left.