Calling All David Ryans

Chapter 9

                                                                                  IX.

No one was home. I was left alone in the apartment. No one one was here for me.

I sat on the couch, belly facing down, swinging my legs back and forth. I could not hold anyone's attention. Dave had gone off to see a new art showing. Maggie was probably at some bar chatting with her new friend, Mairead.

Everyone ignored me. Well, everyone except for Jacoby.

He initiated the conversation through text messaging.

It started out innocent enough. He simply wanted to know how my life has been, the usual polite conversation.

Then, he caused it to air on the flirty side.

He would say stuff like "I've been thinking about you lately," or "When can we see each other next?"

I complyed with the romantic flair of the conversation. Every female needs some sort of confidence boost once in awhile.

A small, nagging thought popped into my head. This was the reason why my guy friends had thought it safe to confide their love for me. I had lead them on just to satisfy my ego.

I dismissed that thought with a flick of my hair. Nope, none that was my doing.

"Awwww," I wrote, "how sweet. Why don't we schedule a dinner date. You, me, Maggie, and my fiancé can go."

Moments later my phone buzzed.

"How about we ditch Maggie and your fiancé?" Jacoby's message read, "Lete's just have the two of us. Now, doesn't that sound nice and cozy?"

I smirked. In my mind, the conversation was now over.

"If this is one of your ploys to get me in bed with you..... It's not going to work." I hit "okay" and the message sent.

Maggie would turn upset if she knew of the occasional conversations with her boyfriend. I did feel shade of guilt, but it didn't matter anyways. Any person who flirts with his girlfriend's best friend was a jerk. Maggie could not have been serious with this guy. I was just weeding them out for her.

No response came from Jacoby. I shook my head in amusement. Boys will be boys.

During the next hour, I busied myself with menial tasks.  They were menial in the sense that they did not produce any helpful results.

Sure, the pile of dishes in the sink need a cleaning.  However, I preferred to watch YouTube videos.  They entertained me much more.

I had just finished listening to a simple country song when my phone vibrated.  I flipped it open.

"Come down, I am in the parking lot.  We are all meeting up for the crane toss.  Text your fiancé.  We'll pick him up."  The message was from Robert.

I sighed and closed down my computer.  "Okay, okay.  Coming down now."

I strolled over to the mirror to check my reflection.  I looked decent, presentable, good enough.  Nothing green jutted out of my teeth.  My hair had pulled back into a pony tail with just a few bumps.  My clothes?  I looked down at my sweat shirt and baggy jeans.  I've worn worst.

I grabbed a wad of cash (not knowing who's it actually was), some extra tampons, and took a huge gulp of chocolate before heading out the door.

Robert stood, leaning against his car.  It wasn't one of those macho manly poses.  It was just a typical Robert pose.

He stood by his car with his limbs close together as if he was trying to take up the least space possible.  He kept shifting his weight and rubbing his right fingers together. 

His checks squished towards his eyes when he saw me.  I knew he had a smile beneath that red scarf he wore always wore, no matter the weather.

"Divy?"  He said, his tongue tripped over my name.

"Rob!"  I ran towards him and gave him a hug.  "It's so good to see you!"

He pushed me away and his face matched his scarf.  "I-I-I don't k-k-know if we should d-d-do that if you have a-a-a, um, eh."

"Here let me you help you."  In a playful motion, I tugged the red cloth from his face.

He jumped back.  "Divy!  Stop it-" he voice lowered, embarrased by his sudden outburst, "it's improper."

My shoulders danced with a chuckle.  "Oh, Robert.  What's so improper?"  I gave him a sly glance.  "Oh, this?"  I reached out to pinch his checks.

He stepped away.  When I presisted with my game, he grabbed my wrist.  "Your, uh, fiancé.  I'm sure he minds about, uh, our l-l-litle game?"  He let go of my wrist and looked down at the ground with a furious blush.

"Oh, Robert," I raised my voice so that it mocked the feminine tone, "It doesn't matter what my fiancé thinks," I moved closer to him and slid my arms around his neck, "There's us."

"Uh-uh-us?"

"Shhhh," I put a finger to his lips.  Then, I ran that finger across his forehead and let it drift to his hair.  I inched closer, until my lips were inches to his ear.  "Us."

I backed away and looked deep into his eyes.  I could not help myself and I started laughing.

Rob's eyes widened.  "What?" he gasped.

"It's just, it's just," I said between breaths, "you're so fun to tease."

His whole face twisted into an embarrassed expression, and then, a glimmer of anger shone through.  "Get in the car?"

"Excuse me?"

"Y-y-yeah, that's what I said?"  He did not sound too sure of himself, as he was questioning whether he actually did insist.

I walked over to the passenger side.  "Rob," I said, "you know, you should not take this so seriously.  It's the twentieth century, for God's sake.   Girls and guys can play around with each other."

Rob opened his door.  "It's the twenty-first, actually."

"Same difference."  

I was answered with the slam of a car door.