Looking Beyond

Chapter 20: What's With All the Yelling?

     Brea casually sauntered into the kitchen. "Did you start the coffee E?"

     Erik looked over at the doorway. "Of course. Is she awake?"

     "I think I woke her up. She could have been waking up on her own, who knows." Brea went over to the coffee pot and poured her friend a mug full of the brew.

     "Brea?"

     "Yeah?" She stopped pouring the coffee. 'Shit. I didn't want to talk to him.'

     "You never answered my question last night. Did you run away from dinner last night because of Jacob?"

     Erik sat a bit straighter in his seat. This was going to get good. 'Anything to get the focus off of Vannah-Girl.' He thought cynically.

     "I left because you stood me up."

     "I don't believe you."

     "Believe what you want. I thought I knew who sent the invitation and I went to see if I was right. I wasn't. End of story."

     "You weren't dressed like you were going to see who invited you. You were dressed for a date." He tapped his fingers on the table. "Why can't you admit that you thought it was Jacob?"

     Erik snorted out a laugh. Brea glared at him. "Something funny Erik?" She moved back towards the door, hot cup of coffee in her hands.

     "Nope." He covered his mouth with his hand.

     "If you didn't think it was Jacob, they why were you afraid to have dinner last night?" Trevor demanded.

     "You hurt me Trevor! I should have known that I'd never have a chance with you! I knew your reputation, but I tried anyways." Brea shouted. "I didn't want to talk to you last night!" Her anger at Trevor filled the room and silenced everyone.

     A few moments later, Jacob stepped into the kitchen, nearly bumping into Brea. "Did you forget what you came down here for Darlin'? The game's starting soon." He placed a hand on her upper arm, barely taking note of the others.

     "Jake..." Brea hissed in a whisper.

     "You suck at lying Brea." Trevor scowled. "At least I was honest when I said that I forgot!" He got up from his seat and slammed the chair back under the table.

     "What's your problem with Brea?" Jacob moved to stand between Brea and Trevor.

     "Let me guess Jacob, you offered her a beer, played her a song, and got into her pants – like you do with every girl you want to sleep with!" Brea bit her lip and grabbed the coffee mug with her other hand to steady it. Trevor looked over at Brea. "I'm not the only one with the reputation in this house."

     "I haven't done that since I moved here!"

     "So, are you telling me that you didn't do that for Brea?"

     Brea's cheeks burned from embarrassment. "Both of you shut it." She growled.

     "Guys, keep your voices down!" Erik pleaded. "Savannah's got a hangover and Dan's..."

     "All this yelling better be for a football game!" Dan's voice hollered behind them all.

     "Shut up Dan!" Brea yelled. She glared at him. She was ready to remove herself from the room, overwhelmed by what Trevor had told her.

     "WHY'S THERE SO MUCH FUCKING YELLING? I HAVE A GOD DAMNED HEADACHE!" Boomed a cranky Savannah. She rubbed her head and looked at each person in the room, her breath catching when she was both Dan and Erik standing next to each other. She abruptly spun on her heel and left.

     Brea looked between Trevor and Jacob, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm going to take this to her." She said softly and left.

     "What's going on with you two?" Dan demanded from Jacob and Trevor.

     Trevor held his hands up in defense. "I'm just trying to find out why Brea ran away from our dinner last night."

     Dan tilted his head in confusion. "You sent her all those flowers?"

     Trevor sneered at Jacob. "Of course. She loves daisies."

     Jacob glanced at Erik and whispered, "She does?" Erik nodded back.

     "You didn't know that?" Trevor smirked.

     "Y'all need to stop with this pissing contest." Dan looked at Trevor. "Dude, you messed up. Give Brea her space. Maybe if you back off, she'll talk to you and be willing to have dinner with you."

     Erik put a hand on Jacob to get him to back up. "Jake, just don't talk to him right now."

     "Why would you even tell Brea that about me? That isn't me now!" Jacob asked Trevor. "Is she that big of trophy notch for your belt?" Jacob balled his fists. "She's worth so much more than that!"

     "Funny, I thought that's what you said about Janie and look how well that went."

     Erik shoved Jacob out of the kitchen before he could respond.

     "What the hell man?" Dan's voice rang out. "Are you trying to piss him off?"

     Trevor just huffed.

* * *

     Brea and Savannah locked their bedroom door behind them. They could still hear the guys yelling. "They need to stop." Savannah slurped her coffee, closing her eyes and wishing the noise would disappear.

     Brea crawled into her bed, Trevor's words echoing in her head. 'Let me guess Jacob, you offered her a beer, played her a song, and got into her pants – like you do with every girl you want to sleep with!' Her mind spun as she wondered if that's what Jacob's goal was the minute she went to his room. 'But why would he bring me to his family? Why would he stay with me this long?' She wondered as she ignored the yelling and Savannah's slurping.

     A quiet voice drew her from her thoughts. "For what it's worth, I think Jacob's really into you."

     Brea hugged her pillow closer and sighed. She wasn't so sure anymore.