Where We Begin

Chapter 45 - Are We Having A Talk?

Dec 9th, 2002 - Busta

Fortunately, I made it home and back into my room without waking up anyone. Unfortunately, the adrenaline rush from the climbing, the biking, the sneaking and (mostly) the sexy times kept me up for the rest of the night.

School the next day was a drag. In gym class, we were playing dodgeball, because it was the week before Christmas break and Coach didn't care. Neither did I, so I let myself get hit immediately so I could go sit down. Brent had the same idea, but then again, he usually pulled that move. On the other hand, Jake was out there giving it everything he had. I don't think he could ever forfeit a game, even if was just gym class dodgeball.

Brent bluntly asked me why I looked like shit today, so I explained that I had spent half the night biking around Mt Blue in the name of love. By the end of my story, he was shaking his head.

"I know," I said. "It's a stupid idea to be out that late on a bike. I think it's time for me to get serious about finding a car."

"What's going to happen to you on a bike? This town is practically Pleasantville, especially where you guys live," Brent replied. "I was shaking my head because I can't believe someone agrees to have sex with you. Especially someone as bougie as Taylor."

Being overtired probably didn't help, but hearing one more person bring up the difference between Taylor and me again struck a nerve. "Can you shut the fuck up about it?"

Brent raised an eyebrow. I realized I probably just made a much stupider decision than biking at nighttime. "It was a joke. I know that's usually your thing, but the rest of us can make them too."

"Sorry, sorry," I quickly took it back. "I found out that Taylor's mom basically thinks I'm not good enough for her. We don't have to talk about it or anything, but I guess it's worth saying that it's a touchy subject right now."

He nodded. "Fair enough."

There was a pause between us, but it didn't last long. I couldn't contain myself. "Apparently it's the reason Taylor was grounded for so long, because her mom wanted to keep her away from me. Now, they are taking her away for the week. Literally removing her from town to keep us apart. What did I ever do? Besides the whole sneaking around thing and the deflowering of their eldest daughter... but I'm not bad person, I'm just not rich and not from Mt Blue and not what they wanted me to be. Dating your dream girl can really suck when everyone else is trying to make it a nightmare," I rambled.

Brent cut in. "I understand."

"You do?"

He shifted his weight, looking a little uncomfortable. "Yeah. I think I know a little more about looking like a thug to these suburbanites than you. You think Amber is rushing to tell her parents all about me or inviting me to dinner? You got an invitation to Thanksgiving."

"Doesn't it bother you?" I wondered.

"No," he shrugged. "If I want to hang out with Amber, I'm going to. I've got bigger things to worry about than if her parents like me. I don't care."

I leaned in. "Are we having a talk?"

"No," he said sternly. "This is me... calming you down."

"Calming me down?"

"Yes, because if I let you keep going off, you were going to get hysterical."

"Sure." I winked at him.

He scowled.

Jake jogged over to us, a smile on his face and a dodgeball tucked under his arm.

"Game over?" I asked.

His face dropped. "You didn't see that? It was down to me and Dan Keegan. It was like a five minute stand off and I did that spin move and threw a sick underhanded shot and I nailed him right in the chest. I won the game. How could you miss that?"

I put a hand on Brent's shoulder. "We were having some deep bro talks."

Jake laughed. "Sure."

"It's true," I said. "I'll assume Kiki has already told you about Taylor's mom not being a huge fan of me lately."

He looked sheepish. "Yeah, she might have said something like that."

"Yeah, and Brandy knew. Everyone probably knew before me, who cares at this point. But since you've known the Johansen's forever, I wanted to ask you, what's their deal? Have they always been allergic to us peasants, or is it just me?"

Jake shrugged. "The Johansen's are nice but they are rich people that have always been rich. The only thing they have to worry about is losing their money or something happening to one of their precious daughters. They put those girls on pedestals. It's not surprising that one of them would freak out a little when Taylor started dating. Kristen will probably get the same thing. I wouldn't take this so personally."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't take it personally? Mrs Johansen didn't care when Taylor was dating Kit. It's me that's the problem. What am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know, man." Jake was searching for something else to say.

Brent jumped in. "I say fuck 'em."

Jake pursed his lips and nodded. "That's an idea."

"Well, what's the alternative?" He turned to me. "You're not going to get rich anytime soon unless you win the lottery, so I'd try forgetting about what her snotty parents say. Your girlfriend is cool, you seem happy and shit. You're getting laid..." Brent shook his head once more in disbelief. "You're doing something right. I don't get it, but you are, so fuck 'em all."

"Wow, I guess there was some bro talk happening on the bleachers," Jake said, looking impressed. "I think that's some solid advice."

"Yeah," I gave them a half smile. "Fuck 'em."

I wasn't that confident though. My mind kept wandering to all the worst case scenarios, some as ridiculous as Taylor being sent off to some all girls boarding school in the Swiss Alps. Some were less irrational, but still worrisome, like the thought that maybe all this struggle with her mom will get to be too much for Taylor. Are we going to spend our whole relationship lying to our families and meeting up in the middle of the night? What if her mom succeeds in wearing her down and Taylor decides it's not worth it anymore?

Coach's whistle was piercing, jerking me back to real life. Jake popped up to his feet right away, ready to play. "Hey, come on! Round two!"

Brent and I didn't move, but watched him bound into the middle of the gym instead

"How can someone be that enthusiastic about sports at ten in the morning?" I mumbled as I leaned all the way back against bleacher row behind me, stretching my arms outward and letting out a yawn.

"Getting some sleep might have something to do with it," Brent suggested.

"Yeah" I said, my eyes slipping shut. The cold metal against the back of my head felt great. I could probably fall asleep right here. "But it was worth it."

"Look, about what I said earlier, my joke, I didn't mean to be a jerk about it," he said quietly. "Well, I kinda did, but it was less about Taylor being out of your league and more like... well, you're a goofy bastard, Peterson. Sometimes I can't believe you have and I haven't."

I picked my head back up, processing his apology. "Wait, do you mean... you're a virgin?"

His eyes narrowed. "That is the last time you ever say that out loud again."

"Noted." I tried to keep myself from smiling, but I could feel the corners of my mouth curling up. "I just assumed, you know. You're older, you're like a total alpha male. You've got those rugged good looks that drive the girls wild."

Brent stood up. "OK, this conversation is over. I'd rather play dodgeball then listen to this." He walked out onto the gym floor and ripped a ball out of a freshman's hands. The kid was about to protest until he saw Brent. I wish I could have that kind of confidence and be able to say "fuck 'em" and really mean it.

At least now I had more than one friend who had my back, even if Brent would never admit it.