Loyalty

Chapter 7: Thanks.

Brian's POV

A few days after Sandy hit, it was Halloween. But this Halloween felt different than all the others. I was looking forward to spending it with Jess. I got to see her light up during the holidays, but on Halloween, I was in my element. However, I felt guilty enjoying the day when so many people had just lost their homes, and some even lost their lives. It was times like this that I missed being a fireman because I felt so helpless in the situation. But luckily, all my close friends and family were okay. Some had minor damage to their homes, but nothing that couldn't be repaired. I was lucky that none of the people close to me got hurt. I felt even luckier that I spent the entire storm with Jess. We got a chance to bond those few nights. I told her things that I've never told anyone before. Not even Sal. Jess was such a caring and understanding person that I felt comfortable telling her anything. But being alone in that house with her made me want her even more, and I didn't think that was possible. But I could never take advantage of my friend like that, especially after she had just gone through a breakup. I also had to constantly remind myself that she would never feel the same way about me.

About a month later, I was at my parents' house for Thanksgiving. I had decided to leave early, telling them that I wanted to beat the traffic back to Staten Island. But the truth is, I just wanted to get away from my family. I know it sounds terrible, but I was getting tired of their questions. I've reached an age where all the people around me are getting married and having kids, but I'm nowhere near that stage. I was beginning to get irritated by the things they were asking me:

"When are you finally going to settle down?"

"Do you think you'll ever propose to anyone again?"

"Look how cute your niece is. Don't you want kids?"

And the most painful question of all...

"What's the deal with that Jess girl? You talk about her so much, why haven't you tried dating her?"

Believe me. If I could, I would be. But there's nothing I could do about that. No matter how much I wanted Jess, she made it perfectly clear that she was not interested in me. But that was okay. I'm not her friend so that I could weasel my way into dating her. I'm her friend because she's a great person, and I'm lucky to have her in my life, in any capacity.

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After getting home from my parents', I sent Jess a quick text, wishing her a Happy Thanksgiving, and asking how her day was going. She told me that her family was still out her house. She hosts Thanksgiving Day, and some of her family travels to be there. Including her father, who had retired down to Florida. Her older sister Melissa also lived down there. She initially went to Florida for college but ended up staying down there.

Jess invited me over, offering to introduce me to her family. I had never met her family before, so I was a bit nervous to go over there. Especially since I would be meeting everyone all at once, so I thought it would be a bit overwhelming. I was especially nervous to meet her father. Jess told me that he used to be a detective in the NYPD, and he's very protective of her and her sister, especially since their mother died. I don't know why I was so worried to meet him. I'm just her friend. It's not like I'm her boyfriend or anything. So, I probably shouldn't have been as nervous as I was.

As I approached Jessica's door, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. As it turns out, the man I was most afraid of answered the door. Even though I had never met him, I recognized him from pictures Jess has shown me. But he was even more intimidating then I had imagined. He was a big guy, a few inches taller than me. For some reason, I kept telling myself that he still had a gun, so I shouldn't do anything to piss him off.