A New Perspective

Chapter Seventeen - We Can't Be Friends

"Your father cannot know about this!" My mother continued pacing while I just stood there gathering myself. "Okay, I agree and I'm pretty sure Brendon feels the same way." I say as I peak around the bounce house trying to catch a glimpse of them. "Good, now lets go back out there before anyone suspects anything." Before I could object she grabbed my hand and pulled me from our little hide away, quickly finding the two guys right where we left them. "Everything alright?" My father asked giving us a worried look. "Oh! Yeah! Sutton just started her period, so we had to run to the little girls room!" My mother said nudging me while I nearly choke on air. "Well... I... I'm going to.. Uh..." Brendon said stuttering out uncomfortably while pointing any direction that wasn't near us. "Don't be silly, Brendon! I notice you didn't bring family or a wife?" My dad looked around like he was trying to find someone who was looking for someone, Brendon cleared his throat and gave him a smug smirk. "No sir, my girlfriend had some family obligations to attend to today." Not missing the quick glance he sent me, I nearly died for the third time in one hour. "Well, that is perfect! The family games are about to start and Sutton here needs a partner. You interested?" Me and my mom shared a look before looking between my father and Brendon. "Yeah, that sounds like fun! Why not?" He gave me a goofy grin and stood next to me. "Howdy partner." Oh no, nope this isn't good. How the hell am I going to be able to play it cool with my father near if Brendon and I are partners! "Let's grab some food first, I'm starving!" My mother quickly chimed in and pulled my dad with her as she made her way to the grill again. "Holy. Fuck. This can't be happening right now." Brendon muttered running his hand up and down the back of his neck, before I could answer my father called for us. "Look, we can talk about it later. Just please, play it cool." He gave me a sharp look shaking his head. "Please, please tell me you're not 15." He whisper yelled, looking around to make sure no one heard us. "No! I'm 17. We will talk later, now walk before he gets suspicious." He said nothing more and walked ahead of me back to my parents. It seemed that Brendon was like the son my dad never had, all he did through lunch was brag about him. "You know, Sutton. When you start dating, you should try and find a man like Brendon. He is the perfect example of a well mannered and hard working man." And que the choking on air part five, Brendon casually patted me on the back like he was trying to help me catch my breath. After drinking some water I was able to breath again, my dad had made a joke about how clumsy I was and how they always had to watch me because if I was by myself I'd probably die. Ignoring his joke I continued eating wishing I'd be swallowed up by a black hole, I was drawn out of my thoughts when I felt a hand caress my thigh; glancing up my parents were currently talking to another family sitting near us, my breath hitched as I felt his hand inch further up underneath my dress. Oh sweet mother duck, his fingers were so close but yet so far away from what my body was now aching for. "Do you know that kid?" Looking up from the table I look to see where Brendon is staring, finding Collins eyes glued to mine. "Uh, yeah. We have mutual friends in common." His fingers brushed against my burning core, instantly I closed my legs trapping his hand between them. "I don't like the way he's staring at you, it's kinda creepy." He said like nothing was going on underneath this picnic table, like I wasn't trying to dry hump his fingers or anything. "Oh yeah, that's Bill's son. Every time I see him he's got his beady eyes on my daughter." My father chimed in before stuffing his face with food, Brendon's fingers continued massaging me, if he didn't stop I was going lose it right here at the table with my parents in front of me. "I've got to go to the bathroom!" I blurted out quickly, Brendon just chuckled next to me. "Um, Brendon if you don't mind, would you walk with her? I really don't trust that kid." Groaning, I glared over at my father. "Yeah, I don't mind, John. I've actually gotta go myself.... Shall we?" He said standing up from the bench offering me his hand , I just nodded then took his hand and stood up. Brendon quickly let go of my hand once I was up and we headed for the bathrooms, passing by Collin's table he sent me a wink. He seemed so different at the springs, now he's just annoying and gross; or maybe I'm blinded by Brendon. Looking back at our table my parents were in deep conversations with other families, sneaking a look at Brendon he was looking back at them as well. "I'll be right out." I muttered making my way into the girls room, once inside I walked over to the mirror looking back at my reflection. "You look beautiful today, it's been so hard not to tell you that all day." His arms wrapped around my waist pulling my body into his and his lips instantly went to my neck, his breath tickling me causing chills down my body; my head rested against his chest, enjoying his embrace.  "I know we have a lot to talk about, but I'm really glad you're here." I mumbled turning around in his arms, he nodded agreeing before lowering his head placing a tender kiss to my lips. I never wanted to let him go, he was quickly becoming the oxygen I needed to breath and that terrified me.  "I know we agreed to be friends, but please stay away from Bill's son. I really don't like the way he has been eyeing you." Looking up I could see the jealousy in his eyes, nodding my head he let out a relieved sigh.  "He's a creeper for sure."  He just chuckled nodding his head. "Can you stay the night? We should really talk." Brushing a strand of my hair back he rested his forehead against mine. "I can try... If not we can meet up tomorrow?" He nodded then kissed me again, we were interrupted by the door being open. "Well... Oops? This is awkward..." My mom said walking up to us with a grin on her face.  "Uhh...." Brendon was pale and looking for the closest exit he could run from.  "It's fine, my mom knows about you. She has since the beginning." I said relaxing back into him. "It's um... it's nice to meet you?" My mom just laughed shaking her head. "Brendon, its fine! Really! I'm actually really excited to meet you finally. I can see why my daughter is so smitten with you." She gave him a wink before laughing again, I could feel my cheeks heat up.  "Thanks... I think, I'm sorry this is under really weird circumstances though." He muttered rubbing the back of his neck again. "Yeah, I could definitely tell that it was a major shock for the both of you to see each other here. Not gonna lie though, it was very entertaining for me to watch! Your faces! Oh, they were priceless!" Groaning I sent my mom a glare as she mocked us, she didn't care though.  "This has been fun and very awkward but we should all probably be getting back."  Brendon said looking around not meeting my moms stare, she nodded and turned heading for the door. Brendon gave me a quick kiss, surprising me and my mom. "I'm sorry! I just really like your daughter... Okay... bye now!" He said then ran out the door. "Oh, boy. This isn't good."  Quickly turning around facing my mom. "What do you mean?!" The words quickly fumbled out of my mouth, she gave me a sympathetic look.  "Sutton, you know your father isn't going to allow this. Not only because he is clearly older than you but because he's also an employee of his. I don't want you to get hurt, I'm trying to protect you. Plus, all older guys want is sex. It's just best if you cut ties now before it's too late." If my mouth could have unhinged and hit the floor it would have, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you serious?!" I wanted to scream at her but managed to keep my calm. "I'm just looking out for you, honey." The motherly look in her eyes made me realize that she was right about one thing. "Daddy may not allow this, but you're forgetting one thing. I will be 18 by the end of the year, he can't keep us apart for long and if Brendon and I do decide to date, no one will stop us." She just nodded her head giving me a small smile. "You remind me so much of my younger self, It's kinda scary how much." She reached her hand out for mine, hesitating slightly I took it. "I'm not going to stand in your way of happiness, but I will look out for your wellbeing." I just nodded my head as we made our way out of the bathroom. Making our way back to the table my eyes were solely on Brendon's, his blue orbs locked with mine giving me a small smile before responding back to group of people who were surrounding him and my father.  "I'm so sorry I'm late! I'm here now, it looks like I'm just in time for the games to begin as well!" Her voice was like nails on a chalk board, like a dog that wouldn't stop barking.  "What the hell is she doing here."  I mumbled watching Brooke make her way to Brendon.  "Um.. Who is that?"  My mom stopped next to me as we watched their exchange from a distance. "It's his ex... Or so I thought she was an ex."  Crossing my arms against my chest, I held my head up high. We were friends, I had no right to get angry that he invited her. "He said his girlfriend had family obligations today, I thought he was talking about you..." My mom was just as confused as I was, shrugging my shoulders trying not to let anyone see my emotions, I was angry and hurt; I had no right to be though and that killed me.  "I'm confused too." We continued walking towards the group, it seemed people were asking her about her trip abroad. She bragged about it all the while keeping her hand interlocked with his, his jaw was tense and his eyes held fury. As soon as her eyes locked with mine she stopped talking mid sentence and glanced up to see Brendon looking back at me, anyone surrounding us could see the rage on her face. Panic was starting to rise in me at the thought of her causing a scene in front of everyone but especially my father, not knowing what to do I quickly turned the other direction and headed back behind the bounce house my mom and I hid behind earlier. "This is quite the little hide out away from the crowd." Collins voice was the second to last voice I wanted to hear right now, ignoring him I plopped down on the ground leaning my back against the brick office building.  "What's crawled up your ass? You didn't act like this the last two times we hung out, are you pissed I hooked up with Alexa at the springs?" His smug smile irked me, I wasn't in the mood to deal with him. "I didn't even know you hooked up with her." He nodded his head and sat down next to me.  "Okay... Then what did I do?"  Shaking my head, shrugging again.  "You told people we hooked up at Shawn's party. I don't want to be made out like I'm just another notch on your belt."  His eyes widened and he shook he head. "No, no... No. I never said we hooked up, I said we made out. Big deference."  He placed his hand on my leg but not in a sexual way. "Sutton, I don't lie about sleeping with girls. Usually it's the other way around." I couldn't help but to laugh, I actually believed him.  "Well, if you help correct the rumor... I'll stop being a bitch to you. You see who my father is, you know better than anyone what kind of trouble I'd get into with a reputation like that."  He gave me a sincere smile and a gentle squeeze to my leg. "I'll do what I can."  Both of our attentions were drawn to the man standing at the entrance of  the hide away.  "Am I interrupting something?" His eyes were focused on Collins hand on my leg, my mind shouted for me to slap his hand away and get far away from Collin; but I didn't listen, I just sat there staring at him.  "Nope, we were just talking." Collin finally spoke up and removed his hand, he quickly jumped up offering me his hand.  "I'm good here, thanks for the talk." He just nodded then walked past Brendon back to the party.  "I thought I asked you to stay away from him." His jaw was ticking and the fire in his eyes let me know he was more than pissed, he was furious.  "I thought about it after seeing you with your girlfriend, I decided I
can be friends with whoever I want. Just because we had sex doesn't give you the right to tell me who I can and can't be friends with, especially if you're back together with her!"  He shook his head stepping closer to me. "I'm not with her! I don't even know how the fuck she found me other than assuming she's been stalking me. I told you that I was over her! You didn't see me all over her did you?! No! Because I'm not into her." He was seething, all I did was stare at him, I didn't know what to say. Neither one of us said anything for a couple of minutes as he sat down next to me with his head between his knees.  "I'm sorry." He mumbled before getting up and walking away without a look back, in that moment I knew I was a goner; my heart was cracked. I don't know how long I sat there staring at the ground, it felt like forever until I heard my mothers voice. "Honey... Are you okay?" Her sweet voice made me feel a little bit better, I just nodded my head and stood up. "I will be, I'm just not used crowds... That's all." She nodded her head but I knew she didn't believe me, not even for a minute.  "If you say so, the games are about to start and your father signed you and Brendon up." Giving her the best smile I could and pretended to be excited. "Well.... You better prepare to have your butts kicked!"