The Real War

The Explosion Part 4

On my way back to the bar for an inevitable second Gin and Tonic I caught a sight I for some reason wasn't expecting to see. Chris and Tom together. Talking.

I hadn't necessarily expected Chris to stay where I left him and same with Tom but what I hadn't expected was for them to find each other in the same group with Jacob and Jake. They were all laughing together as casual as could be which in a way both eased my anxieties and heightened them even more. I found Zendaya at the bar getting refills for what looks like her and Tom as she lifted a beer and a martini from the counter. I met her before she could walk back. "Um. How did that happen?" I asked as and although I might have startled her she caught on to what I was about pretty quickly. "There you are!" She started, "Evans said you nipped to the bathroom! He uh came over to Tom, Jacob, and I shortly after you left him I think. Everything seems fine though! They both seem good." She reassured me as I looked over at the group of boys all roared over something Jacob had said. "Yeah... No wait for me!" I said stopping her from leaving without me and ordered my second drink.

"I mean this will be fine right?" I asked her, "Like they're both friends and I'm sure either of them won't make a move on me in front of the other considering both relation-" I didn't want to put that word on either of whatever was going on with either of them and I tried again, "Considering that whatevers going on between me and either of them is hardly out in the open naturally." Zen nodded in agreement and asked me how my interaction with Chris had gone before and I filled her in. "Wow... (Y/N) I have to say if there is one thing you can get out of tonight, neither of them are playing around. They're both definitely into you." She took a sip of her martini before finishing, "How are you feeling? Any other realizations?"

My drink was finally delivered but neither of us made our way back to group right away, giving myself the chance to answer her question. "To be honest everything has just confirmed how I already felt about the both of them. Tom made me laugh at his silliness even after just one drink and then gave me butterflies when he said that he was happy to see me and hell I am so attracted to him.. with the way he well... looks... he looks so sexy tonight." I took a deep breath after my rambling and sipped away at the gin again before continuing while Zen was potentially holding hers and Tom's drink. "But Chris... Well.. Fuck! He made me laugh too when he made fun of me and then butterflies flipped throughout my stomach whenever he looked at me and I was so turned on from just his finger playing at my wrist that I had to leave before I lost myself!"

I huffed violently in annoyance as I turned to my drink again and Zendaya gave me a caring look before gesturing to head over to the guys. She didn't even have to articulate her advice. I knew that the next step was to get back into the party to see what would happen next. As we approached Z darted straight for Tom with his third drink and I absent-mindedly followed at her heels again. "What took so long?" he asked clearly a little more intoxicated since that last time I had seen him. He had been trying to slim down for his next spidey movie so he his alcohol tolerance was much lower than I think he was used to. After he asked his question Zendaya answered him, "Girls stuff. Nothing to worry about." And she stepped aside and revealed me standing behind her and he practically let out an audible 'Oh' as my presence surprised him and put the widest smile on his face. "Oh okay, no biggie!" He said changing his attitude as I took my spot in the circle of people.

It was my plan to put myself between Jacob and Jake but they were too busy putting their arms around each other like a bunch of goofballs pretending to be looking up at the stars together, even though they were inside and could only see the various colored lights flash on the ceiling. Zendaya giggled at their silliness as Tom and Chris put their focus on me as I took my place hesitantly between the two of them. "You alright?" Chris shouted over Mark Ruffalo sing-yelling Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money. I glanced over at Ruffalo for a split second to buy myself more time before answering and by doing so I caught Tom giving me a very obvious worried look. I clearly wasn't being a good actress in this moment. The both could tell something was up with me.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine!" I started then raised my volume so the whole group could hear, "I just can't decide what I'm going to sing?" That was only half a lie. That might not have been what I was worrying about in the moment but it was something in the back of my mind. This was a karaoke party after all. Jake and Jacob snapped out of their games and weighed in on the conversation. "You? You're gonna sing?" Jacob blurted out, it was now clear to me that he was nearly obliterated from the alcohol at this point. "Yes... I sing... Just not confidently...." I said half in defense and half in embarrassment. Jake drops his jaw like this was the biggest news he's ever heard. "WHAT? You HAVE to sing! What are you gonna sing?" He asked as he wobbled a little, he was undoubtably on the same level as Jacob.

I laugh shaking my head at the two of them, "I don't know... I just said that." And when I finished instinctually turned to Chris to get his reaction. I watched as he had one hand over his eyes laughing to himself when I felt a hand on the other side of me, tucking a strand of hair that had fallen out of my pony tail behind my ear. I followed the hand and up the arm to find it was Tom's hand. I couldn't help but get those goosebumps again, every time he did something like this, something so careful and sweet it made my heart jump but then I remembered that Chris was right behind me. He cleared his throat and even though Tom hadn't noticed that he did he took his hand away from my face but then said, "You'll sound beautiful no matter what you sing."

My mouth was slowly going agape as I had no idea what to do next. If I should just let whatever happens happen to see where else Tom was going to go and to see what Chris might do if Tom tried to make another move. But all our attention snapped at Jacob again, "Of course you're gonna say that, Tommy! You're in love with her!"

"What!" I nearly yelled but then remembered our surroundings, many other people at this party could have heard him. "What?" Tom said through clenched teeth and shortly after Chris echoed, "Yeah what?" He had a twinge of anger too but he must have still been trying to keep his emotions under wraps. But then out of nowhere Jake chimes in and points to Evans, "What do you mean what? You're in love with her too!" And at this I swear my jaw was on the floor. It was Zendaya's turn, "What?!" She spat out giving the two of them the searing stare I would be giving them if my head wasn't spinning. Tom set his beer down hard on the table, "Come again?" His tone clearly reaching a new height thickening his posh accent and looking over at Chris who hadn't done anything since Jacob spoke but look between Tom and me.

"Did Jacob say you're in love with her, Holland? I knew it!" Chris finally spoke, his chest puffed out and taking as swig of his scotch and soda. Tom crossed his arms, "I-I-I like her a lot! I but-" He took in a deep breath before raising his volume over the sound of Chadwick Boseman and Jeremy Renner doing a duet to Summer Loving from Greese, "REWIND- YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH HER?" Tom was furious and Chris was getting all worked up himself. He finally looked down at me contemplating his answer to Tom. He could easily lie but in that one quick glance down at me he broke. "Possibly, yeah..." He said still to me before turning back to Tom, yelling too, "Yeah! WHAT'S IT TO YOU?"

I swear I could feel the group opening up and swallowing me in, or at least that's what I was wishing for in this moment. I caught a glimpse at Zendaya who was looking around noticing that some people near by like Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd and others. She smiled at them trying to play it off like they were joking around. I hoped to God no one could actually hear what they were saying to each other. I stepped back as the continued to size each other up. Tom saying things like, "Aren't you a little old, grandpa?" and Chris saying, "You're just a kid, what do you know! She needs a man!"

Just then, when I thought the world was ending I was somewhat saved by RDJ. He tapped on the microphone from the stage before speaking and getting everyone's attention. "Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful time... BUT! A little birdie told me that there is a certain someone who wants to sing but hasn't had the chance to yet..." I look over to the stage to find that Jacob and Jake had ran away from the mess they had made and gotten Robert to create this diversion. "(Y/N) (L/N) ... Will you please grace us with you're talents on the stage?" Everyone started to clap and so I had no other choice but to get up there and hope that neither of the boys punch each other while I performed.