Campus Corner (Open)

[celestialdragon]

"Will do," I say, putting the number on hold and kiss your cheek. "Run along now, I got customers to seat." I then turn back to my work.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I go and talk to Courtney and the conversation isn't brief. I can't help but flirt back when she does, and it is clear she is interested in me. But I am already in the dog house and don't know what to do. Courtney asks if we can meet up for drinks to discuss her function, and I agree, even if I know it is stupid to do so. I return to the floor shortly and notice you at the stand. You look tired and I tell you that I can call in Riley and give you the night off, if you want. Even though there is no connection, you find it odd that I speak with Courtney and then offer to let you go home. I'm ignorant to that perception of things, as I am genuinely looking out for you, or trying to.

 

[celestialdragon]

"No, I'm fine," I say with a tight smile. "Thank you for the offer, though." I thought it was odd, but don't make any mention of it. I don't want to anger either of us any further.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

The night goes by slowly and we go to leave. I turn out the lights and go to take your hand as I yawn. "Can I sleep upstairs tonight?" I ask.

 

[celestialdragon]

I smile. "Yes, you may." I squeeze your hand, happy again.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

We go home and curl up in bed. I turn on Sportscenter and pay little attention to you. I'm both a bit put out by the fight over sex and worried about further alienation of you. And, I keep thinking about Courtney, unsure at all why I may think her grass is greener.

 

[celestialdragon]

I realize you're lost in thought, and I don't mind. Sometimes, just being near someone is good, and I soon fall asleep, my head on your chest, a small hand holding yours, and a leg draped over both of yours.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I watch you asleep, and I feel bad, but am torn. I'm also horny feeling you against me. I gently separate myself from you and make my way to the bathroom, where I spend plenty of time relieving myself to thoughts of both you and Courtney. When I finish, I sneak back to the clubroom to sleep there because I feel separated from you over this mess.

 

[celestialdragon]

I wake up the next morning and found you had gotten up and went somewhere else, probably back to the club room.

I get ready for the day and write you a note: "You know you can talk to me about anything, baby, and I will do my best to understand what's happening, alright? That's what lovers do- they're open with each other. Something's bothering you, and I want to help. If you need to talk, text me, I'll be at the bar around lunch time. I love you."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I get your note and smile, but I'm afraid. I don't make it to the bar, and I don't return anyone's calls or texts. By 7pm, I call Don, drunk, and tell him I came to happy hour at a nearby sushi bar, and that I was still there with Courtney. I tell him not to tell you, but he is a good friend, and lets it slip anyway.

 

[celestialdragon]

I bite my lip when Don tells me the news, done with my shift and just hanging out, waiting for you. "Thanks, Don," I say softly. "Can I have a few shots of Jaeger?" I ask.

Stacy rubs my back comfortingly and I smile as Don brings me my shots, five in total. I down them all within the next few seconds and he wordlessly brings me five more.

About two hours later, I've had fifteen shots of Jaeger and four shots of cinnamon whiskey, and I was a little drunk. I insisted I can walk home, but I don't go home. I go to the sushi bar, where I see you with Courtney, and I instantly sober up upon seeing the two of you. . .

 

[CarnivalBarker]

You see us sitting at a booth, on the same side, chatting, our faces very close together, and clearly drunk. She is in a very little skirt and revealing top, and you see that we have had dinner, as the plates are still on the table.

 

[celestialdragon]

I don't go in, I just sit by the window and watch you, my eyes welling up in tears. "Reece," I whisper softly. "Reece. . ."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

We laugh a little, but nothing forbidden goes on. At one point, I feed her a piece of sushi and she later appears to whisper something in my ear.

 

[celestialdragon]

I continue to watch, not wanting to but really not knowing what else to do. I'm heartbroken, and I just look at you, silent tears running down my face. I hope you see me like this, watching you look at her the same way you look at me, crying, wanting you back.

I sing softly under my breath, "You're all that I ever wanted. . . You're all that I needed. . . I want you back. . ."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

We stay a while longer and I tab us out. We get up to leave and you see Courtney reach for my hand, and take it in hers. I hold it only until we get to the door and I let go from the door until I get her to her car. She gives me a full body press hug, and gets in her car and leaves. I look at my phone and realize I am too drunk to go to the bar this late, and I begin to walk home.

 

[celestialdragon]

I sit for a while, watching you, and I walk home a different route, beating you there and change and curl up in bed. I text Stacy, letting her know I made it home in one piece, and I pretend to be asleep when you come in.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I come in and wake you up when I trip over the divider between the wood floor hallway and the bedroom carpet. "Oh, sorry," I say. "I figured you were still at the bar."

 

[celestialdragon]

"My shift ended at 6," I tell you. "I had a few drinks with Don and Stacy and walked home." I don't want to bring up what I saw at the sushi bar, but I know it was going to be inevitable. "We missed you at the bar today."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Oh, uh, yeah. I told Don I was going to a Chamber of Commerce event at Nikiri's. i was there, trying to develop some business partnerships with the bar."

 

[celestialdragon]

"AKA, Miss Courtney, who if I remember correctly, was wearing a really short skirt and low cut top, and you two were looking quite cozy," I say. "And don't try to deny it, Don told me where you were, and I went there around 9 or so and watched you. I watched you put on that disgusting display for two hours and still managed to beat you home." I grab my phone and show the picture I snapped discreetly. "And you never once looked out the window. . ."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I smirk and cross my arms. "So you want to spy on me, Lynn?" I ask. "And what display? I didn't do anything inappropriate."

 

[celestialdragon]

"I came by to see if you were okay, since Don also mentioned you were drunk!" I say, heartbroken. "And you didn't, not yet. But what about next time? Are you going to kiss her and seranade her into bed like you did with me? Is that all I am to you, a fuckdoll? Well, guess what, buttercup," I growl, getting up and swelling up to my full height. "I'm leaving, right here, right now, going over to Don and Stacy's. You have 2 days to figure out who you want- me, or her and five hundred other girls!" I start packing a couple of things and sling it over my shoulder. "You know where I am, you know how to reach me. Think and tread carefully, Reece- I don't give many second chances, and I tried to reach out to you. You didn't. So now, I'm forced to do this." And with that, I set out into the night, without so much a 'I love you'.

I reach Don and Stacy and spend the night bawling my eyes out, with Stacy rubbing my back and talking soothingly to me while Don got the guest room prepared for me and made sure Stacy and I were comfortable.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

A while later you hear Don's phone ring and he answers.

"Yeah, man. Yeah, she's ok. She's talking to Stace. Yeah. Well, I mean, dude.....no, I....I mean I kinda understand her point. No, I'm not....I'm not taking sides. No, dude.....dude, stop. No, man, she needs to stay here, at least tonight. Yeah. Okay. Okay, I'll tell......it's 914 Sunvale Boulevard. Sunvale. Okay. Okay good. Alright man. Goodnight." Don hangs up and looks at you. "I didn't think you wanted to talk to him," he says, "but he wants you to call him."

 

[celestialdragon]

"I'll call him in the morning," I say quietly, the tears finally stopped. I'm exhausted, but don't want to go to bed. Stacy leads me to the bedroom anyways and I curl up and sleep fitfully.

The next morning, true to my word, I give you a call. "Hi," I say meekly. "What do you want?"