You're My Little Secret, chapter 14
"How did you and Tre make out last night?" Mike asked the next morning, hiding his smirk as he took a sip of his coffee. "No pun intended."
I rolled my eyes from behind my sunglasses."Uh huh. I know what you were up to last night Mr. I Don't Feel Well." I replied, as we walked back to the hotel arm in arm.
He smirked. "I just wanted to see if you could get along by yourselves, that's all." He replied innocently, glancing across the street in desperation. "For fuck's sake, I'll give you my second CHILD if you find me a donut shop somewhere along here."
I giggled. "You have your coffee, be content."
He pushed his sunglasses farther up on the bridge of his nose and smirked, returning back to our previous topic.
"Was there any sort of canoodling going on last night that I should know about?"
I shoved at his arm and gave him an exasperated look. "You're like a twelve year old girl at a fucking sleep-over." I teased.
"Yeah, well, I didn't get a WINK of fucking sleep last night with your sister and Billie Joe next door... apparently they were having a different sort of slumber party than the one you're referring to." He grumbled, amused at my disgusted expression.
"WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE?" I said throwing my hands in the air in mock anger. "You and Tre have this need to talk about my sister's sex life with me. Yuck. I know they have sex... oodles of it, in fact, but we don't need to chat about it."
He chuckled and grabbed my hand to cross the street. "There has to be a fucking donut shop SOMEWHERE. Breakfast strudels, pop-tarts, SOMETHING." He said frantically scanning the shop windows for some sign of a bakery.
"We probably could have found something like that in the hotel." I pointed out at as we walked through the streets that were becoming more and more crowded as the morning wore on.
"You're right, we better head back so I can finish packing and shit." Mike sighed, finally giving up.
"We'll find you some pastry delights, Mikey... I promise." I said, smiling up at him as he grumbled something under his breath.
The next afternoon we found ourselves in Lyon, France. The guys once again were given some free time before they were due back to the hotel for a press conference and a few interviews with local papers and magazines. After that we planned to have dinner together and then break off into groups to do whatever it is we wanted to. The guys were also excited that the only task they had the following day was the actual show itself, which meant plenty of time in the morning and early afternoon to roam around. I was just excited to be back in France.
After their press conference we all headed out to dinner, which proved to be interesting trying to seat fifteen people in a small restaurant and trying to maintain some discretion, but we somehow managed.
"So what are you guys doing tonight?" I asked, leaning to my left to talk to Adrienne. Billie Joe and the boys had made themselves busy trying to stack their silverware into some sort of structure, much to Adrienne's disgust.
She turned her eyes away from her family and looked over at me. "I don't know. I kind of wanted to do some sight seeing, but the boys are pretty restless tonight. Maybe we'll just go back to the hotel and swim." She said, shrugging and shaking her head as Billie Joe sat between his two sons, grinning and encouraging them to carry on with their rude table manners.
I nudged her with my elbow. "They're happy." I said in response to her disbelief at how they are acting. "Let them be."
She nodded. "You're right, they are."
"So how come you're not happy?" I asked quietly yet boldly, catching her by surprise.
She reached for her water glass and took a sip, and then she took her time setting it back down on the table and wiping her mouth with her napkin.
"What do you mean?" she finally asked with a hint of anxiousness in her voice.
"Something is going on... and you might not want to tell me right now, but eventually I will find out." I said, trying to keep my voice light but I made certain she was aware of my serious undertones.
She offered a small smile and glanced over at her family as she nodded. "I know."
After that Adrienne busied herself with talking to Billie Joe and the boys, and I turned to my right to chat with Jason about anything and everything that ran through our brains. Tre and Mike sat across from Adrienne and I, Tre being across from me and every once in awhile I thought I detected his foot rubbing against mine. But I just chalked it up to him being clumsy and fidgety. I was still hell-bent on maintaining the friendship I had set out to make right, I didn't need anything shaking that.
After dinner I said my goodbyes with the intent to go catch a French film at a local theatre, something I desperately missed doing since leaving Paris. I didn't really expect anyone to want to come with me given how I was going to spend my night, and I didn't mind traveling around the city by myself... although it would have been nice to have a male suitor to keep me company.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard my name being shouted. "Ava!" I heard someone call out to me as I crossed the street from the restaurant, and when I turned around I was surprised but pleased to see Tre making his way after me.
"Hey." I said, smiling. "Are you following me?"
He nodded. "I figured maybe you could entertain me tonight, you know, instead of the boys." He said, shrugging and offering his arm as we continued walking down the dimly lit street. I gladly took it, surprised at the gesture and how romantic it seemed to me. I was such a girl sometimes.
"Where are we going by the way?" he asked as we strolled along in silence. "Cuz I could go for some dessert."
I grinned. "We're actually headed to see a French film that was recommended to me by the staff at the hotel." I responded and watched in amusement as he looked interested but a little leery.
"I see." He mumbled.
I grinned. "A little culture will do you good." I said pulling the directions out of my purse that the hotel manager wrote down for me. "It should be right up here."
Fifteen minutes later we were settled into our seats and I was grinning from ear to ear as the film started up. Tre looked a little bored and a little lost as he chewed thoughtfully on his dessert, which ended up being popcorn. The film was beautiful and I hoped that even though he didn't understand it he would appreciate it for what it was worth. I glanced over at him once and much to my dismay he was playing with his cell phone, but when he looked up to meet my disapproving glare he quickly tucked it back into his jacket and fixed his eyes back on the screen.
I tried my hardest to concentrate on the movie, but he really was the most distracting person I've ever met, especially when he pulled the classic date move: he stretched his arms a little and settled one around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.
I rolled my eyes. "You're so cheesy." I muttered to him as he looked over and grinned, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth with his other hand. I admit, his warm arm felt good draped over my cool, bare shoulders. I settled for considering him more as a jacket then a real date or love interest.
Later as we exited the theatre he reached for my hand as we made our way through the lobby with the rest of the crowd. I thought the gesture was friendly and a means to not get separated, but as we stepped outside and he didn't let go I felt a familiar flutter in my stomach and I tried desperately not to analyze it, but enjoy it instead. Friends could hold hands, right?
"Did you like the film?" I asked, glancing up at him as we walked slowly down the streets, our shoes making a familiar shuffling noise when our words didn't fill the air.
"Umm yeah. I'm not much for serious shit, but the language was beautiful and stuff." He grumbled with a smirk, as he led me down a different street from the one we came.
"Do you know your way back?" I asked, glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings but still feeling safe walking alongside him.
"We're taking a detour." He simply said.
We walked in silence taking in the scenery and just enjoying the warm night that clung to our skin as we walked hand in hand.
"Thanks for letting me tag along tonight." He finally said, breaking our silence.
I smiled. "Thanks for coming, I enjoyed the company." And then added, "I wonder what everyone else ended up doing tonight." I mused as Adrienne and I's odd conversation came back to me suddenly, making me feel unsettled for a moment.
"I'm not real sure... probably getting fucking lit." Tre replied. "I know Mike claims he's excited that Sidney is flying in tomorrow morning, but he's probably having fun while he still can." He muttered.
I smacked his arm. "Be nice."
He shrugged. "I don't like her, she's a little too skanky for him." He said as my eyes widened in shock.
"Wow, if you think someone is skanky then... " I trailed off as he shot me a dirty look.
"I'm serious, I think she's fucking around behind his back. And I think they should call it quits, Mike could do better." He added, stopping as we waited to cross the street.
I glanced up at him. "That's Mike and Sidney's business, Tre. And wasn't it you who told ME not to meddle?" I teased as he grinned a little.
"He's my best friend, I'm just pointing out what he can't see." He replied defensively.
I let the subject drop, not wishing to get into an argument. I was about to open my mouth to say something about being lost when I spotted a small park across the street that looked welcoming with it's charming little details highlighted under the luminous lampposts.
"Ohh, let's go check this out." I said, pulling him across the street.
He trudged along behind me as I pulled him through the entrance of the beautiful iron gate that wrapped around the park, taking note of all the flowers and the well kept paths that spread out as far as we could see.
"How romantic... you and I strolling along in a park at night... in France." I said wistfully, looking up at him in mock adoration as he rolled his eyes.
"Jesus, I'm running out of patience with this whole romantic business because it's getting me fucking NOWHERE." He joked. "I just sat through a two hour movie about some chick that lost her dog, or at least I THINK she did, because she kept opening her door and calling out something in fucking French. And the singing... holy shit, the singing was fucking awful... I deserve, at the very least, a blow job for sitting through that with you."
I rolled my eyes at him. "She didn't lose her fucking dog, for fuck's sake. Her husband left her, which broke her heart, so every day she would open the door at the same time because that's when he used to come home from work, hoping one day he would be standing there once again. It's very romantic." I explained impatiently at his doubtful expression before adding, "Ha, a blow job. We'll just deduct this from all the times I sat through the soft-core porn movies that you claimed you were watching for the action packed scenes. Bullshit."
He laughed as we walked down a path that wound a little, smiling politely at another couple that strolled past hand in hand.
"You miss being in Paris?" Tre asked, looking down at me curiously.
I nodded. "Sometimes. But now that I've gotten comfortable on the West Coast I think I would miss that more if I moved away again." I replied.
He smiled. "So I'm not in any danger of you picking up and moving away anytime soon?"
I shook my head. "No, I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
He shrugged his shoulders and then stopped walking, focusing on something in the distance.
"What?" I asked, looking away from him and towards the direction he was so curiously staring at.
A large fountain with several statues and lots of different colored lights surrounding it stood about twenty feet away.
"That's fucking awesome." Tre mumbled, pulling me towards the magnificent sight. "It's fucking huge."
I giggled as we stood staring up at the tall, marble creation. "It kind of reminds me of the water fountain in the beginning of 'Friends'... you know, the one they play in?"
Tre nodded enthusiastically. "I love Friends."
I glanced over at him as that familiar mischievous look crept over his face; I could almost read his mind.
"Tre... " I warned in a stern voice as his face broke into a big grin.
He ignored my warning. "Who's your favorite Friend?"
I swallowed nervously. "Uh, Chandler. Why?"
He shrugged, advancing towards me a little. "No reason."
"Tre... " I said again this time more sternly, backing away a little as that mischievous glint in his eyes continued to stare back at me. "We're not taking a SWIM in a fountain in the middle of a park. Bacteria and such." I insisted, as he grinned wider. "AND it's probably illegal."
And right as I was about to turn and run he wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up, holding me menacingly above the fountain as he grinned.
"TRE!" I screeched, trying to hold on to him.
"Chandler was one of the first ones to jump into the water fountain, I do recall." He said, laughing at my shrieks as he gently dropped me into the cold water.
I screeched in shock as I lay in the shallow water, my hair plastered to my face, glaring at him as he laughed. I watched as he quickly removed his shoes and then dove into the water next to me, splashing giddily and reaching over to pull me closer to him.
"So no one told you life was gonna be this way... " he belted out happily, clapping to the imaginary beat of the song. "Your jobs a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA... ." he sang, looking over at me expectantly as if to join in as I continued to stare unbelievingly at him.
He stood up suddenly, grabbing my hands and pulling me with him as he danced around, his hair hanging in his face. "It's like you're always stuck in second gear... " He continued singing out, as he grabbed me and spun me around, splashing all the while.
I couldn't help but join in with his ridiculous display. "When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year... " We sang together. "BUT I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU... when the rain starts to pour... I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU... like I've been there before... I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU... cause you're there for me toooooo." We sang, crooning a little at the last part and grinning at each other as we continued to dance around in the knee deep water fountain. And as he picked me up and carried me around in his arms I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had that much fun
After a little more splashing around we decided it was time to head back before we caught pneumonia... or before we were thrown in jail, one of the two. He helped me out of the fountain, laughing as I cringed. I hated walking around in wet clothes, especially wet jeans. I saw him eyeing my wet shirt as it clung to the front of me, and then I watched his eyes travel downwards as he took in the sight of my now low slung jeans clinging to my hips. Men really are simple creatures.
"I think you should give me a piggy back ride back to the hotel." I said, looking over at him as he struggled to pull on his shoes. "Cuz you got me wet... and I hate walking around wet."
He smiled. "Oh yeah?"
I nodded, pulling my hair into a pony tail as he beckoned for me to jump on his back. I carefully climbed on his back as he grabbed the back of my thighs, situating me by bouncing up and down a little.
"Comfy?" He asked as I loosely wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head against the back of his shoulder.
"Hmhmm." I mumbled, marveling at how strong he seemed, his muscles straining against his wet t-shirt.
We made our way back to the hotel, laughing and still singing a little; earning a few stares from people who probably assumed we were tourists who had gotten drunk and fallen into the river. I didn't mind though; right then I didn't have a care in the world.
As we reached the front of the hotel I slid off his back and grinned up at him.
"Thanks for the ride." I said without meaning to sound suggestive. I grinned as his eyebrow quirked in an interested fashion.
"You can ride me anytime." He joked as I rolled my eyes and slapped him. I felt a little foolish walking across a posh hotel lobby in wet clothes, but it was late and no one seemed to pay any attention.
Still feeling a little energetic once we were out of the watchful eye of the bellhops, I leaned over to Tre. "I'll race you to the elevators." I challenged, as I slid a little in my wet shoes before taking off at a run with him close behind me.
"YOU CHEATED!" He called out, grabbing my waist and lifting me off the ground as I made it to the elevators first, preventing me from doing a victory chance.
"I demand a rematch!" He said, as I giggled and held my arms triumphantly in the air. He set me down on my feet and ruffled my hair affectionately as I leaned against him a little, wondering why I felt such a pull towards him all of a sudden.
When the elevator doors opened we clamored into the small space and shoved at each playfully as the doors closed again.
"I had fun tonight." I admitted as he smirked.
"Me too." He agreed, nudging me with his shoulder.
Maybe it was because of all the carefree fun we had, or maybe it was because his blue t-shirt clung to him so perfectly and accentuated his eyes, or maybe it was because I felt such an insane pull towards him; whatever the reason I leaned up and planted a small kiss on his lips, catching him by surprise.
I pulled away first and blushed as he stared curiously at me.
"What was that for?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I acted on impulse." I admitted with a blush, glancing over at him as he took another step towards me.
"Permission to act on impulse." He murmured, leaning closer to me as I giggled.
"It's not much of an impulse if you discuss it with the other person." I whispered to him as he dipped his head and kissed me softly, my eyes fluttering shut as the familiar feeling of his lips on mine came rushing back to me.
I felt his arms wrap around my waist as I snaked mine around his neck, causing me to lightly tumble into the wall of the elevator as we held each other, feeling as if this was the first time we had kissed; when really it had happened hundreds of times before.
I knew the elevator was going to arrive at our floor any second so I politely pushed him away from me and smiled at his disappointed look, but as he glanced at the panel next to the elevator doors I knew he understood.
When the elevator doors opened we casually strolled out, fully aware that we probably looked completely insane to anyone we met in the hallway, what with our wet clothes and goofy expressions. He walked me silently to my door and as I leaned against it he smiled and dropped his eyes to the plush carpet.
"I had fun." He reiterated for the second time, causing me to grin as wide as he was.
"Me too." I responded yet again. "Maybe after your show tomorrow night we could hang out again?" I offered shyly, not wanting to ruin our perfect evening by asking him to come in.
He nodded as if sensing my thoughts. "Let's stay in though." He whispered, reaching out to wipe a damp strand of hair off my cheek.
I turned my face a little and kissed his fingers as they brushed across my cheek, feeling something familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. My chest almost exploded under his watchful gaze... I had never felt for him like this before, or at least I hadn't admitted that I felt for him like this before.
"Can't wait." I replied, giving him one last final wave and a secret smile as I shut the door, leaning back against as I did. God, he is amazing.
As I pushed away from the door and walked into the bathroom to take a shower I noticed that I couldn't stop smiling... not that I wanted to. Something felt different between us, like we had finally reached a place where we saw eye to eye. And the fact that neither of us felt compelled to throw one another down on the floor and go at it made my insides melt a little more. I mean, that would have been nice too, but I liked that we seemed to be arriving at a place where sex wasn't the only way to show our affection for one another. I was ready to be honest with not only myself and him about how I felt, but Adrienne has well; consequences be damned. Maybe I was delirious. What the hell kind of water was in that fountain anyway?
"You went swimming... in a fountain... in the middle of a fucking park?" Mike clarified, the next afternoon as we stood on the hotel roof, smoking and catching some rays. I had called to ask for a brief meeting of sorts and he obliged, allowing me to steal him away from Sidney for awhile.
I nodded and smiled at the memory. "It was so much fun, but romantic at the same time." I gushed, not believing that I could sound this cheesy.
Mike raised his eyebrows before resting his forehead in the crook of his arm and laughing. "You two are fucking crazy."
I giggled but then sobered almost immediately. "I'm going to tell Adrienne." I admitted, watching as he jerked his head up in surprise. "WHAT?" He asked, both amazed and alarmed.
"I'm going to tell Adrienne the truth... that I want to be with him." I clarified, feeling a sense of panic but also renewed vigor run through my body as I said the words out loud.
"Good for you." Mike said, smiling a little as I stubbed out my cigarette.
I nodded. "I feel good about it... but I think I'm going to wait until she and the boys come home from the tour. I just think it would be easier for her to deal with something like this in her own settings, you know, somewhere familiar." I muttered nervously as Mike smirked.
"In other words you don't want her to be able to hunt Tre down and cut his body into a million fucking pieces?" Mike mused.
"Precisely. Wish me luck." I said as he reached over to pull me into a tight hug.
"You're doing the right thing, kid. You'll feel better in the end, even if she doesn't respond too well at first." He mumbled into my hair. "I think you and Tre are great for one another."
I pulled away and nodded. "Let's hope Adrienne feels the same way."
That night Tre and I had opted to stay in after he got done with the show like we had planned. We pulled the comforter off my bed and laid it out in front of the television, enjoying a makeshift picnic as we drank wine and ate pizza in front of the television, neither of us speaking yet about our feelings for one another or our situation, but instead commenting on television programs or making fun of each other.
"You want more wine?" he asked lazily as he leaned against the couch with me between his legs, leaning against his chest.
"I don't think so." I responded as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me impossibly closer. "I'm feeling an adequate buzz."
He grinned into my hair. "You've become such a lightweight, Nesser. You used to be able to drink me under the fucking table... now, look at you. Drunk after only a couple glasses of wine." He teased as I turned around in his arms and glared at him.
"First of all, this wine is some pretty potent shit." I said defensively. "And second, let's pretend for a moment I have in fact wilted in my drinking abilities, I have not been out drinking... and I mean SERIOUSLY drinking since that weekend in Canada. And plus, my dear Tre, NO ONE can out drink you. Well, maybe with the exception of Billie Joe because I'm convinced that motherfucker is half Irish."
Tre threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, he's definitely part Irish."
We settled back down again, content to hold one another and watch TV.
"So what's going on?" he finally asked, nudging me to see if I had fallen asleep.
I shrugged and tried to maintain a casual tone. "I'm going to tell Adrienne about us when she gets home." I answered as he froze for a second.
"What?" he asked, as though he didn't hear me. "Are you really?"
I turned around again to look at him and nodded. "I think if we're going to be together we should be honest with everyone. No more sneaking around and lying. If we want this to last we have to be truthful, right?"
He nodded a little and chewed on his lip. "I never thought I would hear this come out of your mouth." He admitted, fixing his eyes on mine. "I never thought you would get to this point where I am. Where I have been for quite some time." He whispered, brushing his fingers across my cheek, making my stomach flip happily at his admittance of long term feelings.
I shrugged. "I can't explain it... I just feel something for you that is indescribable, and last night served to point that out to me." I murmured as he grinned.
"I knew pushing you in the fountain would make you fall in love with me." He said rather arrogantly as I laughed. "It was all in my master plan, you see."
"It was a rather magical fountain."
"Come here." He whispered quietly, sending a zillion shivers down my spine as I turned around to meet his big blue eyes head on.
I felt his hands grip my hips as our lips touched softly at first, making me smile against his. I placed my hands on his shoulders to keep myself from falling over as his tongue traced my bottom lip before intertwining with my own. As our feverish kisses picked up pace I gripped his neck as he sat forward all of a sudden, placing his knees on the floor as he laid me down on the comforter, shoving the empty plates and the pizza box out of the way so we would have more room. I giggled as he leaned forward and playfully unzipped my hoodie with his teeth.
"I missed you." He whispered, looking up at me as he planted kisses down my stomach.
"Hmm, ditto." I replied, running my hands through his hair as he crawled back up and covered my mouth with his.
In that moment as we made love on the hotel floor I had a strange feeling that everything would be okay... and oh boy was I ever wrong.
I rolled my eyes from behind my sunglasses."Uh huh. I know what you were up to last night Mr. I Don't Feel Well." I replied, as we walked back to the hotel arm in arm.
He smirked. "I just wanted to see if you could get along by yourselves, that's all." He replied innocently, glancing across the street in desperation. "For fuck's sake, I'll give you my second CHILD if you find me a donut shop somewhere along here."
I giggled. "You have your coffee, be content."
He pushed his sunglasses farther up on the bridge of his nose and smirked, returning back to our previous topic.
"Was there any sort of canoodling going on last night that I should know about?"
I shoved at his arm and gave him an exasperated look. "You're like a twelve year old girl at a fucking sleep-over." I teased.
"Yeah, well, I didn't get a WINK of fucking sleep last night with your sister and Billie Joe next door... apparently they were having a different sort of slumber party than the one you're referring to." He grumbled, amused at my disgusted expression.
"WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE?" I said throwing my hands in the air in mock anger. "You and Tre have this need to talk about my sister's sex life with me. Yuck. I know they have sex... oodles of it, in fact, but we don't need to chat about it."
He chuckled and grabbed my hand to cross the street. "There has to be a fucking donut shop SOMEWHERE. Breakfast strudels, pop-tarts, SOMETHING." He said frantically scanning the shop windows for some sign of a bakery.
"We probably could have found something like that in the hotel." I pointed out at as we walked through the streets that were becoming more and more crowded as the morning wore on.
"You're right, we better head back so I can finish packing and shit." Mike sighed, finally giving up.
"We'll find you some pastry delights, Mikey... I promise." I said, smiling up at him as he grumbled something under his breath.
The next afternoon we found ourselves in Lyon, France. The guys once again were given some free time before they were due back to the hotel for a press conference and a few interviews with local papers and magazines. After that we planned to have dinner together and then break off into groups to do whatever it is we wanted to. The guys were also excited that the only task they had the following day was the actual show itself, which meant plenty of time in the morning and early afternoon to roam around. I was just excited to be back in France.
After their press conference we all headed out to dinner, which proved to be interesting trying to seat fifteen people in a small restaurant and trying to maintain some discretion, but we somehow managed.
"So what are you guys doing tonight?" I asked, leaning to my left to talk to Adrienne. Billie Joe and the boys had made themselves busy trying to stack their silverware into some sort of structure, much to Adrienne's disgust.
She turned her eyes away from her family and looked over at me. "I don't know. I kind of wanted to do some sight seeing, but the boys are pretty restless tonight. Maybe we'll just go back to the hotel and swim." She said, shrugging and shaking her head as Billie Joe sat between his two sons, grinning and encouraging them to carry on with their rude table manners.
I nudged her with my elbow. "They're happy." I said in response to her disbelief at how they are acting. "Let them be."
She nodded. "You're right, they are."
"So how come you're not happy?" I asked quietly yet boldly, catching her by surprise.
She reached for her water glass and took a sip, and then she took her time setting it back down on the table and wiping her mouth with her napkin.
"What do you mean?" she finally asked with a hint of anxiousness in her voice.
"Something is going on... and you might not want to tell me right now, but eventually I will find out." I said, trying to keep my voice light but I made certain she was aware of my serious undertones.
She offered a small smile and glanced over at her family as she nodded. "I know."
After that Adrienne busied herself with talking to Billie Joe and the boys, and I turned to my right to chat with Jason about anything and everything that ran through our brains. Tre and Mike sat across from Adrienne and I, Tre being across from me and every once in awhile I thought I detected his foot rubbing against mine. But I just chalked it up to him being clumsy and fidgety. I was still hell-bent on maintaining the friendship I had set out to make right, I didn't need anything shaking that.
After dinner I said my goodbyes with the intent to go catch a French film at a local theatre, something I desperately missed doing since leaving Paris. I didn't really expect anyone to want to come with me given how I was going to spend my night, and I didn't mind traveling around the city by myself... although it would have been nice to have a male suitor to keep me company.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard my name being shouted. "Ava!" I heard someone call out to me as I crossed the street from the restaurant, and when I turned around I was surprised but pleased to see Tre making his way after me.
"Hey." I said, smiling. "Are you following me?"
He nodded. "I figured maybe you could entertain me tonight, you know, instead of the boys." He said, shrugging and offering his arm as we continued walking down the dimly lit street. I gladly took it, surprised at the gesture and how romantic it seemed to me. I was such a girl sometimes.
"Where are we going by the way?" he asked as we strolled along in silence. "Cuz I could go for some dessert."
I grinned. "We're actually headed to see a French film that was recommended to me by the staff at the hotel." I responded and watched in amusement as he looked interested but a little leery.
"I see." He mumbled.
I grinned. "A little culture will do you good." I said pulling the directions out of my purse that the hotel manager wrote down for me. "It should be right up here."
Fifteen minutes later we were settled into our seats and I was grinning from ear to ear as the film started up. Tre looked a little bored and a little lost as he chewed thoughtfully on his dessert, which ended up being popcorn. The film was beautiful and I hoped that even though he didn't understand it he would appreciate it for what it was worth. I glanced over at him once and much to my dismay he was playing with his cell phone, but when he looked up to meet my disapproving glare he quickly tucked it back into his jacket and fixed his eyes back on the screen.
I tried my hardest to concentrate on the movie, but he really was the most distracting person I've ever met, especially when he pulled the classic date move: he stretched his arms a little and settled one around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.
I rolled my eyes. "You're so cheesy." I muttered to him as he looked over and grinned, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth with his other hand. I admit, his warm arm felt good draped over my cool, bare shoulders. I settled for considering him more as a jacket then a real date or love interest.
Later as we exited the theatre he reached for my hand as we made our way through the lobby with the rest of the crowd. I thought the gesture was friendly and a means to not get separated, but as we stepped outside and he didn't let go I felt a familiar flutter in my stomach and I tried desperately not to analyze it, but enjoy it instead. Friends could hold hands, right?
"Did you like the film?" I asked, glancing up at him as we walked slowly down the streets, our shoes making a familiar shuffling noise when our words didn't fill the air.
"Umm yeah. I'm not much for serious shit, but the language was beautiful and stuff." He grumbled with a smirk, as he led me down a different street from the one we came.
"Do you know your way back?" I asked, glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings but still feeling safe walking alongside him.
"We're taking a detour." He simply said.
We walked in silence taking in the scenery and just enjoying the warm night that clung to our skin as we walked hand in hand.
"Thanks for letting me tag along tonight." He finally said, breaking our silence.
I smiled. "Thanks for coming, I enjoyed the company." And then added, "I wonder what everyone else ended up doing tonight." I mused as Adrienne and I's odd conversation came back to me suddenly, making me feel unsettled for a moment.
"I'm not real sure... probably getting fucking lit." Tre replied. "I know Mike claims he's excited that Sidney is flying in tomorrow morning, but he's probably having fun while he still can." He muttered.
I smacked his arm. "Be nice."
He shrugged. "I don't like her, she's a little too skanky for him." He said as my eyes widened in shock.
"Wow, if you think someone is skanky then... " I trailed off as he shot me a dirty look.
"I'm serious, I think she's fucking around behind his back. And I think they should call it quits, Mike could do better." He added, stopping as we waited to cross the street.
I glanced up at him. "That's Mike and Sidney's business, Tre. And wasn't it you who told ME not to meddle?" I teased as he grinned a little.
"He's my best friend, I'm just pointing out what he can't see." He replied defensively.
I let the subject drop, not wishing to get into an argument. I was about to open my mouth to say something about being lost when I spotted a small park across the street that looked welcoming with it's charming little details highlighted under the luminous lampposts.
"Ohh, let's go check this out." I said, pulling him across the street.
He trudged along behind me as I pulled him through the entrance of the beautiful iron gate that wrapped around the park, taking note of all the flowers and the well kept paths that spread out as far as we could see.
"How romantic... you and I strolling along in a park at night... in France." I said wistfully, looking up at him in mock adoration as he rolled his eyes.
"Jesus, I'm running out of patience with this whole romantic business because it's getting me fucking NOWHERE." He joked. "I just sat through a two hour movie about some chick that lost her dog, or at least I THINK she did, because she kept opening her door and calling out something in fucking French. And the singing... holy shit, the singing was fucking awful... I deserve, at the very least, a blow job for sitting through that with you."
I rolled my eyes at him. "She didn't lose her fucking dog, for fuck's sake. Her husband left her, which broke her heart, so every day she would open the door at the same time because that's when he used to come home from work, hoping one day he would be standing there once again. It's very romantic." I explained impatiently at his doubtful expression before adding, "Ha, a blow job. We'll just deduct this from all the times I sat through the soft-core porn movies that you claimed you were watching for the action packed scenes. Bullshit."
He laughed as we walked down a path that wound a little, smiling politely at another couple that strolled past hand in hand.
"You miss being in Paris?" Tre asked, looking down at me curiously.
I nodded. "Sometimes. But now that I've gotten comfortable on the West Coast I think I would miss that more if I moved away again." I replied.
He smiled. "So I'm not in any danger of you picking up and moving away anytime soon?"
I shook my head. "No, I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
He shrugged his shoulders and then stopped walking, focusing on something in the distance.
"What?" I asked, looking away from him and towards the direction he was so curiously staring at.
A large fountain with several statues and lots of different colored lights surrounding it stood about twenty feet away.
"That's fucking awesome." Tre mumbled, pulling me towards the magnificent sight. "It's fucking huge."
I giggled as we stood staring up at the tall, marble creation. "It kind of reminds me of the water fountain in the beginning of 'Friends'... you know, the one they play in?"
Tre nodded enthusiastically. "I love Friends."
I glanced over at him as that familiar mischievous look crept over his face; I could almost read his mind.
"Tre... " I warned in a stern voice as his face broke into a big grin.
He ignored my warning. "Who's your favorite Friend?"
I swallowed nervously. "Uh, Chandler. Why?"
He shrugged, advancing towards me a little. "No reason."
"Tre... " I said again this time more sternly, backing away a little as that mischievous glint in his eyes continued to stare back at me. "We're not taking a SWIM in a fountain in the middle of a park. Bacteria and such." I insisted, as he grinned wider. "AND it's probably illegal."
And right as I was about to turn and run he wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up, holding me menacingly above the fountain as he grinned.
"TRE!" I screeched, trying to hold on to him.
"Chandler was one of the first ones to jump into the water fountain, I do recall." He said, laughing at my shrieks as he gently dropped me into the cold water.
I screeched in shock as I lay in the shallow water, my hair plastered to my face, glaring at him as he laughed. I watched as he quickly removed his shoes and then dove into the water next to me, splashing giddily and reaching over to pull me closer to him.
"So no one told you life was gonna be this way... " he belted out happily, clapping to the imaginary beat of the song. "Your jobs a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA... ." he sang, looking over at me expectantly as if to join in as I continued to stare unbelievingly at him.
He stood up suddenly, grabbing my hands and pulling me with him as he danced around, his hair hanging in his face. "It's like you're always stuck in second gear... " He continued singing out, as he grabbed me and spun me around, splashing all the while.
I couldn't help but join in with his ridiculous display. "When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year... " We sang together. "BUT I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU... when the rain starts to pour... I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU... like I've been there before... I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU... cause you're there for me toooooo." We sang, crooning a little at the last part and grinning at each other as we continued to dance around in the knee deep water fountain. And as he picked me up and carried me around in his arms I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had that much fun
After a little more splashing around we decided it was time to head back before we caught pneumonia... or before we were thrown in jail, one of the two. He helped me out of the fountain, laughing as I cringed. I hated walking around in wet clothes, especially wet jeans. I saw him eyeing my wet shirt as it clung to the front of me, and then I watched his eyes travel downwards as he took in the sight of my now low slung jeans clinging to my hips. Men really are simple creatures.
"I think you should give me a piggy back ride back to the hotel." I said, looking over at him as he struggled to pull on his shoes. "Cuz you got me wet... and I hate walking around wet."
He smiled. "Oh yeah?"
I nodded, pulling my hair into a pony tail as he beckoned for me to jump on his back. I carefully climbed on his back as he grabbed the back of my thighs, situating me by bouncing up and down a little.
"Comfy?" He asked as I loosely wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head against the back of his shoulder.
"Hmhmm." I mumbled, marveling at how strong he seemed, his muscles straining against his wet t-shirt.
We made our way back to the hotel, laughing and still singing a little; earning a few stares from people who probably assumed we were tourists who had gotten drunk and fallen into the river. I didn't mind though; right then I didn't have a care in the world.
As we reached the front of the hotel I slid off his back and grinned up at him.
"Thanks for the ride." I said without meaning to sound suggestive. I grinned as his eyebrow quirked in an interested fashion.
"You can ride me anytime." He joked as I rolled my eyes and slapped him. I felt a little foolish walking across a posh hotel lobby in wet clothes, but it was late and no one seemed to pay any attention.
Still feeling a little energetic once we were out of the watchful eye of the bellhops, I leaned over to Tre. "I'll race you to the elevators." I challenged, as I slid a little in my wet shoes before taking off at a run with him close behind me.
"YOU CHEATED!" He called out, grabbing my waist and lifting me off the ground as I made it to the elevators first, preventing me from doing a victory chance.
"I demand a rematch!" He said, as I giggled and held my arms triumphantly in the air. He set me down on my feet and ruffled my hair affectionately as I leaned against him a little, wondering why I felt such a pull towards him all of a sudden.
When the elevator doors opened we clamored into the small space and shoved at each playfully as the doors closed again.
"I had fun tonight." I admitted as he smirked.
"Me too." He agreed, nudging me with his shoulder.
Maybe it was because of all the carefree fun we had, or maybe it was because his blue t-shirt clung to him so perfectly and accentuated his eyes, or maybe it was because I felt such an insane pull towards him; whatever the reason I leaned up and planted a small kiss on his lips, catching him by surprise.
I pulled away first and blushed as he stared curiously at me.
"What was that for?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I acted on impulse." I admitted with a blush, glancing over at him as he took another step towards me.
"Permission to act on impulse." He murmured, leaning closer to me as I giggled.
"It's not much of an impulse if you discuss it with the other person." I whispered to him as he dipped his head and kissed me softly, my eyes fluttering shut as the familiar feeling of his lips on mine came rushing back to me.
I felt his arms wrap around my waist as I snaked mine around his neck, causing me to lightly tumble into the wall of the elevator as we held each other, feeling as if this was the first time we had kissed; when really it had happened hundreds of times before.
I knew the elevator was going to arrive at our floor any second so I politely pushed him away from me and smiled at his disappointed look, but as he glanced at the panel next to the elevator doors I knew he understood.
When the elevator doors opened we casually strolled out, fully aware that we probably looked completely insane to anyone we met in the hallway, what with our wet clothes and goofy expressions. He walked me silently to my door and as I leaned against it he smiled and dropped his eyes to the plush carpet.
"I had fun." He reiterated for the second time, causing me to grin as wide as he was.
"Me too." I responded yet again. "Maybe after your show tomorrow night we could hang out again?" I offered shyly, not wanting to ruin our perfect evening by asking him to come in.
He nodded as if sensing my thoughts. "Let's stay in though." He whispered, reaching out to wipe a damp strand of hair off my cheek.
I turned my face a little and kissed his fingers as they brushed across my cheek, feeling something familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. My chest almost exploded under his watchful gaze... I had never felt for him like this before, or at least I hadn't admitted that I felt for him like this before.
"Can't wait." I replied, giving him one last final wave and a secret smile as I shut the door, leaning back against as I did. God, he is amazing.
As I pushed away from the door and walked into the bathroom to take a shower I noticed that I couldn't stop smiling... not that I wanted to. Something felt different between us, like we had finally reached a place where we saw eye to eye. And the fact that neither of us felt compelled to throw one another down on the floor and go at it made my insides melt a little more. I mean, that would have been nice too, but I liked that we seemed to be arriving at a place where sex wasn't the only way to show our affection for one another. I was ready to be honest with not only myself and him about how I felt, but Adrienne has well; consequences be damned. Maybe I was delirious. What the hell kind of water was in that fountain anyway?
"You went swimming... in a fountain... in the middle of a fucking park?" Mike clarified, the next afternoon as we stood on the hotel roof, smoking and catching some rays. I had called to ask for a brief meeting of sorts and he obliged, allowing me to steal him away from Sidney for awhile.
I nodded and smiled at the memory. "It was so much fun, but romantic at the same time." I gushed, not believing that I could sound this cheesy.
Mike raised his eyebrows before resting his forehead in the crook of his arm and laughing. "You two are fucking crazy."
I giggled but then sobered almost immediately. "I'm going to tell Adrienne." I admitted, watching as he jerked his head up in surprise. "WHAT?" He asked, both amazed and alarmed.
"I'm going to tell Adrienne the truth... that I want to be with him." I clarified, feeling a sense of panic but also renewed vigor run through my body as I said the words out loud.
"Good for you." Mike said, smiling a little as I stubbed out my cigarette.
I nodded. "I feel good about it... but I think I'm going to wait until she and the boys come home from the tour. I just think it would be easier for her to deal with something like this in her own settings, you know, somewhere familiar." I muttered nervously as Mike smirked.
"In other words you don't want her to be able to hunt Tre down and cut his body into a million fucking pieces?" Mike mused.
"Precisely. Wish me luck." I said as he reached over to pull me into a tight hug.
"You're doing the right thing, kid. You'll feel better in the end, even if she doesn't respond too well at first." He mumbled into my hair. "I think you and Tre are great for one another."
I pulled away and nodded. "Let's hope Adrienne feels the same way."
That night Tre and I had opted to stay in after he got done with the show like we had planned. We pulled the comforter off my bed and laid it out in front of the television, enjoying a makeshift picnic as we drank wine and ate pizza in front of the television, neither of us speaking yet about our feelings for one another or our situation, but instead commenting on television programs or making fun of each other.
"You want more wine?" he asked lazily as he leaned against the couch with me between his legs, leaning against his chest.
"I don't think so." I responded as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me impossibly closer. "I'm feeling an adequate buzz."
He grinned into my hair. "You've become such a lightweight, Nesser. You used to be able to drink me under the fucking table... now, look at you. Drunk after only a couple glasses of wine." He teased as I turned around in his arms and glared at him.
"First of all, this wine is some pretty potent shit." I said defensively. "And second, let's pretend for a moment I have in fact wilted in my drinking abilities, I have not been out drinking... and I mean SERIOUSLY drinking since that weekend in Canada. And plus, my dear Tre, NO ONE can out drink you. Well, maybe with the exception of Billie Joe because I'm convinced that motherfucker is half Irish."
Tre threw his head back and laughed. "Yeah, he's definitely part Irish."
We settled back down again, content to hold one another and watch TV.
"So what's going on?" he finally asked, nudging me to see if I had fallen asleep.
I shrugged and tried to maintain a casual tone. "I'm going to tell Adrienne about us when she gets home." I answered as he froze for a second.
"What?" he asked, as though he didn't hear me. "Are you really?"
I turned around again to look at him and nodded. "I think if we're going to be together we should be honest with everyone. No more sneaking around and lying. If we want this to last we have to be truthful, right?"
He nodded a little and chewed on his lip. "I never thought I would hear this come out of your mouth." He admitted, fixing his eyes on mine. "I never thought you would get to this point where I am. Where I have been for quite some time." He whispered, brushing his fingers across my cheek, making my stomach flip happily at his admittance of long term feelings.
I shrugged. "I can't explain it... I just feel something for you that is indescribable, and last night served to point that out to me." I murmured as he grinned.
"I knew pushing you in the fountain would make you fall in love with me." He said rather arrogantly as I laughed. "It was all in my master plan, you see."
"It was a rather magical fountain."
"Come here." He whispered quietly, sending a zillion shivers down my spine as I turned around to meet his big blue eyes head on.
I felt his hands grip my hips as our lips touched softly at first, making me smile against his. I placed my hands on his shoulders to keep myself from falling over as his tongue traced my bottom lip before intertwining with my own. As our feverish kisses picked up pace I gripped his neck as he sat forward all of a sudden, placing his knees on the floor as he laid me down on the comforter, shoving the empty plates and the pizza box out of the way so we would have more room. I giggled as he leaned forward and playfully unzipped my hoodie with his teeth.
"I missed you." He whispered, looking up at me as he planted kisses down my stomach.
"Hmm, ditto." I replied, running my hands through his hair as he crawled back up and covered my mouth with his.
In that moment as we made love on the hotel floor I had a strange feeling that everything would be okay... and oh boy was I ever wrong.
