Chapter 7 I don't know who lost, Pretty Boy

"Are we picking up anyone else?"

"Yes, our study mate. Paul invited her, and since it's raining, I'll drive her."

"Hi. Thanks for taking me," Jane said easily. Her shirt was new, but the pants were from this afternoon.

"You're the new girl, right?" Shannon asked.

"Yes." The usual brevity.

"Pretty Boy, what are we going to watch?" Shannon asked, dramatically stroking my neck. "Something cute, right?"

In the rearview mirror, Jane rolled her eyes.

"I don't know. We'll decide there," I said, uneasy about the whole situation.

Listening to the radio, we arrived relatively quietly, though Shannon occasionally squealed, "Oh, this song is so cute!" which irritated me by the end. I didn't dare look in the mirror during those moments-I wasn't curious about Jane's reaction.

We arrived and went up to the meeting point, as agreed-waiting for each other at a group of couches in front of the movie ticket counter. Jane greeted everyone and then quietly sat at the edge of the couch. Shannon started chatting with the other girlfriends. Aaron and the short-haired girl were already there, as was Daryl with his leather-clad girlfriend.

Paul showed up next, followed by a fragile, short young girl who resembled him.

"Hi," he waved, then stepped over to Jane. "Glad you're here. This is my sister, Susy. Everyone, this is Susan, my sister."

Jane stood up and smiled kindly, shaking hands with the girl. The others greeted her and then returned to their interrupted conversation. After Brian arrived with his cousin, we sat down to check out the options.

"I vote for the action movie," Brian shouted. He had come with his cousin today, who was visiting for a few days. She was about Amber's age-a fuller, short-haired brunette dressed in dark clothes.

"That's good for us too," we boys agreed unanimously.

"Oh no, we want to watch this romantic movie, right girls?" Shannon said loudly, and the girls, including Paul's sister, started nodding-except for Jane, who just raised her eyebrows.

"So, little girl, what do you vote for?" I turned to Jane. Susy sat next to her and quietly started watching.

"Well," Jane stood up from the couch, "since I came alone and you boys are in the minority, I offer a deal. I won't vote for the romantic movie if you agree to the space travel sci-fi."

"So we should vote for what you want?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes, because it's the lesser of two evils for you," she said calmly.

"Well, then I vote for the romantic movie," I said suddenly. I couldn't let her win. "So no matter what you vote for, you'll lose."

"Alright, then let it be the romantic movie," she shrugged indifferently.

"Why does the new girl decide what we watch?" Shannon asked, confused. Some of the girls were just now piecing together the essence of the conversation.

"It wasn't her decision, kitty-it was mine," I straightened up.

"Okay, give me the money, I'll buy the tickets," Brian stood up.

Before the two of us got in line, I stepped over to Jane and said, "See, little girl, you have to know how to lose," I grinned smugly.

We bought the tickets, and I distributed them so that Shannon was on one side and Jane on the other. Brian looked at me, puzzled, but didn't say a word.

The girls lined up for drinks, but Jane stood alone to the side-she didn't buy anything. Susy and Paul stood together, Paul taking great care of his sister. Probably a family habit.

Paul came out of the line with two drinks and handed one to Jane.

"Susy changed her mind on the way and is drinking something else. I hope you'll accept this."

"Thank you," Jane smiled and accepted the cup.

We went in, and everyone sat in their place. We had bought tickets in two rows to make it easier to talk to each other. Brian sat behind me with his cousin. Aaron and Daryl were behind Jane, each with their girlfriend. On Jane's other side, Paul sat-his sister beside him.

The movie started, and Shannon took it very naturally that my drink was hers too. She leaned on me in the chair, stroking my neck throughout the movie. I didn't let her do more-I wasn't in the mood.

The movie was terrible. If I were at home, I'd switch it off after ten minutes, but here, I couldn't. The couple on screen suffered through an on-again, off-again relationship, and we were struggling in the auditorium.

Jane must have noticed my suffering because she quietly leaned toward me. Her subtle, sweetly tart perfume hit my nose.

"I don't know who lost, Pretty Boy," she winked.

I shivered from head to toe-but not from Shannon's touch.

I wanted to continue the conversation, but Jane gave no sign of it, just leaned back in her seat.

I struggled through the movie, occasionally watching Jane from the corner of my eye. It seemed like she had fallen asleep, but I wasn't sure.

Fortunately, the movie ended.

With comments like "Jay, you're dead next week" and similar farewells, the others left, and Jane stepped over.

"I see your date is still ongoing. Susy and Paul will take me home-I really don't want to intrude."

"You're not intruding-I'll take you home," I started to protest, but Shannon whined and interrupted.

"Pretty Boy, we still have plans for tonight."

"It was nice meeting you," Jane turned to Shannon. "See you on Monday."

She stepped over to Paul and Susy, and they left.

"Come on, let's go too," I said to Shannon, and we headed down to the car.

I drove her home in silence-I simply didn't want to talk. When we arrived at her house, I stopped, and she didn't hesitate before jumping on me. Normally, I wouldn't have objected, but today, I just wasn't in the mood.

"I'm home alone-come on, let's go inside," she said, sliding onto my lap.

"I'd rather go home today. Maybe another time."

Even I found my own answer strange, but I just couldn't take any more of her today.

"Fine, have it your way. But just so you know, I won't wait around forever-you're not that big of a prize," she said, offended, climbing off me. I leaned over to open her door.

"Alright, Kitty, then don't wait for me," I said, waiting for her to get out.

"Forget it!" she nearly screamed as I drove off.

I didn't care-the whole evening was ruined. I just wanted to go home to the peace of my room.

Well, that didn't happen.

I got home late, but Dad was still eating in the dining room.

"How was your evening?" he asked between bites.

"Shitty," I muttered, immediately realizing it was a mistake.

"Sit down, son. Let's talk."

His voice wasn't commanding, but I knew it was better to sit down.

"What happened?"

Amber and I had a good relationship with our dad. Since we were kids, he knew how to get us to talk if something was wrong. He never used it against us and didn't solve our problems for us. I think that's why he's considered a good professional.

"For the first time today, I didn't want to sleep with a girl, another one almost humiliated me, and I watched a shitty movie that I voted for."

"Why did you vote for a movie that wasn't good?" he ignored my swearing.

"Because I didn't want the new girl to win. We boys wanted an action movie, the girls wanted a sappy one. She-Jane," I emphasized her name, "was without a guy and suggested a sci-fi, saying it was the lesser evil."

"That sounds logical. And you voted for the sappy one so it wouldn't be what she wanted, right?"

"Right. It made me so angry that I kicked Shannon out of the car and came home instead."

"I understand, and I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll have another chance with Shannon."

"But that's the thing!" I snapped. "I don't care. She's so endlessly annoying. This has never bothered me before."

"After the movie, the new girl even had herself taken home by the new guy," I added as an afterthought.

"Well, yes, but there have been similarly annoying ones before," Dad laughed, ignoring the second part of my sentence. "Remember the dog expert?"

"True," I laughed. "That was really funny."

I once dated a girl who thought she knew everything about dogs and wanted to train Theodore. I had a good laugh.

"Laughter always helps-don't forget that. Good night, son," Dad patted my shoulder and headed up to his room.

He was right-I felt better.

I quickly pulled myself together and went to bed.

Dad could always cheer me up, but he didn't offer a solution.

Though, I didn't know what I needed either.