"Yo," I interrupt Vance, "We should hit the lake next weekend!" He looks at me quizzically because it seems to come out of nowhere. "Yeah, sure," His response seems more like a question rather than a response. "The whole gang!"
I'm getting excited at the possibility to be around Veronica. In a bathing suit. "Invite the brothers. V, even."
"Okay. I'm in. I'll let everyone know."
A rumble is heard from down the street and shortly Vin's black beamer pulls up in front of the open bay door, where he joins us at the front, "What’s good?”
After some small chit chat, we spend the next hour planning out what parts I need to make this overhaul happen. "Dude, I'm excited! This is going to turn out nice!" Vin praises the car.
"I know man, me too! Thanks for helping out!"
"Anytime dude. You planning on comin' out to the track tomorrow night with us?"
"Yeah, definitely! I want to get a good run in before we do this overhaul."
He nods, "Yeah, that's a good idea.”
“You wanna hit up the field then afterward?" Vance yells from the basin, washing his hands. I slightly cringe. Going back there the night I came home wasn't quite the same. While we were in school, it wasn't a question. We were always at the track, and then partying at the field. The track is for everyone of all ages. Young, old, parents, teachers, grandparents; it didn't matter. The field was a little different. It seemed that there weren't too many people our age at the field that night. I didn't realize how much things can change in a year, but V's a prime example. The crowd was a bit young; some too young. Being there again..it made me feel old, which is depressing because I'm not old!
"Man you gotta come. No pun intended. I gotta keep an eye on V."
"How? You spend most of the night with your tongue down some chick’s throat."
He laughs, "Yeah, well me just being there scares them."
"She's gotta hate you," I joke, he responds with a grunt.
"Probably, but man...the guys here are scum."
I instantly look at him hard. "Speak for yourself dude."
"Not you, you don't count. But remember how we were in school? We fucked anything with a skirt."
"You still do, man." Even though Vance is my best friend, we are completely different when it comes to women. He assumes I’ve slept with every girl I talk to, because that’s what he does and...that’s just so far from the truth. He shrugs and remains quiet for a second. "She's a good girl with goals, and I don't want any guy messing that up for her."
"She's smart Vance, I don't think she'd allow that to happen. I mean, what happens when she goes off to college? You can't be at every party. Plus, I think guys are even worse there."
Even the thought of some guy putting his hands on her irritates me.
"Fuck, man! It looks like I'm going to college then." He laughs, and I just shake my head and sigh, "Yeah, man I'll go with you."
I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to go to the field just to hang out with Veronica a little or even help Vance keep the little peckers away from her. I feel incredibly guilty after the crap he just spewed to me, but I just can't turn these feelings off.
Day by Day
I dial Taylor as soon as I pull away from the shop. The only place I have privacy is the inside of my car. It’s a short drive home.
"Hiya, doll face," Taylor’s voice fills my car.
"Hey, gorgeous. What are you doing?"
"I just got out of work, about to go to Wes'. Why what's up?"
"Chase stopped in at the garage," I pause. Taylor purrs into the phone. Literally. We once spent a solid hour of her trying to teach me how to purr. My tongue just doesn't roll like that.
"Hmm, and what did that hot piece of man candy want?"
I fill Taylor in on every detail because it keeps replaying in my head. Over and over.
I sigh, "He was flirting right?" I need confirmation that I’m not imagining things, even if she wasn't there to verify it.
"Hmmm, girl...I think he was fucking you with his mind."
I laugh out loud. "What?"
"He was fucking you in his head. I wonder if he really does have a big penis."
"You always wonder about every guy's penis!"
"Hey, I've only experienced one! I'm curious! Though, Wes' is pretty nice."
"SO don't need to know that, Tay!"
"I have a picture, I can show you!"
"TAYLOR! NO! I won't be able to look at him in the eye again!"
She bursts out laughing, "Are you sure? You're my bestie. My almost sister. I don't mind sharing his third leg with you."
"Oh my--how did we get this far off-topic? No, I don't want to see Wes' penis but thank you for being such a good friend."
"Anytime,” She pauses, “So. He's definitely into you."
I sigh loudly.
"Why are you being so dramatic? This is good!"
"Because it would never work! There's no way."
"You don't know that! And, besides, maybe no one would have to know,” A squeal erupts from her throat. “Oh, that would be so exciting! Like a big secret Romeo and Juliet...minus the whole family feud and suicide thing. Though, not far from a family feud with you being the hot, off-limits, little sister.”
"You're too much Tay."
"I know, but you loovveee me. But seriously, I think this might be a good thing."
"Sneaking behind my brothers’ back with their friend? I don't know."
"Chase is a good guy, and I think they might be okay with it."
I snort, "I don't know about that. Chase has a reputation too. Maybe not as bad as my brothers, but still a reputation. I don't think they'd be okay with it,” I pinch the bridge of my nose and shut my eyes, "I might as well become a nun."
"No way, even though you'd rock the shit out of their nun-attire. We have a couple of months, and then it's off to college! You can let your ‘freak flag’ fly without the big bad brothers being around!"
I laugh loudly. This girl is too much, and she's right. I love her like a sister from another mister. We've planned forever to go away to the same college and be roomies.
"Yeah, I can't wait to get away from here. I won't be labeled as the off-limits little Russo sister anymore. Maybe we should look into going to a school across the country."
Taylor gasps mockingly, "And move away from Mama Russo's amazing cooking? I don't think so. State college will be fine. We'll be a two-hour drive away. That’s far enough from your brothers, but close enough to home." I sigh again.
"Cut that sighing shit out! You'll be fine. Go find Chase and get some penis!"
"Riiight," I say, sarcastically.
"Okay girlfriend, I'm at Wes'. Keep me updated with lover boy."
"Will do. See you tomorrow."
"See yaaa!" she sings. The only thing I can do is take this day by day. I like Chase, and by the way he's acting, he seems to return those feelings. I don’t like to assume things, especially when it’s not spoken outright, but I can only hope that he is into me the way I'm into him.