♠ Original Fiction; Last Night Changed Everything
last night changed everything
pg | 1600 words.
The upbeat voice coming out of her sounds foreign and forced, and she’s sure Eric notices, but he gives no indication. Instead he stands up and Gina inhales deeply for a moment, because it seems like finally, finally, this is over and she can move on.
notes: when I dialouge-spined this, it was about twice as long. But sometimes you just need to know when to stop, because otherwise the story fails. This was just something I wrote to give me something to do, so it hasn't been read over, so if you find any mistakes, or sentences that aren't quite right, please let me know!
Gina is sitting on the edge of the pool, legs submerged in the water, watching the sun change and refract when a shadow falls over her. Squinting, she looks up to see a glowering Eric standing above her. As he sits next to her, she sighs, knowing what’s coming.
“What was with you last night?” His voice is rough, like he hasn’t had water in a week.
“What do you mean?” She knows exactly what he’s talking about, but if she gives one explanation when he wants another, well, she doesn’t know if she’d manage. She can feel him looking at her but she refuses to look at him, choosing instead to close her eyes and turn her face to the sun, faking the nonchalance she wishes she felt.
“I mean you walking out of the bar an hour after we got there - it’s not like you.”
“Please,” Gina snorts, “you have no idea what I’m like.” His hand is on her chin, and her eyes fly open, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“I know you aren’t stupid enough to wander around the city at night alone.”
“Well, you were too busy trying to get laid, so really, I picked the lesser of two evils.” A chant of lielielielielielielielielielielielie inside her head quickly drowns out the sound of the beach and the birds and the world.
“Since when do you care who I try to pick up?” Eric’s voice has gone strangely quiet, like the answer matters to him more than he wants it to.
“Plural you! I don’t care… I don’t. I just think if you’re going to pick some girl up in a bar, you could do better than the walking STD that is Steph Talbot. I mean, okay, I get it, she’s hot and all, and yeah, sometimes I don’t act like I’m a girl and that you forget it sometimes, but there are lines - you know there are - and I’m getting really fucking sick of everyone crossing them. ”
“So… That’s it then? You’re mad because the five of us were acting like we always do, talking about moves and girls?” Gina can tell this conversation isn’t going anywhere good, but she’s halfway in now, too far to back out. But Eric’s incredulity frustrates her.
“Oh my God! What do you want me to say? I left because sometimes, it would be nice if you didn’t treat me like just one of the guys. That’s it!” Eric’s hand has retreated to behind him as he moves his legs around as he thinks. When he does speak, it’s subdued and with no small smile in his voice.
“There you go, using ‘you’ again.” Turning sharply, Gina glares at him, at his dark hair, falling in his eyes, a hazel that’s only green on hot summer days like today. At the muscles in his arms, tight against his shirt, a tan line barely visible where the sleeves ride up. Taking a deep breath, she attempts once more to change the subject.
“Sometimes, I could throttle you.” It doesn’t work, it’s not going to work she realises when Eric’s resolve becomes obvious.
“Gina, please, for once, just give me a straight answer.”
“Why does this matter so much to you? I don’t understand what you want from me!” She shuffles slightly to her right, moving away from him, giving herself space to think, to breathe.
“I want you to give me an answer - the truth. Please.” Gina knows she doesn’t want to, she knows what she really wants to do is stand up and walk away and turn her stereo up as loud as it will go and try and forget she ever let this conversation happen.
Steeling herself, she tries to lighten the mood. “Fine. Hit me with your best shot.”
“No lyrics!” Eric barks, looking her in the eye for the second time. Rather than answer, Gina chooses to wait for the question.
“Did you walk out of the bar because of the bet?”
“Yes.”
“Just because of the bet?” Suddenly, Gina feels a chill as Eric asks her this, and now, more than ever before, she wants him to be gone, so she can go back to sulking.
“I’m sorry, our deal was a one time offer, no follow ups allowed. Thanks for playing though.” The upbeat voice coming out of her sounds foreign and forced, and she’s sure Eric notices, but he gives no indication. Instead he stands up and Gina inhales deeply for a moment, because it seems like finally, finally, this is over and she can move on.
“You know, the way you walk around, with your defenses up against everyone might fool the others, but I know better. So remember this moment Gina, this is the moment you had a chance to explain it all away and you’re letting it slip away.”
Though she doesn’t want to, Gina counts his steps until she knows he’s almost gone. Then, even though she doesn’t want to, her voice bursts out “What if.. what if it was just one of you? Instead of a vague, annoyance at all of you trying to get laid,” she makes motions with her hands as though trying to cram too many things into a ball, “it was because of one specific thing?” And then it’s out there. And she knows he heard, that he stopped walking, but hasn’t turned around.
“Do you mean one specific person taking part?” And there it is. Eric understands. Any explanation that happens from here on in will be twice as important as she wanted it to be.
“Yes” it’s barely a whisper, but it’s enough for Eric to turn around.
“Was it because I was taking part?” Hiding her face in her hands, Gina is distinctly aware of the embarrassment she has never felt around Eric.
“Yes. Oh God. I just … I don’t know. I thought, I thought you felt it too, that spark or whatever but… whatever. Forget it.” Pulling her knees up to her chest, Gina waits, completely motionless, for Eric’s footsteps to start again, taking him out the door and away from her.
Instead, he seems to cover the patio in an impossibly short number of steps, and before she knows it, his hands are on her wrists, yanking her up until she’s standing.
“Oh, Gina,” his voice, rough as sandpaper only minutes ago, is deep and low, “ really? I’m not that oblivious. I was only joking around, waiting for them to all leave so it’d be just you and me.” Pulling her hands out of his, Gina takes several steps back, putting distance between the two of them.
“Don’t. Please, if you’re just messing with me. I’m not sure I can take it.” Looking at the ground, Gina can’t see anything of Eric but his feet. She can’t see him shove his hands into his pockets in an attempt to not cup her face.
“Gina, I swear to God, I’m not trying to mess with you head. When you left, I tried to follow you, but the bouncers got in my way. I was worried sick, and I mean, I know you flirt with all the others too, I just… I always hoped I was different, even just a little bit.” Shocked, Gina’s head shoots up, and her feet bring her a step closer to Eric.
“You were. You are. You’ve always been my best friend - more that than even. And it should be enough, for both of us. Why isn’t it enough?” She feels so defeated that nothing but Eric stepping forward and holding her face in his hands could make her feel better.
“Because you’re beautiful, funny and you have this smile that lights up everything. And the worst thing is, you don’t even know it.”
Biting her bottom lip, Gina tries not to laugh. “For over a year, the man I loved never seemed to look at me - really look at me, like you are now. It made me just want to hide away in the shadows.”
“You really don’t see it do you? You are not a shadows sort of girl. You belong in places like this, full of noise and sun and joy. That’s why it’s not enough.” As his fingers start massaging her temples, Gina slips her fingers through the belt loops of his shorts, pulling them even closer. The idea of being so close to him, that less than an hour ago terrified her, now brings only an impossible jolt of exhilaration.
“I tried you know, to not want you so much.”
“You want me?” shoving him gently, Gina pokes her tongue out at him before continuing.
“I really tried. I tried looking for other guys, ones who wouldn’t bring awkwardness and worry with them, but in the end, I couldn’t do it.” As he pulls her into a hug, Gina’s senses are full of nothing but Eric. The half sunscreen, half aftershave smell that she associated with no one but him, the softness of his t-shirt, the intensity of his arms around her. And, suddenly, this, these feelings in the heat of the summer are enough. She can almost feel the bad memories of the previous night slide away, leaving room for a whole cache of new ones to be made and held onto for a lifetime.
And while she thinks this, Eric slowly tilts her head back until there is nothing for her to do but lean forward and take the jump that she has both chased and run from for over a year.
locked: november 25. 2009
© caitlin a 2009
feedback is always welcome.
join!
pg | 1600 words.
The upbeat voice coming out of her sounds foreign and forced, and she’s sure Eric notices, but he gives no indication. Instead he stands up and Gina inhales deeply for a moment, because it seems like finally, finally, this is over and she can move on.
notes: when I dialouge-spined this, it was about twice as long. But sometimes you just need to know when to stop, because otherwise the story fails. This was just something I wrote to give me something to do, so it hasn't been read over, so if you find any mistakes, or sentences that aren't quite right, please let me know!
Gina is sitting on the edge of the pool, legs submerged in the water, watching the sun change and refract when a shadow falls over her. Squinting, she looks up to see a glowering Eric standing above her. As he sits next to her, she sighs, knowing what’s coming.
“What was with you last night?” His voice is rough, like he hasn’t had water in a week.
“What do you mean?” She knows exactly what he’s talking about, but if she gives one explanation when he wants another, well, she doesn’t know if she’d manage. She can feel him looking at her but she refuses to look at him, choosing instead to close her eyes and turn her face to the sun, faking the nonchalance she wishes she felt.
“I mean you walking out of the bar an hour after we got there - it’s not like you.”
“Please,” Gina snorts, “you have no idea what I’m like.” His hand is on her chin, and her eyes fly open, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“I know you aren’t stupid enough to wander around the city at night alone.”
“Well, you were too busy trying to get laid, so really, I picked the lesser of two evils.” A chant of lielielielielielielielielielielielie inside her head quickly drowns out the sound of the beach and the birds and the world.
“Since when do you care who I try to pick up?” Eric’s voice has gone strangely quiet, like the answer matters to him more than he wants it to.
“Plural you! I don’t care… I don’t. I just think if you’re going to pick some girl up in a bar, you could do better than the walking STD that is Steph Talbot. I mean, okay, I get it, she’s hot and all, and yeah, sometimes I don’t act like I’m a girl and that you forget it sometimes, but there are lines - you know there are - and I’m getting really fucking sick of everyone crossing them. ”
“So… That’s it then? You’re mad because the five of us were acting like we always do, talking about moves and girls?” Gina can tell this conversation isn’t going anywhere good, but she’s halfway in now, too far to back out. But Eric’s incredulity frustrates her.
“Oh my God! What do you want me to say? I left because sometimes, it would be nice if you didn’t treat me like just one of the guys. That’s it!” Eric’s hand has retreated to behind him as he moves his legs around as he thinks. When he does speak, it’s subdued and with no small smile in his voice.
“There you go, using ‘you’ again.” Turning sharply, Gina glares at him, at his dark hair, falling in his eyes, a hazel that’s only green on hot summer days like today. At the muscles in his arms, tight against his shirt, a tan line barely visible where the sleeves ride up. Taking a deep breath, she attempts once more to change the subject.
“Sometimes, I could throttle you.” It doesn’t work, it’s not going to work she realises when Eric’s resolve becomes obvious.
“Gina, please, for once, just give me a straight answer.”
“Why does this matter so much to you? I don’t understand what you want from me!” She shuffles slightly to her right, moving away from him, giving herself space to think, to breathe.
“I want you to give me an answer - the truth. Please.” Gina knows she doesn’t want to, she knows what she really wants to do is stand up and walk away and turn her stereo up as loud as it will go and try and forget she ever let this conversation happen.
Steeling herself, she tries to lighten the mood. “Fine. Hit me with your best shot.”
“No lyrics!” Eric barks, looking her in the eye for the second time. Rather than answer, Gina chooses to wait for the question.
“Did you walk out of the bar because of the bet?”
“Yes.”
“Just because of the bet?” Suddenly, Gina feels a chill as Eric asks her this, and now, more than ever before, she wants him to be gone, so she can go back to sulking.
“I’m sorry, our deal was a one time offer, no follow ups allowed. Thanks for playing though.” The upbeat voice coming out of her sounds foreign and forced, and she’s sure Eric notices, but he gives no indication. Instead he stands up and Gina inhales deeply for a moment, because it seems like finally, finally, this is over and she can move on.
“You know, the way you walk around, with your defenses up against everyone might fool the others, but I know better. So remember this moment Gina, this is the moment you had a chance to explain it all away and you’re letting it slip away.”
Though she doesn’t want to, Gina counts his steps until she knows he’s almost gone. Then, even though she doesn’t want to, her voice bursts out “What if.. what if it was just one of you? Instead of a vague, annoyance at all of you trying to get laid,” she makes motions with her hands as though trying to cram too many things into a ball, “it was because of one specific thing?” And then it’s out there. And she knows he heard, that he stopped walking, but hasn’t turned around.
“Do you mean one specific person taking part?” And there it is. Eric understands. Any explanation that happens from here on in will be twice as important as she wanted it to be.
“Yes” it’s barely a whisper, but it’s enough for Eric to turn around.
“Was it because I was taking part?” Hiding her face in her hands, Gina is distinctly aware of the embarrassment she has never felt around Eric.
“Yes. Oh God. I just … I don’t know. I thought, I thought you felt it too, that spark or whatever but… whatever. Forget it.” Pulling her knees up to her chest, Gina waits, completely motionless, for Eric’s footsteps to start again, taking him out the door and away from her.
Instead, he seems to cover the patio in an impossibly short number of steps, and before she knows it, his hands are on her wrists, yanking her up until she’s standing.
“Oh, Gina,” his voice, rough as sandpaper only minutes ago, is deep and low, “ really? I’m not that oblivious. I was only joking around, waiting for them to all leave so it’d be just you and me.” Pulling her hands out of his, Gina takes several steps back, putting distance between the two of them.
“Don’t. Please, if you’re just messing with me. I’m not sure I can take it.” Looking at the ground, Gina can’t see anything of Eric but his feet. She can’t see him shove his hands into his pockets in an attempt to not cup her face.
“Gina, I swear to God, I’m not trying to mess with you head. When you left, I tried to follow you, but the bouncers got in my way. I was worried sick, and I mean, I know you flirt with all the others too, I just… I always hoped I was different, even just a little bit.” Shocked, Gina’s head shoots up, and her feet bring her a step closer to Eric.
“You were. You are. You’ve always been my best friend - more that than even. And it should be enough, for both of us. Why isn’t it enough?” She feels so defeated that nothing but Eric stepping forward and holding her face in his hands could make her feel better.
“Because you’re beautiful, funny and you have this smile that lights up everything. And the worst thing is, you don’t even know it.”
Biting her bottom lip, Gina tries not to laugh. “For over a year, the man I loved never seemed to look at me - really look at me, like you are now. It made me just want to hide away in the shadows.”
“You really don’t see it do you? You are not a shadows sort of girl. You belong in places like this, full of noise and sun and joy. That’s why it’s not enough.” As his fingers start massaging her temples, Gina slips her fingers through the belt loops of his shorts, pulling them even closer. The idea of being so close to him, that less than an hour ago terrified her, now brings only an impossible jolt of exhilaration.
“I tried you know, to not want you so much.”
“You want me?” shoving him gently, Gina pokes her tongue out at him before continuing.
“I really tried. I tried looking for other guys, ones who wouldn’t bring awkwardness and worry with them, but in the end, I couldn’t do it.” As he pulls her into a hug, Gina’s senses are full of nothing but Eric. The half sunscreen, half aftershave smell that she associated with no one but him, the softness of his t-shirt, the intensity of his arms around her. And, suddenly, this, these feelings in the heat of the summer are enough. She can almost feel the bad memories of the previous night slide away, leaving room for a whole cache of new ones to be made and held onto for a lifetime.
And while she thinks this, Eric slowly tilts her head back until there is nothing for her to do but lean forward and take the jump that she has both chased and run from for over a year.
locked: november 25. 2009
© caitlin a 2009
feedback is always welcome.
join!