The Art of Life (69 page)

               
“There is something wrong,”
Jeremy declares.
 
“We always promised to
be honest with each other.”

               
Nervously, I take out my lip
gloss and start to put it on.
 
My hand is
shaking a little bit.
 
“Nothing is
wrong.”

               
“It’s because of Kaitlin.”
 
He groans and turns away from me.
 
“I shouldn’t have told you.”

               
“No!” I exclaim.
 
“It’s a good thing you told me about
Kaitlin.
 
That is not it!
 
Well, okay maybe some of it, but not in the
way that you think.”

               
Leaning against the counter next
to me, Jeremy asks, “So, what is it?
 
What is wrong?”

               
“I just…..I feel slightly
awkward.
 
Like…..I
don’t know.
 
Forget about it, it’s
no big deal.
 
None of this is a big
deal.
 
I am glad that you told me.
 
It’s a good thing for you.”

               
“Isabelle,” Jeremy says,
stepping forward.
 
“You are my friend and
that has nothing to do with Kaitlin.
 
Yes, in the first few days, I helped you because of her, but then, well,
I started to care for you.
 
You are a lot
different than her, and that’s not a bad thing.
 
I adore you.
 
You are an
incredible person and friend.
 
I don’t
want you to think any less of our relationship.
 
Like I said, you two would have LOVED each other.
 
I honestly think you both would have
forgotten about me.”

               
I snort, “Jeremy, I don’t think
there is a person on this planet that could forget about you.”

               
“Because of my devilish good
looks,” he quips.

               
Now, I roll my eyes.
 
“No, I was talking about your
personality.
 
You are so charismatic and
funny.
 
You make an impression on people,
a good one.”

               
“Ah, you are so sweet,” he
sighs, obviously content about my comment.
 
“So, do I need to have a talk with Eric before you guys hang out today?”

               
My eyes turn and glare at
him.
 
“I swear
,
if you do that, I will become your worst nightmare.”

               
“Are we going on that
again?
 
Remember, I still owe you one for
stomping on my foot at work.
 
Oh yes,
young lady, I did not forget about that!
 
I am just waiting for the most opportune moment.
 
It will come, I promise you that, and it will
be masterful.”

               
Whining, I moan, “Jeremy!
 
That totally isn’t fair.
 
Don’t embarrass me!”

               
“You embarrassed me!
 
In front of my coworkers none the less.
 
I kiss a girl and then she hurts me.
 
What does that say about my skills at
seducing women?”
 
Jeremy asks
dramatically.

               
“Oh shut up,” I snap.
 
“You do not get embarrassed!”

               
With a huge grin, Jeremy says,
“You are right.
 
I don’t get embarrassed,
but there will be payback.”

               
“Whatever, I need to get
ready.
 
Eric will be here soon.”
 
I go back to putting on my make-up.

               
“Will you promise me something?”
Jeremy asks.

               
Hesitantly, I say, “What?”

               
“Just say you will promise me
something.”

               
“Fine, I promise.
 
Now what am I promising?” I inquire hotly.

               
Jeremy just grins.
 
“That you will tell Eric that if anything
happens to you, he will have to answer to me.”

               
“Jeremy! I will not say that!”

               
He crosses his arms.
 
“You promised.”

               
Narrowing my eyes, I retort, “I
loathe you.”

               
“You love me, don’t lie to
yourself,” Jeremy laughs.

               
“Will you let me get ready?
PLEASE!?”

               
Giving me a look, Jeremy
replies, “NOPE, I am going to do everything to sabotage your D-A-T-E.”

               
“What?
 
Why would you do that?” I gasp.
 
“I would never do that to you!”
 
Then the memory of last night passes through
my mind.
 
I quickly turn my head and look
away.

               
“I want to keep you all to
myself,” Jeremy chimes.
 
“No boys.”

               
Now, I am going to ignore
him.
 
“Whatever
Jeremy.”
 
I fix my lip gloss and
then put everything away.
 
He just
continues to stare at me.
 
I get out my
flat iron to go over my hair again.
 
I
can feel the weight of him staring.
 
It’s
like we are dueling off.
 
Who is going to
buckle first?
 
Finally, he crosses his
arms.
 
I can’t take it anymore, and start
to laugh.
 
“You are ridiculous!” I yell.

               
He just chuckles.
 
“I really am an ass, aren’t I?”
    

               
“YES!
 
Thank you for admitting it!” I exclaim.

               
“I just don’t want to give you
up.
 
Not enthusiastic about you going on
a date.”

               
“It’s not a date, per say.
 
We are all getting together as friends. They
did invite you, too, so it’s not like a date obviously,” I emphasize.

               
Jeremy claps his hands.
 
“I am going to go get ready.”

               
“No!
 
Please, I want to do this on my own.”

               
He grabs his chest and gasps,
“You don’t want me with?”

               
“It’s not that, but I think you
would be a little intimidating to Eric, and if I want to get a date with him,
you scaring him, is not the way to go,” I reply.

               
“What fun thing am I missing
then?” Jeremy asks, pouting.

               
I sigh.
 
“Pizza and mini golf.”

               
That seems to be humorous to
Jeremy.
 
“Seriously?”

               
“Yes, it will be fun, so keep
your trap shut.”

               
He smiles.
 
“As long as you have fun, it doesn’t matter
what you do.
 
I think this will be good
for you, though I
am wanting
to give a stern talking
to Eric.”

               
“Will you please leave him
alone,” I whine.

               
“Nope, sorry, how am I supposed
to protect you if I let some boy come traipsing into your life, and not give
him the third degree?”

               
 
Setting down my flat iron, I turn to Jeremy.
 
“Please, don’t ruin this for me.”

               
Jeremy stares at me for a
minute.
 
“I don’t want you to get hurt,
and part of me doesn’t want to be thrown to the side because you got a new guy
in your life.”

               
“I am more worried about that
when you find a girlfriend,” I state.
 
“You will have certain urges that I can’t fill.”
 
As those words come out of my mouth, my heart
drops.
 
“I mean,” I stutter.
 
“It will be different.”

               
There is a pause and then Jeremy
quickly looks away.
 
“I can promise you,
it won’t change things between us.”

               
“That’s good to know,” I
nervously whisper.

               
It is kind of awkward for a
minute.
 
I mean, if he doesn’t remember,
why is he acting so weird?
 
Finally, he
says, “You look very pretty by the way.”

               
“Thanks,” I reply, looking down.
 
“Cassandra told me what to put on.”

               
“You called Cassandra for help?”
Jeremy asks, with a look of surprise.

               
I glance away.
 
“Of course, I don’t know how to dress for
these things.
 
She is my friend now and a
girl, her advice was appreciated.”

               
“I would have helped,” Jeremy
says, almost pouting.

               
“You were passed out from being
hung over.
 
I wasn’t going to wake you to
help me pick out an outfit.”

               
He walks over to me and
whispers, “I like to know what is going on your body.”

               
Rolling my eyes, I shove him
away.
 
I don’t want to think about him
liking anything with my body right now.
 
“You just shush.
 
I want other
boys to want to know what’s on my body.”

               
Jeremy actually stops and says a
little harshly, “Oh…..I guess that is true.
 
Well then, I don’t want to get in the way.”
 
He turns and walks away.

               
“Jeremy!” I exclaim.
 
He walks down the hallway and out of
sight.
 
I groan and pick up my flat
iron.
 
When I am done getting ready, I do
have to admit, I actually look nice, cute even.
 
I straighten my skirt and walk out into the living room.
 
Jeremy is chugging a glass of water.
 
“Do you think you should be drinking that
fast?” I ask.

               
He practically slams the cup
down.
 
“I think I know how to drink.”

               
“Well, sorry!” I snap.
 
“Aren’t you a jerk hung over?
 
Glad I am leaving, you can throw a temper
tantrum while I am gone.”
 
Oh dear lord,
I did NOT just say that.

               
Slowly, he turns around and
growls, “What did you just say?”

               
“Nothing, sorry,” I whisper.

               
“Oh no, you are SO in trouble,”
Jeremy yells.
 
He comes running at me and
I dart out of the way.
 
I jump over the
couch and he follows me.
 
Being pretty
quick on my feet, I run to my room, jumping over stuff as I go.
 
Not that far away from my bed, I am
tackled.
 
We land on the floor and Jeremy
pulls me over to him.
 
Throwing his leg
over, he sits on me.
 
“Now, what am I
going to throw?”

               
Giggling, I reply, “A temper
tantrum.”

               
Immediately, he starts to tickle
me and I scream.
 
“I am behaving like a
what?”

               
“A jerk!”
I gasp out.
 
He just tickles me
harder.
 
“Stop!”
I shout.

               
Leaning over, Jeremy whispers,
“Never!”
 

               
With a little force, I do what
Kent taught me and I roll Jeremy off my stomach.
 
I reverse it and sit on top of him.
 
Grabbing his wrists, I try my hardest to hold
them tight against his chest.
 
“I said
stop.
 
Now play nice.”