MARSHALL APARTMENT
Not here. Of course not. Why would
she be?
She only knew I was gonna be out
all night, Alex
thinks bitterly. He locks the front door behind him.
Certainly
no reason to wait around at home.
Then again, he considers as
he double-checks Sally's
empty bedroom, she's probably been out all
night herself with that new boyfriend.
Whatever. He's almost glad he doesn't
have to deal with his mother right now. How would he even face her after
everything that happened last night? She'd probably accept a simple "Fine"
or "Fun" or something like that anyway, but he isn't so sure that he wouldn't
give away that something big went down.
Something big. Jeez. The whole memory
of last night -- Lauren
asking him flat-out, him taking charge and stopping
Jason from
interrupting and then admitting it, actually admitting it --
plays like a fuzzy, slow-motion movie clip in his head. It's almost like
he was just an observer, like he wasn't really there.
But he was. He definitely was. He
can still feel the numbness that surged through his veins as he spoke the
words. He can feel the terror that flipped his stomach when he realized
he'd actually said it, and the relief that washed over him at Jason's
reassurance.
It had felt so good to feel Jason
patting him on the back and hear him say how proud he was. Even after Lauren
ran out of the room upset, even later when he was falling asleep, Alex
kept recalling how incredible it felt to know Jason was standing by him.
It means nothing more than friendship,
though, Alex knows that. In his weakest moment last night, when he could
barely keep himself from reaching out to caress Jason's cheek -- even then
he knew it wouldn't--couldn't--ever happen. He'd been able to see Jason's
love for Courtney
burning brightly, and he'd been able to feel the depth
of his own loyalty to Courtney and Jay. He couldn't do it. He can't now.
And then Lauren ... The very thought
of her makes him want to grab the phone or pop over to her house, full
of hope that she's had enough time to digest everything and cool off. But
still--
The ringing of the phone jerks him
away from his thoughts. He hesitates, stopping to wonder how long he has
been pacing around the apartment thinking. But on the second ring, he makes
a beeline for the kitchen, and he has the phone before it can ring a third
time.
"Hello?"
"Alex. Hey. What are you up to?"
Jason's voice asks.
"Nothing, I guess."
"Good. I'm coming over there. We've
gotta talk."
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