Our Love (24 page)

"With Theresa, anything is possible. Why do you worry about what she thinks anyway?"

"I don't know. I know I shouldn't, but it was something in her tone that made me curious. She also said that she knew a thing or two about being with a football player. When she said that, she was looking at me."

"Girl, I wouldn't pay any attention to Theresa Sherman and her comments. The girl is nothing but trouble, and she would find anything to cause more of it."

I looked at Ashley, and glanced over at Michael. Could he be lying to me about knowing Eva?

Ashley looked and sighed.

"Oh honey, you have that look on your face. It only means one thing."

"I don't want to do this, but I know something happened between Michael and Eva. At first I thought it was the fact that Eva didn't like Michael because of the lack of time we spent together, but that's not the case. There's more, and I'm going to find out what it is."

Michael came over to me and put an arm around my waist. He kissed me on the cheek.

"What are you two doing over here?"

"Nothing, just talking,"

"I hope you two weren't talking about me."

"And why would we be doing that?" Ashley asked.

"We were talking about Parker stuff. That's all."

Michael looked at me and smiled.

"I was thinking since I'm sort of moved in that maybe you would like to spend the night?

Maybe we could christen the loft in various places," He whispered in my ear.

"I wish I could baby, but I have a lot of homework to do. Maybe this weekend though."

Michael smiled and kissed my lips.

"Okay."

"Is it alright if we head out now? I don't want to stay out too late on a school night. My parents are already on my back," I said.

"Nah, go ahead."

"I'll call you later," I said as I gave Michael a kiss on the cheek.

"Bye baby."

As I was heading toward the door, Chris and Ashley were by the couch talking.

"We better go Ash. We have a long ride ahead of us."

"Okay," Ashley said. She slipped Chris a tiny piece of paper as she was heading out the door.

"Call me," she whispered.

"Definitely," Chris said smiling.

As we went out the door, Ashley went over to the driver's side of her car and opened the door.

"You're up to something, aren't you?"

"You know me so well. I have to make a stop before we go home."

Ashley looked at me as she started up the car. I looked out the window and sighed.

"I have to know the truth. No matter what it takes,"

~

After the thirty minute drive from Michael's place, we finally were back in our neighborhood. As we walked into Chester's, we immediately went to our favorite booth and sat down. I called Eva when we left Michaels so that she could meet us at Chester's and we could talk, but it seemed like we beat her there.

"What Eva's doing? She just down the street from Chester's," Ashley said as she took out the menu that was stuck between the ketchup and mustard bottles.

"I know. Maybe she knows why I called her."

I looked at the door to see if Eva was coming in, when I noticed Danielle getting up from a booth by the door.

"What she's doing here?" I asked as I watch Danielle going to the door.

Ashley turned to the direction I was looking.

"Is that the Belmont bitch that embarrassed you at the homecoming dance?"

"The one and only. I'll be back," I said as I quickly got up from the booth. I raced over to the door and blocked it before Danielle could leave.

"Well isn't it a small world. What brings you by here?"

"I should be asking you the same thing since you stay nowhere near here."

"I do have friends in this area."

"Oh please. You and I know that Parker and Belmont can't stand each other."

"You seem perfectly fine mixing the two."

"Who do you possibly know at Parker?"

"That's none of your business. Now can you get out of my way?"

"Not until I figure out what you're doing here."

"You really want to know why I'm here?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I was waiting for you actually. I know you like to come here to hang out with your friends. So tell me, how is your new friend doing?"

"What the hell you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Brandy. You two became so close since you arrived at Belmont."

"Where is this going Danielle?"

Danielle smiled as she leaned in closer to me. I suddenly became startled by Danielle's behavior as I pulled away from her.

"If I were you, I would watch your back with your new friend. There's a lot you don't know about her."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"I think you might want to listen to this. When you do find out about Brandy, it won't be pretty."

"Why don't you go do something constructive with yourself for a change?"

"As I recall, you're the one who barged your way through here like some manic. With your history, I don't think that's wise to do."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Don't think I don't know about your life prior to Belmont. And before the week ends, so will everyone else," she said as she pushed past me to leave. As she was leaving, Eva was walking in. The two bumped into each other, causing Danielle to trip on her Steve Madden's.

"Watch where you going, heifer," Danielle said.

"I know she didn't just call me a heifer," Eva said. She was about to go after Danielle, but I pulled her into the diner.

"Why you didn't let me go after her?"

"Because she's not worth it. Come on," I said as we went toward the booth.

Ashley looked up from her menu and sighed.

"What happened with Danielle?"

"The usual. She's just like Theresa. All talk."

Eva sat down beside Ashley and pulled out a menu.

"What brings us all together? We haven't done this in a while."

"I just wanted to see how you were doing. I haven't been spending any time with either of you, and I'm sorry for that."

"Girl, we all know how busy you are with school and cheerleading and of course Michael, so we understand," said Ashley. She looked over at Eva, who gave a weak smile at us.

"Yeah, we do," she said softly.

I had to know if something was wrong. I was starting to become really concerned about Eva.

"Eva, is something wrong? You've been acting weird for the past few days. If something is wrong, you can always tell us," I said.

"No matter what it is, you can tell us," said Ashley.

Eva looked at us with a sympathetic look on her face. She looked at me and started to nod her head.

"There is something wrong, Char. I didn't know how to tell you this and I've been contemplating in my mind what I wanted to say to you, but I couldn't find the words."

I knew something was really wrong with Eva because she was starting to babble. Eva usually babbles when she's nervous.

As my impatience started to grow, I took my hand and put it on Eva's.

"Tell me what's wrong, Eva. Whatever it is, it can't be that bad. You're my best friend, so whatever you have to say we can get through it."

Eva looked at me as a tear started to roll down her cheek.

"You want to know what's up with me; fine, I'll tell you. But what I'm about to say, you're not going to like."

"Like I said, we can get through it, whatever it is."

Eva started to clear her throat while I looked at her impatiently. My patience was really starting to wear thin now. I wished Eva would tell me what it is. I mean it can't be that bad....

"When I met Michael at Belmont's homecoming, that wasn't the first time I saw him."

I gave a confused look at Eva as I rose up in my seat.

"What? You met Michael before?"

"Remember the party Kevin and I went to? The one some kid Kevin knew threw after the Elkins game against Parker."

"I guess I do. Why?"

"Michael was there with Danielle, and while Kevin was neglecting me yet again with his buddies, and Danielle was being her usual bitchy self, I was left at the refreshment table with Michael. We had a couple of drinks and we talked for the whole night. To me, that was the best conversation I had with a guy in a long time. He was sweet, and thoughtful."

"Get to the point, Eva." I said in a disappointed tone.

"I'm trying to tell you what happened and you're getting upset with me."

"How do you want me to act? First off, you lied to me. You told me you never even met Michael, and now this."

"I know you're upset, Char, but let E finish," Ashley said.

Eva looked at Ashley and looked back at me.

"We talked some more when Michael asked me if I wanted to go upstairs. I said yes because the crowd was making it hard for us to hear. We went upstairs to one of the guest rooms and talked about school and our relationships. And then we kissed."

I could tell all the color was starting to drain slowly from my face. I suddenly became nauseous from the news that was just sprung on me. I couldn't believe Eva would keep this from me! And Michael! I didn't even know where to start with him. Not only did he never bother to mention that he kissed my best friend, but he had the nerve to play like he never met her before.

"I don't believe this," I said to myself.

"We were wasted, Char. We didn't know what we were doing."

"Why you didn't tell me? You made me think the reason you didn't like Michael was because of the lack of time we were spending together. Now it's clear that it was actually because you two kissed, you two can't stand the sight of each other. Tell me Eva, did anything else happen between you two?"

Eva looked at me and burst into tears.

A lump started to form in my throat as I watched Eva crying hysterically into a paper napkin.

I didn't want to believe that Michael and Eva kissed, let alone had sex. I didn't know if I could handle it if they did.

After Eva took a hold of herself, she looked at me and sighed.

"No, Charlie. We stopped before it got to that point."

A sigh of relief swept through me as I looked at Ashley.

"Eva, why you didn't say anything about this?" Ashley asked.

"Why you think I didn't? I was scared. I didn't want Charlie mad at me, nor Michael for something that happened before they even met."

"I understand that, but don't you think I wouldn't get mad if I found out a few weeks after Michael and I started dating? "

"I'm sorry Charlie, but I'm not the only one involved in this."

"Oh don't think Michael is off the hook, because he's not. What I don't get is the fact that you are my friend. Friends supposed to tell each other everything, no matter what it is."

"What are you saying? We're not friends?"

"I'm not saying that. I'm just wondering how close we really are if you couldn't come to me like a woman and tell me about Michael."

Eva looked at me and started to get up from her chair.

"You know what, screw you. You think you're so righteous all the time, but I got news for you. You need to stop acting like you're this person who can't do anything wrong. I'm so sick and tired of that from you."

"What is that supposed to mean? I never said I was superior or anything close to it."

"For someone who's so happy with herself and her relationship, why are you still pinning over Derrick?"

I looked at Eva in shock. I looked over at Ashley, who shrugged her shoulders at me.

"I didn't tell her," she said silently.

"No one had to tell me that you're still in love with Derrick. A blind person can see it."

I knew the question I was about to ask Eva could end our friendship will indefinitely.

As Eva was starting to leave the table, I got up from my seat and yelled out to her.

"Do you have feelings for Michael? If you do, I need to know."

Several people stopped their conversations to look at the two of us. Eva turned around and looked straight into my eyes.

"Wouldn't you like to know if I did?" Eva asked.

She turned around and went straight to the door. I watched as the door close, wondering if the comment she made meant what I thought it meant.

Ashley looked at me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Char. I didn't know Eva knew Michael. I'm just as shocked as you are."

I put my hand on Ashley's and sighed.

"I know. You think she has feelings for Michael?"

"I don't know honey. What I do know is that she knows something about you that can destroy your relationship with Michael. If she does, she could use it to her advantage."

I looked at Ashley as all the emotions I had built up started to surface. I wanted to ask Ashley "what relationship?" My relationship with Michael was all built on lies. If Michael lied about this to me, what else could he be keeping from me? I know I'm not completely honest with Michael about my feelings for Derrick, but Derrick is not Michael's best friend! I can't believe he would keep this from me for so long. As far as Eva goes, there's more to her story than what she told us. All I know is that Michael and I had the first test of our relationship. And from what I'd seen earlier, we were failing. Big time.

24. Derrick

What a day!
I thought to myself as I walked toward my house. After a long exhausting day at school, all I wanted to do was go home and take a deserved long shower and nap. As I was approaching the doorstep, my cell phone started to ring. I quickly reached in my jean pocket to retrieve the device. I was surprised as I looked at the person's name on my phone. I didn't know whether to answer it or not, but something inside of me told me I should.

"Hello," I said in a calm voice.

"Hello Derrick. How are you today?"

"I'm fine Mrs. Perry. This is a surprise. Is something wrong with Charlie?"

"No, it nothing like that. I was just calling to see how you were holding up these days since I haven't seen you in a long time."

"I'm doing great. I'm still in shock that you're actually talking to me, let alone that you kept my number."

"Why wouldn't I talk to you? I always thought you were the perfect match for Charlie. I still think you're perfect for her. To this day, I still don't know why you two broke up."