Wake Up Call...

I can't believe I've gotten so far behind... It really has been forever...
Apologies to those who were eager for an update, work has overtaken what I used to call a life...
But!  Tis a new year--and I hope to set aside time to put work into this story and into the other ideas that I have been tossing around in my head...

Much love, and I hope you enjoy!

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I couldn't sit still.

My hands were fidgeting and my foot tapped incessantly as my eyes disobeyed me and checked the door every 2 minutes.

Vero and I headed to our usual hang out spot and claimed our long booth in the back of the restaurant--not that we needed to--as soon as the owners saw any of the guys, our booth would magically be available.  Perks, I suppose.

Flower had texted Vero that him and the guys were on their way, but I hadn't heard from Brendon since yesterday afternoon.

Vero slammed her hand down on my drumming fingers.  "For crying out loud,"

"Sorry," I smiled meekly, pulling my hand from the table and continued to fidget with my hands out of sight.

"Why are you so nervous?"

Leaning my elbows on the table I picked at my napkin, tearing it apart piece by piece.  I sighed, "I just want things to go well."

"It'll be fine, it's not that big of a deal." Vero shrugged.

I looked at Vero like she was crazy, "Um, the hell it is!  What if they can't find anything to talk about?  The guys are already so close, I don't want him to be left out.  What if they want to talk hockey?  Brendon doesn't like sports.  What if Brendon goes on one of his spiels about work?  God forbid, what if they don't even like each other?"

Vero answered me with a simple, blank stare and shrugged.

"He just means a lot to me."  I sighed.

"Who," Vero asked, "Brendon or Sidney?"

I was taken back, and totally sensed some sass.  "What does that mean?"

Placing the menu down on the table, she brushed her long black hair out of her face and behind her shoulders.  Vero leaned forward and clasped her hands in front of her, ready to give it to me.

"It didn't matter with me, why would it with Sid?  When I first met Brendon over lunch we didn't have anything to talk about.  He wasn't interested in anything I had to say about my work or hockey.  I sat there for 30 damn minutes while he rambled on about how to invest and how he's not in it for the money as he drives off in a fucking Lamborghini.  I don't like the guy, yet you still choose to go out with him."

Shocked, I sat there with my jaw hanging, speechless.

Vero just rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.  "Oh don't look so surprised.  He's self centered and thinks he's hot shit."

I couldn't bring myself to look Vero in the eye.  I knew Brendon could be cocky, but he wasn't that bad.  Wasn't he?

Laughing, she finished with a punch to the gut.  "The worst part is, I hate the girl you are around him," she finished.

"Woah, hold on--" but I was cut off by the finger Vero waived in the air.

"The Elaine I know would not put up with him.  The Elaine I know hates being called 'baby'.  She wouldn't put up with his douche bag friends, or sit there as her so-called 'boyfriend' introduces her as just 'a good friend' to everyone at his work party.  She wouldn't let it slide when she's blown off constantly but feels guilty when he's upset that you had plans on a Friday night.  My best friend wouldn't let some guy come in between her and her best friend.  She wouldn't ignore the blatant signs that this guy isn't worth her time.  That she isn't being true to herself."

I was furious.  How dare she say that, she practically accused me of being fake.  I wasn't.  I wasn't being a push over and I wasn't breaking a cardinal rule or letting a guy come between me and a friend.

She was wrong.  But for some strange and cruel reason, I couldn't find the words to throw back at her and defend myself.

"Just what I thought," Vero laughed.  "Well, when you find her, you let me know."

---

To say Brendon was in trouble was an understatement.  Elaine was pissed off, though she hid it well.

After 30 minutes, the boys were making cracks at her boyfriend's tardiness and she was able to laugh it off.  After almost 2 hours, the subject was dropped and Elaine started knocking back drinks.

While the guys were digging in to the appetizers Sidney sneaked off to the bar.  He spotted Elaine in the corner and waived to the bartender for a refill of both their drinks.

He walked up to her to see her staring at her phone.  Taking a seat next to her he asked, "Have you gotten a hold of him?"

Elaine threw her phone into her purse and took a swig of her drink.

Slowly, she looked up and stole a glance from Sid.  Her eyes were watering and she couldn't hold back from sniffing.

He's dead, Sid thought.  That mother fucker made her cry.  His body tensed as he thought of a million different ways he was going to torture his ass.

Clearing her throat, she spoke quietly.  "You won't be able to meet him."

"It's ok, we can reschedule," Sidney cooed as he rubbed her arm reassuringly.

"No," she said harshly, "we won't."

She finished the rest of her drink and dropped a twenty on the bar before taking off.  Elaine walked right past the booth full of their friends and out the door of the restaurant.

Sidney hurried over to the guys and told Vero that he should head out to check on Elaine.  He didn't want to push her--he hadn't exactly been supportive of this meeting in the first place.

Vero elegantly excused herself and Sid took a seat.  He was met with very confused Frenchman, Jordan breaking the silence.

"Let's go beat the shit out of him.  Who's in?"

"Me!" they all said in unison before paying the bill and heading out.