When Worlds Collide

Chapter 12

"Have a good night! Thanks for the ride!" Vera yelled, waving at Chloe and Ethan.

"You looked hot tonight, Vera!" Chloe yelled back through the open window, making me cringe at how loud the girls were being at almost ten thirty at night. Ethan just stared straight ahead through the windshield, showing no concern for waving goodbye to Vera and I. We watched the car slowly pull away from the curb, the thumping music becoming muffled as Chloe rolled up the passenger window, and the car soon became one with the surrounding darkness. Feeling a hand grip my shoulder, I could barely react as I was jerked around to face Vera.

"Okay, what the fuck happened?" Vera demanded, but I could only concentrate on the smeared red lipstick at the corner of her mouth. I shrugged, and Vera wrapped my suit jacket tighter around herself, shivering against the cold with a frustrated huff. "Well I'm not leaving until you spill, and I'd appreciate it if that could be sooner rather than later, because it's freezing tits out here."

"Vera, he was probably just tired. I am too," I mumbled pathetically, looking at her with pleading eyes. The voices were taking advantage of my exhaustion, slowly filtering in with their intense chatter.

"Oh no, that was easily the most tension between two people I have ever experienced, and my parents are divorced. That car ride was seriously dreadful," she pressed.

"You have such a way with words Vera, really making me feel better over here," I huffed in exasperation, toeing at the muddy lawn. "I got an attitude with him over Chloe, okay? I don't know what got over me, honestly."

"Hey," Vera whispered, bringing a hand to rest on my shoulder. Her tone suddenly became much softer, as if she was soothing a wounded animal. "You guys will figure it out, you're good friends. Like you said, we were all tired. We say stupid shit we don't mean, it happens."

"Yeah. . . I guess we will." I almost didn't believe the words coming from my own mouth.

Vera smiled, most of her mascara was now smudged under her eyes, but I still thought she looked beautiful. "Thanks for taking me, Ivan. I had a good time."

"Me too," I smiled tightly, watching her stumble across the lawn in her sparkly heels, then sliding into her beat up Volvo. I watched as she backed out of the driveway, waving pathetically as she drove off. I was left just standing in the middle of my front lawn, listening to the croaking of frogs in the distance and the conversations taking place in my own mind that I wasn't included in. I needed to start doing some serious damage control.

~

"Ivan! How was the dance? Let me just finish this, and then I want to hear all about it!" Mrs. Clarissa glanced at me over her shoulder as she fried up some bacon at the stove. I sat down quietly at the table, staring at the last text I sent to Ethan, as if that will suddenly make him text me back.

Yesterday 11:05 PM

Hey, I'm sorry. I was a real dick to you last night, can we talk?

I refused to admit it, but deep down, I knew he was ignoring me. Ethan had always been quick to text back, even at the latest hours. He would stay up and study late into the night, and still pick me up the next morning with a bright and cheery attitude, like clockwork. And in the end, all he got was me being a jealous asshole in return. 

"Hey, phone away at the table please," Mrs. Clarissa frowned, setting down the plate of bacon. I sighed, closing my eyes and slipping it back into my pocket dejectedly. Benji stared at me with wide, curious eyes as he inhaled his oatmeal, and all I could do was stare at mine with an awful turning in my stomach. I could feel Mrs. Clarissa's eyes on me, so I attempted a smile to try and ease her nerves.