"Frankie, I…" I tried, but I wasn’t getting a word in edgewise.
"Jesus, David, I thought you were Cassie’s friend! And you’re getting all cozy with Missy? Cassie’s going to be crushed if this ever gets back to her. You’d better think about what you’re doing. Just because you’re her program partner doesn’t mean you have to be nice to that slug. Cassie’s your friend!" And, with that, he was off.
I just stared at him, helpless, as he left. "Dammit, why didn’t he let me talk?"
"He’s upset," Jared said.
"He doesn’t know what happened!" I said.
"Tell us," Amanda said, and they pulled me into the house. Mom greeted them. "Now, what happened?" Amanda asked.
"She was assaulted," I told them. "Someone hit her on the way to last period. Hit her right in the pussy, so hard that she’s bruised and she lost her hymen."
"Oh, my God," Amanda hissed, going pale.
"It happened five feet in front of me. She was wailing and crying, she couldn’t hardly stand up, and blood was running down her thighs-and everybody else was just walking by her. I couldn’t leave her there like that!"
"No, you couldn’t," Jared agreed.
"And after the doctor examined her, she needed prescriptions filled and she needed to go home, and she wasn’t in any condition to drive. I had my arm around her on the way to the car because she couldn’t walk unassisted. I drove her car to get the medicine and then to her house, then I walked here." I looked at them. "I understand the motivations of putting her in the program, but this has gone too far. Jared, you saw her breasts. Those were being manhandled before this other thing even happened."
"I agree," Jared said, "It has gone too far."
"Plus, while I was at her house, her mother came home. That was horrific. I think I understand Missy a little bit better. Her mother is a piece of work."
"I’ve actually heard that neither of her parents are particularly nice people," Amanda said. "My Dad almost ran against her father for City Council a couple of years ago, because Dad says that Mr. Jenkins walks over people."
"Well, I know that Mrs. Jenkins walks over Missy," I said. "But, damn. I don’t want Frankie-and most of all Cassie-mad at me."
"I’ll take care of Frankie," Jared said. "I’ll be back in a bit. Amanda, take care of him, would you?"
"Of course," she smiled at him. They kissed, and Jared was off.
"You could’ve gone with him. I’m OK, really," I told her.
"No, you’re not. Program week is supposed to be better than this!"
"Yeah, but I’ll live." I said.
"You know what? You’re talking to me better," she giggled.
"Yeah. I am, aren’t I? I don’t know what happened."
"Getting to be a girl’s knight in shining armor can help that kind of thing," she said.
"Yeah."
"Now, I was wondering. Since program week is supposed to be fun, I was wondering. Dave, would you like to make love to me?"
Oh my GOD. I think I almost passed out! "WHAT?"
"Program week is supposed to be fun," she giggled. "You haven’t had much. I’m offering you some. I know you’re a virgin, but that’s fine with me."
"B-b-ut Jared--"
"Knows all about it," she grinned. "You know we’re not one hundred percent exclusive. Jared approved of me doing this." My head was spinning, absolutely spinning. "You’re Jared’s best friend. ‘Who better than you for his first time?’ he said to me."
I gathered my wits and said, "Amanda, it’s a very generous offer, but I think I’m going to have to turn you down."
"Why?" she asked pleasantly.
"I can’t tell you."
"Sure you can. David, it’s OK, I’m just curious."
"Because you’re my best friend’s girlfriend."
"I told you, Jared doesn’t mind."
"That’s not it." I took a deep breath." This is difficult, and something I planned never to say to you." I looked away. I couldn’t look at her. "You’re my best friend’s girlfriend. That’s the only relationship we’re ever going to have. And I’ve come to accept that. Taking you to bed, especially as my first freakin’ time, would make it all that much harder to accept."
"Oh," she said, understanding dawning. "I never knew."
"And you never would’ve, if I had had my way."
"It’s OK, you know," she smiled at me. "You’re very sweet." She kissed me on the cheek. I blushed from head to toe. "I’d like to say I’m upset, but I think I’m too flattered to be upset. Dave, if I didn’t love Jared…"
"But you do," I said with a sad smile. "And that’s OK. Look, I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve been fine. Going to bed with you would just make it all not fine again. I mooned over my best friend’s girlfriend for months. I’d rather be where I am now, come to terms with it and being your friend."
"OK," she said with a smile. "I understand. You know what? Someday-and I hope it’s soon-some girl’s going to figure out what you’re really all about. And that’s going to be one very lucky girl." She got up off the couch. "Jared’s waiting for me. I was going to give him a ‘high’ sign if we went through with it, so I’ll just go off with him."
"Don’t tell Jared, OK?"
"Don’t tell him what? That his best friend is noble and generous and a complete gentleman? Well, he probably already knows that-but I’m going to tell him anyway." And then she was gone.
Mom, who had been in the kitchen, came out. "What was that all about?"
"Amanda wanted me to go to bed with her."
"Why didn’t you?"
"Because she’s my best friend’s girlfriend and I’m just getting over the massive crush I’ve had on her for a while."
"Aah. You did the right thing, then."
"Yeah. It killed me to do it, but yeah," I managed with a bit of a laugh.
We ate, and I did some homework, then I got a phone call.
"David, I’m sorry." It was Frankie.
"Apology accepted," I said immediately.
"I should’ve given you the chance to explain."
"Yes, you should’ve, but no harm done."
"Good. She was really that bad?"
"Yeah, she was," I confirmed. "It was brutal, Frankie."
"Jesus. Do I have to feel sorry for that bitch now?"
"No," I laughed. "Just don’t hold it against me if I do, OK? I am supposed to be her partner."
"True. Fair enough."
PART THREE WEDNESDAY
I had gone to bed pretty early Tuesday night. The painkillers they subscribed for me helped. I didn’t stay up very late after David had left. I didn’t even eat-now there’s a miracle. I did, however, stay up long enough for my Dad to get home. Unfortunately. That man takes ‘unsympathetic’ to a whole new level. And, of course, all he cared about was that "it would get around" if I dropped out of The Program. So, he called Mr. Tilling and twisted his arm, nice and hard. I’d still be in The Program on Wednesday. Oh, joy.
So, I woke up early Wednesday. I felt like I had been shattered into a million pieces. Look, let’s face it-one of the reasons I’m a bitch is because it’s easier being a bitch than it is breaking into tears every five minutes. And how many times had I cried Tuesday?
Hey, I don’t like being vulnerable. Vulnerable people get stepped on. Believe me, I’ve watched my parents do it to people my whole life. If you show your weakness, it’s going to get hammered. There are a lot of people like my parents in the world.
Then again, it looked like I was going to get stepped on this week no matter what.
The funny thing is, when I woke up and went downstairs to make myself some coffee, I found myself thinking about Dave.