Beautiful Mess

by Preston, Jennifer

  Bri let Cole help her for the first few hands, until she got the hang of it. Unfortunately, her solo stint didn’t last long, and she quickly ran out of chips. Apparently she was a terrible bluffer. But she still enjoyed the rest of the night watching the others play. She was surprised to find out that Claire was an awesome poker player. And as the night wore on, it ended up being Cole and Claire in the final hand. To Bri’s delight, Cole won.

  Bri went to bed that night, her abs sore from too much laughing, a smoldering victory kiss from Cole still lingering on her lips, and feeling lighter and better than she had since her mom died. She had thoroughly enjoyed her time with both the Marra’s and the Hamilton’s, and she wished that her family was as carefree and comfortable with each other. There was always an undercurrent of tension in Bri’s family when they were together, and she longed for the lightheartedness that Cole’s family shared. She was sad that her time with them had come to an end.

  Bri woke to a foggy morning. She dressed and packed up her duffle bag, making sure she didn’t leave behind Cole’s gifts. She hadn’t worn her necklace yet, she didn’t want to risk it falling into the ocean, but decided the danger was almost over and put it on. She then joined the others in the kitchen for one last breakfast. Cole smiled at her when he saw the necklace. After she finished eating, it was time to say goodbye.

  She gave Sharon a huge hug, thanking her for her hospitality, and even Scott pulled her in for brief side hug. Claire was already crying when she pulled Bri in for a death squeeze.

  “You have my cell number, so you’d better call me,” Claire demanded through her sobs. “We need to hang out soon, so don’t make me wait too long, okay?”

  “I won’t,” Bri promised truthfully. “And you can call, or stop by my house anytime you want,” she smiled at Claire. “See you soon, okay?”

  Claire sniffed and nodded her agreement. Then Bri turned to Sebastian. After a moment of total awkwardness, Seb grunted, “Get over here already,” and gave Bri a surprisingly warm hug. “Cole’s lucky he found you... first. And when this idiot,” he released her and eyed Cole, “finds a way to screw it all up, you know where to find me,” he smirked.

  “You just keep dreaming, Seb,” Cole smirked back as he put his arm around Bri. She could feel her face flushing. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of Sebastian, or what just happened, but not wanting to dwell on it, she let Cole lead her out to the dinghy.

  Jimmy drove them to the dock, and Bri gave him a hug goodbye.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” she smiled at Jimmy. “And thanks for convincing my dad to let me come.”

  “You’re very welcome. See you around, Barracuda,” he winked at her. “Oh, and Cole? Don’t be too late.”

  Cole nodded and grabbed Bri’s bag. They waved to Jimmy as he drove back to the boat. They walked up the street and out onto the pier, where they watched Scott maneuver his beautiful boat out of the bay and into the open sea. Bri looked up at Cole.

  “Thanks for taking the ferry with me. I have to admit, the return trip would’ve been a little depressing by myself.”

  “Believe me, I’d much rather be here with you,” he pulled her in and kissed the top of her head.

  They bought their tickets for the ferry, and seeing as they had a little extra time, decided to take one last walk down the beach. They walked awhile in silence, the waves lapping up around their ankles.

  “You’re awfully quiet this morning,” he observed.

  “I’m just a little sad that we have to go home. I’m not sure I’m ready to go back and face reality yet.”

  “Face reality?”

  “Yeah, the whole Serena thing, having to pretend we don’t know each other, new classes. We won’t have Ceramics anymore, so the only time I’ll get to see you is History. We won’t be able to talk to each other all day,” she sighed. “It was nice to be able to forget about all that for a few days.”

  “Yes, it was,” Cole agreed somberly.

  She looked up at him. His dark hair was being tossed about by the breeze, and his eyes were the same gray-blue color as the ocean. She didn’t think she’d ever seen anyone so perfect. The thought of having to ignore him for eight hours a day at school was almost more than she could bear.

  “You know what I wish?” she asked.

  “What?” he looked over at her.

  “I wish we could at least be friends at school, if not a couple. Do you know how hard it is to ignore you all day? How much energy it takes not to look at you?”

  “Not nearly as hard as it is for me to ignore you,” he smiled.

  “See? You know what I’m talking about. I don’t think I have it in me. If we could at least acknowledge each other, talk to each other, the rest might not be so unbearable.”

  “It might draw some unwanted attention from Serena. Are you sure you want that?” He looked doubtful.

  “Please,” Bri scoffed. “Like I care what anyone in that school thinks of me. I’ve got one more semester, and then I never have to see those people again. I can survive anything for a few months.”

  Cole thought it over for a minutes.

  “Okay, I’m in,” he smiled.

  “Really? We can be friends?” she smiled excitedly.

  “Definitely! We should still keep it low key, so we don’t draw too much attention. But I think it’ll be good for Trey and everyone to see that I’ve got other friends, too.”

  “Baby steps,” Bri nodded. “I can do that. And since we’re not at school right now, I can also do this!” She pulled him in and kissed him, letting her lips show him just how excited she was. She felt a stirring of hope and enthusiasm for her last semester of high school.

  Maybe this could still be the best year of her life. Anything was possible, right?

  Bri woke the next day back in her own bed, and to an empty house. She decided to take advantage and indulge in all the things she never got to do with her family there. She got up and went for a run, then came home and made herself an ice cream sundae for breakfast. She then grabbed her book and climbed into a steaming hot bubble bath and read for a couple of hours. When the water got cold she climbed out and headed to her room, not even bothering with a robe. She blasted her music as she got dressed and did her hair. After running down to the coffee shop for a peppermint hot chocolate and a piece of coffee cake for lunch (Summer would have a fit over all the junk food), she actually started to get lonely. Her family wasn’t due home until later that night.

  Bri decided to call Layla and invite her over. She caught Layla in the middle of shopping, but she promised Bri that she’d come over when she was done. Bri figured she should probably get some homework done while she waited for Layla, but instead decided to call the person she was really lonely for.

  It was funny. After spending so much time with Cole over the past few days, it was weird not seeing him that morning. She was surprised how much she already missed him. She could’ve invited Cole over, but after her naked Cole fantasy, she didn’t think that would be prudent. Plus, her dad would blow a gasket if he found out she had a boy over when they were all out of town. Deciding not to push her luck, she settled on a phone call.

  Cole picked up after the first ring.

  They talked for a while, and Bri was glad to find that he missed her as much as she missed him. It was less pathetic if they both were feeling it. They laughed and chatted until they were interrupted by Layla’s insistent pounding on the front door. Reluctantly, Bri said goodbye, and went to get the door for an obviously overexcited Layla.

  Layla catapulted herself at Bri with a squeal and wrapped her in a bear hug.

  “You’ll never guess what Devon got me for Christmas!” Layla pulled back and flashed the very pretty, very expensive looking charm bracelet on her wrist. “Can you believe it? Though I’m totally convinced his mom helped him pick it out, this is still the sweetest thing anyone’s ever given me!”

  “Wow, Lay, it’s beautiful!” Bri admired the bracelet. “Is it real gold?”<
br />
  “Yep,” Layla beamed proudly. “Must’ve cost him a fortune, too! Look, he got the ballet slipper for me, the football helmet for him, and the heart is for us,” she flipped through the charms. “And he promised he’d get me enough charms to fill the whole bracelet. I wonder how long that will take?”

  “That’s awesome. Devon really deserves bonus points for this. He’s a great guy. I’m glad you two are happy.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Layla gazed lovingly at her present. “Oh! That’s a pretty necklace,” she motioned to Bri’s butterfly.

  “Thanks,” Bri beamed. “I, uh, got it for Christmas.”

  “Nice! Speaking of presents, let me show you what I bought today!” She picked her shopping bags off the porch and headed into Bri’s room. “You have to help me figure out what to wear to Natalie’s New Year’s Eve party. What are you wearing? We should totally coordinate. You are going, right?”

  “Natalie is having a New Year’s Eve party? Um, why on earth would I want to go?” Bri wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t received an invite from her nemesis on the Dance Team. Though a truce had been called for competition season’s sake, Bri and Natalie weren’t on friendly terms.

  “Oh, come on, you have to go! Everyone will be there, and Nat actually throws a pretty good party. I have an idea! Nick will probably be there, maybe the four of us could go together?” Layla looked at her hopefully.

  “No. Nick is nice and all, but I’m not interested. You need to get over it.” Bri gave Layla a stern look.

  “Okay, if I promise to stop playing matchmaker, will you come to the party?” Layla pleaded.

  “You promise you’ll leave me alone? For the rest of the year?”

  “I promise. Now say you’ll come!”

  “Ugh, alright! Although I make no promises about how long I’ll stay,” Bri conceded.

  “Yay! Now let’s pick out something to wear. We’ve only got a couple days to perfect our fabulousness!”

  As the girls went through Bri’s wardrobe and Layla’s shopping bags, Bri realized how much she’d missed hanging out with her friend. Between Devon and Cole, the girls hadn’t spent much time together. Bri decided she needed to be better about scheduling some girl time in the future.

  The girls ordered in pizza and watched chick flicks until Layla had to get home. There were still a couple of hours before Bri’s family would be home, so she decided to check in with Claire. She got Claire’s voice mail and left a message. Trying not to feel like a pathetic, clingy girlfriend, Bri gave in and called Cole again.

  “Wow, two calls in one day,” Cole answered the phone. “Someone must really be missing me!”

  “Shut up.” Bri was grateful he couldn’t see her blushing. “Like you haven’t been debating whether or not to call me for the past hour.”

  “Two hours, actually, but that doesn’t change the fact that you caved first!”

  “I didn’t cave! I actually have something important to ask you, and that’s why I called... again.”

  “Oh, really? And what was so pressing it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” Cole taunted.

  “I was wondering...” Bri searched her mind for a legitimate question. “Oh, are you going to Natalie’s New Year’s Eve party?” Thank you brain.

  “I was thinking about it. Are you?”

  Was Bri really the only one who hadn’t heard anything about this party?

  “Yes, unfortunately. Layla talked me into going. I wasn’t invited, so I thought it might be fun to crash.”

  “Well, if you’re going, I’m definitely going. Although...” Cole trailed off ominously.

  “Although what?”

  “Well, Serena will be there, so I’m thinking it’d be good to take a date. You know, a good opportunity to fight the Serena front,” he finished hesitantly.

  Bri tried to suppress her anger and jealousy. Of course the date would just be a ruse, but it still made her crazy to think of Cole out with another girl. Even fictitiously.

  “Um, okay,” was all she could manage to say.

  “Ambria,” he sighed, “you know I want to go with you. The thought of going with another girl makes me sick. But I really think that this is an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up. The sooner Serena moves on, the sooner you and I can be together, really together, for the whole world to see. Please tell me you understand that,” he pleaded.

  The raw emotion in Cole’s voice brought Bri back to herself.

  “Of course I understand,” she relented. “I just hate this, you know?”

  “Yes, I do,” he sighed. “But, this will be the last time. If Serena can’t get the message by now, then it won’t matter what I do in the future. So I promise, this will be the last time I go anywhere with any girl other than you.”

  “Really?” Bri’s heart swelled, and she felt her eyes tearing up.

  “Yes, really.”

  “Okay then,” she shook the tears from her eyes. “So, who are you going to take? And please don’t tell me you’re taking another one of Serena’s slutty cheer minions.”

  “And what’s wrong with slutty cheer minions?” he laughed.

  “Please, you didn’t have to watch the last one pawing all over you. I swear they have to take a promiscuity pledge to make the team,” she huffed.

  “Promiscuity pledge?” Cole laughed. “And that’s something you’re against? Promiscuity?” He was definitely teasing her now.

  “As a practice? Yes,” she quipped back.

  “So, I take it you’ve never...?” he trailed off, the humor obvious in his voice.

  “What?” Bri felt herself blushing again. Were they seriously talking about this now? “No!”

  “Just checking. Because I seem to recall a conversation where you said that you wouldn’t be sleeping with me or anyone else, ever. I was just wondering if your opinions on the subject had changed, now that you don’t despise my very existence anymore?” he goaded her. Okay, he was taking way too much enjoyment in her discomfort.

  “I’m not having sex in high school, period. Not with you, or anyone else for that matter,” she replied frankly.

  “Oh? And why not?”

  “Um, because I’m not one of those stupid girls that believes the only thing she has to offer the opposite sex is her body. And because I happen to have a bright future ahead of me that I don’t want to jeopardize,” she returned defiantly. She was just glad Cole wasn’t there to laugh at her bright-red face.

  “Okay then,” he was all but laughing at her. “Valuable information I’ll have to remember in the future.”

  Tired of Cole’s amusement at her expense, Bri decided to turn the tables on him, and put him in the hot seat.

  “What about you, Cole?” she asked smugly. “I mean, I assume you and Serena were naked wrestling buddies. Was she the only one, or were there others?”

  There was dead silence on the other end of the line. Bri could practically hear Cole squirming.

  “I... um... Look Bri, that was all in the past. I promise, it didn’t mean anything,” he floundered, sounding desperate. “Things are different now. I’m different now, I swear.”

  Satisfied in her victory, she decided to go easy on him, and not prolong his misery.

  “Cole,” she broke in sympathetically, “I’m not naive. I know you have a past, and that past includes many, many, many girls.” She couldn’t help throwing in one last jab. “But, to be honest, I don’t care about that.”

  “Really? But, you’re a girl. Girls care about stuff like that. They care a lot.” He sounded skeptical.

  “Yes, really! Listen. I don’t care about who came before me, just like I don’t care who you were before me. I care about who you are now, and what happens now. But, that being said,” she warned, “you need to understand that I’m not like all those other girls. I’m not going to cave to your manly wiles, or your bedroom eyes.” She heard Cole laugh. “I’m serious about the whole bright future thing, and I expect you to respect my decisions, and my boundaries. O
kay?”

  “Okay. But just to warn you, that doesn’t mean I won’t try to push those boundaries, just a little.” She could hear the sly smile in his voice.

  “Well, you wouldn’t be a guy if you didn’t try,” she laughed. For a moment, her naked Cole fantasy floated through her mind. She really needed to stop thinking about that. Her heart picked up as she wondered what Cole’s “trying” would entail.

  “Wow, you really are one of a kind,” Cole marveled. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “Yes, you do,” Bri pressed softly. “You just need to start believing that.”

  “I’ll work on it,” he promised. “Well, I’d better go. I think we’ve had enough awkward conversation for one night!”

  “Yeah, it’s probably best to quit while we’re ahead! Goodnight, Cole.”

  “Goodnight, Ambria.”

  Bri hung up, flopped back on her bed, and thought about her unusual conversation with Cole. She was still on her bed when she heard the front door open, and she jumped up to go greet her family, oddly excited they were home. The twins barreled in and rushed her, almost toppling her over with their hugs. She squeezed them back and followed them into the kitchen as they told her all about their adventures in Fresno.

  Chapter 20

  New Year’s Eve was surprisingly chilly for California. And with Natalie’s party looming, Layla and Bri had to quickly revamp their outfits. After much deliberation, Layla decided that Bri should wear a red turtleneck, that set off her auburn hair, with a black and red plaid mini and black tights. Bri thought it made her look a little too catholic school girl, so she topped off her outfit with her knee high combat boots. Layla went with a black turtleneck and a nude pencil skirt with a black lace overlay. Her long legs were bare and ended in a pair of peep-toe stilettos.

  The girls pulled up to Natalie’s house, and Bri got out with a sigh. She still wasn’t sure she wanted to be here tonight. The house was further inland, and not nearly as big as Trey’s, but that didn’t stop the majority of the senior class from cramming their way inside. Bri and Layla forced their way through the crowd, searching for Devon, Jess, and Maddie. The group had claimed a few chairs out on the patio, amid the numerous heat lamps keeping the chilly air at bay. Devon pulled Layla down to his lap and kissed her hello. Bri averted her gaze, and greeted Jess, Ethan, Maddie, and Corbin, before taking in Natalie’s backyard. The clear blue pool sparkled invitingly, and the chairs set up around the perimeter were full of people. As soon as the make-out fest was over, Bri turned back to Layla.