Paul's POV
Shit. How did things get so messed? Now Benji hated me because he thinks I had a bet with Suse about whether or not he'd fuck her. So Joel would hate me too. And Susie hated me because... I don't know, but she was pretty angry. I guess this happens when you start to uncover people's secrets. I couldn't see a way out of this mess. Let's review: I love Susie. Benji loves Susie. Susie loves... well who knows? Not me for certain. Does Susie love Benji, I pondered. Maybe. Well, I knew she didn't love me. Or if she did, then only as a friend.
Susie's POV
I'm so confused. Goddammit. Food is easier. Let me see... ciabatta and mozzarella...
So anyway, I was sitting on the doorstep thinking of nothing, feeling strangely calm. It's not so bad, I said to myself. I'm not in love with Benji, so no sleepless nights there. I'm not in love with Paul, so no sleepless nights there. And neither of them are in love with me, so no sleepless nights there either. Whoo-hoo!
Or not, I thought sourly, as I saw Benji walk up to me.
Paul's POV
I left the house after Benji went to his room. I thought that maybe a walk in my hometown would help me sort my tangled thoughts out. I walked and walked and walked, ignoring the few people who stared at me. Yeah, I play bass in a band, and that band's pretty famous, get over it, I thought sourly.
I walked until I reached a little playground. Oh my God, I thought, I remember this place. So many memories...
Susie's POV
Benji sat down next to me on the step. "Hey," he said hesitantly.
I replied with a firm Hey. I have to work with this guy 11 months a year. We can't afford awkwardness. We sat in silence for a bit, and then Benji spoke.
"Why?"
"Why what?" I responded.
"Why did you bet Paul that I'd sleep with you?"
"Huh?" Now I was seriously confused.
Benji continued. "And if he loves you, why did he accept the bet? Help me out here, Suse. I don't know what the hell's going on."
"Well, neither do I." Oh, wait. Suddenly it clicked. "Oh, my God. That bet..."
"You made a bet like that and forgot about it? Thanks Suse."
"What... no! It was a non-existent bet. I bet Paul that I could touch the... ahem... of every guy in the room. We never had any bet about me sleeping with you. You were just there and I thought, what the hell. We were drunk..."
"I wasn't," said Benji.
"But it's okay, right, 'cos you don't want any long term thing, do you?"
Benji looked down. "No," he whispered. Something was going on there, but I really wasn't in the mood to work it out.
Suddenly, one of his earlier sentences flashed into my brain... "and if he loves you..."
"Benji, what do you mean, if Paul loves me he wouldn't have made a bet about me sleeping with you?"
Benji shook his head. "Haven't you worked it out yet, girl? Paul's crazy about you, Susie. He never stops talking about you. He loves you..."
Benji got up suddenly. "I... I have to go," he said unsteadily, and walked off. I just sat there, shocked.
Benji said that Paul loves me. Well. That changed everything.