"JC, man, that was out of line," Justin said quietly as they all watched Carmel disappear into the restroom.
JC sighed. "I know. It just kinda came out-I couldn't help it. But I honestly haven't seen any emotion in her other than extreme sarcasm and being *mean.*"
"She was just laughing a minute ago, and you can't tell me she's not a funny person," Lance said.
JC's lips were tightly pressed together. "Okay, yes, she's funny and she's-"
Serena had an amused look on her face. "And she's what?"
JC's face turned red. "Umm..."
"Come on, JC. You can spit it out," Joey said with a knowing smile.
"I don't know what you're talking about," JC lied, thinking 'What in the world are you thinking?'
"Don't even *try* the amnesia excuse," Chris said, grinning. "You're going to say what you were gonna say."
JC knew they weren't going to let up until he said it. And he knew they would know if he was lying. So he decided to just get it over with. "Okay, yes, she's funny and she's-she's-"
"Come on, JC. You can do this," Justin said.
The words seemed to shoot out of JC's mouth. "I think she's pretty."
"See? Now that wasn't that hard was it?" Serena said. "I think youshould apologize to Carmel."
JC nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'll be back."
"I'm gonna go see how she is doing," Serena said and followed JC.
Carmel turned on the faucet and splased some cold water on her face.
"Mel, you okay?" Serena asked as the door shut behind her.
Carmel looked up and dried her face off with a paper towel. "I'm fine."
"You've been in here awhile," Serena observed.
"Am I really that bad, Serena?" Carmel asked.
Serena shook her head. "No, Carmel. JC did *not* mean that."
"He meant it alright. But it's okay cuz I think he has a cold and steely personality too," Carmel said.
"Mel, he did *not* mean what he said. Trust me," Serena replied. "He's not that bad a guy."
"Rina-I have seen no other aspect to his personality other than him being rude and a jerk-"
"Oh, come on-you've seen him laugh and joke around. Just a few minutes ago infact. You can't tell me that JC's not a fun guy," Serena said.
Carmel nodded. "Okay. So he's funny and he's-"
Serena laughed. "Go on."
Carmel blushed. "He's pretty hot."
'What are you *saying?*' Carmel thought to her self.
"You two are just so mean to each other..."
"He hates me and I hate him and that's the way it's been and that's the way it'll always be," Carmel said. "Let's see if our food is at the table yet."
Serena shrugged and followed Carmel out of the restroom. "Okay."
Someone leaning on the wall next to the door of the restroom called Carmel's name. She turned around and Serena kept walking back to the table.
"What do you want?" Carmel asked.
"I just wanted to tell you-" JC stopped when Carmel spun around and began walking away,
"I don't need to hear you bash me even more, JC," Carmel said.
JC gently grabbed her arm. "Carmel, just listen to me. I'm sorry for saying what I said earlier."
Carmel stared in shock at JC. "*What?*"
"I'm sorry for saying you had a cold and steely personality," JC said.
"Did the rest of them put you up to this? Because I do *not* want to be humored-especially not by you," Carmel replied.
"No, they didn't. I didn't mean what I said...let's make a truce. Let's at least *try* to get along tonight okay?" JC compromised.
Lance looked over at JC and Carmel. "They so totally like each other. They just don't wanna admit it."
"We'll just have to help them along," Serena said.
"How? They think they hate each other," Joey replied.
"We set them up on a blind date," Justin said with a smile. |
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