�Des, what�s going on with you and Brian?� Danielle asked. �It doesn�t seem like you two are so �in love� anymore.�
�We just got so distant in the past two months,� Destiny replied. �I don�t know what happened.�
�Sex happened,� Sunshine said and they looked at her.
�Told ya it wouldn�t last,� Josephine stated. �But no one listens to me. I even knew it wasn�t going to last between me and Kevin. I was sadder when I broke up with Kevin than I was with Alex.�
�That�s probably because you were with Kevin three months longer,� Danielle said.
�This coming from the girl who never seen her boyfriend,� Destiny said.
�I�ve learned a lot this past year,� Danielle said.
�That�s good,� Sunshine said, as the Boys came in. �Who won?�
�Me and Nick,� Brian replied getting some water.
�They always win,� Alexander said.
�Do not,� Brian said, as everyone laughed.
�Sunn, are you ready?� Howard asked.
�I was going to hitch a ride with Kev,� Sunshine replied. �If ya don�t mind.�
�We�re having dinner with my parents remember,� Howard reminded her.
�Oh right,� Sunshine said. �Do we really have too? We had dinner with them the past five nights. I just, like, want to stay in and order a pizza or something.�
�That sounds fun,� Josephine said.
�Yeah it does,� everyone else said, except Howard.
�C�mon, Howie,� Sunshine said. �Let�s all get some pizza and videos and hang out. We haven�t done that for awhile lately.� He just looked at her. �I�m sure your parents will understand.�
�They�re really looking forward to this dinner,� Howard replied.
�And they looked forward to the past five dinners,� Sunshine stated. �Part of your duty as my boyfriend is to keep me happy and I want to hang out with friends tonight.�
�Tomorrow night,� Howard said. �I promise.�
�Forget it,� Sunshine said. �Go to your parents, because I�m not.� She got up and started walking from the kitchen. �At least Nick knew how to keep me happy and we never ended up fighting about it.� They watched her walk out and then looked at Howard.
�She�ll get over it once we get there,� Howard said.
�Shows how much you know about your girlfriend,� Nickolas replied and they all looked at him, as he walked from the kitchen.
�Pizza and movies sounds fun, D,� Danielle said.
�You�re like a parents boy, dude,� Josephine said.
�Or you just don�t want Sunn and Nick around each other,� Danielle said and he looked at her.
�You don�t own her, Howie,� Venus said. �So get over it. This plan of yours is going to blow up in your face and the only one to blame will be you. You knew from the beginning how Sunn and Nick felt about each other, but you just don�t care. You weaseled your way in there somehow.�
�I didn�t weasel my way into anything,� Howard said. �Sunn fell for me.� Danielle and Venus shook their heads, as Sunshine walked back in.
�You�re still here,� Sunshine said. �I hope you�re not waiting for me.� She grabbed her bag off the bar. �Nick was heading home so you�re not supposed to worry. His brother needs him.�
�Alright,� the guys said.
�I�m out of here,� Sunshine said walking out again.
�Guys really know how to piss women off,� Venus said. �All Sunn wanted was to spend sometime with her friends since we live in Pennsylvania and you want to deny her that. Not even Nick would do that.�
�You Boys enjoy each other�s company,� Danielle said, as the girls got up. �We�ll eat by ourselves.� They walked out and the guys looked at each other.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Are you ready to order?� the waiter asked Sunshine.
�Um, I�ll have two slices of pepperoni,� Sunshine said.
�Is that everything?�
�For now.�
�Can I get ya another drink while ya wait?�
�Sure.�
�Put it on my tab,� someone said and Sunshine looked to see Bradley Fischetti. �Hey.�
�Hey.�
�May I sit?�
�Um�sure.�
�Thank you.� He sat across from her and looked at her, as she played with her straw paper and read something. �No entertaining at the mall today?�
�No.� They laughed. �Today�s my day off.�
�That�s cool. We all deserve a day off.�
�Today your day off?�
�Yes actually. I was sitting at home and got an urge for some good pizza.�
�I just wanted to get away from Howie.�
�Things not going so well.�
�I don�t think they were going well from the beginning, ya know.� He nodded. �All I wanted tonight was a fun evening with my friends and chowing down on some pizza and watching movies, ya know, and he wants to insist on dinner at his parents�again. We�ve been doing that since we got together. Tonight would�ve been the sixth night in a row. I haven�t seen my friends since like July and he doesn�t want me to hang with them. I think most of his problem is with Nick, ya know. He would�ve been there and there�s still a lot between us, ya know, and Howie just has a problem with that and it�s all just driving me nuts right now.�
�You know where to find me if ya ever need to get away.�
�Thanks, but I think I have the perfect place to go right now.�
�Oh yeah. Where?�
�Australia.�
�Excuse me?�
�I got this great opportunity that no one knows about, ya know.� He just looked at her. �A movie deal.�
�Wow, congratulations.�
�Thanks. That�s what I�m reading now. They start filming in February. I auditioned for the role back in June at the L.A. benefit show thingy.� Bradley nodded. �I got it too. I was so excited.�
�But you didn�t tell anyone.�
�Nope. I want it to be a surprise. A lot of people have a negative attitude about my career choice and if I tell them they probably won�t believe me. So I want to surprise them all.�
�That sounds like a good plan.�
�I thought so too.� She sighed. �I just have a lot on my mind and I think this is a good thing for me to do. It�ll probably take my mind off things and I�ll feel a lot better for a few months, ya know.�
�Yeah and my door is always open for ya.�
�Thanks.�
�In fact I�ll give ya something.� He pulled his keys from his pocket and took two off and handed them to her. She took them and looked at him. �They�re the keys to my place. Whenever ya want to be alone and don�t know where to go feel free to stop by whether I�m home or not.�
�Um�ok�thanks.�
�You�re welcome.� She smiled and he smiled in return.
�So anyone in your life?�
�Not at the moment.� She nodded.
�Stay single.�
�I am interested in someone though.�
�That�s cool I guess. Right now I�m wishing I stayed single. Guys can be such��
�Assholes.�
�Well that�s not what I was going to say, but that about sums it up.�
�I�m sure we�re not all the same.�
�I hope not.� They laughed and smiled at each other.
CHAPTER 48
HOME