"I think...I think first you need to call Brent, and figure out if Patrick did something nasty...and find out why he hasn't called you and why he didn't come to that game." Jordie said before taking a monster bite out of his slice of pizza.
Jordie and Brittany were sitting in his movie theatre, some classic Blackhawks game from the 70's playing but muted and the lights dimmed. She had just explained everything, everything, to Jordie. She just wanted to know what to do. She wanted a new best friend. She didn't want someone to replace Taylor, she loved Taylor. She just felt like maybe a guy would know what to do without getting her sucked into a bigger dramatic mess.
"I think maybe you're right." She said.
Jordie handed her his cell phone. "Use mine. I just have a feeling it might be better that way, so he'll answer. You need to talk to him."
She nodded, dialing the number, engraved in her heart.
"Hello?"
She didn't know why, but it was just great to hear his voice. "Brent,"
"Brittany Dawson, do you have something to say to me?"
She sigh. "So Pat told you."
"He more like spat the bitter truth at me."
"I..."
"Do you know how much that hurts?"
"Brent, sure, I'm sorry. But it hurt way more that you didn't show up to my game! You've never been to anything of mine! I've always been there for you!"
"So you had to go behind my back and make-out with my teammate? That's awfully slutty for you, Brit."
"Maybe you don't know me very well anymore."
She heard him sigh deeply. "It's just been a weird week."
"Let's start over."
"You did it because you were lonely, right?"
"Um, I guess. I don't know why I did it. I'm so confused."
"Did Pat make the first move?"
"Um," A tear slipped down her cheek. "No, I did."
'Oh, Brittany," Another tear fell and Jordie handed her a Kleenex box.
"I'm really sorry, Brent."
She heard him sigh yet again. "I forgive you."
Brittany couldn't help it. She figured crying was the best thing she could do, just cry and then get over it. "Baby, stop crying. Everything's good now. You're not gonna leave me, are you?"
"No," She sniffled.
"Good, I love you."
"Me, too,"
"I'm gonna go set Pat straight now."
"No, just leave him alone."
"You really want me to?"
"Yeah, he's just mad. Let him be."
"Okay, I'll see you right when I get back."
"Alright." She said, flipping the phone closed.
"Well?" Jordie asked.
"He forgave me...Pat told him before I could. I guess he was really mad at me, at himself, at Brent. I made a huge mess. You know, if I just went away there wouldn't be such tension. Brent could just be cheating without the commitment of a girlfriend back at home, and Pat could just-"
"Brittany, stop. They're lucky to have you in their life. Just because they're learning life lessons and you're helping them mature doesn't mean that they'll regret being friends with you later on in their life." Jordie reassured her.
"I keep throwing everything I feel away, because I think that Friday will change everything. Jor, what if it doesn't? What if I'm still stuck in this big mess where my boyfriend cheats and I let him?" She asked, tears welling up in her eyes again.
"Wait, he doesn't know that you know?" Jordie asked curiously.
"Evidently, Pat wasn't angry enough to tell him that little bit." Brittany sighed.
Jordie half-smiled. "I think you should rely on Friday; nothing wrong with that."
"But why? If I rely on it too much it just won't work out, I know it." Brittany sniffled.
"You're trying to grow up too early." Jordie said.
"What?" She questioned.
"Brit, you're 18. I think you've been trying to grow up since you were 16. Sure, you can be mature, but you'll never be at the same point in your life as Brent will. Let's face it. When you were 16, you needed to be experiementing with friends and clubs and guys your own age and at your own level, but you threw that all away to be with him. Now you're 18, but he's 22. You're gonna go off to college, and this is the best advice I can give you. Don't let Brent ruin your college, too."
Brittany couldn't think of anything to say. She enveloped Jordie in a big hug. "You're so understanding," She said as she embraced him.
"All in day's work."
