|
|
Post by brooke on May 8, 2007 14:31:38 GMT -5
Brooke had never actually run in high heels before, but it wasn't terribly difficult. As she made her way to the parking lot she started to slow down, eventually reaching a walking pace as she slumped against her jeep. She was holding the rose that Tadhg had given her in her hand, and as she looked down on it a fresh batch of tears welled up in her eyes. She just sort of stood there, not quite positive as to what had just happened.
She had been too rash. It was a rare thing for Brooke, who was normally calm and rational about everything, but... well, she had made it count. She was still standing there, leaning against her car, because she couldn't calm down. Did Tadhg hate her now? Would he never trust her again? She was sure of it, and she couldn't stand to think of what she may have just ruined. She was in no condition to be behind the wheel of a car.
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 8, 2007 14:41:24 GMT -5
Brooke ran amazingly well in heels, it took him some time to catch up with her. He found her leaning against her jeep in the parking lot crying her eyes out. What did Tad say to her in the bathroom? Tad never really seemed like the type to make a girl cry to Vinnie was surprised to say the least. Of course it was mostly Blane's fault, but Vinnie had expect Tad to be understanding and help Brooke feel better.
"Hey," he said gently when he was a few feet away from her so he didn't sneak up on the poor girl. "That was really a dick thing that Blane did. . . How are you feeling?" Dumb move Vinnie, obviously she's upset if she's crying. "I, mean, do you want to talk about it?" Vinnie added hastily. He was now standing next to Brooke at a comfortable distance. She was probably feeling very vulnerable and Vinnie didn't want her to think he was trying to take advantage of her; he was just genuinely concerned.
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 8, 2007 15:06:58 GMT -5
"Hey,"
Brooke looked up sharply at the sound of Vinnie's voice. She looked up at him for a moment before realizing how awful she must have looked. She quickly looked away and down, covering her face with her hair as she tried to wipe away some of her tears. She sniffed audibly a few times, trying to stifle her sobs. She hated when people saw her in her vulnerable moments. She hated looking weak, it was something she didn’t do often.
"That was really a dick thing that Blane did. . . How are you feeling?"
“Yeah, well, Blane’s an ass,” she said, unable to keep the vengeful tone of hatred from her voice. Blane was systematically out to ruin her life, and she seemed to be letting it happen. It was like no matter what she did fate was out to get her. Vinnie was closer now, and as he approached she looked up, trying not to seem so visibly upset.
"I, mean, do you want to talk about it?"
Brooke sniffed again, blinking back a single tear that was trying to escape. She looked up at Vinnie, unsure of what she should say. She didn’t want to seem like a bitch by turning him away, but she wasn’t sure if she should tell him everything that had just happened, everything she was feeling right then. She was cornered in her own mind.
“I… I don’t know,” she said weakly. “I should’ve pushed him away before he even did anything! Why I hesitated, why I froze… I don’t get it. And now Tadhg…” the lump in the back of her throat grew, and she swallowed hard to choke back a sob as she remembered the doubt in his voice. “He’ll never trust me again…” she said, shaking her head. “I think I ruined everything.”
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 8, 2007 15:23:47 GMT -5
“I should’ve pushed him away before he even did anything! Why I hesitated, why I froze… I don’t get it. And now Tadhg…"
"It's not you're fault!" Vinnie assure Brooke, looking her straight in the eye. "Blane caught you off guard. You were obviously just in shock. Even if it were me it would have taken me a few seconds to push him away and that would have been a far more awkward situation!" Vinnie was trying to put in some humor to help make Brooke feel better.
“He’ll never trust me again…” she said, shaking her head. “I think I ruined everything.”
"Brooke, it's not your fault." he said with a bit more force. He wasn't going to let her beat herself up about something she couldn't control. "I'm sure Tad just. . ." Since he didn't know what happened in the bathroom or what Tad's reaction it hard for him to comment about Tad. "I'm sure he's not as nearly as upset as you are." That seemed like the best thing to say, after all; Tad wasn't the one Blane kissed.
Vinnie remembered he had some tissues in his suit pocket so he pulled on out and handed it to Brooke. "Look, I know Blane is persistent when it comes to trying to ruin people's lives, but you can't him get to you. If you do that just means he wins and he's already smug enough." Vinnie knew Blane pretty well since they had been friends in Jr. High, but then Blane turned into a dick. "I know it's hard since you dated him for a year, but I know you're tough and you can handle him. I did hear about you kicking his ass in the hallway earlier this year." Vinnie smiled thinking about Brooke beating the shit out of Blane. "I know that took some balls."
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 8, 2007 15:45:35 GMT -5
"It's not you're fault! Blane caught you off guard. You were obviously just in shock. Even if it were me it would have taken me a few seconds to push him away and that would have been a far more awkward situation!"
Brooke laughed a little at the mental image of Blane kissing Vinnie. Even though she wasn’t really in the mood to laugh, as her situation was definitely not a laughing matter, it was nice to have an outsider to the situation be able to come in and make her feel a little better. She couldn’t joke about it, and neither could Tadhg, but Vinnie could, and it helped a little
"Brooke, it's not your fault. I'm sure Tad just. . . I'm sure he's not as nearly as upset as you are."
Brooke nodded slowly. That was true, he hadn’t been as upset as she was, but that was part of the problem. She’d been overly emotional, and that was what had gone wrong.
"Look, I know Blane is persistent when it comes to trying to ruin people's lives, but you can't him get to you. If you do that just means he wins and he's already smug enough. I know it's hard since you dated him for a year, but I know you're tough and you can handle him. I did hear about you kicking his ass in the hallway earlier this year. I know that took some balls."
She smiled a little at the memory, but remembered how that fight had landed Tadhg in the nurse’s office right after he’d already been to the hospital. “I’m not going to let him win,” she agreed. That was the last thing she could do. She sighed, wondering what Tadhg thought of her now. She wondered what Vinnie and the others thought of her now.
“But you don’t understand… It really is my fault. I… there was doubt in Tad’s voice, and I got scared. I was afraid he wouldn’t want me anymore, so I… I told him… that I loved him. And he said he couldn’t say it back.”
At this point tears welled up in her eyes again. “I didn’t mean to scare him away… I was afraid… and…” she clutched the rose to her chest. She hadn’t meant to tell all of that to Vinnie, but she thought that if she did it would help explain why she was so upset. She wasn’t upset over Blane, or even over the kiss anymore, but what had happened in the kiss’s aftermath. She hoped that Vinnie would understand and not judge her for it, though.
((ooc- ugg, LAME))
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 8, 2007 16:00:53 GMT -5
“But you don’t understand… It really is my fault. I… there was doubt in Tad’s voice, and I got scared. I was afraid he wouldn’t want me anymore, so I… I told him… that I loved him. And he said he couldn’t say it back.”
Vinnie couldn't help, but feel a lot of sympathy toward Tad; love was a heavy subject for guys. It seemed to be a lot easier for girls to admit love, with guys it was almost scary. Even Vinnie had problems with it; he was in his senior year of high school and still didn't have a girlfriend. It wasn't from lack of trying, Vinnie just always seemed to fall for the wrong girl. Lesbians mostly. Still, Vinnie wasn't afraid to discuss the matter with a friend, especially one in need of comfort.
"Brooke," said Vinnie gently as he put a hand on Brooke's shoulder, "guys are just love retarded. You probably caught Tad off guard the way Blane caught you off guard. I'm sure he didn't want to say it back unless he was sure he meant it, that's all." Vinnie thought it was good for Brooke to get a guys perspective of the situation so she could understand what Tad was going through. "Just because he couldn't say it back doesn't mean he doesn't want to be with you. You guys have only been dating for about a month now, give it some time."
"I didn’t mean to scare him away… I was afraid… and…”
Vinnie slowly moved the hand he had on Brooke's shoulder behind her and pulled her in to a comforting hug. He gently rubbed her back and was sure to keeps his hands up north to avoid any awkwardness or discomfort. "It'll be alright." said Vinnie gently. "Tad just needs time to think. I'm sure he realizes how lucky he is to have you."
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 8, 2007 20:45:45 GMT -5
"Brooke, guys are just love retarded. You probably caught Tad off guard the way Blane caught you off guard. I'm sure he didn't want to say it back unless he was sure he meant it, that's all. Just because he couldn't say it back doesn't mean he doesn't want to be with you. You guys have only been dating for about a month now, give it some time."
Brooke realized that Vinnie was right. Guys reacted differently to emotions than girls, especially love. But he hadn’t been there, he hadn’t been standing in front of Tad to see the look on his face. It wasn’t just that he didn’t want to say it back, there had been something more. Something deeper. The doubt… she couldn’t get over it. That aside, maybe Vinnie was right. Perhaps Tad just needed some time.
“I just hope I didn’t do the wrong thing,” she said, and left it at that.
As Vinnie pulled her into a hug Brooke allowed herself to be swallowed up in his arms. It was comforting to know that he was there, that he was worried about her enough to follow her up to the parking lot and make sure she was okay. Especially because he knew she was upset; volunteering to talk to a girl who was crying was usually a fate worse than death to most guys. He was being so nice about it.
"It'll be alright. Tad just needs time to think. I'm sure he realizes how lucky he is to have you."
This made Brooke smile, truly grateful to have Vinnie as a friend. That was the best thing he could have said right then, even though she couldn’t help thinking it was the other way around. That she was just realizing how lucky she was to have Tadhg, now that she had been afraid of losing him.
“Thanks. I hope you’re right… I’m sure we’ll work things out,” she said, more to herself than to Vinnie. She pulled back from the hug with a grateful smile on her face. She felt a lot better now than she had before. “I should probably go home,” she added, looking at her jeep. She figured she might be able to make it home without any more tears…
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 8, 2007 21:13:09 GMT -5
“I just hope I didn’t do the wrong thing,”
"It doesn't matter what you did," said Vinnie, "what's done is done. If you think you were wrong, I'm sure you and Tad can talk it out." He wasn't trying to pretend he was an expert at relationships, he was just trying to be genuine. He was giving his honest opinion on the matter. Boys normally didn't understand what the fuck was going on in girls' heads so Vinnie was just doing his best. It was obvious that boys and girls were different so you had to know how to handle the opposite sex. Unless you were gay, but Vinnie wasn't so he sort of knew what he was doing. Sort of.
“Thanks. I hope you’re right… I’m sure we’ll work things out,”
Then the hug broke off, which was good because Vinnie was starting to feel like he was crossing the line a little; hugging another guys girl friend. Vinnie was just trying to comfort Brooke because it had obviously been a very emotionally draining night for her, but it still wouldn't have looked good had Tad come to the parking lot to find Brooke hugging Vinnie. At least his efforts were not in vain; he'd made Brooke feel better, well she stopped crying anyway and that was something! "I know you guys will." said Vinnie, "If you fought through Blane's crap before, I know you guys can do it again."
“I should probably go home,”
Brooke driving herself home made Vinnie a little uneasy. Sure she was fine now, but what if she got upset again during the ride home and got distracted from the road? Vinnie didn't like the thought of it one bit. He also just wanted to make sure she was with someone until she got home, it just seemed like she could the comfort. "How about I give you a ride home?" he asked gently.
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 8, 2007 21:45:28 GMT -5
"It doesn't matter what you did, what's done is done. If you think you were wrong, I'm sure you and Tad can talk it out."
Brooke was impressed. Vinnie seemed to know a lot about relationships, despite the fact that he wasn’t in one, nor had he been for a while now (if ever?). Just the same, what he said really hit home for Brooke. His somewhat overly philosophical take on things was making her feel a little better, even if he was just suggesting that she had to let fate take it’s course now. What’s done is done.
“I’m sure,” she echoed, though her tone didn’t reflect her words. She was anything but sure, but tried not to let it show. Vinnie was being kind enough to try and make her feel better, and the last thing she wanted to do was brood and make things worse.
"I know you guys will. If you fought through Blane's crap before, I know you guys can do it again."
Nodding, Brooke hoped that he was right. “Thanks,” she said, giving him a genuine smile. She knew that this must have been hard for him, being Tadhg’s friend as well, to talk to her like this. She knew that he was just being a good friend, though, and didn’t even think to question his motives.
"How about I give you a ride home?"
Brooke’s initial reaction was to be upset. He obviously thought that she wasn’t okay enough to drive herself! And who was he to doubt her? She’d be fine, she always was. But after a moment of reflection she realized that she probably wasn’t in the best of conditions, and that Vinnie was probably right about this as well. Maybe she shouldn’t be behind the wheel in her current emotional state. Vinnie was only looking out for her, much like an older brother right then, which was exactly what she needed.
“Are you sure? I mean… Viola… I wouldn’t want to pull you away from your date,” she said. If he was willing, though, she could always have her mom drive her up here in the morning to pick up her car.
((ooc- I forgot who he came with… if I was wrong, just tell me, and I’ll edit it.))
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 9, 2007 6:17:28 GMT -5
"Hey, don't worry about it." said Vinnie reassuringly, "I'll call Viola and tell her where I went, then after I drop you off I'm going to come right back to the dance." She seemed a bit reluctant to go with him probably just because she didn't want to conflict with his plans for the evening. That was really sweet of her to be concerned, but he really thought it was best if he drove Brooke home.
"Come on, my car is right over there." he pointed to his Black Honda Civic only a few cars down from Brooke's and lead her over to it. Being the gentleman that he was, after he unlocked the car he opened the passenger side door for Brooke.
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 9, 2007 15:44:59 GMT -5
"Hey, don't worry about it. I'll call Viola and tell her where I went, then after I drop you off I'm going to come right back to the dance."
Brooke hoped that Viola wouldn’t mind. She couldn’t turn down his offer to drive her home, though, because she knew better than anybody that the chances of her making it home on her own without breaking down again were slim to none. She could never be by herself when she was upset because she had a bad habit of making things worse. It was commonplace for her to be seen surrounded by friends when she was feeling blue.
“Alright, if you’re sure,” she said, knowing that Viola was probably talking to Tadhg at this very minute.
"Come on, my car is right over there."
Brooke nodded, looking over at Vinnie with a genuine smile on her face. “Thanks,” she said, heading towards the car. “For everything,” she added. She wasn’t sure if she would’ve been alright if he hadn’t come and talked to her about everything. Vinnie had really calmed her down.
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 9, 2007 17:00:38 GMT -5
"It's really no problem." said Vinnie as he stood with the door opened, waiting for Brooke to get it. He didn't want to seem like he was in a hurry, but the more he thought about it, it was a little rude to leave Viola to go take another girl home so he wanted to get back as soon as he could. He hoped Viola understood; he was only trying to look out for a friend and he'd be sure to make up for it with lots of dancing when he got back. The most important thing, though, was that he'd made Brooke feel better. It would have been terrible to let her go home feeling so upset. Vinnie was just happy he could help.
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 9, 2007 17:42:59 GMT -5
ooc- whoops! Forgot about the part where he was holding the door open for her. lol.
Brooke got into the passenger side of the car, careful not to get her dress caught on anything as she did so. She closed the door and waited for Vinnie to come around and start the car. She was grateful for the ride and made a mental note to apologize to Viola for stealing her date away. Of course, all of that could wait until Monday, when all of this drama had passed. Or so she hoped.
Brooke made sure to keep her mind off of the night's events as she sat there because she knew that every time she replayed things in her head she wanted to cry again. She was determined not to shed one more tear until Vinnie had dropped her off at her house, which was only about three minutes away from the school.
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 9, 2007 18:04:28 GMT -5
When Brooke shut the door behind her Vinnie went around to the drivers side and got in the car and started the engine. Once he had pulled out of the parking lot he got out his cell phone and dialed Viola's number.
"Hey, Viola, I'm really sorry," Vinnie began into the phone, "but I have to take Brooke home quick! I promise I'll be right back! I just want to make sure she gets home ok! Listen, I can't really talk much because I'm driving do I'll be right back! Bye!" Vinnie felt bad for not giving Viola much of a chance to respond, but he didn't like driving while talking on his cell phone. The only reason he'd done it was because he wanted to call Vi and let her know what was going on and he wanted to get back as soon as he could. Calling Viola before leaving would have taken up more time!
Vinnie knew how to get to Brooke's house; he had to take his sister there a few times because of cheer leading stuff. Luckily her house wasn't far, it only took them about three minutes to get there. He pulled up in front of Brooke's house and put the car in park. "I really hope you feel better," he said with a smile to Brooke, "Please, just try to cheer up, for me ok?" For a second he debated getting out of the car and walking her to her door, but he decided that that was more of a boyfriend/ date thing to do. Brooke was a big girl, she could get to her door on her own. . .
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 10, 2007 6:27:41 GMT -5
"Hey, Viola, I'm really sorry, but I have to take Brooke home quick! I promise I'll be right back! I just want to make sure she gets home ok! Listen, I can't really talk much because I'm driving do I'll be right back! Bye!"
Brooke was glad that she didn't live that far away. She felt a little bit of remorse about keeping Vinnie away from the dance but he had been the one to offer her the ride, and then push her to accept the offer even when she had wanted to drive herself home. She was grateful for the gesture, though, and hoped that she wasn't ruining Viola's night. It would suck if she was spreading her horrible mood.
"I really hope you feel better," he said with a smile to Brooke, "Please, just try to cheer up, for me ok?"
Brooke looked back at Vinnie because he started to speak as she got out of the car. She turned around and flashed him a huge smile. It wasn't even forced anymore... well, at least, not entirely forced. "Okay," she agreed. "Thanks again, Vinnie. You really helped a lot..." it was nice to have someone looking out for her when she was being ridiculously irrational, even when that didn't happen very often.
|
|
Tadhg Kelly
Straight Male 
Junior at St. James
Oh, superfluous penguins, this can't be good.
Posts: 362
|
Post by Tadhg Kelly on May 10, 2007 9:27:03 GMT -5
Tad was walking to the parking lot, feeling like shit. Why couldn't he just say it back? It was jut three little words, and he had been too stupid to say them. He had been too caught of guard. God, he just needed to go home and think things over, maybe run it by his dad and see what he thought. He'd probably tell he was a bloody prat or something similar.
He glanced around, trying to remember where he parked. He noticed two people getting into a car. One of them he recognized as Vinnie and the other was. . .Brooke. What was going on. . .? She was getting into his car. . .and from the looks of things they'd been talking a bit. She hadn't wanted to talk things over with him, but she'd open up to Vinnie? He wasn't the generally the jealous type, but what the hell was happening to his relationship? First the kiss with Blane, which he could have gotten over, then the I love you which had taken him off guard, but which he had tried too late to return, and now she was leaving with Vinnie. . .
He stood watching the car leave for a few moments. He didn't know what to do. . .he bit his lip to stop himself from crying or yelling or whatever the first thing to happen would have been as he made his way towards his car.
|
|
|
|
Post by vinnie on May 13, 2007 10:27:55 GMT -5
"No problem." said Vinnie with a smile, "I'm really just glad I could help and I hope a you fell better." Vinnie liked getting that warm fuzzy feeling inside when he helped a friend and that was exactly what he was feeling. Brooke had had so many problems with relationships the last thing she needed was for things to fall through with Tad. He knew that they would be able to work everything out so Vinnie didn't worry about her as much as he would have if he didn't talk to her. He waited until Brooke had opened her front door before waving good bye and driving back to the school.
|
|
|
|
Post by brooke on May 16, 2007 14:45:22 GMT -5
As Brooke waved goodbye to Vinnie and opened the front door to her house, she could hear her dog scratching at the door… this meant that her parents were in the living room, since her puppy always followed her father around like they were attached at the hip. She debated not going inside, debated running off somewhere to be alone for a while, but knew that all she really wanted to do was take off her heels, fall into her bed, and sleep.
Which was exactly what she planned on doing. Ignoring the questions of her concerned family members, Brooke walked right up the stairs to her room and collapsed onto her bed, letting go of a few more tears before drifting off into a restless sleep.
|
|
