Building Friction (Part 20)

"You did what??" Steph was in the middle of pouring Red Bull into a glass and almost spilled it after my revelation.

"I slept with Matt. Just slept. No sex." I popped another chip into my mouth. "Hey Casey! The dip kicks ass!" I yelled in the direction of the living room.

"No nothing?" She put the can down on the counter and looked at me.

"No nothing," I responded.

"No...?" She lifted her thumb to the outside of her cheek and pressed her tongue out on the other side.

I laughed so hard I nearly spit chewed up chip all over her. "No. No oral. No manual. Nothing more than good old-fashioned making out with a little fondling. Think high school."

"I did a hell of a lot more than that when I was in high school," Steph replied in a grouchy tone and then started to pour Jaeger into the glass with the Red Bull. "I swear, you are really beginning to weird me out. First you fuck a guy you don't like in a restroom. Then you don't fuck a guy that you DO like when you're in your own bed. Do I need to take you to the doctor and get your head examined for trauma?"

"I think I didn't fuck him because I like him," I said reflectively and then started chewing on another chip.

"OK, now you're making even less sense." Steph handed the glass over to me and then lifted her own. We knocked back the double shots simultaneously. "Cara?" Steph called out. "Come here for a minute." Cara wandered into the kitchen, holding a beer and smiling warmly at me. Steph turned to me again. "Tell her what you told me," she instructed.

"Matt slept over last night. We didn't have sex, we just spooned and slept together. Steph thinks I'm insane," I sighed and motioned to Steph to make me another drink.

Cara laughed. "I think that's fucking great, lady. Really romantic."

"Oh, please!" Steph waved the bottle of Jaeger around in the air. "You know what happened last week, remember?" She looked at Cara who nodded. "So don't you think it's weird that she wouldn't fuck the guy that she actually is into?"

"Babe," Cara cooed and moved over behind her girlfriend, kissing her on her bare shoulder. "Maybe she doesn't want to 'fuck' him. Maybe she wants to 'make love.' Stop picking on her."

"Thank you!" I exclaimed and waved at arm at Cara.

"Oh, bullshit!" Steph argued. "You are so NOT the 'make love' type! You always say so yourself in everything that you write. That you don't understand people who put such an emotional attachment on sex."

"Well, it's not like it's done me any great service up until this point. Do you really hate me for trying an alternative route?" I put my plate down and folded my arms across my chest.

"If you try to be someone other than yourself, then you're going to end up hurting even worse than if you just fucked up all on your own." Steph handed the newly filled glass over to me and I pounded it back. "All I'm saying is be honest with yourself. Don't deny who you are to make someone else happy in the hopes that their being happy will rub off on you."

"You are thinking way too deeply into this," I sighed.

"She has a point, babe," Cara agreed.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" I said to her and smiled.

"Mutual, lady. Mutual," Cara laughed.

"Alright, now you're trying to hit on my girlfriend. That's just great," Steph cracked a genuine smile for the first time since we started talking that night. "I love you too, you know. I'm just trying to protect your best interests."

"And I love you for it. But it's kind of hard to protect the best interests of someone who hasn't determined what her best interests are." I gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll figure it out and try and do it with the least amount of fallout possible."

"Yeah, that's definitely not you," Steph snorted and then we all laughed.


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Sunday was Joshua's birthday, so the gang had decided on having a beach bash to celebrate. The house was up the block from the beach and cars were lined up and down the street when Matt and I pulled up around 2 the next afternoon. He had the day off and said he wanted to spend some more time with me. When I suggested beer and BBQ on the sand, he agreed to come along.

As we walked toward the ever expanding group that was gathered on the beach, Joshua came running up to me and swooped me up in his arms. "Chlo-Chlo, my favorite channel!" he yelled, swinging me around. "Hey, I missed you!"

I wriggled free of his grasp, rolling my eyes, and hugged him. "You wouldn't have to miss me if you could learn to control your temper a little bit better." Joshua had just gotten out of jail after serving a couple of days for a fight that got out of hand.

He narrowed his eyes at me, which was a funny thing to watch after seeing how heavy-lidded they already were. "He sucker punched me, Chlo. He deserved what was coming to him."

"I don't deny that. But sometimes it's better to just walk away," I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "But don't listen to me because I never know how to take my own advice."

Joshua laughed heartily and then extended a hand to Matt. "You must be the guy," he said. Matt took his hand and Joshua shook it firmly.

"I'm Matt, but I don't know if that qualifies me as 'The Guy,'" Matt replied.

Joshua tilted his head at the statement. "I dunno, dude. But don't hurt this girl or I will fuck your shit up." He glared at him for a second and then flashed his mega-watt smile. "Seriously. Be good to her." He leaned over and hugged me again and then turned tail and ran over to another group of our friends that were approaching.

"Yeah, I apologize for his enthusiasm," I began to say.

"Don't. I admire that. Sure, it's not cool if you land in jail for it, but there's something to be said for a friend being concerned about the people in his life. It's nice to know that there's someone out there looking after you when I can't." Matt wrapped his arm around me and brought me in for a kiss.

At that moment, Steph and Lilly came strolling up. "Awe," Steph trilled. "And you think my relationship is the romantic ideal!"

I pulled back from Matt and ran my thumb along the corner of my mouth, slightly embarrassed. "Be nice," I reprimanded her.

"Hey Steph," Matt greeted. "Hey Lilly. It's good to see you two lovelies again." He stepped forward and gave both of them hugs. "We've got beer," he pointed down to the two cases at his feet. "Where should I put it?"

"There's a big tub with ice over there," Lilly pointed in the direction of the BBQ grill, where Casey was already at work. "Just throw them in with the rest of the brew."

"Will do," Matt said, then headed off to deposit the beer.

Lilly clasped her hands together and swayed back and forth. "He is soooooo hot," she proclaimed.

"Yes, Lil, I already have heard your approval," I joked. "What's up? You two came over here almost as fast as Josh. So what's the deal?"

"Geoff's on his way," Steph warned. "He called Alex earlier this afternoon and said that he would be coming by later. I would have called you if I found out earlier, but Alex didn't say anything until right now when he saw you walking up with Matt."

"Well..." I started tentatively. "He did send me that one IM. It sounded like he wasn't going to pursue the issue with me. I'd like to think that he was telling the truth."

"Yeah, but Alex says he asked if you were going to be here, and Alex told him yes. What he doesn't know is that Matt's here too." Steph glanced towards the grill. Matt was talking to Casey and sipping at a bottle of beer. He waved when he caught us looking in his direction. The three of us all waved back.

"He was there at The Good Bar that night when Matt was there and nothing happened," I argued.

"Yeah, but that was before you fucked him," Steph countered.

"Well, fuck. What the hell do you suggest I do? If I tell Matt that we need to bail, he's going to want to know why. If we stick around and Geoff says something suggestive, then he's going to ask me to explain, which is certainly something that I don't want to do." I covered my eyes. "I am so fucking screwed right now."

"We'll see if we can run interference. Maybe when Geoff gets here, we can see about hooking him up with someone," Lilly smiled.

"Oh, that's a great idea, Lil," Steph chided. "Who's going to hook up with him? They all know the history."

"I don't know. Maybe Shaney?" Lilly pointed in the direction of Joshua's sister.

"No, she got back together with her ex again," Steph answered. "That idea isn't really going to work. I just say that we try and keep the two of them from talking to each other. Once Kelly gets here with Malory and Claude, it should work. Sound OK?" Steph turned and asked me.

"Sounds like the best that we can hope for," I sighed.

Just at that moment, I looked over the crest of the sand and saw Geoff's head appear. He was walking with Tyler, another one of our friends, and they were sharing the burden of carrying a keg. Geoff saw me and shot me a twisted grin. I gave a small nod in his direction and then turned and headed over toward Matt.

"Show's on," I said to Steph and Lilly, then met up with Matt and suggested that we take a walk along the shoreline. He agreed and we made our way down just as Geoff was making his way over.

The afternoon wore on slowly. Matt got involved in conversations with Joshua and Victor and Geoff stayed close to the keg, downing cup after plastic cup of brew and staring at me. I tried to position myself at a distance halfway between the two men at all times. I refused to let Matt get his own food and fixed and brought him a plate to where he was sitting. I tried to keep his alcohol consumption to a minimum, but every time I turned around he had a fresh bottle in his hands. He was a happy drunk, smiling, laughing and telling jokes a little too loudly, but other than that he seemed oblivious to the leering attention that Geoff was directing at me.

When my bladder could finally stand it no longer, I headed over to the restrooms, but not before securing Malory and Claude to keep an eye on both men. As I was exiting from the public facilities, Geoff was standing outside. He had the plastic cup that appeared to be glued in his hand and was sipping from it.

"Nice little game you've been playing," he commented.

"I just don't want to see anything bad happen, OK?" I started to push past him and walk back to our place on the beach.

"I didn't think he'd be here," Geoff slurred. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have come. But now I can't leave because I'll look like a pussy." He swigged the last of the liquid in his cup and tossed it aside. "But I don't really want to leave. I'm enjoying the show, actually."

"Please," I dropped my voice to a low whisper. I placed my hands on his forearms and stood in front of him, glaring into his eyes. "Please just leave it alone. Whatever else that we need to work out doesn't have anything to do with Matt."

"We don't have anything left to work out," Geoff responded. "Do we?" He raised his eyebrow at me drunkenly.

I paused. "Just please stay away from him, OK?" I stressed the last syllable. "Even if you hate me, could you find it in your heart to take mercy on me and do that one thing?"

Geoff leaned in. I could smell the beer strong on his breath. My heart began to hammer in my chest. His face came within inches of mine. I could no longer bring myself to look in his eyes and lowered my gaze. "Fine," he drawled against the side of my face. I could feel the heat of his breath on my cheek. I closed my eyes. "I will leave your lover boy alone."

There was a moment when we remained that close. I could feel the heat of the emotion radiating off of him. He angled his head, and for a split second I was positive that he was going to kiss me. Then he suddenly stood straight up, and without a word, walked off. My knees were jelly and I nearly crashed to the sand from trying to hold myself up on them. After a minute, I pulled myself together and headed back.

Casey was trying to arrange a game of volleyball and a couple of people were stretching the net across the two poles positioned in the sand. I walked up to Matt and he put his arm around me. I could see Geoff watching me from his place next to Malory, who was trying to strike up a conversation with him from what I could determine.

"You wanna play?" Matt asked and gestured toward the net.

"Sure. Sounds like fun," My voice sounded less than convincing in my ears, but I didn't think that Matt picked up on it.

Casey was counting the people who wanted to play and dividing us up into teams of 6 people a piece. Matt, Lilly, Joshua, Shaney, Casey and I were on one team. Malory, Steph, Cara, Alex, Victor and Geoff were on the other. Casey was the first to serve. As the ball reached the back line, Steph popped it up. Geoff jumped up and spiked it almost directly into my head. I jumped back just in time to watch it land with a dead thump at my feet.

"Hey!" I screamed. "Watch out!"

"Sorry. I forgot I needed to be careful when playing with girls," he smirked.

"Dude..." Joshua started, but I waved him off.

"I'm fine. Let's play," I said and then got back into position. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Matt looking at me with concern. I smiled at him, trying to reassure him that I was OK.

Steph served the ball next and we had a good volley going. Lilly dived and caught the ball just in time. I got under it and leaped up to spike it. Geoff moved over in front of me to block and the ball bounced off of his hands and behind me, where Matt picked it up. The volley continued until Alex set up the ball and Geoff spiked it at me again, harder than ever. I jumped out of the way, but not before the ball came down on my foot. I yelped and fell backward on my ass.

"I don't know what your problem is," Matt's voice was raised and I could hear him approaching the net from behind me. "But you better learn some fucking manners and fast." He faced Geoff through the net. They glared each other down.

"It's a game. If she's not up for it, maybe she should just go sit on the sidelines," Geoff hissed back.

"It's supposed to be a friendly game," Matt spat. "Not a bloodthirsty one. So let me repeat myself. Are you going to mind your fucking manners, or am I going to have to knock some into you?" I rubbed my foot and looked up at him. His hands were clenched tightly into fists.

"Matt, just let it go. I'm tough. It doesn't matter." I began to stand.

"It does matter, Chloe. This is a party. Everyone here is supposed to be friends. He shouldn't be trying to take your head off." Matt didn't look down at me as he spoke, but kept his gaze on Geoff, unflinching.

Joshua was taking up Matt's side. "I agree, Chloe. Nobody pulls this shit with my friends."

Shaney echoed Joshua's sentiment. Steph and Alex were pulling in behind Geoff. Alex put a hand on his arm and tried to shake him from the stare down that he was having with Matt. Geoff did not move. People were beginning to form a circle. Some voices were repeating my take, asking the guys to back down. Others were murmuring quietly, feeding the anger.

I walked over to the net. "Guys, please." I looked back and forth between them, but knew that it was falling on deaf ears. They were locked into each other, ready to fight and mere seconds from launching into it. "Matt, come on. Let's just go."

Maybe it was hearing me say his name, but Matt stopped and looked over at me for a second. "I think there's a lesson that he needs to learn here, Chloe. Leaving isn't going to solve this. He's just going to keep coming back and pulling the same stalker shit."

"Stalker shit? What the fuck are you talking about Pet Store Boy?" Geoff threw back his head and started laughing maniacally. "Stalker would imply that the attention was unwanted."

"Shut the fuck up, Geoff! It IS unwanted!" I screamed. He'd broken me. In that last sentence, he'd totally broken me.

Everything became a blur as I saw Matt duck under the net and come up on the other side, lunging at Geoff's waist and dragging him to the ground. His right fist came up and then delivered a blow to the side of Geoff's face. The grappling spun them around on the sand, kicking it up in every direction. People began yelling, chanting. Joshua ran over and stood beside the writhing pile, looking for a place to jump in.

Geoff pulled himself halfway up and swung wide, connecting with Matt's jaw. His head snapped back for a second, but when it righted itself, his eyes were ablaze. He began landing punches one after the other. The two were fueled on alcohol and testosterone and showed no signs of letting up. I held my head in my hands and shook it, not sure if I could believe what I was seeing. Casey and Alex had run over to the bucket where the ice that had been there to cool the beer had melted away to water. Between the two of them, they swung the container and doused the fighters with water. The icy water seemed to stun them for a brief moment, but then they went right back to beating on each other.

"STOP IT!!" I began to scream hysterically. "STOP IT!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!! JUST STOP FIGHTING!!" I looked to my left and then to my right. "Please, someone! Please just stop them!"

Alex and Casey stepped in on one side and Joshua and Victor stepped in on the other. The first two men grabbed at Geoff and the second pair grabbed at Matt, but they all had difficulty separating them due to their drenched clothing. The group slide around in the wet sand before finally breaking the two apart. Geoff's lip was split and bleeding and Matt had a large lump growing on his cheekbone. Both had landed a good deal of punches. Neither one looked like they were finished with the fight.

"Matt..." I begged. "Matt!" He finally turned and looked at me. I ran up to him and held his face in my hands. "Please just leave it alone. For me, OK? Let's just get our shit and get the fuck out of here."

Matt looked over at Geoff. "Yeah, listen to her, you little bitch," Geoff taunted. Matt began to lunge forward again, but I dug my nails into his arm and held on tight.

"The only person who is a little bitch around here is you, Geoff," I addressed him, putting my body in front of Matt's. "If you're so fucking tough, why'd you need to keep at it with me, huh? Why couldn't you just sit back and laugh like the pompous asshole that you are? Act high and mighty from that tower of superiority of yours? You couldn't because you're the bitch around here, Geoff. You."

I turned to Matt and nodded at him. "Let's go now, OK?" He nodded back and we turned and began to walk away. We picked up our things and continued on. I could hear the crowd coming back up to volume behind me. At the last second I turned around and my eyes caught Geoff's. His face had softened considerably. Someone had given him a paper napkin and he was holding it to his bloodied lip. He gave me a small nod, closed his eyes, turned and walked toward the water.

Matt's hand tugged at mine. I slowly turned and followed him to the car.