Sweet Surrender Part 2

Back to: "Sweet surrender Part 1" 

The morning after all that occured, and Jamie left, Dorian was left alone to wonder what really happened. He was still somewhat out of it and felt really sick to his stomach. A shower would do him good he thought, so he went to the bathroom, turned the water on and stared at it for a long time. Even though a bit confused, he knew he should call Casey and talk to her. The problem was, about what should he talk, if he can't remember any of it. What did she see that made her leave? He did not understand. All the while thinking this, he took his clothes off without noticing it. Walking back to the living room, stark naked, he grabbed the phone and punched the few numbers required to reach Casey's cell phone. No answer!
He then called the house phone, yet again the same result. Her mom hardly ever left the house, he knew. Casey must have said not to answer his calls. Great!

Leaving the phone in its place he went back to the bathroom and jumped under the water stream to clear his thoughts. What is he going to do? he wondered. He needs to go talk to some people who were there the night before and see if they saw anything unusual. He saw Max, when he walked passed him at the bar. Hope showed on Dorian's face. At least there was someone who might help him solve this thing once and for all.
Then he would call Casey again, and if she didn't answer he'd go over to her house and make her talk to him. He had a plan of action. Satisfied with himself, he turned the water off, got out of the shower and looked for clothes. There were things he needed to do!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Jamie silently left the Jenkins residence. Casey's mom didn't even see her leave. Absentmindedly, she sat in her car, turned the ignition on and drove. There was no particular destination in her mind. She tried to understand her friend and her actions. Why didn't Casey believe her that Dorian was innocent in this whole scam? Then again, who did it? She meant to find that out, because she wanted to prove to her friend that she did say the truth and Dorian didn't do anything he didn't really know about.

She parked in front of the "Crumbs and all" restaurant, and noticed her hunger. At first she didn't pay much attention as to where she was, but then realized that the restaurant was right next door to the Club. Violet, the Club, was closed during the day, but sometimes Tweets would open it up after the weekend to give it a good clean and make it shine once more. She didn't bother to check if it was open or not, but walked into the restaurant.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am!" the waiter at the door nodded.

"A table for one? Smoking or non-smoking?" he inquired.

Before she could reply to his questions, a person behind her answered them.
"Make that three, please, and it's smoking section." the familiar voice said.
Turning she saw Max and smiled at him. He did not wait for her to ask any questions as to why he and another person are joining her. He knew she didn't mind. Taking her into his arms, Max lifted her off the ground and twirled her around. Jamie returned his hug. It felt good and she needed a friendly hug at the moment.

When she realized he wouldn't let her go, she started laughing out loud, begging him to stop. He put her gently back on her feet and looked at her in admiration. To Max, Jamie was one of those people who always took care of everyone else, never paying much attention to her own feelings and needs. Respect and appreciation was what he felt for her, and Jamie saw it in his eyes. She bent her head down, so he wouldn't see her blush.

"What's up, kiddo?" he asked while hugging her small body to himself and leading them into the direction where the waiter disapeared not too long ago.

"What are you so cheerful about on such a terrible day?" Jamie wanted to know. He was always in a good mood. There wasn't a time where Max would sulk around or be misserable. He really enjoyed life.

"What's wrong with you?" - "Is something the matter? The day is beautiful if you didn't notice." The radiant smile on his face showed his pearly whites and Jamie had to laugh. At least that got her mind off of the current situation.

"Did you talk to Dorian by any chance?" She wasn't sure if Max knew anything yet, but figured Dorian had called him already and told him everything about it.

Smiling sheepishly, he nodded. Jamie's head was filled with questions all of a sudden. What did he know? Why and how and..? She had time to ask all of it, she just had to calm herself, she told herself.

The waiter seated them at a table near the window, a bit secluded from the rest of the place, but they liked it. Max, always a gentleman, helped her with her chair while Jamie sat down. She waited until he sat down and looked at him, waiting.

"What?" he asked, smiling at her while playing with the salt and pepper shakers on the table. For a moment, Jamie lost her train of thought, forgetting the questions she meant to ask him. Max was so different from the guys she knew. He was the total opposite of Dorian. He had very light short blond hair with green eyes that could read the truth out of a person. Tall, yet very well built. He never went to the gym for it, the construction work he did for his dad, created the stong muscles in his arms and legs. The calmness about him was something unique. Everyone liked him, the girls ran after him, and yet he did not see it. His world was his temple, which not many people knew, and he liked it that way. Sharing it with someone, had to be appreciated by the other person and he didn't let just anyone close to him, he once said. That's why he's single for the past two years.

"So how about it, kiddo?" He read her eyes, and her thoughts, which he found interesting. There was no question about the love he felt for this girl, yet to himself he denied it.

"How about what, Max?" Snapping back to reality, Jamie realized she was, once again, lost in her own world.

Leaning back in his chair, he looked at her for a moment. Was she really so blind not to see she liked him?

"Well, how about you and I hooked up?" He was just joking with her, he knew, but it was not like him to ask questions like that. He pushed the thought aside.

He cought her off guard. She always saw him as a great friend, for the longest time. There was never any notion of them being more than that. She played with the idea once or twice, but couldn't picture it.

"Oh, shut up, Max." she retorted, smiling. Looking down at her napkin, she played with it, then put it on her lap, fixing every wrinkle on it. She felt uncomfortable even when she knew he was joking.

"Who's the third person that's going to join us?" She asked him, glad she found something to change the subject.

"Just Dorian." Max was too absentminded to really listen.

"I hear my name, buddy. What's up?" Dorian walked to the table and tried to smile. It was a hard task for him today. He felt so miserable, the weird feeling still in his stomach, which he tried to ignore as best he could. Seeing Jamie and Max at the table where, usually all four of them were sitting, made him sad. Casey should be there, too.

After the formalities were exchanged and the food was ordered, they tired to have a normal conversation. Max finally couldn't stand it anymore and asked the questions.

"So! Now what? What are you going to do about those three jerks and the girl? You know they are the ones who did this to you." He wasn't the kind of a person who goes on and on, instead gets right to the point.

"I guess" Dorian answered hesitantly. "I'm not sure what I can do. I can't prove it really either." - "I just wish Casey would talk to me. I need her on my side, by my side."

Jamie watched as Dorian sank in his seat, sadness showing in his eyes.
"She said, she doesn't want to ever see you again. She was really upset, even asked me if we had something and I couldn't believe she would ever ask me such a question." It was hard for Jamie to tell your best friend that the other best friend doesn't want him in her life. She didn't dare tell him about the iceness in Casey's voice, which sent shivers down her back, just thinking about it.

"Did you try to talk her out of it?" Max interrupted, before Dorian could say anything.
"I tried, but she, as usual, wouldn't listen."

Turning to look at Dorian, Max continued, "No wonder you guys fit. You are both stubborn and simply won't listen to anyone." Dorian just shrugged with his shoulders, knowing he was unable to do anything.

~*~*~*~*~*~

          Two weeks have past, yet nothing changed Casey's mind to forgive Dorian. Her final words rang in her head 'it's over'. She spent the days walking around and running arrands, as on any other day, just without enthusiasm. There was nothing of interest to her, she did the things she had to and that was about it. The rest of the days she spent looked up in her room, crying and reflecting on her past. She needed a solution and a way to get over Dorian. As for right now, she didn't mind letting selfpity swallow her so she could drown in it. Jamie left her alone for a while, but hoped her friend would snap out of it soon. Also, she wished she could find a way to solve all this and make Casey see how blind she was. It was time for action.

          "Casey, sweetheart," said Mrs. Jenkins from behind closed doors. "Jamie's here to see you." She knew that Casey's door was locked as soon as she was inside her room. No one was allowed to talk to her, unless there was something important to do. The whole family left her in her own world to find the answers. Jamie knew how Casey's mom longed to talk to her daughter, hold her in her arms, wishing she could make it all go away. She tried, but Casey refused to talk. After a while the woman gave up on trying and hoped someone can shake her out of this misserable hiding.

         The door opened slowly, with Casey peeking through the open crack, scanning everything. When she finally saw there was nothing suspicious, Jamie walked inside, without looking at her. She wanted Mrs. Jenkins gone before she said anything.

"Been a while since you came around." Casey stated dryly.

"Been a while since you've been out, too." Jamie answered in the same tone of voice. She wanted to skip the chit chat.

Moving away from the door, Casey went to the window and looked into the distance. She needed to collect her thoughts. Last time Jamie was at her house, she practically threw her out with her rude words. It could have been the end of their friendship, but Jamie was never like that. She'd try many times until she saw there was no more pushing and talking, which would make her leave the other person's life forever. It was her way of making the other one see, that it really is too late for any talk. Casey didn't want for them to stop talking, or leave each others lifes. They were friends, even though in this case, Jamie didn't agree with her.

"What's new with you, Jamie?" She forced herself to have a normal conversation, yet knew Jamie didn't come because of that.

"Nothing really. Same old. What are you doing this weekend?"

"Why? What's so important this weekend?" She knew that her friend didn't come without a reason. Her hands started to tremble a bit, as the thought of Dorian crossed her mind. Whatever Jamie's question, she know's that he will be there also.

"Tweets Birthday, that's what!" Jamie said a bit irritated. Casey never forgot his birthday. Why the act now?

"Oh! That's right." She said, somewhat in surprise. She totally forgot about it. "Well, I really can't.." She sarted to find an excuse for not being able to go, but Jamie wouldn't let her finish the sentence.

"Here's the thing, Case'. You are going. It's not a problem to drag you down, for you look as a ghost. You lost almost half the weight, and I simply won't let you do this to yourself!" Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn, Jamie thought.

"Do I have any say in this? Casey asked, a tiny smile making its way to her lips.

With an eye brow raised, Jamie let out a snort. "No and you know it. Why bother?"

The next second, Casey started laughing, then went to her friend and hugged her. The rest of the conversation was about the past days, who did what, and which things they missed most. Dorian's name wasn't mentioned and Casey didn't bring herself to ask about him either. She missed him.

~*~*~*~*~*~

To be continued...