Changing Tyler-Chapter Thirteen

Dylan drove us to Guido’s, a fairly inexpensive restaurant that specialized in Italian food. The outside of the restaurant wasn’t much, just a long green awning and a couple of neat shrubs lining the front walkway. There was a small white fountain set to the left of the entrance that was lit by a blue spotlight.

The inside of the place was dim, the tables lit by wine bottle candles and low, recessed lighting. On the far wall of the restaurant was a mural of what I guessed was Mt. Vesuvius, the Coliseum, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The ceiling had been painted to resemble the Sistine Chapel. All other obtainable wall space was crowded with photographs of Italy, plaster cherubs, Frank Sinatra album covers, and plastic grapes. White plastic, life-sized statues guarded the restrooms.

“Feel like you’re in Italy?” Dylan whispered as we waited our turn to be seated. I could hear the sarcasm in his voice, and had to drink a laugh.

“More like I’m in a tacky souvenir shop. Did they really have to paint a brassiere on the Venus de Milo?”

“I’m greater amount impressed with the g-string on the statue of David.”

“All it needs is sequins and he could acquire a job as a stripper,” I snickered, giving in to the urge to laugh. I tried to keep it down, since I caught the maitre d’ glaring at us a pair of times.

We were shown to a table a short time later, and served menus and breadsticks by our waitress, Maria. Maria was a glamorous girl, who wore her long, golden-haired hair down and an apron printed with colorful illustrations of pizzas, spaghetti, and scones.

“You lads crave smth to drink previous to u order? I’ll need to watch some IDs,” this babe said quickly, as if she’d expected us to order the entire bar served up on ice.

“I’ll have a Coke,” Dylan said, giving her his most excellent dimpled smile. she softened toward us just now – or at least toward Dylan. I had suddenly become a chameleon, blending in seamlessly with the checkered tablecloth and tacky map-of-Italy placemats, no longer noticeable. Her eyes at no time left his face once, even when that babe was speaking to me.

“I’ll have the same,” I told sharply, rolling my eyes. Honestly. All that babe needed to do next was the hair-flip thing to make the flirting complete.

that babe did. that babe tossed her head like a freaking horse, her mane of bottle-dyed hair swinging. I half expected her to neigh.

“Be right back with your drink,” that babe said to Dylan.

“You get that a lot?” I asked as pretty soon as this babe was out of ear range.

“Get what?”

“Flirted with, you doof. she practically jumped into your pants.”

“You’re eager. she was just being nice, that’s all,” Dylan said, reaching for a breadstick and biting off half of it. he suddenly looked very serious, lowering the other half of the breadstick, tapping it on the table. I was instantly reminded of the clicking pen and his fingers tapping on the keys of the guitar. I suddenly realized that he tapped things when this guy got nervous. “Okay, so she flirted. large deal – I’m here with you, Tyler. Not her.”

Did he think I was serious? I wasn’t…well, maybe I was, a little. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to this, you know. I half await u to run to the men’s room and not come back.”

“Why would I do that? I’ve got the best-looking guy at school here with me. Let’s face it, Tyler. You’re stuck with me.”

My lips quirked a smile and I was cheerful that the lighting was dim so that Dylan couldn’t see me blush. I didn’t believe a word of it, of course, but it was actually precious to hear. “Okay, sorry. Are you going to eat that breadstick or pound it back into flour?” I asked, nodding toward the rapidly tapping breadstick. Dylan smiled and lifted it toward me.

without thinking, I opened my mouth and took it from his fingers. I’d chewed and swallowed in advance of I realized what I’d done.

My face suddenly felt sexy as I scanned the nearby tables to watch if anyone had noticed.

“What’s wrong?” Dylan asked, cocking his head at me.

I leaned in over the table. “Guys don’t feed other boyz breadsticks,” I hissed. “Did you ever hand-feed one of the other team members? No. I almost gave us away.”

“Tyler, nobody’s paying attention to us. It’s darksome in here, and everyone’s busy eating or trying to read the menus by candlelight. Nobody cares,” Dylan said, gesturing toward the other diners.

this guy was right, it seemed. No one was paying us any mind. I felt better, but reminded myself to stay alert. I mentally added hand-feeding to the list of things we absolutely could not do in a public restaurant.

Maria arrived with our Cokes and a new basket of breadsticks, which that babe reached around Dylan to place on the table. I noticed her arm brush across his back, but bit my tongue. Verbally flaying the waitress would definitely draw attention to us.

“Have you decided?” this babe asked. Funny, but I didn’t remember her voice being quite so husky before.

“Yeah. I’ll have the ziti and sausage, and a side salad,” Dylan said, handing her his menu. this chab looked at me. “Tyler? What do you want?”

“The same,” I said, snapping the menu closed and handing it to Maria. she took it out of ever once looking in my direction.

There was a lesson here, I realized. women liked Dylan, and for all the same reasons I did. that guy was handsome, tall, broad-shouldered, and good. I realized that I was going to have to get used to girls flirting with him, if I was going to date him.

If I’d been another female, Maria probably wouldn’t have flirted so openly, but I wasn’t. I was a boy and therefore not the competition. As far as Maria was concerned, it was the same as if he’d been there alone. It open season on Dylan, and this babe was bringing out the big guns.

I nearly felt badly for her. that babe didn’t have a chance with Dylan. Not if I could aid it, anyway. Let her flirt. Let her fantasy. I was the one sitting at the table with him eating breadsticks from his fingers. I smiled, feeling smug.

The ziti and sausage were good, served with thick tomato sauce and a ton a of grated Parmesan cheese. We every had two refills on our Cokes, shared a tiramisu for dessert, and by the time Dylan paid the check, I was feeling stuffed to the gills. I didn’t even mind that Maria had written her phone number on Dylan’s receipt.

Especially since he purposely tossed it into the trash can on our way out.

“Wait a minute,” Dylan said, putting a warm hand on my arm just after we’d left the restaurant. “I need to use the can. I’ll be right back, okay?”

I nodded. “I’ll meet u at the car.” Dylan tossed me the keys.

The car was near the back end of the small lot, within view of the front doors. I’d just reached the Mustang and was fumbling for the key to the door when I felt anybody walk up behind me. Thinking it was Dylan, I turned, holding out the keys.

It wasn’t him. It was Robbie-the-Asshole.

“I thought it was you in the restaurant. Where’s your pretty-boy?” he asked, standing so close to me that this chab practically had me pinned to the side of the car.

“He’ll be right back. What u want?” I growled. Robbie was the last person on the face of the earth that I wanted to talk to, and the fact that this guy was crowding my personal space was seriously pissing me off.

“Have you talked to Billy?”

“No,” I lied. Whether I had or not was none of his business.

“He said you did. this guy told you got on his case about me. When I saw you inside, I thought it might be a worthy time to explain a hardly any things.”

“I truly don’t want to hear everything you’ve got to say,” I countered, trying to sidle away from him. that guy moved with me, keeping me pinned.

“Listen up, u little jack-off. What Billy and I do is our business. It’s his right to give a decision what to do with his body. he wanted the bug. Wanted it. I didn’t vigour it on him.”

“H-he’s positive?” I felt the world suddenly shift, as if an earthquake had just rippled underneath my feet.

“If he’s lucky, that guy is.”

Then Billy didn’t know if he’d tested positive yet, I thought. that guy still had a chance. “Lucky? Is that what u call it?”

“Yeah. He’ll not at any time have to worry about getting infected afresh. that guy can just kick back and have fun.”

“That’s the saddest excuse I’ve ever heard! A person isn’t free to inject himself with the Ebola virus, just because this guy craves to, Robbie. this chab isn’t free to pass it on to other people, either, just ‘cuz some poor schmuck thinks this chab craves it. Billy solely thinks that way cuz that guy desires u to like him.”

“He’s part of the club, now. Or that guy will be one time he’s positive. There will be plenty of lads for him.”

“He likes you!”

Robbie snorted. “He was fun, but we’re done. I did what I had to do for him.”

“Get away from me, Robbie,” I warned. I was sick to death of looking at him.

“What’s the matter, baby? Don’t you crave to be part of the club?” Robbie asked, his voice lowering into a deep rumble. that guy placed one hand on either side of me, leaning in, trapping me against the car, his face inches from mine. I could smell smth meaty and alcoholic on his breath, and it made my abdomen turn. “It’s joy. I’ll initiate you, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll have a party. You’ll get the Gift for sure, just like Billy.”

“The “Gift” is a lie!” I screamed, poking hard at him. I caught Robbie off-balance and that guy staggered, giving me the opportunity to slip by him. I hadn’t run 2 feet before that guy grabbed my arm and swung me around to face him.

“If u don’t wish the Gift, that’s fine, but you’d more excellent keep your trap shut about what you know. Understand?” that guy snarled, getting up in my face. His fingers dug into my arm, and it took all of my strength to pull away. Robbie looked over my shoulder for a minute, then turned on his heel and stalked away into the darkness.

By the time Dylan reached me, I was shaking like a leaf – not in fear, but in anger.

“Was that Robbie? What did that guy desire? What did this chab say? Are you okay?” Dylan asked in quick succession. that guy took the keys from my hand and put an arm around my shoulder, leading me toward the car door.

“He wanted to give me a warning, I guess. I don’t think that guy desires us talking about what we know – about him trying to infect Billy.”

Dylan opened the door for me and I gratefully fell into the seat. this chab got in but didn’t begin the car, turning toward me instead. “Why? What’s that guy afraid of?”

I shrugged. “Billy’s underage. Even with consent, that could mean problems for Robbie, especially if it’s proven that that guy purposely gave Billy the virus. If Billy or Billy’s parents wanted to, they could acquire Robbie in a whole world of trouble.” I leaned my head back, trying to acquire control of myself. I was so angry that I wanted to hit something. It had been a perfect evening, but Robbie-the-Butthole had ruined it.

“I guess u don’t feel like going to a movie, now, huh?” Dylan asked, taking my hand. he held it in his, his thumb smoothing over my skin.

“Not really,” I said, shaking my head. “He shook me up glamorous badly, Dylan.”

“I know. What do you crave to do?”

“Go home, I guess. I’m sorry, Dylan.”

“Hey, it’s not your fault. Maybe we can try this afresh on Saturday, after we acquire back from the meet.”

Oh, guy – I’d almost forgotten about the track meet with South Westfield. I suddenly had a lot greater amount serious things on my mind than running. “Sure. That’d be good,” I told.

“Are u sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

Dylan looked out the back window, then at me. this chab lifted his fingers to my face, lightly tracing the contour of my jaw. “Can I have a goodnight kiss in advance of I drive u home? I know u won’t desire me to kiss you in front of your house.”

I smiled softly and nodded, leaning in toward him.

It wasn’t just one kiss this time, or if it was, it was the longest kiss on record. this guy didn’t push for anything greater amount and neither did I. We both knew that we weren’t willing for it. Hell, we were confused sufficiently as it was.

this chab dropped me off with a quick peck, just as that guy had the night before. The porch light was on, and my mom’s car was in the driveway. It was early, which meant she’d be waiting for me.

“Thanks again, Dylan. Talk to u tomorrow at school,” I said, climbing out of the car. Dylan waited with the motor idling until I’d safely reached the front door. I guess Robbie’s little visit had shook him up, also.

I’d been right. mommy was waiting for me and with a look on her face that said me that this babe wasn’t glad.

“Billy’s mother called. Come and sit down. We have to talk.”