Bee - Together

Hello lovelies, I was sitting at my desk doing my homework when this story came to mind. I hope you enjoy. As always, this story is a work of fiction. None of this happened in real life...

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Why was I even going to Manhattan? I don’t like most people, I don’t like most places, and I’d rather stay home. My home, that was two freaking hours away.

So why, why was I currently driving the two hours it took to get to Kansas State University? Only one person was worth my leaving the house, my best friend.

I had met Keisha Ann Peterson my senior year of high school. I was sitting in Senior English, all by myself (and in the back) when someone plopped on the seat next to me. Just one look at her and I knew she would be an important person in my life. Keisha to everyone else, but Peaches to me, looked at me and said, “This class is going to suck, but it may suck less if we become friends.” And that was it; it’s been me and Peaches against the world.

So yes, I was on my way to KSU because Peaches called me with great news. She had planned my twenty-fifth birthday celebration. I just didn’t understand why the celebration had to happen in Manhattan.

Why couldn’t she just have come back home? We could have had a Netflix marathon with junk food galore. But no, I had to haul my ass one hundred and thirty miles to my best friend’s idea of a fun time.

She is lucky I like her.

I pulled up to the restaurant that Peaches told me to meet her at, Carlos O’Kelly’s. Yeah I know we have no sense of adventure. But I have a serious nut allergy, so we are limited to where we can eat.

Anyway, I’m sitting in my truck debating if I should go in or not, or just call her and tell her to meet me at her house. But I quickly shake that idea away; I can’t do that to the girl who planned a whole day just for me. So I pulled up my big girl socks (my dad thought it was weird to reference girl underwear) and trudged in.

Right away I knew something was off. Peaches, in her overly dressed runway attire, was sitting rim rod straight in the booth the hostess decided to sit us at. Her eyes were running every which way, and even when her eyes landed on me instead of relaxing, she seemed to stiffen up even more.

I walked over to her warily, fully aware that my outfit, while it was the best I had, didn’t compare to hers. She was probably in some named brand, expensive as hell stuff while I was in a Wal-Mart shirt, and Maurice’s jeans with Payless boots. With her striking blue eyes, light blonde hair, and model body she was everything I could never be but hoped to strive for.

I gave her a friendly smile, “Hey Peaches, how’ve you been?” I don’t know what I was really expecting, but for her to jump from her seat and wrap me in a giant bear hug while yelling, “I missed you so flipping much, Bee,” was not it.

“Peaches, we video chatted just yesterday,” I exclaimed while my cheeks flushed an awful shade of red. She was always doing this, bringing me out of my comfort zone (and embarrassing me). Why I always expect her to cool down and react like an adult, I may never know.

“Of course we talked yesterday, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss seeing your smiling face in person. Now sit down, Bee. Our waiter will be back soon.” Peaches rolled her eyes and humphed.

I didn’t even have time to contemplate the waiter part of the exclamation when I saw a set of piercing set of blue eyes. So blue, in fact, the oceans needed to take notes. But they weren’t a new set of eyes. Oh no. That would be too easy.

Nope, these eyes belonged to a boy I grew up with. A boy, that was actually the best friend of my only childhood crush. Shit.

“Hey ladies,” his brilliant baritone rang out. Growing up in the Midwest, everyone had a slight accent, but his was more pronounced because of his deep voice. “I’m Benton…. Oh shit. If it isn’t Keisha and Tia, how have you guys been? I haven’t seen you since… Shit maybe high school.”

Benton Walker was one of the most popular guys in our high school. Heck, maybe even our town. With piercing baby blue eyes, bright almost white hair, and a body built for football, it’s hard to see Benton and not smile. Add on his award winning personality, it is almost impossible to hate the guy.

Benton was one of the guys in high school that got along with everyone. Open, happy, and just plain outright nice, the guy didn’t really have a flaw. He talked to athletes, hung out with the debate team, and was captain of the FCA. The guy really got around.

Peaches looked at me, and I grimaced. She knew. She fucking knew he worked here and still chose to eat at this restaurant, the bitch. I swallowed the golf ball size piece of dread I had in my mouth and looked at Benton, “Hey Benton, we’ve been good. How about you?”

No joke, the guy looked at me with a shocked expression.

Okay, so I didn’t use to usually talk much, but with my job as a second grade teacher I’ve gotten pretty good at talking in uncomfortable situations. I cleared my throat, bringing Benton back to the conversation.

“Damn Tia, I didn’t even know what your voice sounded like. And didn’t we have like four classes together our senior year?” Yes, we had science, math, physical education, and senior English together, but whose really counting. I just gave him a look that said, back off buttercup (at least I hoped that is what it said) and he at least had the decency to look squeamish.

“Sorry, yeah. Um what can I get you two?” He grabbed his notepad to write our orders. Peaches ordered the enchiladas with a side of rice and a Coke while I ordered an enchilada with a side of rice and a margarita. If I was going to make through this meal, I needed to drink.

About half way through our meal, the bell to the entrance rang. I immediately froze. My whole body became aware of the woodsy smell that wafted to my senses. I could feel every step taken as the newcomer took a seat approximately twenty feet away from us at the bar. My whole body felt the soft timber of his voice as he said hello to his best friend. Then I felt the hole that his eyes were drilling into the back of my head.

How in the hell, within thirty minutes of getting into Manhattan, Kansas had I managed to run into two of my most attractive, most desirable ex-classmates? How in the hell?

Peaches looked at me with the most amused yet worried look ever. “Bee, are you okay?” At the mention of my nickname in high school, I could feel a slight grin crawl across his face.

I was gifted my nickname, Bee, our freshman year of high school. That year, our science teacher decided it would be a good idea to introduce us to nature in the most obnoxious way. She wanted us to actually field trip into the country where we could see nature at its finest.

All had been great until I was attacked by a colony of bees. Found out I was deathly afraid of bees, much like nuts. So it was a good thing I had an Epi pen on me, otherwise I wouldn’t have been in this completely awkward position right now. Yay.

“Bee,” Peaches’ frantic whisper of my name brought me out of my memory. I couldn’t even move. I was too aware of everything he was doing. He was everywhere; my sense of smell couldn’t catch anything but him, my skin kept crawling, knowing he was so close, my eyes refused to look in his direction, even though my every being was telling me to find him.

Everything in me was focused on him, and I couldn’t move on. I needed to get out of here.

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I was halfway done with my set when my phone rang. It was my friend, Benton Walker’s ringtone.

This better be important, I thought as I wrack the bar I was working on. BW knew I was working out. I needed this time to relax and center my mind before work.

The two words he says chill by body, “She’s here.”

Within minutes, I’m in my truck heading to Carlos ‘O Kelley’s. He better not be fucking with me, I will kick his ass if this is a joke.

When I park my truck, I scour the parking lot for her little pick-up. It is nowhere in sight. I can’t find it! I sear to god, I will murder his ass if he was kidding. He knows I’ve been waiting since our freshman year of college to see her again.

As I walk through the doors, I immediately find her. She looks amazing. She has dyed her gorgeous blonde hair the same shade brown as mine, it reminds me of toasted hazelnut coffee. She also has glasses now, which only make her appear older and mature. She is sitting, but I can see how her body has filled out since high school. With thick hips, strong legs, full breasts, she’s perfect. I don’t want to scare her, so I go to sit at he bar.

“Hey BW, what’s hanging?” I say to my best friend, I see her go ramrod straight.

“Hey Gray, nothing really. The usual?” Benton says back to me, I simply shake my head. I cannot focus right now. Not while she is here.

After Benton walks away, my phone dings

BW: Dude. Go talk to her. K?

Apparently Benton did not go and put my order in.

G: I will. Just give her time. She seems freaked….

I hear a scoff in the kitchen. Then my phone dings again.

S: Pussy.

I smiled. Great, apparently Benton told our other friend, Scott, about my debacle.

G: I’ll kick your ass. .

Benton comes out of the kitchen with an order of fries and a chocolate shake. He hands me a note.

Do it or I will.

She is cute…

I hear myself growl. No way in hell will he or anyone else talk to her if I have my say. She’s mine. Has been since our freshman year of high school. She just doesn’t know how much I’ve looked out for her or cared for her.

In high school, she wasn’t what anyone would describe as popular. She always wore her hair up in either a ponytail or a top bun thing. She didn’t have glasses then, but that didn’t stop her from never wearing makeup. She rarely wore anything but her favorite football sweatshirt (which I decided was because my name was on the back) and a pair of jeans. She wasn’t textbook beautiful, but she was naturally beautiful.

I never saw her be mean to a person in the time that I’ve known her, well, of her. I’ve only talked to her once. It was our freshman year. We had computer science together. Our teacher was a blessing in disguise. He assigned her as my partner in a group project. We only spoke once in the week we were to work together,

“Hi, I’m Grayson.” I was so nervous, I had seen her around school, but couldn’t get the courage to talk to her.

“I know,” was all she said to me. She never looked me in the eyes, but her voice was amazing. A beautiful tone of shyness and sweetness. She had me hooked with those two words.

The rest of that week went by without her saying anything else. Don’t get me wrong, I tried to initiate conversation but she just wasn’t having it. I asked her best friend about it later. Keisha said it was just the way she was.

From there on out, I decided to protect her. She needed my help. Since that moment, I’ve stopped countless rumors from running amuck in the school, I’ve washed her truck for her when some jackasses wrote “Cunt” on her back window junior year, I’ve gotten her homework together our senior year when she was out with pneumonia, I’ve been there for her. All without her knowing.

But now it was time for her to know she’s mine.

I’m jolted out of my thoughts when someone shakes me, “Bro, you better hurry. I think she’s about to run.” Oh god, not this time she isn’t. I take a deep breath and jump from my stool at the bar. I turn to head her way when I see her friend, Keisha, waving her hands.

“Bee, don’t do this!!” I hear her say and I notice the seat my girl was in is empty. Shit! I look at Keisha, she yells “Black Mini.” I rush towards the door.

I reach her just as the taillights light up - my girl is fast. I hit the back window so she stops before she hits me. I feel my girl slam her breaks, put the car in park and nothing.

She doesn’t get out; she doesn’t yell at me; she doesn’t check to see if I’m okay. I slowly make my way around the Mini Cooper, hoping like hell she doesn’t drive off before I get to her.

When I get to her window, I knock lightly. I see her stiffen, which is amazing because she is already ramrod straight. She finally cocks her head to the side and I get to see her stunning hazel eyes. They seem brighter with her blue glasses on.

I wave. She turns a beautiful shade of pink. I motion for her to roll the window down. She shakes her head. I nod mine. I will get her this time.

Finally, after the longest minute of my life, she rolls the window down.

“Hi,” I say, giving her my best smile.

She shakes her head, like she isn’t willing to believe this is happening. I chuckle.

“Hi,” I say again, a bit gentler. Maybe she needs the soft me right now.

I see her take in a breath; hold it for five seconds, and release.

“Hello,” My breath is knocked out of my chest. Her voice is even better than I remember; silky and soft.

“I’m Grayson,” I say, hopefully reminding her of our first conversation.

She smiles, “I know.”

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age 22 2.2.2018

#dream #shortstory #ReeseLynn #bestfriends #love