Fan Fiction ❯ Falling For You ❯ Playing It Cool ( Chapter 8 )

Falling For You

Chapter 8:

Playing It Cool

 

 

 

“Ow!” Breanna winced and flinched as the little Asian woman who was working on her nails pushed her cuticles back a little too far. Glancing up from her merciless stabbing, the petite woman glared at her as if to say, “You such a wimp! Suck it up!” Beside her, Cassandra giggled and stared admiringly down at her own French manicure.

 

“Tonight is going to be so much fun, Bre-Bre. I can't wait! Justin told me that Lisa's getting a DJ and having a dance floor put in for the party. Oh, and…”

 

Breanna closed her eyes and simultaneously attempted to distract herself from the discomfort of the evil woman's torture devices, and drown out the incessant babbling spouting from the mouth of the bouncy, excited girl at her side. She wasn't completely sure why, but lately Cassandra had really begun to grate on her nerves with her nonstop rambling about subjects that usually interested her.

 

`Hmmm… wonder what's up with that? I'm probably PMSing or something…'

 

Letting her mind drift back to yesterday's `activities,' Breanna frowned and shifted uncomfortably. `Maybe I can just pretend like nothing happened. It's not like Devon's going to tell anyone, right? And I'm certainly not to going to broadcast it to the world…'

 

`Lying has a way of catching up to you.'

 

`What other choice do I have?

 

`Well… I don't know… You could always try out that new thing everyone keeps raving about. You know, that truth thing?'

 

`Oh that's a spectacular idea! I'm sure everyone will completely understand why I had sex yesterday with a guy I barely know. Mom and Dad will be so proud of their perfect baby girl… And Brent? Words cannot describe how happy he'll be for me! I'll get right on that, ok?'

 

`Sarcasm will get you no where,' her inner voice warned her as she sighed.

 

`Yeah well, neither will the truth. It's highly overrated. No… I'm just going to put this whole ugly mess behind me. Besides, it's not like I ever have to see him again…'

 

“… invited Devon, too,” Cassandra's voice broke through Breanna's troubled thoughts like a bucket of ice water over her head.

 

“What was that?” she squeaked, praying to God that she'd just heard her wrong. There was no way that her best friend would ever do something as cruel as to invite the one person capable of completely ruining her life to a party full of all the people she was so desperate to hide her dirty little secret from… There was no way…

 

“I said,” Cassandra paused, giving her an impatient look, “that I invited Devon Pierce to come along tonight. I mean, it was the least I could do considering he's new and doesn't know too many people. This is the perfect opportunity to expose him to the right circles, ya know? We wouldn't want him hanging out with the wrong crowd, right? Breanna? Breanna?!”

 

Resisting the urge to throttle her friend, Breanna just nodded. She didn't trust her voice at the moment and figured gestures were safe enough. Who knew what would come out of her mouth if she were to open it…

 

“I thought you told me we should stay away from him. Why the sudden change in heart, Cassie?” she blurted out before she could stop herself. Cringing inwardly, Breanna averted her eyes away from the inquisitive look the blond was giving her. `Quit making me say stuff I don't wanna say!'

 

`Oops.'

 

“I changed my mind…” Cassandra replied slowly, suspicion glinting in the depths of her chocolate colored orbs, “Why does this guy bother you so much, Breanna? Did something happen that you're not telling me about?”

 

`Don't spaz out… Don't spaz out…'

 

Clearing her throat, Breanna flashed Cassandra a brilliant smile, “Don't be silly, Cassie, I was just wondering what it is he did to change your opinion of him.”

 

“I think-“

 

“Awww, don't do that, Cass. You might hurt yourself,” a familiar, teasing masculine voice cut in, causing both girls to jump in surprise.

 

“You're not funny, Justin,” Cassandra pouted prettily as her boyfriend wrapped his arms around her neck and placed a loud, messy kiss on her cheek. At six foot three inches, Justin Freemont was captain of the basketball team and an all around nice guy. Lean and fit, with light sandy blond hair, friendly hazel eyes, and an easy going personality, he and Cassandra were perfect for each other.

 

Justin was always laughing and joking, so he helped mellow out Cassie when she got too serious or too caught up in her own petty endeavors. Even their extreme height difference didn't seem to bother them. The only problem with Justin at the moment was that wherever he was, Brent was sure to follow…

 

“Hey, Bre, what happened to you yesterday? Why didn't you show up for your last couple classes?”

 

`Oh, good Lord… Just kill me…'

 

Carefully avoiding all eye contact with her boyfriend, Breanna mumbled, “I… ah… um…”

 

“She was with me. I got sick in the middle of the campus tour she was giving me, and being the kind person she is, Breanna offered to give me a ride home.”

 

`What the hell is this? A tag team?! This could not possibly get any worse…'

 

“Oh, well then, I guess you two have already met,” Brent replied with a smile.

 

“Yup. Guess so,” Breanna mumbled hesitantly as she caught Devon's amused gaze with a murderous glare of her own. Tugging her boyfriend down beside her, she whispered, “How is it that you two know each other?”

“Oh, we've been hanging out all morning, playing football in the park. He's a cool guy, huh?”

 

`For the love of everything holy… They're friends?! I spoke too soon…This situation has descended from worse, to the second level of hell!'

 

“Mmmm-hmmm,” Breanna agreed with a weak smile.

 

“Anyway, are you almost done getting gorgeous? Devon said something about wanting to take us all out to lunch.”

 

`Gee, that sounds like fun. Lunch with my illicit lover and my boyfriend? How about…'

 

“No, that's ok, Brent. Cassandra and I are going to head up to the mall after we're finished here, so I'll catch up with you guys later tonight at the party, alright?”

 

“Sounds good. I'll see you later then,” Brent replied cheerfully as he leaned down to press a chaste good-bye kiss to her lips. Knowing that Devon was still watching them, Breanna pulled Brent closer and returned the innocent kiss with a fervor probably not appropriate in a public place.

 

Finally pulling back from the overly passionate lip lock, Brent laughed, “Geez, Bre! Miss me much?”

 

Breanna just smiled and waved as he and Justin said their good-byes to Cassandra and Devon stood off to the side with an indiscernible look marring the usual smooth, confident lines of his face. Turning away, Breanna didn't dare glance back up until she heard the bell on the door jingling indicating that the boys had vacated the small salon.

 

`What are you planning, demon child?' Breanna wondered to herself uneasily. `Why would he all of a sudden want to be all buddy buddy with my boyfriend? What's the point in that? Is he trying to drive me insane?!

 

`Maybe… Or maybe it's something more than that…'

 

Breanna snorted, and then grinned sheepishly when Cassandra gave her a strange look. `Ha! Like what?'

 

`Perhaps Devon is doing all of this, getting to know your friends and hanging out with your boyfriend, because he wants to get close to you. Get to know you better.'

 

`What? No… That can't be it,' she thought with a thoughtful frown even as memories of the odd, almost wistful look on Devon's face as he left pushed their way to the front of her mind.

 

`He's just using me to prove something to himself. His feelings for me are purely sexual, nothing more. I already made the mistake of giving in once, and I refuse to do it again on the hope that he might want me for something more than an easy lay.'

 

`But… you're happy with Brent, remember? Why are you hoping for such things in the first place?'

 

Breanna scowled. `The point is,' she told herself firmly, `that Devon and I are finished. I can't risk anybody finding about what we did.'

 

`So the real reason you're `finished' with him isn't because you want to be, but rather because you're afraid you'll get caught?'

 

“Bre, you ready to go?” Cassandra asked as she checked her makeup and grabbed her purse.

 

“Uh-huh,” she mumbled absentmindedly as she gathered her belongings and followed her friend out the door.

 

Bouncing eagerly, Cassandra looped her arm through Breanna's and squealed, “Tonight is going to so much fun!”

 

Nodding in agreement, Breanna forced a happy smile onto her lips despite the foreboding feeling dripping like ice down her spine.

 

`Fun…? Well, I guess that's one word for it…'

 

 

 

*~~~~A/N~~~~*

 

 

 

OMG! I'm so sorry you guys!!! Did you miss me? These last couple of days have been INSANE!!! This is the first quiet moment I've had in two days, so I decided to take advantage of it. :o) Thanks so much for your patience, and I promise the next chapter will be… exciting, to say the least. -winks- Sorry if this chapter was kind of boring. Hopefully Breanna arguing with herself made it at least a little interesting. lol Tchao for now!

 

 

 

 

*~~Media Miner Reviewer(s)~~*

 

 

 

MeTaL_cHiCk04: Yes, yes you are a pain in the ass. lol JK I love you. Thanks for the review, and I promise to consider your `suggestion.'

 

 

 

*~~Anime Spiral Reviewers~~*

 

 

 

PrincessofFREAKS: No worries. You review whenever you get a chance, there's no hurry! lol I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far, please continue to read and review! Thanks!

 

 

Rain Liqueur: Absolutely. Thanks for reading!

 

 

LT Stryffe: Where exactly do you live? Just curious… Anyway, thanks for the review. I hope your summer is good so far. Enjoy it!

 

 

Dark Dreamer 13: Awesome. I'm happy you think so. :o) Thanks a lot for reading and reviewing!

 

 

 

*~~Fiction Press Reviewers~~*

 

 

 

sweetone0018: So the last chapter did leave a little to desire? Yikes. Sorry, I thought so, but I wasn't sure. I tried!!! lol Thanks for bearing with me!

 

 

A Depp Girl: It's not sad at all, believe me, I'm the same way with fics that I read. lol I completely understand the obsession! Thanks for reading!

 

 

quirkyslayer: Wow, thanks so much. That really means a lot coming from a talented writer like yourself. I hope I don't disappoint in the future! Thanks bunches for the review and for reading, I really appreciate it. :o)

 

 

smilingdork: I know, it's hard, huh? You wanna hate him, but he's just so damn… yummy. lol :o) Thanks for reading!

 

 

Kayli: You are seriously one of my very favorite people… lol :o) As for Devon getting turned down? Don't worry, he'll get his. It might take a while, but don't fret. It will come. lol Friends ARE annoying! Good God, don't they realize artists need their space! Hope you're feeling better soon. Drink lots of OJ and all that crap.

 

 

Angela: Cool. I'm glad you like sarcasm! lol Expect a lot more of that in the future. Yes, soon I'll be revealing a lot more about Devon and his past. Right now though, he's just going to be a little mysterious. :o)

 

 

Alison Ashley: lol No problem! I was totally serious! Yup, Devon is definitely losing some of his `cool.'

 

 

DESTINYHUNTER: Really? You get sad? Awwww… Thank you! That's so flattering! :o) Keep reading, ok? I love your reviews!

 

 

ShortyBaby: LOL Glad I could ease your mind. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Leia: He is, isn't he? lol I love replying to my reviewers. I want you all to know how much I appreciate the time you take out of your busy lives to read and review my story. It makes me feel all warm and smushy inside! lol Don't worry. I promise not to traumatize you, ok?

 

 

Beth: -blushes- Really?! Thank you so much!!! That's so flattering. As for a Devon of your own… Sure, I'll get right on that! lol

 

 

silverheart121: Too addictive?! Nah… Not possible! lol

 

 

Kayla: LOL There ya go. Sorry for the tardiness!

 

 

my-own-phantom: Yeah, poor sap. He has no idea what he's gotten himself into, huh?

 

 

Tinker101: LOL Yup… Sure is… :o)

 

 

sara: Yeah, I feel bad for Brent, too. You'll just have to wait and see what happens with him. :o) The name Devon sounds like a meat? Really? lol What kind of meat? Thanks for reading, and for your reviews!!! -hugz-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter: Beguiling Propositions