Shorts Series: Date Night Annoyance - 2020
Have you ever met someone that was so bloody infuriating that you wanted to murder them right where they stood that very second? Like fully incinerate them and have them burst into flames? No? Not even a little bit? Well…let me introduce you to Dorian DeLoughrey - resident arse of a place called Cerulean high, second only, to Jessica Pierce’s head. It was strange to think that only four years earlier, the two couldn’t do anything without one another. From going to movies, to water parks, to comedy clubs - they were truly each other’s best friends - in every sense of the word. Hell - boundaries weren’t a thing between them. More than once, Jess found herself cuddled against the man watching some horror movie on a random Wednesday evening as he complained that she was eating all the popcorn. However, the man that stood in front of her now… the one she was looking at was the furthest thing from her friend. Perhaps that person had died four years ago, but it still hurt to hear his words. Though, she’d never show him that. To him… and the rest of the world - Jessica Pierce was a cold-hearted btch who left with no explanation simply for the fun of it. Honestly - if anyone should have been able to figure out that there was more to the story of her disappearance, it should have been Dorian. It should have been her best friend, but no. It seemed Dorian was the first one to push her away. Should she be surprised? Maybe not.
”Wow, suddenly you decide to be everywhere. I’d like it for you to stop following me.”
A sarcastic scoff left her lips as she crossed her arms across her chest. “Oh get the fck over yourself Dorian. The world doesn’t revolve around you. I know it’s hard to conceptualize that, but for fcks sake.” Jess stated with utter frustration. God the amount she wanted to slap that smile off his face - she’d pay good money for it. Hell, she’d give someone her inheritance for it. Jess couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his sentiment of not caring. Though there was an irony in him saying he didn’t care and then taunting her about the date. "Oh you know me so bloody well Dorian. See usually I may consider it but I actually like this fellow, so I’ll lean towards flirting and possibly sleeping with him instead. And really? You’re one to talk about picking up phone calls… you know what. It doesn’t even matter, She muttered - the last comment hitting home with the memory of the call she had done the night she left. Really all it would have taken that night was one word from him. But maybe it was on her too for never giving him a chance. In either case, neither would ever know.
Jess turned back towards the bartender as the man brought over Dorian’s drink, though, instead of letting the man pick it up, Jess grabbed it before he could. With that, she raised it up at him and chugged it within a few seconds without flinching, and then putting it back down. Guess drowning her sorrows in alcohol over the past four years helps with reducing her gag reflex with drinks. She gave the bartender a look, making a motion that she wanted another one before turning back towards the arse who said something about rather being with his date. "You know - it’s funny. You act like I’m keeping you against your will over here by the bar. Please do go back to your cheerleader. I’m sure she’s so worried about you while she’s texting her friends and checking Instagram every 3.5 seconds. I have to ask - how much do you want to bet she’s having more fun talking to her friends about being on a date with you than actually being on this date with you? Jess asked. There was another sentiment in the bet she mentioned. Often as children… as friend the two would make bets. Many bets… random bets. The winner getting a favor from the other - with certain rules attached. But simply stating it hit a bit too close to him for her as well… though she wouldn’t ever let him know that. In any case, she had, indeed, perfected the art of putting up a strong front.
Though, her smile dropped when she felt herself trapped against the bar and his body for the second time… or… are we counting the dream? Make it the third time she’s been trapped against something by the man. For a second, Jess’ mind flashed back to the dream - his body on top of her’s as he… no, no, no, no, NO we’re not thinking about that right now JEss…
.
Bringing herself out of her thoughts, Jess listened to his voice as he told her to walk away and could feel herself getting frustrated. No… actually, she was past frustrated. Jessica Pierce was officially p!ssed. “Dorian…” Jess started off sweetly, putting her hand on his chest gently. "…fcking touch me one more time, and you won’t have a hand to touch me with. And I’m guessing you’re going to need that hand while you’re jerking yourself off since I can’t imagine any sane person wants to sleep with you." With that she took a soft breath before letting her lips near his ear. “Though I guess that doesn’t say much about your taste in dates.”
That being said, she pushed him off of her, taking the drink that the bartender refilled and gave him a look. “but you know what… I will walk away,” . And she did. After giving him one last look, Jess did exactly what she said. She walked away - all the way to the stage, whispering in the manager’s ear and smiling as the microphone was given to her between sets of actual paid artists. Perks of knowing the manager apparently.
“Well hello everyone…” Jess smiled, watching as everyone started clapping and she put her hand up to stop them. “… trust me. My act isn’t that good that you guys have to clap. Really it’s just more of a little storytime but I’m all about audience participation and interaction so please - I would love to get your input everyone. So first of all, I have to ask, how many of you have graduated high school?”
Jess waited as most of the audience put their hand up and nodded with a slight laugh. "God high school… honestly… people say it should be the best years of your life but bloody actually believes that?
Jess waited and smiled as no one in the room raised their hand.
"Glad I’m not the only one who thinks so. But let’s be honest - what is high school besides a little popularity contest? A time where the jocks and cheerleaders shine and think they’re on top of the bloody world and do so by putting everyone else down?
Jess heard someone scream PREACH SISTER and laughed alongside the audience. “SEE they get it. And honestly - I could spend all night up here making assh0le jock jokes… honestly, it’s really too damn easy but I’m here to turn things to a slightly more serious note. Anyways here’s my story, and please - let me know if you’ve gone through this too. So once upon a time I actually used to be friends with that person. You know - that jock that everyone likes. Or at least, pretends to like for affiliate popularity. But here’s the thing - I was never doing it for that. Not like the cheerleaders who spent all their time with him posting on Instagram or whatnot. I didn’t care about who he was to everyone else. Because to me, he was… different. An actual friend, you know? Someone I could tell everything to… do everything with. And I know that’s hard to believe - after all - who would have imagined jocks have anything on their mind besides hitting a ball and screwing girls but I thought it was different. Well, let me tell you folks. It’s not. I guess stereotypes exist for a reason because the moment things didn’t turn out the way he hoped - he turned back into that same bloody stereotype everyone else thought he was. Guess that’s 5 years wasted huh?”
Taking a deep breath, Jess met Dorian’s eyes from across the room. "I’m not here to gain your pity or anything of the matter. I just wanted to let… ALL of you know that sometimes, maybe reading a book by its cover isn’t wrong. Because at the end of the day, no matter what happened inside the book - you put it back on the shelf and that’s all that remains. The cover… that, by itself, has just a glimpse of what was inside. But a glimpse that was probably the most accurate description. I… sigh Apologies for my little rant everyone. Enjoy the rest of your evening and the next act.
With that, Jess handed the mic off to the next act, smiling as the woman patted her on the back muttering that she knew what Jess was going through and that she should see her after the show to talk. With a nod, Jess walked back to her date with a smile. "What do you say we get out of here and go take a little walk? . Perhaps she didn’t want to be in the same room as Dorian anymore because the truth of the matter was - it seemed all he ever did was hurt her.