Author's Note: I've been debating this for some time, but I finally decided to scrub this series down and resubmit them. I've grown a lot as a writer since I wrote these and look back on these with a touch of shame. I want to give them the look they deserve. To anyone that may have read them once upon a time, I've mostly changed grammar and punctuation. There was temptation to completely overhaul, but I felt that I shouldn't. Just clean them up and be done with it. Thanks for reading.
-Nosebone
After I left Rachel's apartment, I stopped off to get some breakfast. After all the physical activity the night before I was extremely hungry. When I got into our house, there were two voice mails on the phone. The first was from 'Drea telling me that she wasn't going to be able to get a flight until 8 o'clock that night. That meant I had all day free to contemplate what had happened. The second voice mail was from Erin. She wanted to make sure I had made it home last night. I thought that was a little odd, as I was the designated driver, but maybe she was just checking up on me. She told me to give her a call and let her know when 'Drea was going to make it home.
I took a quick shower and changed into some shorts and a t-shirt. I sat back on the couch and flipped on the TV. I picked up the phone and dialed up Erin.
"Hello?"
"Erin, it's Brad," I said.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Not much just hanging out watching TV," I said.
"Oh really, when is 'Drea coming to home?"
"Not until 8. They still have storms where she is, plus they have all of the people from yesterday to get out as well. I feel bad for her, being stuck in the airport all day," I said.
"Yeah, me too. Do you have any plans for today while she's gone?"
"No not really," I said.
"Oh okay. I just called last night to check to make sure you made it home. I was surprised when you didn't answer. Where did you go after you dropped Rachel off?"
Uh oh. "What do you mean," I asked.
"I called a couple hours after you dropped me off. But you didn't answer," Erin said.
"I must have been asleep, because I came right home after I dropped her off," I said.
"Hmmm, that's odd. I walked by after I called and your car wasn't at the house," Erin said.
"What did you come by for? It had to be 2 in morning," I said.
"I just wanted to talk, and I thought you might still be awake. I know you can't sleep when 'Drea isn't home. I came by again later and you still weren't back. So really, where were you? I was really worried when I didn't see your car at your house," she said.
This was not going well. In the back of my mind I knew that something like this would happen.
"I helped Rachel with some stuff and we got to talking and I guess I must have been there longer than I thought," I replied trying to get a lid on this situation.
"Oh, Ok. That explains it. What did she need help with after midnight?"
Damn. This was making me nervous. What was she getting at, what would she say to 'Drea? I was beginning to realize I had more problems than just the emotional stuff with Rachel.
"She had a bunch of heavy boxes that she needed moving," I said.
"Oh, boxes. I see," Erin said. I was really anxious about what Erin must be thinking. "I was going to get by there today and see how 'Drea's interview went, but I guess if 'Drea isn't going to be home later, maybe I'll wait until tomorrow," Erin said.
"Sure, that's fine. Bye Erin," I said.
"Yeah, bye," she replied.
That conversation had gone bad. Erin was obviously suspicious. I could have moved Rachel completely out of her apartment in the amount of time I was trying to explain away to Erin. God, I hoped that this would not go any further than it already had.
I tried to focus on watching TV. About ten minutes later, I heard a knock at the door. I went to answer it and was shocked to see that it was Erin. Oh, shit I thought. Why was she here?
"Hey, I thought you weren't going to come over until later?"
"I thought if you were going to be here by yourself, and I was bored, why not come over and we could hang out together," she said with a devious smile. In truth, it was her normal smile.
"Uh, okay," I said. This was not unusual, she had been over before when 'Drea wasn't around. It was different that time with what had gone on the night before and her asking questions. I felt uneasy being alone with her.
"So, what are you watching," she asked.
"Just Sportscenter," I said.
"Oh okay," she said.
We both sat down on the couch. Erin reminded me a lot of Kate Winslet except with fiery, red hair. She was strikingly beautiful and had the most amazing green eyes. They were like emeralds. She was also about 5'11" to my own 5'8". I've always had a thing for taller girls. Which was surprising since 'Drea was only 5'3".
Erin was wearing a short skirt and top. She had her backpack with her, which was odd since school was over. When she had sat down on the couch she tucked one of her legs under her and was facing me. I was trying to watch the TV, but I couldn't help notice her watching me out of the corner of my eye.
She finally broke the silence, "So, you just got home thirty minutes ago. Where were you all night?"
"Why are you asking me all of this," I asked looking at her.
"I'm just curious, 'Drea is one of my good friends and I want to make sure nothing that would hurt her happened last night. Now where did you go after you left Rachel's?"
"I didn't go anywhere," I said far too defensively.
"You had to go somewhere, you weren't here. I think you've already admitted to that. I want to know where you went," she persisted.
"Erin, I don't think I have to explain myself to you," I said.
"Yeah, I think you do. Because right now it's just you and me talking. But tonight or tomorrow or next week, it will be 'Drea and me talking. If you just tell me, that will be the end of it," she said.
"Erin, I don't think I can tell you. It was...," I said.
"Go on. Just tell me. It will stay with me. I promise," Erin said.
I was caught. I now knew that despite all the feelings I had for her, I should never have slept with Rachel. I always knew I didn't have the personality to be unfaithful. Now 'Drea was going to find out. I was fucked.