Abstract | ab'strakt,  'ab,strakt | adjective; existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence: abstract concepts such as love or beauty.

     or

·        Of or relating to abstract art: abstract pictures that look like commercial color chart.  – New Oxford American Dictionary.

Chapter seventeen; abstract

"Ex-girlfriend, Thalia. And I'd really appreciate it if you'd call me Arthur. Kai is my middle name." Arthur explains. But I can barely hear him. My heart is pounding in my ears.

            "Um..." I try and muster up the confidence to even talk to the smiling girl with her arm now looped through Arthur's. "Hi?" I squeak.

            I really want to go home.

            "Right." Thalia looks embarrassed. She pulls her arm out of his and clears her throat. "I just...thought we could talk." She is now only speaking to him.

            Maybe I should go.

            "We've talked enough. We're good friends." He smiles politely but I spot the blush running from his neck to his cheeks. His eyes keep darting to me.

            He must want me to go. It must be awkward having a conversation like this in front of someone. Yet I still don't move from my spot.

            "But Kai – I mean Arthur, I know we said we'd be friends and that's great because I never want to lose you but...maybe that's just not enough for me." She looks up at him hopefully and for an excruciating second I saw him look at her the way Mona looks at Ray. And then it was gone.

            "No, T. I'm sorry. You're one of my best friends and even though a part of me – well even though we tried being together like that...it just doesn't work. We don't mesh well. I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it again; you love him not me. I'm the comfortable choice and I was doing you a favor by letting you go.

            "So please, do yourself a favor and be honest with yourself." He finishes.

            I back away, really feeling like I'm intruding at this point.

            "I – I have to go." She chokes out before turning and walking away, weaving through the crowd and soon I can't see her at all.

            I'm about to make my escape when he catches me off guard.

            In one swift motion Arthur's arms are around me again but instead of dancing we're hugging. I'm stiff for about three seconds before my arms go around him, my hands rubbing and patting his back awkwardly.

            "You okay?" I wonder aloud.

            He keeps his head tucked in my shoulder and for a second I think he's crying. "I'm fine. Just needed a hug." He says pulling away.

            I give him an encouraging smile. "Hey, it'll be fine." I tell him even though I have no clue what's going on.

            "Sorry. That was weird of me." He quickly spits out, backing away and rubbing his palms on his jeans.

            "What are friends for?" I shrug.

            "So...you feel better?" He asks, looking me up and down as if trying to spot any signs of sickness and/or injuries.

            "All thanks to you, Dr. Baker." I smile, the image of Thalia's arm looping through his still fresh in my mind. I push it away, annoyed with myself for being so petty and stupid.

            "I try." He smirks.

            "So...I was meaning to ask you; are we done with the whole like....art thing?"

            I'm so cringey it hurts.

            "Oh." His eyebrows rise in surprise, "Actually...no. I have a splatter paint piece due this weekend. But honestly, I can probably do it on my own. You've really helped me through my artist block."

            His words wash over me and suddenly I'm frowning. I quickly cover it up with a smile, hoping he didn't notice. "Yeah by doing literally nothing."

            "Trust me, it wasn't nothing."

            He stares at me, his eyes looking back and forth between mine. In movies this always looks so annoying but the way he does it...it's like he wants to look me in the eye but can't decide which one.

            I stare back in a daze and our current conversation is wiped from my memory. It's not like we're gazing into each other's eyes or anything. It's more like we're just standing here together and not saying anything. Just...looking.

            "What were we talking about again?" I chuckle quietly.

            It takes a moment for him to reply, "Hm? Oh, um I don't know." He laughs, showing his startlingly white teeth and the cute little dimple on his cheek.

            "Well..." I start with a sigh, looking around the room. The party around us is still raging but my eyelids are quickly becoming heavy. "I'd better find Ray and uh...head home."

            He nods, shoving his hands in his front pockets and rocking on his heels. "Of course. Would you mind the guys and me walking out with you?" He asks, looking around the room for his friends.

            "Oh I'm sure Peter and Xander want to stay. And I wouldn't want you to go just because I am." I state.

            "Oh you're the only reason I don't regret coming to this thing. It sucks when you barely know anyone. It's nice to have a real friend to have some fun with."

            "I don't know...Peter's pretty fun." I grin, spotting the red head across the room. He sees me and gives me a thumbs up. Whatever that means.

            "Yeah but it's different." He tells me with a wink.

            I laugh, not really getting the joke but needing a reason not to respond. Well this is one time I've avoided making a complete fool out of myself tonight.

            "Okay well...I guess I'll meet you outside?" He calls over his shoulder.

            "Sure." I nod.

            I watch as he leaves to go rally the troops before releasing a deep breath and tucking a loose strand behind my ear.

            After sending my mom a text telling her to leave the front door unlocked for us, I pull Ray away from Lila and a guy who looks like the epitome of 'tall dark and handsome'.

            His dark eyes look up at me and away from Lila, a dazzling smile on his face as she laughs at a joke he must have just made. She looks pretty with her hair up in a tight ponytail and a light pink sundress.

            "Hey. Sorry we can't stay any later, Lila. I've been sick the past couple days and I'm still a little tired." I tell my best friend.

            She gets up and gives me a hug. "Oh no, I'm so sorry. Are you feeling better now?"

            "Yeah. My mom was pretty sick too but Arthur was there to help out so..." I shrug.

            She smirks. "Oh really? Interesting."

            I quickly change the subject. "Who's this?"

            Lila grins and places her hands on the young man's shoulders. He gives me a nod and holds out his hand. "I'm Jonathan. You must be Lovely." He winks.

            Lila laughs but I don't see what's funny.

            "This is his party." She informs me.

            "Oh that Jonathan." I play dumb.

            He gives me a tight lipped smile, reaching up to his shoulder and grabbing my friend's hand, placing a kiss on her fingertips.

            Barf.

            "Okay well...nice to meet you. Ray and I should get going." I give Ray a look and for once we must agree on something because he nods and stands next to me.

            "See you, Lila." He smiles and she returns the favor. "Um...bye." He mutters to the Dave Franco look alike.

            Arthur is waiting for us by our mom's car. Coincidentally they were parked right beside us.

            "Have fun you lovely party animal you?" Peter pokes at me.

            I smile and find myself being completely genuine when I say, "Yes, actually. I'm glad I came." My eyes wonder over to Arthur who smiles and looks down at his feet.

            "Alright well...I'll see you probably on like Wednesday? Does that work for you?" He asks me. I think back to when he said he wouldn't need me for this one but I do myself a favor and don't mention it.

            "Sure. Whatever's good for you."

            For a second I think he's going to hug me goodbye like friends usually do but at the last second he steps away. I furrow my eyebrows and follow his line of vision.

            Thalia stands on the porch of the house alone, watching us with red eyes. She tries for a smile and a wave but it's obvious she followed us.

            What I do next makes no sense whatsoever. I lift my hand and wave back before stepping forward, wrapping my arms around Arthur. He responds instantly, tightly hugging me about two seconds before I pull away slightly, lift myself up on my tip toes, and plant a kiss on his cheek.

            I don't look to see her reaction, only his. His cheeks are lit up like a Christmas tree and his eyes are wide before he slowly grins. "See you Wednesday."

            I smiled all the way home.

                                                    *             *             *             *

            "Did you two have fun last night?" My mom asks us the next afternoon.

            This morning when we woke up, she informed us that she was calling a substitute and taking a break. She does this every so often when she starts to miss being a mom and spending quality time with her kids.

            So here we are at Denny's getting a late breakfast.

            I take a bite of my pancakes and look over at Ray, begging him to go first so I don't have to bare all the details of my life.

            Not that I don't ever talk to my mom it's just...well, some things are just a little more embarrassing than other and I want to prolong it.

            "We had a lot of fun, mom." Was his vague response. I shoot him another look and he continues with a sigh, "We met Lila's new tool boyfriend. There's something fishy about that guy."

            "Please. You're just jealous because he's been spending more time with Lila than you." It was just a joke but the reaction I got made me think it was anything but that.

            His neck turns red and takes a drink of his water. "Shut up, Lovely. That's so not true."

            I narrow my eyes at him. "It was just a joke...at least it was to me." I stare at him and he fidgets nervously.

            "Lovely kissed Arthur." He blurts.

            My eyes widen and my mom's fork drops onto her plate, her mouth wide open. "You what."

            "It was a kiss on the cheek, mom. And we're just friends so it was a...friendly cheek kiss."

            "Yeah right. I was there, remember? You were giving him eyes all night." He snaps back.

            I gasp and smack him on the arm. "I was not! What about Mona, huh? You seemed pretty friendly with her." Yeah I'm aware there's nothing going on but you know how it is in the middle of an argument.

            "Oh grow up." He groans. "Mona doesn't like me like that and I –"

            "Would you two shut up for two seconds?" Our mom shouts, stopping both of us and half the people in the restaurant. Including our waitress.

            "Um...Mam, would you like another cup of coffee?" She squeaks.

            "I sure would, Kelsi." She smiles sweetly.

            The girl walks off and she leans in close to Ray and I, "You two are so grounded."

            "But mom Arthur and I –" I start to tell her how important it is that I help Arthur tomorrow but she won't have it.

            "Lovely Grace Bates, I don't want to hear it." She points her finger at me and I shrink down in my seat.

            Ray clears his throat and opens his mouth.

            "No. Whatever it is Ray, the answer is no. Now both of you finish your pancakes."

            "Yes ma'am." We say in unison.

            I look over and give my brother one last glare before picking up my fork.

                                                                        *

            As soon as I get home I call Arthur and fill him in on my childish behavior at brunch.

            "Geez, Lovely. You're eighteen...you'd think you would have stopped getting grounded by now." He chuckles.

            "I couldn't help it. He just threw me under the bus!" I flop onto my bed with a grunt.

            "I don't blame him. Any time a guy gets confronted with his feelings all reason just goes out the window."

            "Well it sucks."

            "Yeah, I know. So maybe just...not bring Lila up in front of your mom. What'd he say that made you go crazy anyway?" He asks.

            Yeah, I left that part out on purpose.

            "Uh...you know he just made something sound like way more than it really was."  I try to be as nonchalant and vague as possible.

            "Oh..." His voice deflates. "Well I've got to go...my parents invited Thalia and her family to come over tonight for dinner...I think they're still hoping we get back together. I hope we can work things out for tomorrow."

            "Yeah...say hello to Thalia for me." My voice takes on a bitter tone at the mention of her name.

            "Yeah...sure." He drawls out. "See you tomorrow?"

            "Maybe." I laugh, "Bye."

            "Bye, Love."

            I sigh and stare at my phone screen.

            Any time a guy gets confronted with his feelings all reason just goes out the window.

            Don't. I. Know. It.