Czar Red #10

“So get this.” Ricky, Amy's brother was animatedly describing his current fling. "She brought over like ten pillows and a fucking feather blanket. Can you believe it? I was just using an old ratty one that mom had gave me when I moved out. So, she brings over all this shit for my bed and I tell her, Aww, thanks, too bad I'm going to fuck some other girl under this blanket." Ricky laughed; Amy and Jimmy looked at eachother unsure how to react.

"What did she say?" Amy asked, ashamed at his carelessness.

"She just laughed. I think she thought I was kidding." Ricky laughed again. Amy glared at him painfully and sighed.

She was bitter that this was actually her brother -- where had his respect and innocence gone? She knew he was still hurting over his breakup six months ago but she hated to see him continue spreading the pain. Her frusterations were interupted when the waitress brought them their drinks. The diner was dirty and full of truckers but the food was always hot and the waitresses were always friendly.

Jimmy changed the subject aware of her embarrassement but Amy wasn't listening. She allowed her thoughts to fill her ears as his words only became a background buzz. She was thinking about how much she was in love with him. She didn't know when or how she was going to tell Scott. She just wouldn't let herself contemplate the devestation he'd feel if she told him she loved someone else. Besides, Jimmy had a girlfriend, she told herself reassuringly. She knew he felt the same burning connection she did, but she was sure he wouldn’t do anything about it.

“... So I called him back and demanding they fix it again for free..." He paused from his account to sip his soda. His lips lingering on the straw, he peered over at her to see if she was listening. She was slurping her shake and felt him turn toward her, jolting her from her internal discourse.

When their eyes met across the table, neither Jimmy nor Amy could deny the glint of tenderness they exchanged. His arrogance and unabashed excitement were replaced with vulnerability. He looked at her; his eyes pulled her into himself. His intent look was protective and defensive. She, too stunned to speak, returned the glance as absorbed as he. Ricky looked at Amy skeptically as he wondered what was between those two. He was convinced they'd already had sex. There was an intimacy between them that he recognized and longed to feel again. He winked at Jimmy, joggling him from the moment.

Amy noticed the break in the tension and asked Jimmy “What?” not really expecting any answer.

“Nothing. Where was I?” He paused, staring at the bubbling Dr. Pepper in his glass. “Oh yeah, so the repairs.” Amy swallowed another gulp of her smooth shake and sighed. She thought she felt Jimmy’s hand graze gently across her knee but brushed it off. She stared outside into the darkness and sighed.