Disillusion Meets Delight (6 page)

After digging through all of his pants pockets, he finally found Jake’s cell number and decided to call to see what was going on tonight. 

“Jake? Hey man, it’s Ian.”

“Ian! What’s up?  So, are you gonna go out tonight or what?”  Jake asked with enthusiasm. 

“Yeah, I think maybe I will.  What’s the plan?”  Ian asks, still with a sense of hesitation.  He seriously needed to chill out.  It’s not like Jake picks up prostitutes and plays back alley poker.  There was once a time when Ian himself was a lot like Jake.  It was no big deal. 

“How about you meet me down at Rocky’s, say 9 o’clock?  We can get a couple beers there and then head up to the City Grill or maybe The Blue Room. There are always hot chicks in skimpy clothes wandering around there.  I’m on a mission tonight man!  We are getting you laid!  See you tonight!”  And with that, Jake was gone and Ian was already wondering what he had gotten himself into.  He was actually a little excited.

“Hey Maggie it’s Ian.” He was surprised she actually answered her phone.  “Listen, why don’t you and Becky go to a movie tonight?  It’s on me.  Then you can stay at Becky’s house tonight.”  Maggie would have no idea what his true intentions were, he would just look like a cool, generous big brother.

“Ooh Ian!  Do you have a hot date tonight?  Cheeka bow wow bow bow.” Was Maggie doing 70’s porn music?

“Excuse me, but where did you hear that music? Never mind, I don’t want to know. Anyway, no but I am going out with the guys and I don’t think you should be home all night alone.”  Ian replied, flustered.

“Whatever Ian you seriously think I’m still ten.  But you are in luck because I had already intended to call and ask if I could stay over at Becky’s anyway.  Her parent’s just bought her a mini fridge for her bedroom and she has a total entertainment system and everything in there.  It’s so cool Ian.” Maggie says excitedly.

“So it sounds like they aren’t running a crack house and mom isn’t a prostitute?”  This is where Ian tries to sound parental.

“Uh, no, not quite.  Her dad is an attorney and her mom works in an art gallery in the Pearl District.  They are not crack dealers Ian.  So, I will stop by home today to get some stuff and then I will head over to Becky’s house.  You, my dear brother are in great need of fun.  Take a cab, don’t get in a bar fight and bring a condom.  Bye!” 

“Maggie! Mags!”  But she had hung up before he could even respond.  He seriously had to start monitoring her television viewing and apparently have the “talk” before he ended up taking care of two kids.

There was an awkward silence for a moment as Mya, Jenna and I stood outside of the apartment.  That soon subsided as Jenna brushed past us and opened her door. 

“Well, are you going to stand there or are you coming in?  I’m assuming you are here for a reason.”  Jenna’s tone was different than normal.  It was cold and direct, which was completely unlike her.  Whenever you spoke to Jenna, she was always about two octaves louder than everyone else and it was usually with a high pitch that if you were not used to, could send you over the edge.  In fact, Mya has known Jenna for five years now and I believe will never get used to it.  This proves to be troublesome in rare occasions when Jenna is drunk and Mya is sober. 

“So really girls, to what do I owe this morning visit to?”  Jenna asks as she opens a bottle of water.  “I need to get in the shower soon so we need to make it fast.  I’m meeting Rob for lunch in about an hour.”    

“You know Jenna, it’s funny that you mention him.”  I reply.  “A little bird told me that you, um, purchased a dress recently.  Is that true?”  I ask trying to breathe in the good, take out the bad. 

“By the little bird, do you mean Mya?  Jesus Mya, nothing like disclosure.”  Jenna replies as she begins to wipe her kitchen countertops.  When things get tense, she either cleans or leaves the room.  So far, it’s a good start.

“What the hell did you think I was going to do Jenna?  You bought a wedding dress for Christ’s sake!  You are completely off your rocker and you have the nerve to give me attitude?!” Oh dear, so much for normal and casual.

“Okay, hold up.  This is not the way to talk about this.  Mya, do your yoga breaths.  Jenna, we just don’t understand what is going on.  You have to look at it from our point of view.  First of all, neither Mya nor I have even been able to meet this guy and out of nowhere you are buying a wedding dress.  It hurts because you have left us out of a really groundbreaking time in your life.”  I think I put that quite eloquently.

“You know what girls, get over it.  I’m sorry that you weren’t there but it was just meant to be.  I didn’t plan on buying it but when I tried it on, it was just so beautiful.  When I looked at it, all I could think of was being Mrs. Robert Alexander.”  Jenna replies as she looks up to the ceiling.  With her head being up in the clouds, it makes sense really. 

“Hey, blondie, down here.”  Mya snaps back, literally.

“I’m going to give you a reality check.  You have completely hurt two of the most important people in your life.  You have spent eighteen hundred dollars on a dress when the only person that has asked you to wear it is the uptight boutique lady that works on commission!  Jenna how can you be surprised that we are a bit worried about your behavior?”

At this point, I think Mya is just exhausted over the whole ordeal.  As she shakes her head back and forth, I just sit there.  There is nothing more that I can say.  Jenna’s attitude toward us is complete and utter denial.  She is not apologetic and has a myriad of excuses to justify her actions.  Yet, none of them satisfy either Mya or me. 

“Mya, I think it’s time we left.  I have some errands that I need to get done today.  Jenna, I can’t talk to you about this anymore.  I know you think that we are being selfish, but you have no idea.  I don’t know you right now.”  As I speak, my voice begins to tremble and my eyes begin to swell as a tear glistens and falls down my cheek. 

“Please, Natalie, don’t be so self-righteous.  You would have done the same thing if you were in my position.  You both act as if you are so great.  If you were really the amazing friends that you claim to be, you would be supporting me right now.  You would be asking me what Rob will think, or when I think we should get married…”

“Or, how about when you think Rob will propose!  We are leaving.  Call us when you’re not being a complete crack head!”  I reply and with that, Mya and I slam the door behind us.  I am so mad that I practically trip and fall down the stairs.  Luckily, I recover and the dramatic moment remains.

As we drive back to my place, Mya and I go back and forth over the encounter in complete and utter amazement.  We have had disagreements in the past, but nothing on this level.  I really don’t even know when Jenna will care to talk to us again and to be honest; I don’t know that I care to talk to her anytime soon.  I think that is what hurts so much.  In the time that I have been friends with Jenna, there has never been a moment when I didn’t imagine her in my future.  I always pictured the three of us having babies together, going through menopause together and laughing about our crazy college stories while eating early bird dinners.  It was my plan.  Of course, I also planned to be present when Jenna bought her wedding dress.  That didn’t work out so well. 

“You know what Nat, we need to go out tonight.  Let’s get dressed up and go somewhere fabulous.  I can wear my new sassy ensemble because Kyle is out of town and you can wear your new sassy shoes that you got the other day.  It will be great!”  Mya exclaims. 

“I don’t know Mya.  I have to get up tomorrow for brunch with my mother.  I can’t get drunk because a Sunday morning with my mother, Jan and Mallory Wellington and a hangover is absolute suicide.  I have no tolerance for pain.  You were at the ER with me when I had the earache.  The guy with blood shooting out of his arm had more composure.”  It was true.  I am a bit of a crybaby when it comes to uncomfortable situations. 

“Natalie, we don’t have to get trashed.  I just think that given the current situation, it would be good for us to go out.  What else are you going to do tonight?  Please don’t say you’re going to watch some trashy reality show.  We are going out and that is final.  It will be fun!”  That girl knows me far too well.  I really need to become less predictable.

Ian walked into the bar with a sense of confidence.  He had to admit, he looked good.  He had decided to wear the cobalt blue Hugo Boss button down shirt Maggie made him buy last month at Nordstrom.  It was a nice color with his dark hair and it brought out the color in his eyes, according to Maggie, anyway.  Like every other guy in the bar, he was wearing dark slacks and black shoes.  It was either that or jeans, which seemed too casual. 

The bar was exceptionally busy that night and Ian was having a difficult time finding Jake when out of nowhere someone grabbed his shoulder, yanking him backwards in the process.  Just as he was about to shout out an aggressive manly obscenity, Ian realized it was Jake.  He was somewhat relieved because he really didn’t feel like getting into a fight with a drunken guy who thought he had been hitting on his girlfriend. 

“Hey man!  Where have you been?  We’re two rounds ahead of you!  Ian, this is my buddy Joe, he’s in town from Dallas.” Joe was a tall, lanky red haired guy that looked funny standing next to Jake who stood about 5’11” and 225, which was all muscle.  Jake seemed proud of them as well because all of the shirts he wore clung to him like they had been washed on the hot cycle one too many times.  Ian had to admit that he was a bit envious.  He was only 5’11” himself but was nowhere near the physique of Jake.  Ian was never able to gain bulk when he worked out.  He tried drinking those wretched protein drinks that promised increased mass and muscle, but they never really worked for him.  After a week of drinking chalky shakes, he decided that being 5’11” and 175 was going to be just fine. 

“So Ian, what are you drinking?  I figure we get one more drink here and then head over to City Grill.  I heard some hot chicks saying they were going there tonight.  Hey Joe, we’re getting Ian laid tonight!”  Jake shouts as he pats Ian on the back.  Suddenly, Ian was getting his second thoughts back. 

“Oh man, you are with the right guy if you’re trying to get some ass.  Jake never fails you.  He’ll have you hooked up with so many girls; you won’t know who to choose from.  Unless you like a little group action if ya know what I mean!”  I think the whole bar knows what he means, Ian thought to himself.  What was he doing here?  He wasn’t like these guys, although it had been a long time.  Maybe Cowboy was right, minus the orgy of course. 

“Looks like I have some catching up to do.  I need a double shot of Jager.  That should do some damage.”  Ian announces with a grin.  If he was going to keep up the pace of Jake and Dallas Joe he would need some reinforcements.  Nothing like a double shot Jagermeister to get it started. 

After another drink, Ian and the guys went uptown to City Grill.  It was a hip atmosphere that was up on the 26
^th
floor.  It had a brilliant view at night that displayed all of the wonders of the city.  Portland was by no means D.C. but it had a certain charm to it and Ian had to admit that he was becoming attached to it. 

“Okay Ian, those girls, over there, what do you think?”  Jake asks as he looks down at the drink menu, trying to be inconspicuous.  Ian felt as if he were at a dealership looking for a new car. 

“Um, they’re fine, I guess.  Are they your conquests of the night?”  Ian replied.  Suddenly Jake and Joe burst into a fit of laughter.  Ian looked at them blankly. 

“I don’t get it.  What’s so funny?”  Ian apparently needed more shots.

“Dude, you can’t confine yourself to a conquest of the night.  Think of it more like a game, you know, with quarterly intervals.  You can’t limit yourself to one group of chicks.  Variety is key.”  Joe explained and Ian seriously wondered if this guy really got a lot of action because he was total jackass. 

“So where do you want to go tonight?  I think we should go somewhere that we haven’t been for awhile.”  Mya decides as she powders her nose while dancing to a Justin Timberlake CD.  JT (that’s what we girls call him because we are so close to him) is the best singer to listen to when you’re getting ready to go out.  I don’t care what anyone says about his boy band past, Justin is hot and his CD is fabulous. 

“I think we should go to City Grill.” I say trying to open a bottle of wine with little success.  I can’t believe that as a waitress I once went out to people’s tables to try and act like I could do this.  Tables must have thought I was the biggest joke.  Oh well, the only people I have to impress right now are Mya and myself.  A little cork never hurt anyone.