Trouble Next Door

chapter seventeen

I told Kathy all about my experiences with Lucas, starting from the night of the party.

"Oh my, that's a lot." Kathy said.

"That boy is no good for my peace of mind."

"I can imagine." Kathy sighed dreamily.

"No you can't." My eyes narrowed when i saw the dreamy look in her eyes, hoping she wasn't turning this into some sort of love story.

"Its sort of romantic." Of course, as expected she was.

"Romantic?" I chocked out. "That boy is the devil. Why does he keep tormenting me?"

Kathy rolled her eyes. "You're not in this alone remember?"

"I have it worse! Remember i live right by him. If we'd only get those pills."

"The pill!" Kathy sprang up startling me.

"Well what about it?"

"The reason why i'm here."

"Kathy you're not making much sense."

"Reggie promised to help."

"She did? But how...."

"She'll help get the pill from Lucas."

"Really?" I brightened up.

"Totally. I mean, she agrees that he's a nuisance." A dreamy look came in her eyes. "A hot.....dreamy....." She trailed off forgetting herself.

Seriously?

"Kathy!"

"What i mean is....he's a pest. Reggie agreed. So she's helping."

"But she's his friend. Not to mention his favorite cousin. Will she betray him?"

Kathy gave me a disdainful look. "Betray? You're reading too much into this. He deserves it! He keeps threatening us with it. Its tiring. You should know. You have it worse."

I sighed. "I have it worse alright....but see..."

"Are you having second thoughts?" Kathy asked incredulously. "You've always gone on about getting that pill so we won't have to deal with him." She thought for a while. "Or else...." Her voice trailed off, then a knowing mischievous look came into her eyes.

"Else what?" I asked, dreading what she would say next.

"Else you're enjoying this."

"Enjoy?" I said incredulously. "Why ever would i enjoy being tormented by that narcissistic... arrogant..."

Kathy giggled. "Ooh....easy there with the insults."

"But he...." I breathed out a frustrated sigh. "He annoys me. He turned aunt Mary against me. You saw the way he treated us at the party. He invited us but completely ignored us, meanwhile he made out with those bitches who almost ran us over trying to get to him."

I was seething and i wasn't done. "And then he had the gall to say i was jealous when i confronted him about it."

Kathy stared puzzled at me for a while, surprised at my vehemence.

"Well Maury..." She ventured. "You do sound totally jealous."

"What?"

"I mean i don't understand why....." Her voice trailed off as another realization came into her eyes. "You totally are!"

"What?"

"You like him!" She shrieked starling me.

"You're insane."

"Why didn't i notice this sooner?" Kathy paced excitedly while i glared at her. "I mean it's so obvious." She rapped on paying no mind to my astonishment.

"I do...n't" i stuttered.

Wow Maury. You do sound convincing.

"You do. Its not surprising i mean...all that animosity between you can all just be foreplay."

"Foreplay? Now you've lost it. There's nothing between Lucas and i".

" Yeah. Except the sizzling attraction. "

"Really Kathy...."

"Oh don't lie to me now Maury. I know you."

"Oh really. If you say what's going on with Lucas is foreplay what about you and Pip?"

"What about?" She feigned puzzlement.

"Nice try Kathy. You know exactly what i'm talking about."

"Just cause you like Lucas doesn't mean i have to like his friend. Its so cliché"

"Hmmm...But true." I taunted.

"Not." Her eyes narrowed at me. Then suddenly a triumphant smirk appeared on her face. "You just totally admitted to liking Lucas."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Oh common Kathy. This is pointless." I sighed and went to sit on the bed. She came to join me. "Alright i admit. I kinda..maybe...like him."

Kathy shrieked again. I rolled my eyes. She got excited over anything romantic.

"Why are you enjoying this all too much?"

"Seriously? You're asking me?"

"Yeah."

"I mean, its you Maury. You never really like anyone. You're always going on about being serious with life, don't have time for frivolities. You almost seemed like a prude."

"A prude?" I glared. "That's a bit offensive."

"Yeah Maury. Its almost like you have boy phobia."

"What?Boy phobia? What does that even mean?"

"Like uh...you can't stand to be near boys or something."

"That's totally ridiculous. Just cause you're boy crazy doesn't mean i have boy phobia. Besides i have a friend, who's a guy by the way."

"Who?"

"You know who."

Kathy thought for a while and groaned. "Felix? Seriously? That guy's a wimp."

"No he's not. A bit on the nerdy side but not a wimp."

"Alright you have 'hot boy' phobia." Kathy refused to give it up.

I laughed. "That's not even a thing. Boy phobia, 'hot boy' phobia."

Kathy giggled. "Well it is to me."

"Well then if i have 'hot boy' phobia then you are 'hot boy' crazy".

"Enough with the phobia stuff. Its starting to get ridiculous.

" well you started it."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Really Kathy. I'm not doing this. Its too childish. We're adults."

"You're just eighteen Maury."

"Which is an adult."

"Well since you're an adult...you can give dating a chance. I'm sure aunt Maury wouldn't mind."

"I'm not ready to date."

"Seriously Maury. You have no real experience in dating."

"Oh Kathy the expert tell me about it." I drawled out sarcastically. "You've never been in a real relationship. All you do is go on dates."

"Well at least i try.....you should try too." She nudged me playfully. "You know? With Lucas."

She laughed when my eyes went as big as saucers.

"Date Lucas? That's the worst possible idea. He's a player Maury."

"You don't really know that. You don't even know him."

"Oh and you do? What makes you even think he wants to date me?"

"Oh common Maury. I'm sure he likes you."

"He doesn't."

"He does." Kathy was relentless.

"How would you know? I asked enquiringly, folding my arms.

"Common Maury, he's always teasing you... calling you 'love', its so obvious. I see it. I'm sure Reggie does. You're the only one who doesn't."

"You both have eye issues. Lucas only sees me as an entertainment."

I wondered why i was so against the thought of Lucas liking me. It couldn't be true could it? He was a total player. It was obvious with the way he acted with those girls at the party. We hardly even knew each other. Why would he like me? Then I thought cynically that not knowing him had not stopped me from liking him. And I knew it wasn't just attraction. I liked his company. He sometimes made me miserable but i would not mind if we were friends. Friends? Like that was even possible.

"You know what your problem is?" Kathy said suddenly, pulling me out my thoughts. "You're so scared of Lucas liking you, you're ready to deny it till the end. Even of it's obvious that he does. You're purposely making yourself believe that he doesn't, that he can never. Why can't he? Hmm? Tell me." Kathy was getting serious.

"Oh....I don't know. I mean he's like that....

" Don't pull that card with me. He's exceptionally good looking so what? You're pretty Maury, very pretty. You just don't see it. And there's more. You're fun to be around. You're witty, you're funny, you're smart. Can't you see he just wants to be close to you."

Yeah right. Typical romance cliche. I was just too cynical to accept all that.

"Uh....this conversation is getting intense. I tried to relieve the tense atmosphere. I and Kathy stared at each other for a while then burst out laughing.