Jealous Orchard

I was sprawled out on my bed while trying to read a book that was mandatory for school next year.

It was insane to think only a month of summer was left before I had to go back and finish my last year of high school. I hadn't really started my book yet considering I've been busy with band practice. With Ryan going to college soon, we tried to get in as much play time as possible. At almost every practice Morgan had tried to come and watch them all.

Each time she would sit on the same couch in the same basement, and clap to the same songs we played. She had suggested that we make a purevolume page to get our music out to the public.

"Brendon! Sweetie I've been calling you for the past minute! Dinner is ready," my mom called from the stairwell.

I put my book down once I broke out of my day dream of Morgan.

"So, you're going to the movies with Susan tonight?" my mom asked plopping a spoonful of mashed potatoes onto my sister's plate.

"You're still taking out that dog?" my brother asked laughing.

"Hey! We are not going to talk about Brendon's girlfriend like that," my mom said sternly as my face heated up.

"Actually we're not going out tonight, her cousins are in from out of town," I said cutting a piece of steak on my plate.

"Oh, well that's nice," my mom said politely.

"Yeah, I think I might call Ryan to hang out," I said finishing the food on my plate.

"Please, don't tell me you're still going on with that silly band thing," my mom said shaking her head at me.

"We're not practicing tonight, but it's not silly, mom. I like it."

I stood up and grabbed my plate and took it to the kitchen. I quickly ran up the stairs and into my bedroom.

I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed Ryan's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Ryan. Want to go hang out tonight? I need to get out of my house."

"Yeah, if you want to go to the mall with me? I have to buy a CD," he said into the phone.

"Yeah, I'll be over in ten minutes, and you want to sleep at my house tonight?" I asked slipping my shoes on.

"Yeah, I'll be waiting."

I hung up my phone and ran down the stairs.

"I'm going out!" I shouted before I slammed the door.

I quickly got into my car a sped over to Ryan's house and saw he was already waiting outside for me.

He got in and smiled at me while I pulled out. He threw his bag in my back seat.

"So what CD are you buy?" I asked as he messed with the radio.

"Oh, a CD Morgan told me to get. I figured I should at least buy," he said plainly and finally turned off the radio.

I tried not to glare at him when he said that. I didn't remember when Morgan had told him about a CD. I hardly see those two talk at all.

"When did she tell you to buy it?" I asked trying to act casually.

"Oh, Spencer and I were out looking for this book, and we ran into Morgan," he said shrugging.

"So she just told you there to get his CD?" I asked confused, but still trying hard not to show I cared.

He laughed.

"No, we all went out for pizza. You know she said she called your house but you weren't home," he said as I parked the car.

"I never got her call," I said shaking my head.

"Well, maybe your sister forgot to give it to you," he said as we walked to the entrance.

"Maybe," I said irritated that Ryan and Spencer went out with Morgan, and I didn't.

We walked around the store for awhile, even though Ryan had the CD already. He had that be big smile when he finally got it, and looked at it for probably ten minutes.

Okay maybe not that long, but it was fine, it was the point that he made this big deal about some lame CD.

"Who is it?" I asked trying to peer over his shoulder and see who it was.

"Modest Mouse. She said I would like it. Kind of mellow," he smiled again and looked at me.

"Anything you need to get?" he asked turning toward me.

"No," I shook my head, wondering why she hadn't told me any cds to get.

"Okay, do you want to go out to eat?" he asked grabbing his bag and walking out.

"I already ate, but we can-" I stopped as I saw Morgan in the store across from us with Taylor.

Of course they had to be in Victoria Secret shopping for underwear. They didn't notice us considering they were to busy going through underwear and tossing certain ones at each other.

"It's amazing how natural they probably think that is, and how creepy it is that we're standing here watching them," Ryan said slightly tilting his head to the side.

"Yeah," I said slightly annoyed that Ryan was staring at Morgan.

"Hey Morgan!" Ryan called waving his hand over his head.

She turned around and smiled waving with her fingers that still had a pair of lacey boyshorts.

Ryan started to walk over to where they were and I followed slowly behind.

"What'd you buy?" Morgan asked looking at Ryan's bag.

"The Modest Mouse CD," he said smiling.

Morgan's face lit up as he said that and she put down the underwear in a pile and ruffled his hair.

"You listened! You're going to like it a lot," she said.

"Hey, Brendon," Taylor said smiling clearly noticing that we both were out of the conversation.

"Hey," I mumbled.

"Oh, Bren! I didn't even see you behind Ryan," she said tilting her head and smiling at me.

As much as I wanted to give her the cold shoulder, I couldn't once she smiled at me.

"Hey, Morgan," I said smiling.

"Hey you guys want to go to dinner with us? We haven't eaten yet," Taylor said looking at us.

"Yeah, I ate already but we were going to eat because Ryan hasn't yet."

"Great, just let us buy all these, and we can leave," Morgan said grabbing a pile of underwear.

Taylor followed suit and they headed toward the back of the store.

We both followed the two girls to the back and waited for them.

I watched Morgan pull out a black credit card and wait for the woman to charge it.

I didn't know anyone could spend so much money on underwear.

I couldn't help but wonder what she looked like in them.

________________________

I sat across from Morgan as I watched her eat a spinach salad.

"So, Panic! At the Disco?" she asked emphasizing the word Panic.

"I like the name. It took a long time to think of it," Ryan said taking a bite of his burger.

"I didn't say it was bad. I was just saying it," Morgan said smiling.

"I think it's kind of lame," Taylor said laughing.

"Man, you're harsh," Ryan said laughing.

"Beauty boys is still one of my top three picks," Morgan said smirking at me.

"Are you saying I'm beautiful?" Ryan asked.

I quickly glanced at him until Morgan laughed.

"Who said you're a boy? I was talking about Spencer," Morgan said laughing as Ryan pouted.

"Brendon?" we all stopped what we were doing as she turned to look at Susan standing in front of us.

"Oh, hey, Susan," I stuttered.

She stood in front of me with two of her friends and glared. I was surprised that she wasn't glaring at me, but at Morgan.

Morgan bit her lip and gave Susan a smirk.

"Do you have something in your eye? You look a little squinty," Morgan said putting down her fork.

Susan stopped glaring at Susan and quickly looked at me.

"Brendon, I," she paused looking over the table.

"Call me tonight, Brendon," she said sternly and then turning around to walk away.

"Dude, why does Susan totally hate Morgan?" Ryan asked laughing once Susan was out of ear shot.

"Susan hates me?" Morgan asked pretending to be shocked.

"Really why does she hate you?"

"I have no idea," Morgan said shrugging her shoulders, and going back to eating her salad.

I looked at her as she avoided looking into my eyes.

"I'm so full!" Ryan said patting his stomach.

"I'm tired," Morgan said rubbing her eyes.

"Oh great, just what I need. A sleepy Morgan driving," Taylor said laughing.

"Hey, can we not make fun of my driving skills? I'm not that bad," she said grabbing her keys and standing up.

"Bye, Ryan," Morgan said smiling and hugging him.

It seemed like she lingered longer holding onto to him. She turned toward me and gave me a sad smile.

"I hope I didn't get you in trouble, with Susan," she said walking up to me, and wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I don't get in trouble with Susan," I said annoyed that she would think that.

"Right," she pulled away and gave me another sad smile. "Seeya, Brendon."

Taylor followed as they both walked out of the restaurant.
________________________

"Ryan? Are you still up?" I asked looking at Ryan on the other side of my bed.

"Mhm," he mumbled into the pillow.

I stared at him a little longer before I asked him a question. I tried to wonder if should even try to ask him the question.

"Do you like Morgan?" I asked looking at my ceiling, not wanting to see his face.

But what surprised me was when he laughed.

"No," he laughed again as he pushed himself up again. "Morgan isn't my type," he said looking at me.

"But," he paused. "She seems to be your type," he said raising his eyebrow at me.

"Morgan?"

"Man, I'm surprised you didn't kill me today with all the death glares you were giving me," he said laughing still.

"Man, Morgan's just a friend," I said shaking my head.

"Don't worry, Brendon. I'm not going to steal your dream girl. Even though I so could if I wanted too," he said.

"It doesn't matter, I'm not interested," I said trying to sound convincing.

"Of course," he said chuckling. "Goodnight, Brendon."

________________________

"What were you doing out with her?" Susan asked over the phone.

"What did it look like I was doing? I was having dinner with my friends."

It seemed like we had gone over this question a hundred times this conversation.

"You know I don't like her, Brendon. All she's doing is trying to steal you from me," she pleaded.

It sounded like she was on the brink of crying.

"I'm positive that Morgan isn't trying to steal me. We're just friends."

I could hear her sniffle. The last thing I needed and wanted was for her to cry.

"You don't know her, Brendon. You might think you know her better than me, but you don't," she said.

I knew she was crying now. She had to choke out the words.

"Don't cry, Susan. I'll be over in a minute, and we'll talk this over better," I said before hanging up and getting on my shoes.

________________________

"Please, Susan. I don't want to see you cry," I said stroking her hair as her tears stained my shirt.

"I'm sorry, Brendon. I know that you didn't do anything wrong with hanging out with her, but," she sighed and looked at me with sad eyes. "I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," I said pressing my lips against her forehead.

"I know, but she'll try to take you," she sighed resting her forehead against mine.

"It's not going to happen," I said pressing my lips against hers.

I couldn't help but wonder how she could be so paranoid about losing me. There were no rumors going around about Morgan and I, and Susan's never seen us alone together.

"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a nagging girlfriend. I just am, but I'll stop. I know she's your friend and I can't stop that."

"Sweetie," I cooed as she wrapped her arms around my waist. "I probably have been spending a little too much time with her," I said before I even thought about it.

"Oh, you're perfect!" she exclaimed kissing my neck.

"Mhm," I murmured as my mind started to cloud over and her hands were holding onto me, and she moved from my neck to my collarbone.