Jealous Orchard

"Hello?"

"Uh, hey." I had no idea what I was going to say.

"Oh hey! How are you?"

"Um fine, I was just," I paused. "Calling."

"That was sweet. I honest didn't think you would call. After the other night I figured I did something wrong," she said into the phone. She gave off a nervous laugh.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I was just busy," I mumbled into the phone.

"Oh good, I was a little worried. So do you want to go out sometime again. I had a lot of fun."

"Uh, yeah."

"Great, how about tonight? We can go out for ice cream around five."

"Uh, sure, Susan." I turned around to see Adam step through the door.

His eyes widened as he saw me on the phone. At first I thought he was running toward me so I grabbed the walking cane my grandpa always keeps in the house which happened to be right by the telephone.. But instead he ran to the wall and unplugged it. The line went dead and Adam stood up.

"Are you fucking stupid? She asked you where you wanted to go and you said home? Home? Fucking home? I thought you wanted to be with her?!"

My eyes widened considering I hadn't told Adam yet which means Morgan told Taylor and she probably told Adam.

"I didn't know what she meant till I was half way up to my house!" I explained feeling like a dick.

"Then you should have ran back and told her! She thinks you hate her."

"Did Taylor tell you this?"

"She called Taylor right after she dropped you off! Clearly she liked you and blew it. And here you are calling Susan," he bent down and plugged in the phone chord. "Now you get on that damn phone and tell Morgan what happened."

"I don't know her number," I said setting down the phone.

I started walking over to the couch when Adam handed me the phone.

"It's ringing."

"What no, I don't know-"

"Hello?" Her voice cut me off.

"Hey, Morgan."

"Brendon?"

Even by her just saying my regular name made me feel like I was demoted.

"Uh, yeah."

"Oh, hey," she mumbled.

I could tell she didn't want to talk to me. But who could blame her. She made a move to hang out more, and I blew her off.

"Uh hey, I was just calling because," I looked to Adam for help and he pointed to his crotch. "I feel like a dick."

It was silent until she laughed slightly.

"I'm sorry."

"No, you shouldn't be sorry, I completely blew you off when you asked me hang out after going to get pizza, but I didn't really think you were asking me to hang out said I just figure we were going home after. And I didn't mean to make you mad," I said in a rush and after I took in a deep breath.

"I was never mad at you; I just figured to you didn't want to hang out with me," she said laughing slightly.

God, how her laugh was like music.

"I do want to hang out with you though."

"Good, because I want to hang out with you too, Bren." I couldn't help but smile when she called me Bren. Clearly we were okay now.

"When do you want to hang out?" I asked.

Adam jumped up in front of me and was smiling from ear to ear. He grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me.

"Umm well tomorrow Taylor and I are leaving again to my parent's lake house and we won't be back till next Tuesday, but I can pack right now and hang out later tonight."

I considered how much time Susan and I could possible spend eating ice cream.

"How's seven?"

"That sounds perfect. I'll come over to your house."

"What about-"

"Come on I want to meet your mom. I'll take my Monroe out just for you."

"You don't need to do that. She already saw it."

"Oh, then we're in the clear, Bren! I'll be at seven. See ya."

She didn't even wait for me to reply and she had already hung up.

"Do you are such a mack this summer. Two dates in one night! You could have the both if you tried hard enough.

---------------------------
"And then, and then he fell off the boat!" We both cracked up laughing as we sat outside on cheap plastic lawn chairs.

"God, I wish I was there!" Susan said laughing and trying not to spill her cone on her shirt.

"Yeah, Brent is a pretty funny kid."

"We had Science together in seventh grade. He was always making me laugh," Susan said placing her hand on my leg.

"Oh shit, what time is it?"

"Six thirty why?" Susan asked giving me a worried look.

"I have get home at seven," I said automatically feeling be when Susan looked disappointed.

"My mother is having a dinner party for tomorrow, and I promised to help set up tonight," I lied right through my teeth.

"Oh, does she need anymore help?" Susan asked standing up and linking her arm with mine.

"I think she's fine. She has my sister and her two friends helping."

"Oh, okay." She smiled at me and walked around to the passenger side of the car.

"I had so much fun tonight," Susan said leaning into me. I was parked in her driveway; no one was home.

I also couldn't help but notice the short skirt she wore, and the tank top that hardly left anything to the imagination.

She batted her eyes at me and I just leaned forward. When our lips touched, her arms were already wrapped around my neck pulling me closer. Now being that I haven't actually kissed a girl like this since freshman year, I wasn't planning on pulling away.

----------------------
When I finally got home it was seven twenty.

I almost didn't want to look at my driveway but there was no car there and I was about let out a sigh of relief that she wasn't there, but then I got worried. She could have come and left by now. She would now really hate me.

I parked my car in the drive way and slammed the door shut. It was my fault. Even if I was with suppose to be with Susan I didn't want to be rude to Morgan.

I walked into the house and kicked off my shoes, and started to go upstairs.

"Where are you going, Brendon?" I heard my mom call from the kitchen.

"Yeah, Bren. You going to make me wait longer?"

I quickly looked over the banister and sure enough Morgan Lee was drinking tea with my mother.

I looked at Morgan who was wear jean shorts with a white flowing top with no sleeves. She had on gold gladiator sandals. But the best part was the scarf she had tied around her forehead. It was a sheer and tie dyed. Morgan didn't have her usually smile, but a smirk. I looked up at my mom who had a worried look.

"Maybe you should go clean up," My mother suggested.

"What?" I looked at my hands to see chocolate ice cream stained my palms. I reached up and touched my face. It was sticky.

"Uh, I'll be right back," I mumbled.

"Boys, Morgan. They never stay clean." I heard my mother say as I walked up the stairs.

I went into the bathroom across the hall from my room. I turned on the light and looked at myself in the mirror. I almost wanted to die. My button up shirt was rebuttoned wrong, and my hair was all staticy. But that wasn't the worst part. I had chocolate on my face, and hands. I looked like a mess.

I didn't want to go back down stairs, because my mom knew I was out with Susan, and she knew I hated Chocolate ice cream. I wonder if she told Morgan I was out with Susan, that would just be horrible.

I quickly washed my hands and rubbed the chocolate off my face. I wet my hair slight and brushed it down. I was rebuttoning my shirt while I walked down the stairs.

"Yeah, my best friend and I are going to my families lake house for a few days," I heard Morgan say. I saw both of them sitting on my living room couch. My mom had a smile on her face, and clearly liked Morgan, even with her Monroe.

"Sorry about that," I muttered rubbing my neck but pulling away once I felt the scratches Susan left.

"You should be, Morgan has been here for half a hour, and you show up late. you know she has to drive tomorrow? She shouldn't be staying out late with you. Specially when you can't even come home on time," my mom said as she put her tea cup down and shook her head at me.

Morgan turned around. Her smile was back as she listen to my mom embarrass me in front of her.

"Thank you for the tea, Mrs. Urie," Morgan stood up and walked up to me.

"Ready?" she asked.

I was surprise she actually still wanted to hang out with me.

"yeah."

We walked outside and I looked around for her Jeep but it she kept on walking down the sidewalk.

"Where's your car?"

"Brendon, I live three blocks away, why would I drive?" She looked at me as if I was crazy, but I could she wasn't happy with me. She used my real name. Maybe I'll be able to tell how she's feeling.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked cutting across my lawn to catch up with her on the sidewalk.

"Home." I looked at her for a second and I guess I was wrong. I couldn't tell if she was joking or not. We walked for awhile in silence, until I decided I needed to ask.

"Were you joking, or being serious?" I asked not looking at her.

"Don't worry, Brendon. I'm not leaving you just yet."

I looked at her and I saw her already tan skin glowing in the setting sun. That was one of my favorite things about summer. The sun doesn't set till eight thirty.

We made it to the small town and you could see all the couples walking around doing the usual.

"So what did you have in mind to do?" I asked.

"Well, I was going to see if you wanted ice cream but," she turned to look at me. " I guess Susan beat me to it," she said giving me a sideways glance.

"How'd you know?"

"You missed a spot." She poked a tender spot on my neck, and I felt her finger stick a little.

Clearly a hicky left by Susan. Morgan made a disgusted face and bent down and dipped her hand in the fountain next to us.

"Sorry," I could feel my face heat up, and I looked over at Morgan and she wasn't even looking at me.

"Do you want to go see the fireworks show?" I asked pointing the sign outside of a coffee shop.

"Not really." She shrugged.

That smile was no longer on her face, and I felt like I let the world down. I had taken away one of the prettiest things God gave to us.

"I didn't mean to be late. I guess I just let my hormones go to my head, and I'm sorry I keep blowing you off. I know you must think I'm a dick, but I'm a really nice guy. I guess I just keep fucking up around you," I explained as we walked down the make shift board walk.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be making you feel like this. I mean she is your girlfriend. I shouldn't get mad that you were late," Morgan apologized while leaning against a wall across from the arcade center.

I slide down to sit on the ground and Morgan followed after me. She stretched out her legs and she laughed.

"I don't think this friendship has gotten off to a good start."

"It's my fault."

"I don't think I'm helping much."

My phone went off and I reached into my cargo shorts and pulled it out. It had new text message on the front. I flipped it open and I sighed.

Can you come out later?

It was from Susan.

"Do you have to go?" Morgan asked looking at me.

"No-"

"Well, look who it is. Captain and Urie? I don't think I would have ever seen this pair before."

"Go away, Michael," Morgan said standing up.

"Why? I just wanted to know if we're going to the cabin tomorrow," he said pushing her hair behind her shoulder.

"No. Just Taylor and I. Michael I don't how to put this any nicer than I have for the past two months. I don't like you. Taylor doesn't like you. You were never invited to go anywhere with us."

He looked at her shocked.

"You know, you're so missing out hanging out with this band geek? What are you doing some community service?" he laughed, at his attempt to make fun of me.

"Michael, do you want to know why I don't want to go out with you? Because Betsy already told me that you can't keep it up, and what am I suppose to do with that disappointment? So why don't you go borrow your dad's Viagra and leave Brendon and I alone."

Not once have I heard Morgan speak to someone like that. She watched him walk away after his face turned red.

"I'm sorry," she said turning toward me with a sad look in her eyes.

"For what?"

"I don't think you're a band geek," she said running her fingers through my hair, and pushing it aside. I smelt the scent of her perfume on her wrist and I couldn't help but want to kiss her.

But then I remember Susan, and how Morgan doesn't like Susan and I don't like how I actually do like Susan. And when I looked at Morgan everything hit me.

"I am a band geek," I mumbled.

It would never work out. I don't even know why I bothered trying to get her to talk to me. She was probably the most popular girl in school, and I'm just the kid that can play whatever you hand him. We were never meant to date, she probably just saw me as a younger brother, or a guy that goes straight into being a friend and nothing else.

"I should just go home, I mean, I feel like a complete jerk. I keep ruining this for us. " She waved and turned to walk away from me.

"Wait, let me walk you home at least."

"No, it's fine. Go sneak out with Susan." And with that she turned around and started walking away.

Yup, I fucking blew my chances with Morgan Lee.