Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding 2)

"But you're not in school."

"No," she confirmed.

"Well then, I'd like to invite you," he stammered. He took another step forward clearing the distance she had left between them. His hand left the wall which was holding him up and he reached out and grasped her hips.

Lexi bit her lip as his head bobbed considerably close to her mouth. She tried to fend him off but he was too drunk to really know what he was doing. She put both her hands flat on his chest to hold him backwards. "Jack, I don't think that's such a good idea. Sober you agreed or else you would've sent me an invitation."

Jack seemed to notice her efforts to get him off her and stood a little straighter. One hand snaked up to rest on her cheek effectively tilting her head up to him. His blue eyes bored into her deep chocolate brown ones. Her breath caught at the sudden movement. "You're drunk," Lexi murmured.

"Yes, but it doesn't change what I said."

"Actually it does," she told him.

"I want you to come to the wedding."

"Why Jack?" she asked shaking her head just slightly. She couldn't think of a reason for her to be there. This was just painful for both of them.

"Lex, I know that you're over me," he began. Lexi tried to hide the shock from her face. "You were my best friend for a long time. You've been at every important moment of my life, and it wouldn't feel right not having you there."

"You think I'm…" she started, but was cut off by Jack leaning forward and resting his forehead gently against her own.

"I'm sorry. You know that right?" he asked his voice full of remorse.

She breathed in the familiar scent that was associated with Jack, and tried to keep her mind clear. This was harder than she had ever imagined it would be. "I know Jack, but like you said," she began taking a step backwards, "it doesn't change anything."

Even his drunken brain could process the fact that she had used the same words as him a year ago. He sighed heavily and nodded. "That's fair. But know that I want you there." Lexi nodded stuffing a strand of hair behind her ear anxiously. "No need to be nervous, love," Jack murmured taking her hand in his own and tucking another strand behind her ear affectionately.

The door clicked open behind them, and Ramsey cleared his throat as loud as he could. Jack gave her a despondent smile as he ran his hand through her silky hair. Lexi coughed uncomfortably taking a step backwards and out of his reach. She allowed him to walk past her into the room and the door to close before she turned to face Ramsey.

He didn't even have to say anything. The look on his face said it all. She sighed heavily hoping that everything would just blow over. She couldn't deal with all of this tonight.

"Can I stay with you?" Ramsey asked choosing to ignore what he had just walked into.

Lexi opened her eyes and stared up at him. She wasn't sure why he was just going to let it go. She probably wouldn't have if she had walked in on that. They hadn't done anything but the emotions were strong between them. "I think you have enough on your plate as it is," she murmured remembering how all the guys were stumbling all over each other.

"I know I just thought it would be nice to get away," he told her taking a step closer to her.

"I wish we could just pick up where we left off," she told him looking up at him her eyes hopeful. But she knew that they couldn't. Too much had happened that they had bottled up.

"Me too," he said glancing around. She could tell he wasn't sure about where to go from here. It was quite clear that he wanted to wipe away the awkwardness of the past couple hours, but that simply wasn't possible. "I know I said that I wouldn't bring up the wedding, so I'm really sorry about all this."

Lexi sighed and nodded her head at him. "Yeah, I know you didn't mean for any of this to happen. And Jack kind of just brought up the wedding to me," she admitted cringing slightly at his sudden awareness.

"He did?"

"Yeah he invited me too."

Ramsey ground his teeth together in frustration. "What an idiot. I can't believe he asked you."

"I think I'm going to go if you still want me to go with you," she mumbled knowing that it was the wrong decision to begin with. She never thought in a million years that she would go, but she was compelled. She didn't know what it was about Jack that made her do this. She just couldn't say no especially not after how sweet he was to her. Completely and totally obliterated he still managed to affect her so much.

"What?" he sputtered stepping forward close to her. "Why would you want to do that? I was just about to apologize. There's no need for you to be there. It was terrible for me to bring it up. It was terrible for Jack to mention it. You shouldn't have to go through that."

"No" she said shaking her head emphatically, "me turning you down was just showing me how much I need to let things go. And I know it's probably stupid, alright? I know that. It's just if you want me to go as your date," she took a deep breath trying not to think about all the reasons that she shouldn't be around Jack or Ramsey for that matter, "then that's what I want to do."

"So you'll go?" he asked his brow crinkled together in confusion. He wasn't sure if he had just won or not. For some reason, it felt like he had lost. She was coming with him, but how much of that was his doing and how much of it was Jack's? He didn't want to think about it.

"Yeah, I think I will."

* * *

K.A. Linde

Exclusive

You think I'm pretty without any make-up on

You think I'm funny when I tell the punch line wrong

I know you get me so I'll let my walls come down, down

Before you met me, I was a wreck

But things were kinda heavy, you brought me to life

- Katy Perry "Teenage Dream"

* * *

Chapter 6: November Nine Months Earlier

Lexi stared upwards at the colossal white structure looming over Peachtree Street in the center of downtown Atlanta. The High Museum of Art with its crisp green lawn, succeeding circular edifices and blocky surrounding structures looked as modern art as the MET appeared to be a classical castle. Surprisingly enough downtown had not been as crowded as Lexi had anticipated on her way in from the suburbs. With Thanksgiving only three days away, she had feared that traffic would be a nightmare, and she would be hard pressed to find any parking. Luck had been with her and the interstate was congested for only a brief period of time as cars merged on and off the perimeter, and then it was smooth sailing the rest of the way.