Jennifer Young

Jenny offers me her hand.

Jennifer Young: “Jennifer Young.”

Chad Mason: “Chad Mason. Nice to meet you.”

Jennifer Young: “Same.”

I stare at her, shaking her hand. She was hot. Like, crazy hot. I try to smile, but I’m suddenly conscious about how weird my smile must look, so I stop. But if I look serious, she might think I don’t like her. I smile at her again. Fuck…why did Ashley set me up with her?

Ashley Matthews: “So, Chad…what’s the plan for tonight?”

I suddenly stop shaking Jennifer’s hand, and look at Ashley and Alison.

Chad Mason: “Oh, shit. Uh…Jennifer-“

Jennifer Young: “You can call me Jenny. Jennifer sounds like I’m in trouble or something.”

Chad Mason: “Yeah, for sure. Uh, well…I got the guest bedroom set up for you. You want me to bring your stuff up?”

Jennifer Young: “No, it’s cool. Thanks though. Which one is it?”

Chad Mason: “Left door when you get upstairs.”

Jennifer Young: “Cool cool.”

She lifts her bags off the floor and starts her march up the stairs, leaving me alone with Ashley and Alison. I watch as Jenny disappears from view before turning to the other girls.

Chad Mason: “You two can take my bed if you want. I got the sofa, no problem.”

Ashley shakes her head.

Ashley Matthews: “No, Chad, it’s fine. You go ahead, sleep in your own bed. Ali and I can sleep on the couch.”

Chad Mason: “Two of you on that sofa?”

Ashley smirks, looking at Alison and winking at her.

Ashley Matthews: “We’ll get comfy.”

Alison slaps Ashley’s ass, and Ashley jumps. I can’t help but laugh at the two of them.

Chad Mason: “Whatever you wanna do, I guess.”

Ashley wraps her arms around Alison’s waist, pulling her close.

Ashley Matthews: “So what do you think of Jen?”

Chad Mason: “She’s hot.”

She was. Like…damn.

Ashley Matthews: “She’s really nice. You’ll like her.”

Chad Mason: “She seems cool.”

Alison Williams: “She’s pretty. Why did you never tell me about her?”

Ashley shrugs.

Ashley Matthews: “I didn’t think you cared.”

Alison Williams: “Why would you think that?”

Ashley Matthews: “I don’t know. It didn’t think it mattered.”

Alison Williams: “My girlfriend’s best friend? Of course it matters.”

Ashley smiles, and kisses Alison.

Ashley Matthews: “I love you.”

I smile at the two of them. They really were a nice couple…though it was still a bit odd to see. I guess after Nick, Brandon, myself…and those other guys…I had just grown accustomed to seeing Ashley hanging around guys. She had always been surrounded by guys. It was just part of what made her Ashley. Now she was dating a girl, though…and it was taking some getting used to.

Chad Mason: “So what are you thinking we should do?”

Ashley Matthews: “About what?”

Chad Mason: “Tonight. I don’t know, what do you think is the best course of action?”

Ashley frowns.

Ashley Matthews: “Hmm…you were thinking dinner or that club, right?”

Chad Mason: “One of those, unless you had a better idea.”

Ashley Matthews: “What do you think, babe?”

Alison shrugs.

Alison Williams: “Dinner is always nice.”

Ashley Matthews: “Yeah, and we haven’t done that in a while.”

Alison Williams: “But it’s always fun to go out for a night and party.”

Ashley nods.

Ashley Matthews: “This is also true.”

Ashley shrugs.

Ashley Matthews: “I think maybe the dinner idea might be the best. Typical date. Jenny will like it, I’m sure. It’s nothing extreme.”

Chad nods.

Chad Mason: “Makes sense.”

Alison Williams: “I’m gonna go get ready, then.”

She kisses Ashley, and heads up the stairs, passing Jenny on the way down.

Jennifer Young: “Hello again.”

Ashley Matthews: “Hey.”

Jennifer Young: “Did we figure out the plan for tonight?”

Ashley Matthews: “We’re going to dinner. Chad’s got a place in mind.”

Chad Mason: “Yeah. This place downtown. It’s nice. I think it’ll be a good time.”

Jennifer Young: “Sounds cool. I should probably get changed then?”

Ashley Matthews: “You got time. Ali just went upstairs to shower and get ready.”

Jennifer Young: “You’re not going to join her?”

Jenny smirks. Ashley turns a faint shade of pink.

Ashley Matthews: “Will you stop that?”

I slowly back out of the room, heading for the kitchen. It was kind of awkward standing there. Ashley and Jenny were best friends. It was just weird to be standing around while they talked. I grab a coke from the fridge, taking a long drink. Fuck, I was nervous. I feel a scratching at my leg. I look down to see Alison’s dog, pawing at my jeans. I shout, instinctively kicking it away and jumping back. It yelps, and scurries back, looking at me with its head hanging. Ashley quickly walks in.

Ashley Matthews: “What happened?”

Jenny follows close behind, looking over Ashley’s shoulder. The dog runs to Ashley, hiding behind her legs, looking through them at me. Ashley crouches down, picking it up.

Ashley Matthews: “Aww…”

Ashley looks at me.

Ashley Matthews: “What happened?”

Chad Mason: “He was scratching me, and I…accidentally…stepped on him.”

Ashley holds the dog close, petting it.

Ashley Matthews: “It’s okay, he didn’t mean it…shhhh….”

Ashley holds the dog out, looking at him. He wags his tail. She walks over to me, holding the dog out. I step back.

Ashley Matthews: “He’s a puppy, Chad. He can’t hurt you even if he wanted to.”

I shake my head.

Chad Mason: “I’m not taking him.”

Ashley Matthews: “But he’s so cute!”

Ashley holds the dog close to her face, and puts on a babyish voice.

Ashley Matthews: “Pwease hold me, Chad! I wanna be loved!”

Chad Mason: “Stop.”

Ashley Matthews: “Come on, don’t be such a pussy.”

Chad Mason: “I’m not. If I was, you’d be all over me.”

Ashley’s smile vanishes immediately. Jenny bursts out laughing.

Jennifer Young: “Yes!”

Ashley Matthews: “Ugh, you guys are…”

Chad Mason: “You love us.”

Ashley sighs.

Ashley Matthews: “I’m just gonna go wait for Alison to get done.”

She heads into the living room, plopping down on the sofa. Jenny looks at me, and shrugs, following Ashley. I take their lead, taking a seat on the armchair, looking at the two of them. There’s an awkward silence for a minute.

Jennifer Young: “So…tell me about yourself, Chad.”

Chad shrugs.

Chad Mason: “Not a whole lot to say, I guess. I used to be a wrestler-“

Jennifer Young: “IWF?”

Chad Mason: “Yup.”

Jennifer Young: “Cool.”

Chad Mason: “Yeah. Now, I guess I’m focused more on college. Studying law. Stuff like that”

Jennifer Young: “Awesome.”

Chad Mason: “What about you?”

Jennifer Young: “Not much to tell here. I work as a waitress at this place in Miami. I go to Florida State, studying biology. I play a lot of basketball…I don’t know what else there is to tell.”

Chad Mason: “What are you studying to do?”

Jennifer Young: “Not really sure yet. But I always loved biology, so it made sense. I might teach it.”

Chad Mason: “Nice.”

I look at Ashley.

Chad Mason: “Hey Ash, what are you study- Oh yeah.”

Ashley rolls her eyes, and flips me off. I laugh.

Jennifer Young: “She’s still mad about that pussy comment.”

Chad Mason: “She can’t be mad at us forever.”

Ashley smirks.

Ashley Matthews: “I hate you guys.”

Jenny and I laugh, and high-five as Ashley’s face breaks into a smile.

Thirty Minutes Later

Jennifer Young: “Fuck, Ashley, how long does it take her?”

Chad Mason: “We’re not really in a rush.”

Jennifer Young: “Still! She takes longer than I do, and I’m a girl too!”

Ashley Matthews: “I don’t know. How long has it been?”

Chad Mason: “Forty-five minutes or so.”

Ashley Matthews: “Damn.”

Jennifer Young: “Yeah, damn is right.”

I lean back in my chair. We’d been ready for the past twenty minutes. Ashley and I had already changed into nicer clothes. Jenny had gone to put makeup on, and get changed as well. She looked great. Like…really great. Her dress squeezed her figure, making her appear even thinner than she really was.

Alison Williams: “K, back.”

Chad Mason: “About time.”

Alison walks down the stairs, stopping in the doorway, looking at us. I can’t help but stare at her. Holy shit, Alison was hot. I glance over at Ashley, whose jaw is dropped slightly.

Alison Williams: “Do I look okay?”

Ashley Matthews: “You look amazing.”

Chad Mason: “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to impress someone.”

Alison smiles, and looks at Ashley, turning slightly red.

Alison Williams: “Are we ready then?”

Jenny grabs her purse from the coffee table, slinging it over her shoulder.

Jennifer Young: “All set.”

I stand, slipping my jacket back on, and grabbing my keys.

Chad Mason: “You guys coming with me, or you going alone?”

Ashley looks at Alison.

Ashley Matthews: “We’ll follow you.”

I nod, and turn to Jenny.

Chad Mason: “You-“

Jennifer Young: “No way am I sitting through a car ride with the lovebirds. Lead the way.”

I laugh, and escort her out the front door. Ashley grabs Alison’s hand, following us. I open the passenger door for Jenny, who smiles as she gets in. I look over at Ashley, who gives me a subtle nod and thumbs up before getting into Alison’s car. I get in the car, looking at Jenny. Fuck, why was she so beautiful? Why would Ashley set me up with someone like that? I couldn’t do it.

Chad Mason: “Ready?”

She smiles.

Jennifer Young: “Whenever you are.”

I smirk, and pull out of the driveway…praying I wouldn’t fuck this up.