"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 22
"Not so much hairspray- enough with the hairspray, Becca!" Ryan complained from his place on a stool at his apartment while Becca was putting the finishing touches "Buffy" again.
Scott came in just then and was leaning against a wall waiting for his "date" to get finished.
"What's taking so long?" he asked.
"I have to look perfect- Becca, no more hairspray! I mean it!" Ryan told him.
"What have you got against hairspray?" Becca asked him. "I have to make sure the wig doesn't move!"
"Well, Gilli said...it's...ok, Gillian said, it looked like I was wearing too much of the stuff last time, ok?" Ryan answered defensively. "Does anyone have a problem with that?!"
Scott and Becca looked at each other and then at Ryan and laughed.
"What's the hell is so damned funny?!" he demanded.
"Nothing, "Ms. Universe. You look stunning!" Scott chirped. "I better not look too long- I may actually fall in love!"
"That's enough, Chandler!" Ryan warned him, losing patience. His friends laughter at his expense was getting on his nerves and Ryan was getting more and more humilliated by the minute! He looked at himself on a wall mirror. Somehow, ever since he had met Gillian and had fallen in love with her, his life had gotten completely away from anything resembling normalcy. He found himself doing the stupidest things- things he wouldn't have even joked about doing before her! What happened along the way?! Ryan Lavery used to call the shots and now he was at the mercy of his heart and Gillian was the only thing he knew!!!
"God, I've become one of them!" Ryan said as if in a scifi flick. "I've become what I always made fun of- I'm a man in love. Someone help me!"
"Too late!" Becca told him. "You don't want to be helped! It's not so bad, Ryan. You'll be much happier this way!"
"Are we ready here?" Ryan asked looking at Scott.
Ryan had been sitting down and Scott had not seen what he was wearing.
"You don't got on another pansuit?" Scott asked, frowning.
"I'm way ahead of you, Buddy," he assured him. "No more pansuit. Becca helped me find this at the mall."
Ryan stood up uncertainly and Scott stared openmouthed as he saw a full length floral print skirt hanging from Ryan's lean hips with the most obnoxious flowers all over it!
"That's amazing!" Scott remarked, eyes bulging.
"Becca said it works great with the lights at the restaurant and she likes how it goes with my blue eyes!" Ryan said confidently.
"It does," she agreed.
"I think you two are spending way too much time together." Scott stated. "Becca, stop helping him."
"I think Gillian will be impressed!"
"I think she's gonna lose her dinner!" Scott profecied. "I didn't think you could top that pansuit for stupididy, but I stand corrected."
"Let's just get going!" Ryan grumbled as they headed out to the Valley Inn where Gillian and Mateo were going after their group meeting.
Gillian found herself enjoying her times out with Mateo. They had much in common as she suspected and she found him to be a quiet,charming man with a good heart. The temper he had often displayed during their Wildwind days was just a cover for the love he felt for the things and people he cared about and now he extended that warmth to Gillian.
"I feel bad for you, Gillian. I can see you love Ryan and I know he hurt you." he told her. "I knew you guys had it bad for each other back at Wildwind,but I didn't realize the amout of love that was there,too. I'm sorry. I guess I kinda made light of your relationship back then."
"It's not your fault, Mateo. Ryan and I went out of our way to make us and everyone else believe we didn't want each other. What else were you supposed to think other than we were just wanting to sleep together?"
"Still, Hayley and I could have been more sensitive about it. I wouldn't encouraged Ryan's help watching over her so much if I had known. I think maybe some of this was my fault,too."
"No,I we should've been more honest. Our marriage was done in good faith. I guess we just never figured out how do it..."
Gillian recalled all the times when during that whole nasty Lee Hawkins affair, Ryan had eagerly went to help guard Hayley and Gillian hadn't been able to hide her jealousy! If I had been more kind and made my marriage more real, he would've wanted to stay with me,too, she thought sadly. If anyone's to blame,I am.
As she and Mateo continued talking, Gillian's eyes roamed the restaurant and she recognized some of the other patrons.
"Hey, there's Scott again," Mateo remarked."And he's still with-what's her name?- Buffy."
Gillian turned her head and saw her former fiancee and his friend at a nearby table once again.
"she's looking over here!" Scott exclaimed. "Ryan I think she's getting up to come over here!"
"Think of something!" Ryan replied."I know! I'll get up and act like I'm going to the Ladies Room!"
Ryan scrambled out of his chair so fast, he almost tripped over his skirt and practically hobled all the way out of the dining room just as Gillian approached their table.
"Scott, what happened to Buffy?" Gillian asked as she looked after the awkwardly departing figure in the shiny, voluminous skirt.
"She had to go fix her face," he answered nervously. And how! he added silently to himself.
"Gee, I keep missing her!" Gillian said in disappointment. "I really would like to say hello."
"Oh, well, too bad! Maybe next time!" Scott said quickly wishing Gillian would just leave!
"Scott,is there something going on with you two?" Gillian asked seriously. "You've been acting strangely ever since you started taking her out. Are you and Becca ok?"
"Oh, yeah! Sure!" said Scott trying to get his voice to sound normal. "Never better. I'm just a little stressed out because of the new video I'm working on, that's all."
"If you say so, but Becca was acting like this when I saw her in the park, too. I hope you both know you can always talk to me about anything." Gillian told him.
"Yes. We know. Thank you. We'll get together soon with you and Ryan. Let's do that- it'll be fun." Scott said, looking up to find Ryan coming back to the table.
Ryan couldn't see Gillian from his angle because of some plants that were in the way. Scott's eyes bulged as he saw that Gillian would see Ryan before she saw him and he wanted to wave him away, but he couldn't with Gillian seeing him,so he sat there with a pasted smile on his face.
"Is something wrong?" she asked looking at him with her eyebrows wrinkled.
"Oh, no- no! But, I'm sure you don't want us spoiling your evening with Mateo" Scott was almost falling out of his chair now as Ryan kept heading this way, his eyes down as he was concentrating on not falling from his shoes!
Gillian got up as she realized Mateo was watching them with a casual grin and as she was about to walk away, she looked in Ryan's direction.
"I'll just say hello to your Buffy- there she comes now," Gillian said pleasantly.
Scott jumped up to intervene, but Gillian was not longer looking at him, but only at Buffy.
There's just something about her...Gillian told herself. I can't understand why I know that walk...
Gillian was dismissing her thoughts as nothing when Scott's date raised his head and locked eyes with Gillian!
Gillian eyes bulged in recognition and she leaned in for a closer look and realization washed over her as Buffy looked away and as quick as her awkward feet would allow, turned and headed back in the other direction.
It can't be...Gillian thought. But it is...just what was going on here?! That stupid jerk- spying on me!!!
Gillian quickly smiled at Scott! And you were in on this the whole time! She seethed at him behind her smile! No wonder Becca was acting so strange!!! I'm going to get you both you and Ryan back for this!!!!
"Scott, you know I really should get back to Mateo, maybe I can meet Buffy some other time," she said with a sweetness she didn't feel.
"Sure, I understand. I'll tell her." Scott knew he should be relieved, but somehow his stomach was telling him otherwise.
Gillian wandered back to Mateo and sat down.
"What happened?" he asked. "Did you see her?"
"I certainly did." Gillian stated. "And I'm gonna make sure she sees me next time. Mateo, how would you like to play a little game with me?" She asked slyly.
"Depends. Will we win?"
"I can guarantee it."
"I'm in. I could use some fun in my life." Mateo responded with a smile.
"He wants to spy on me- I'll give him something to spy on!..." Gillian said determinedly and she proceeded to tell Mateo her upcoming plan....
end of part 22
(To be continued...)
Next time: Ryan's busted! How will Gillian take her revenge? Stay tuned....