"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 24
Becca finished putting the last touches on "Buffy" without having said anything at all during the session.
Ryan had been watching her and now decided to speak.
"I really appreciate you girls ripping me up this afternoon, Becca." he said grouchily.
Becca's guilt was really getting to her now. "What was I supposed to do, Ryan?" she asked, looking to Scott and then back. "Tell Gillian not make fun of "Buffy" because
"she's" really Ryan?!"
"Still,..."
"Hey, Ryan. You got to learn to take some critism from the other girls, sometimes. They're just jealous 'cause you got the dress they wanted!" Scott said, laughingly.
"When this is over, Scott, I'm gonna enjoy putting my fist across your jaw! You're just having too much fun with this, man!" Ryan said testily. "Now, let's go. I'm sure they're already there by now."
"Ryan, Scott, wait. I have to tell you..." Becca called out to them.
"What?" they both asked together and waited for her to reply.
Becca wanted to say that Gillian would be waiting for them,but decided that it would be best if she just let things happen...
"Nothing. Have a nice evening." she said instead....
Gillian had seen Scott and Ryan enter the dining room and take a nearby table. She signaled Mateo who gave her a slight nod that only she could see and then the scene was set.
"Oh, Mateo!" Gillian sighed in a slightly higher voice that she was sure could be heard at the next table. "I just have to tell you. I know I shouldn't...and I was hoping I was wrong but...I'm just so confused. You see, I have all these feelings for you that are starting to come out!"
Mateo's eyes bulged. "Gillian, I had no idea. I was thinking the same thing about you. You understand me so much more than Hayley. I just love how your eyes always smile for me during our meetings. You make me feel so gooood!!"
Scott couldn't believe what he was seeing! Ryan was actually sitting there shredding a cloth napkin in his hand!
"Her eyes are always smiling for HIM?!" Ryan gritted his teeth. "That son of a-"
"Ryan!" Scott cut in. "Hey, Buddy, calm down! I'm sure this is all totally innocent! She probablly smiles at everyone in the group."
Ryan turned to face Scott and he could swear he saw death in those eyes!
"I knew it!" Ryan hissed." He was just biding his time!"
Gillian leaned closer to Mateo. "You know, I don't what I'm gonna do about Ryan- he's always getting in my way! You're not like him, Mateo. You're so secure and masterful and in charge- Hayley's a lucky lady! You know I don't mind mind sharing you- I've just got to have some of your time!"
"I'll give you more than some time, Gilli," Mateo responded. "You're so special to me. I want to tell the whole world about us!"
Mateo reached out and took Gillian's hand. "Ryan was a fool to let you go! I won't make that mistake." he determined.
Ryan was by now leaning way too close to the edge of his chair to try and get a closer look, thinking Mateo might actually try to kiss Gillian.
The waiter came over just then to take some of their order and tried to get Ryan's attention.
"Miss, miss?" he called out.
Ryan paid no attention. He leaned over some more as he swore he heard Mateo muttter something in Gillian's ear. Too late, he didn't even see that his chair had started to tip over!
Suddenly Ryan felt it give way under him, but he couldn't right himself fast enough. The chair tipped over and over Ryan went crashing loudly to the floor!
Scott was out of his chair as he smiled in embarrassment at the waiter.
"Buffy, I told you not have all those drinks before dinner!" he said. Turning to the waiter, he added," I can't take her anywhere!"
The waiter chose not to comment and he and Scott tried to get Ryan up and back in his chair as quickly as possible.
Ryan's shoe had come off in the process and holding onto the table, he kicked his foot back into it.
"I'm alright!" he shouted as he knocked both sets of arms away from him. Turning angrily to the waiter, he asked as dignified as he could, "Weren't you going to get our dinner? What are we paying you for, anyway?!"
Thinking that was the deepest ladies' voice he had ever heard, the waiter retreated and simply said, "Right away, sir- ma'm."
Gillian and Mateo heard and saw the whole exchanged and fought hard not laugh out loud.
"A direct hit!" Mateo grinned. "I'd say he hit the floor nose first!"
"If he thinks that hurts, this will kill him!" Gillian said as she and Mateo got up and headed for the dancefloor.
Ryan seethed and gave the nearby diners hard stares as it had sunk in that his collapse had caused alot of commotion in the room and people were looking at their table strangly.
Now seeing Gillian in Mateo's arms on the floor in a slow dance was really getting to him!
Mateo, for his part, twirled Gillian around and pressed his body against hers as she laughed with delight and put her arms around his neck. He kissed her cheek playfully and she returned the gesture!
Ryan's eyes bulged as he dropped the water glass he was holding, spilling its contents all over his side of the table and his lap!
Scott wiped his cheek with his hand and then threw his napkin at him. "Clean up, Buffy!" he said impatiently. "You're starting to drool!"
He knew that Ryan's temper wouldn't hold out much longer as the waiter once again showed up with fresh towels to help Buffy!
He figured in the next few minutes or so, Ryan would be in a drag out brawl with Mateo right here in the middle of the restaurant!
Gillian and Mateo stopped dancing and returned hand in hand back to their table.
Ryan got up and walked over towards them. Scott tried to follow him but before he could reach him, Ryan tripped over his heels again and this time fell forward, arms straight out and crashed into two waiters bringing huge trays of food!
Ryan, Scott, and both waiters ended up on the floor covered in different colors of food and liquids! People in the dining room got up and the other employees headed over and tried to pry the four away from each other and there was huge roar in the room!
Everyone seemed to be interested in the what was going on except Gillian and Mateo. They clinked their glasses together and tried hard to keep a straight face and not look interested.
After a moment, both got up and wandered over and Gillian bent down to her ex-husband and asked sweetly," Why Ryan...or should I say Buffy. Fancy meeting you here! Would you like a hand?"
Ryan stared back and smiled in complete humilliation through a glop of spaghetti that was hanging from his head and reached out for her hand...
end of part 24
(to be continued...)
Next time: Ryan and Gillian have a few things to settle and she reaches two decisions about their future....