Anger Issues

"What are you doing?" He asked with a chuckle.
My heart stopped for a second and the blood suddenly flowed to my neck up til it reached my face. "Curious."
"On?
"Let this one slide, Roman."
"No way," he mused. "Now tell me, already. I'm dying here — not knowing will drive me crazy."
"I was curious to see if it smells as wonderful as you do."
"And?"
"It's invigorating."
"Hmm," he was curious again, I noticed, as he looked at me and then sighed.
I met with Melissa and Kyle at the base of 14th street, at the locally owned shoe store; Gimre's in downtown, the streets were unusually crowed with people our age. I quickly renamed it the town of college students. There were thick crowds of exceptionally dressed students. The young men wore designer jeans and shirts, others were clad in beach clothes — although it was drizzling, the beaches in Port Edward were known to divorce themselves from the weather. They were bound to be warm today.
My heart squeezed with despair — the girls wore professional makeup, designer bags and undoubtedly had more beautiful clothes in their full shopping bags. A lousy town like Port Edward, in an equally lousy county as dfvd could very well compete with New York with how lively the college students made the small town.
As we walked by foot to the door, we listened to Kyle rave about the new boy in his life. Kyle had dinner with him the previous night, Jesse was his name, and as Kyle jabbered on I caught the small details about Jesse, his black hair cut short, brown eyes that resembled melting chocolate and a muscular build. And surprising — to Kyle, Jesse had called to schedule a second date which Kyle was also going to shop for.
When Kyle brought the 'are-you-fucking-Roman' conversation up I nearly fell as I tripped on my own feet. Thankfully Melissa
interrupted by asking Kyle if he'd broken up with Mason. I threw a grateful smile Melissa's way. But then frowned in confusion. Who was Mason? As I said the name around in my head suddenly a picture of the guy that had asked Wyatt to back down came to mind. Now I understood that apologetic look Mason had spared Kyle. Kyle was his dirty little secret and by the way Kyle was bubbling on angrily, he was done being someone's closet.
The wedding was going to be huge, and I tried not to cringe as I thought about about the crowd of people that would watch me walk down the aisle, no doubt on wobbly feet. Kyle yet again asked about Roman and I realized there was no avoiding this question.
"You mean I interrupted you from getting laid?" Melissa was more astonished from the fact that I was really a virgin than the mere fact of interrupting.
"Yes," I said, not quite ready to confess how madly in love I was with Roman. My heart would've stopped altogether if we had tried to go farther.
"Wow," Kyle said dubiously. "As a hopeless romantic living in the Tinder day and age (I'm not mocking you) I just wonder how you manage to resist your curiosity?"
As we walked through the front doors of the store I searched for a much more appropriate answer. "I didn't have a boyfriend."
"Why not?" Kyle asked before Melissa could ask a question of her own.
"No one found me attractive enough."
Melissa rolled her eyes dramatically. "If you gave them a chance to speak to you then you'd have found out just how attractive you are."
"Really?" I asked sceptical. And I passed Melissa the jacket.
A tall elegant lady greeted us with a polite smile, stopping whatever Kyle was about to say.
"Welcome to M's Alterations and Dress Boutique, can I help you ladies with anything?"
"I'm Melissa, the bride! And this is Nuru my maid of honor and Kyle one of the bridemaids."
"Congratulations," the lady with a strange blond said. "I'm Sarah, do you have a specific look you're..."
I blocked the words out as I answered my vibrating phone.
"Hello?" My voice was sceptical.
"Nuru?"
It was my favourite person in the world.
"Oh Roman," I sighed.
"Don't tell me you miss me already," he teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you know I do."
"Would you believe me if I told you, I miss you too?"
"No," I answered quickly. "But it's still nice to hear all the same."
And then I looked up as Kyle waved me over, they were scanning the racks of wedding gowns. "I have to go." I hated how disappointed my voice sounded. "Did you want something?"
"Well, yes, I called to tell you to go easy on my money."
"Wait what?"
"As a wedding present, buy your friend the wedding gown. Or something."
"I'm confused."
"My Black card," he sighed. "On your back pocket."
"When did you...?"
"What did you think I was doing by the door?" He chuckled.
"And here I was thinking I was so irresistible," I said trying to sound angry but failing miserably.
"Okay, bye." He was still laughing. "Don't get used to spending my money."
"Why would you do this for Melissa?" I asked, my stomach twisting. "You don't even know her."
"I know you, right?" He mumbled into the receiver. "And I know you love her and I care about the people you care about."
"Thank you, Roman." I smiled through a thick layer of unshed tears. "I care too, you know?"
"Oh I know," he said. He sounded happy. "Oh and Nuru?
"Yes, Babe?"
"Also get yourself whatever you like."
"Since you're asking so nicely, I will."
Then I hung up the phone.
When I reached Kyle, Melissa had gone with Sarah to look for Ruby Red that would match the stone in her ring.
"Do you suppose Zoe is still coming to the wedding?" Kyle whispered quietly.
"I suppose."
"I doubt," Kyle amended quickly. "Even though she is regretful but to get her to apologise is another matter altogether."
"They have to make up."
"What's your take?" Kyle muttered suspiciously. "You think Zoe was telling the truth?"
Kyle ran into me as I rocked on my heels. I turned to face him. My face was a bitter mask, my eyes were wide with an even mix of anger and frustration. "Sorry, what?"
I ignored the pained look on his face. When I'd stopped he'd rammed his face on the back of my head. It stung a bit.
"Ouch," he moaned kneading his forehead.
I waited with a blank face, my eyes were now cold.
"I mean Lissa does kind of like... remind me of a man," he said, and the words were menacing.
I balled my fists in anger. I felt an odd impulse, one that I normally felt towards Jennie when Bill wasn't being nice. I felt the strangest urge to shield Melissa from mean gossip. I doubt the same courtesy applied to Zoe.
"We do not..." I started with clenched teeth, infuriated. "And I mean it. We...You and I, never ever talk about any of our friends behind their backs."
Kyle's eyes were huge. "Sorry, sometimes I forget you aren't like the rest of us."
Melissa was suddenly standing between us, her eyes darting between Kyle and I with suspicion.
"Why are you so angry?" she asked me.
Kyle was already shaking his head slowly, looking at me with pleading eyes.
I squared my shoulders and willed the tension out of my system.
"Actually..." I smiled. "Better choose a dress you love because instead of hiring it, I'm buying it for you, okay?"
"Oh my god. Get out of here." Melissa squealed. "What?"
"It's a gift from Roman... and me." I said. I knew she wouldn't accept it if I'd just said it's from Roman alone.
Sarah joined us then and made the conversation flow quite easily despite the growing tension I felt. Melissa tried on a few dresses while Kyle and I continued to look for the perfect shade of red that matched her ring.
"Can I ask you something?" Kyle broke the silence.
I ground my teeth as I pawed angrily through the racks of bridesmaids dresses.
"As long as you won't talk about any of our friends."
Kyle ignored me.
"Is Roman sweeping you under the carpet?"
"No," I lied fluidly. Roman wasn't just my boyfriend he was my life. "We're kind of like friends, well he's a friend of my mother's. We aren't dating."
"Then who were you going to have sex with earlier?"
He caught me off guard. And my hand froze for a second. "Excuse me?"
"When Lissa called..."