My Brother's Best Friend Read online

  Devin made a visible effort to control his mounting anger, and I found myself touched that he seemed to care so much. He really was a good friend, I realized, somewhat surprised.

  “Go on,” he urged softly.

  “Well, a little while later, Eric called everyone into this big room in the basement. There must have been a hundred kids in there, all the popular ones, and Eric walks in front of all of them and stands before this big TV. He called me up there beside him and has them start this video…” I choked off, unable to go on for a moment. “I don’t know what I thought was going to happen, but when I realized it was of him and me on prom night…I just stood there as they laughed. I was frozen. I couldn’t move.”

  “Oh god, CJ,” Devin whispered, pulling me into his arms. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”

  As he held me, I thought back to what Eric had said, the hateful words that had dripped over me like acid. “The cheerleaders, and some of the girls from my volleyball team, who I’d thought were my friends, had begun a slide show of photos of Eric and me. At first, I was stupid enough to believe he was trying to do something romantic for me, but then he started talking.

  “Some of you may be wondering what the class president and quarterback of the winning football team is doing with the cheerleaders and the volleyball team—okay so maybe there are a few reasons I’d fraternize with them—” he said, and I knew what he was suggesting. “Well, they were here to support me and finish a project that they helped start. And believe me, I’ve already begun to pay them back, if you know what I mean.” Several of his teammates started hooting and hollering. I was shocked into stillness. I couldn’t move or speak to ask him for the truth or even tell him to stop what I knew was about to happen.

  “And believe me, after the night I had at prom, this payback is welcomed.” Several people laughed. “Let me just say I couldn’t have asked for a more awesome ending to this thing. Okay, maybe not awesome because that night was, in a word, awful and uncomfortable. But for my social experiment and story of humiliation, it worked out perfectly.

  “Ladies, for those who haven’t figured it out, after an exhausting few months, I’m back on the market! Not that Christy stopped me from getting it on with some of you, but now you can openly vie for my attention. Come and get me, girls!” he shouted and that’s when I realized that this had all been some kind of sick, twisted joke played on me by Eric, his buddies, the cheerleaders and even some of my own team. “But now for the real entertainment. I put together a short video, but to catch the full thing and several other clips, go to my website. Put it up, girls!”

  “The movie flashed on the screen and people began to laugh at the images with commentary. Eric was narrating his own creation and outlining the basic facts of his ‘experiment’. His painful joke that ruined my life. Images flashed from volleyball practice where the girls had asked me about my time with Eric. The whole school was laughing at my expense and I was mortified and betrayed. My teammates, the ones I was supposed to trust, had pulled a ‘Brutus’ on me by stabbing me in the back. They had been in on the joke the whole time, they had probably slept with him—them and half the school.

  “When the images finally stopped, Eric came back with the microphone. “Now, I can’t forget to tell Christy thanks for affording me the opportunity to try this out. You were obviously too oblivious to what was going on while we were together. You never even suspected I was sleeping around behind your back or filming some of the things we did or realize I was lying when I told you I loved you back. How could I love someone like you? You can’t even give a man what he needs in the bedroom. Even if we were the last people on Earth, I still wouldn’t want to have sex with you. The only thing I can enjoy is the fact that now you’re no longer a virgin and that was my doing.” Tears stung my eyes as he addressed the crowd. “If you want more details on the worst sex partner ever, just look up my website.”

  “That’s when I got up and ran out of the house, hearing the jeers and laughter behind me. Needless to say, the following days of school were filled with laughter, pointing and name-calling as I walked through the halls. I couldn’t get over the fact that I had been the source of a school-wide practical joke.”

  I could tell Devin was upset by what I’d told him. He wanted to find Eric and kill him, but instead he stayed there and made me drink the glass of water he had the waiter bring.

  “Can we go home now?” I asked him.

  “Yeah, sure, CJ. Let’s go home. It’s late anyway, and you’re probably not going to want to go to work tomorrow with the headache you’ll have.”

  “You can call in sick for me,” I told him as he helped me off the couch. I leaned into him as we made our way through the club and out to the street. Once out of the club, Devin’s body stiffened, and I knew without turning around that he’d seen Eric.

  “Can you stand?” he asked me.

  “Don’t do it, Dev. He’s not worth it,” I pleaded.

  “I can’t just let him get away with what he did. Just wait here.”

  “At least don’t kill him. I can’t have you going to prison. What would I do without someone to verbally spar with?”

  Devin smiled, at least I think he did. “I’ll leave him alive. What would Mitch say if he came home and found you alone? That would never do. Besides, without me you might burn down the house.” He didn’t say anything further, he marched over to Eric and they exchanged a few heated words.

  Then, without warning, Devin pulled back his arm and punched Eric squarely in the jaw, or maybe the nose. Eric dropped like a rock.

  The security guard jumped forward and held Devin back.

  “Devin!” I cried, both horrified and thrilled by what he’d done.

  Both Devin and the security guard looked over and they exchanged a few words before Devin sprinted toward me.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  “What happened?” I asked after we had gotten into the car and were driving home.

  “The security guard recognized you and asked if I was with you. He was going to call the police but when you called out and he saw you, he told me to just leave. I only wanted to hit the guy. Though I wish he didn’t go down so easily. I would have liked to throw a couple more.”

  We were silent the rest of the way home. It wasn’t until we opened the door that I finally said, “Thanks, Devin. You are always helping me one way or another.”

  “Then let me help you again,” he said.

  I must have been more inebriated than I realized because as we tried to climb the stairs he stopped us and picked me up, carrying me the rest of the way. “I’ll get you some water and Advil,” he told me as he set me on the bed.

  * * *

  I woke up with a killer headache.

  It was too bright, too loud and just too painful. I groaned and rolled over.

  “I put some Advil by your bed and some water,” Devin said, his voice muffled by my pillow.

  I groaned again and held out my hand. He laughed softly at my incapacitation, but I heard his footsteps come closer to my nightstand. A few seconds later, he closed my fingers around the pills. “You know you’ll have to at least move the pillow to drink the water.”

  “Fine. Should you die from looking at my hideous hung over self, I won’t try to save you. I am way too tired to even open my eyes,” I told him as I removed the pillow from my face.

  He handed me the glass as I sat up. “Your face, it’s blinding me,” Devin joked, throwing up his hands to shield his own.

  “Shut up.” I laughed, then regretted it. My head was throbbing.

  “Sorry, Chris. I didn’t mean to make it hurt more. Just lightening the mood. Oh, before I forget, I called your office and said you weren’t feeling well and wouldn’t be in today. So you have the whole morning to recuperate before I take you with me to the studio.”

  I groaned again and fell back against my pillow.

  “It’s not that horrible, is it?” he said.

  “I suppo
se not. It’s just if I’m not working because I’m sick then I should get a free day.”

  “You are getting a free day, with me at my studio. Besides, we need to tell Larissa and Zach that we aren’t really dating.”

  “Right, I forgot about that little detail. Okay, fine I’ll come. Just go make me some coffee. I need some caffeine.”

  Devin smiled and walked to the door. “Yes, your highness. Everything will be ready when you come down.”

  And sure enough when I came downstairs, showered and dressed, appropriately this time, Devin had made coffee and even some eggs and bacon.

  I enjoyed my coffee and food before I finally began to feel decent.

  “You look a lot better,” Devin commented.

  “Thanks. Way to make a girl feel ugly before,” I laughed.

  “I didn’t mean it that way. You always manage to find the wrong meaning behind my words.” He ran his fingers through his spiky hair in frustration.

  “It’s not my fault your words sound like insults and somehow you always manage to be cryptic too.”

  Devin smiled. “I’ll try to be less cryptic for your benefit. Now if you are ready, we need to get going.”

  Chapter Six

  When we arrived at the studio, I decided to work on the assignment Dr. Stone had given me while Devin did whatever it was that he did. He hadn’t said anything about what had happened last night, and I was grateful for that. Still, having finally spoken to someone about The Incident made it easier to write about it. Devin and I worked silently, side by side, for over an hour. I was surprised by how comfortable it felt.

  A few minutes after I finished. Robert knocked on Devin’s door. “They just finished recording a scene for a new episode and Terry wanted to watch what they had finished yesterday. He wants it ready for Wednesday’s airing and the closer it gets to Wednesday, the more anxious and upset he gets.”

  “Good news. I just put the finishing touches on it, so let me just put it on a drive for him,” Devin said, turning back to face his computer. He pulled a jump drive out and plugged it in.

  “Hey, Christy, long time,” Robert joked.

  “Ha ha. Nice to see you again, Robert.”

  “I’m starting to think Devin likes having you around. Though I see he gave you enough time to get ready today.” Robert smiled.

  I chuckled. “Yeah, well I put up a good fight.”

  “So what brings you here? I remember hearing that you work at a law firm.”

  “Taking a sick day. I, uh, actually woke up with a killer headache.”

  “She was hung over,” Devin called out.

  “Thank you, Devin, for exposing me so openly.”

  “I do it out of love.”

  I shook my head as Robert laughed. “So that means you went out with Larissa?”

  I nodded. “Yes. By the way, do you know where I might find them? They are under the wrong impression about something.”

  “They just finished shooting a scene. They’re probably getting ready for the next one while Terry looks through the footage he just shot and waits for Devin.”

  “Who is done and ready to work on the next thing on his long list of things to do,” Devin announced, handing Robert the drive. He turned to me. “Maybe you can go with Rob and meet up with Larissa. Maybe even waste a few hours watching them film a scene or two.”

  I stood up eagerly and nodded my head then followed Robert out of Devin’s office. “Thanks for letting me do this. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to shoot a scene.”

  “No problem. I know you were probably getting stir crazy in Devin’s office.” Rob flashed his badge at the security guard. “She’s with me. Devin gave her the drive to give to Terry,” he fibbed but the guard didn’t question us, only let us through.

  “So this is where they film most of the scenes unless it requires us to go on location but that’s very rare.” Robert began to point out things as we made our way through the maze of people, props and tables set up with food and various other items. My gaze was everywhere, soaking it all in. It was my first time on a set, surprising since we lived in California and had a friend who worked for a studio.

  “Terry!” Robert called out and a man turned his head. He was probably in his fifties with salt and pepper hair.

  “Rob, tell me you have it.” Terry sounded desperate.

  Robert held up what Devin had given him, and Terry ran to grab it. “Tell Devin we need more like him,” he said and looked down at me. “Who are you?”

  “She’s someone ‘more like him’.” Robert smiled.

  I extended my hand. “I’m Christy Walsh, I’m—”

  “Christy!” Larissa yelled as she ran up. “This is Devin’s girlfriend.”

  “I, uh, that’s actually—”

  “Devin’s girlfriend, huh? Well, you are welcome to stay and if there is any validity to your skills in sound mixing, I want to hear more about it later. Right now, I better go take a look at this. We’re supposed to air it Wednesday. This is the closest we’ve ever been to a deadline.” And with that he turned and walked away.

  “Christy, I didn’t realize you would be here today.” Larissa smiled. “I was so excited to tell everyone this morning. You and Devin are definitely top news.”

  “About that, Larissa. I need to tell you something.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve broken up already. I just placed a bet that you and Devin would get married. I can’t lose the bet. I mean I never lose a bet.”

  I started laughing. “Marriage? Oh, Larissa, you really shouldn’t have made that bet.”

  “So you guys did break up?”

  “No, that’s not what I meant,” I tried to explain.

  “Good. Because—”

  “Larissa!” someone called out to her, and she looked up.

  “Oh, that’s my cue. I’ve got to run. The assistant director wants to start filming,” she said, quickly hugging me and then running off.

  “Hey, congratulations, by the way. I didn’t say anything to you or Devin because you two seem pretty private,” Rob said with a quick grin.

  “How long has she said me and Dev have been dating?”

  “Hasn’t it been at least since last Christmas? Devin brought you as his date, right?”

  “Quiet on the set!” someone yelled, and I was prevented from speaking.

  Robert motioned for me to follow him. We walked a little closer and he pointed to a vacant chair right near the action. He waved and left, so I was powerless to stop him or even to explain the real situation.

  I sat down and watched as the cast took their places and someone called, “Action.” It was interesting to see something being recorded and to see the final product. It was a lot of stop and go, perfecting the tone used here or the gesture used there. It was interesting to see how it all came together.

  “Cut! Come back in ten minutes!” the assistant director yelled.

  Larissa bounded up, followed by Zach. “So what did you think?”

  “I mean it’s the first time I’ve watched something like this. But it seems really different from the final product,” I told them.

  “Yeah, I still can’t believe how they make it look so awesome after we do so many takes of the same scene.” Zach smiled. “So you came to work with Devin again?”

  “Yeah. I wasn’t feeling good this morning,” I told them. They exchanged looks and I realized what they were concluding. “I was hung over,” I clarified. We weren’t even dating and suddenly I had an imaginary possible pregnancy. I had to put an end to their assumptions. Devin and I were not dating. “I’m glad you’re here though, because I have to tell you something.”

  “What are you going to tell them, Christy?” I looked over at the sound of Eric’s voice.

  My heart was racing, and my palms were sweating. What was he doing here?

  “Do you know Eric, Christy?” Larissa asked. “I try to get to know everyone on set. I think it's good for team spirit. He was just hired a few days ago to he
lp…well, to do something behind the scenes. Oh and get this, some guy punched him last night while we were all at the club, that’s why he has the black eye,” she explained.

  “It was Dev. Devin punched him,” I blurted. “He was the one who was bothering me last night.”

  “Dude!” Zach exclaimed. “What did you do to make him punch you?”

  Everyone looked at Eric, including me.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “You didn’t know? I work here,” he said as if I didn’t hear Larissa earlier.

  “I meant why are you even bothering me? You couldn’t have thought this was a smart idea after last night.”

  Eric just smirked at me.

  I turned to Zach and Larissa. “Eric pranked me senior year by pretending to love me then embarrassing me in front of the whole school. I was so destroyed, I almost didn’t make it. Dev saved me from myself and so naturally when Devin saw him again, he punched him. He would’ve hit him a few more times, but Eric just fell after the first punch.” I felt relieved to be able to tell others, to portray Eric poorly to the few people that I had come to know.

  “That’s just sick,” Zach said, giving Eric a dirty look.

  “Wow, what a bastard thing to do,” Larissa agreed. “I can’t even believe someone could do that.”

  “She’s making it sound worse than it really was,” Eric tried to defend himself.

  “Yeah, because filming the whole thing then making a website to show everyone really makes it less hurtful and bastardly,” I snapped.

  Now that I’d told Devin what had happened, it seemed like it no longer had the power to hurt me. Maybe Dr. Stone had been right all along.

  “A website?” Larissa asked me. I only nodded my head. “Sick bastard.”

  “I’d punch you too if I didn’t think makeup would kill me for messing up their work,” Zach said coolly.