Night Train

{Third Person}

(I can't imagine Tom being violent- besides the time when he slammed Mark Slaughter against the wall and threatened to kick anyone's ass if they ripped off one of his songs- but this is just a little something i wrote. Not that i can imagine Fred ever putting himself in a situation like this, either.)

The rock music blasted from the St. Bernard-sized speakers on the back wall was so loud, Kayla could barely hear her own breathing. And it was a bad song, too. The drumbeats drowned the guitar riffs, making the song sound something like a drummer boy leading an army.

She elbowed her way out of the living room's makeshift dance floor and headed for the billiards room. Her boyfriend, Tom, was there, hunched over to line up a shot on the table. He pushed the stick forward and the cue ball sailed down the length of the red felt, cracking into a striped ball. It clattered into the corner pocket.

"Tom," she said.

"Shh." He frowned. "Eight ball in the left side pocket," he called out. After several seconds, he sunk the eight ball exactly where he said he would. He straightened up and grinned at Jeff, who was standing behind him. "Pay up, dude."

Jeff forked over a twenty-dollar bill. Tom slid it into his jeans pocket.

"Tom," Kayla said again, and motioned him over with her finger.

He came up and slid his arms around her waist. His breath smelled like beer, his dark hair like Aqua Net hairspray. "Did you see me kick Jeff's ass?"

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Yes, but I wouldn't exactly call you a pool shark, babe."

He laughed and bent down, kissing her neck. "You want to go upstairs for awhile?" He raised his eyebrow suggestively.

"Not right now." Being a new couple, they slept together for the first time two weeks ago. Since then they've done it three more times.

"Let's get something to drink. My throat is raw from all this cigarette smoke." She waved away at the air around her. Not that it would do much. The party had been in full swing for an hour now. There was a smoke haze in every room. It wasn't just in the air, it was the air.

"I'm going to watch the next game." Tom tipped his head towards the pool table. "Grab me something to drink, though? A beer?"

She sighed and said, "Fine," then made her way to the kitchen. The song on the stereo had switched to something a little more appealing but still not quite there. She wondered if this was Jeff's collection or if someone else had brought the music. If it was the former, Jeff had really bad taste, which, now that she thought about it, was not surprising.

In the front foyer, Kayla dodged the door as it opened. Eric walked in. Alone.

"Where's Cheyenne?" She asked, checking the doorway for her friend.

Eric grimaced. "I don't want to talk about it."

Kayla frowned. That was bizarre. Eric and Cheyenne were always together, they were like two halves of a whole.

Eric scanned the dozens of people hanging around the front room. "Have you seen Fred?"

Kayla shook her head. "I just talked to Erin a little while ago. She said he was on his way."

Eric cursed and shut his eyes as if annoyed. Eric nodded a goodbye at Kayla before disappearing back outside.

Kayla headed off to the kitchen. It was just as packed as the living room. People were filling red plastic cups at the keg. Other people had bottles of Vodka and Whiskey in their hands. Figuring Tom wanted beer, she got him a cup then searched the refrigerator for a bottle of water. Finding one, she turned and rammed into someone. The beer sloshed inside the cup. She quickly set it down on the counter before it spilled all over her new shirt.

"Hey!" she shouted, then recognized who it was. "Oh, hey Freddie."

Her heart sped up instantly seeing his eyes pinned on her.

"Hey, Kay."

An elbow jabbed her in the ribs. "Oww."

"Come on," Fred shouted. "It's safer over here." He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the throng of drink seekers and into the darkened mudroom.

"Thanks."

"No problem." He smiled and butterflies zinged in her stomach. Fred always had this look in his eyes, and a warm tone in his voice, like he knew things about Kayla she hadn't told him.

Realizing that she was now alone with Fred in a darkened room, she flushed and looked away. The last time she'd been this close to him, they'd kissed. It was a month ago when Fred volunteered to accompany Kayla on a quick arend for the band to pick up some sandwiches from Subway. She and Tom were having their first fight that afternoon. Kayla had been in a pissy mood and Fred was good at cheering her up. She'd kissed him in a moment of weakness; nothing more. Since then, she has been avoiding him.

Kayla didn't want things to be awkward between them. Like now... when she could think of nothing but that kiss. Or how his breath smelled like the cinnamon mints he ate like candy.

The butterflies grew incessant and she edged away. She had a boyfriend, dammit. She loved Tom and she really wanted their relationship to last.

"So, uh," She began, wanting to fill the silence. "I'm sorry i didn't call you back. I just-"

"It's all right, Kay."

Lots of people shortened her name, but it didn't sound half as good as it did coming from Fred.

"No, it's not okay." She said, pulling her eyes back up. "I should have explained. Or something..."

"Maybe," he shrugged. "I kind of figured it out though."

Right. Of course it was obvious. He probably thought she was a bitch. Probably she was, for kissing him and then avoiding him. "I should go."

She turned but Fred grabbed her arm. "Wait."

She stopped, liking the feeling of his hand on her skin. "Fred, I-"

He kissed her. Just like that. Nothing forceful or gross, just a soft, innocent lip-lock, as if he worried that he'd scare her away with anything more aggressive.

"Kayla!"

She pulled away from Fred and turned back to the kitchen, the sound of her name carrying over the din of the party.

Tom.

Lips pursed, face red, he shouted, "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm sorry." Fred whispered.

"It's not your fault."

"Yes it is."

The drinking crowd parted, letting Tom through effortlessly. He stalked into the mudroom, putting his nose in Fred's face.

Kayla put her hand on Tom's arm. "Let's just go."

He yanked out of her grasp. "Don't touch my girlfriend." He threatened Fred.

While Fred had the muscle, he was a good four inches shorter than Tom. Kayla didn't want to see them fight. She didn't want neither one of them to get hurt, nor did she want to ruin their friendship.

"Just stop, Tom." She tried pulling him away, but he only pushed her. Fred reached out as she fell back. Tom took the opening and punched Fred in the face, sending him down on top of Kayla. His lower lip started bleeding, swelling up instantly.

"Tom!" Kayla shouted as Fred rolled over and wiped his lip with his shirt. "I can't believe you just did that."

Tom leaned over. "That makes two of us, Kayla. 'Cuz i can't believe you cheated on me with Fred."

"I didn't cheat on you!"

"Oh, yeah? then what do you call kissing him? An innocent gesture between friends?"

Kayla tried to ignore him and helped Fred to his feet. "Are you okay?"

"I'm alive."

"Oh, sure, Kayla. Baby him." Tom retorted.

"You punched him in the face."