The Auction and The Aftermath (Part 8)

Part 8: Food and Friends
JP with Redsword and Jaxx

JD walked over to the table and put Rose's pizza and cupcakes on a plate. Then got another plate and put his pizza and cupcake on that plate; he grabbed two bottles of coke putting them in his pockets. He was able to carry everything back to Rose. JD placed the plate of her food in front of her, pulled out one of the cokes, opened it and put it next to the plate. Laid some paper napkins next to that. "Divertiti, i cupcakes hanno un bell'aspetto. ma penso che saresti un dessert migliore." (Enjoy, cupcakes look good. but I think you would be a better dessert.) He said in Italian with a seductive smile.

Rose glanced at JD with a slight smile, she bit her lip at his words, only managing a "Grazie"

Sam watched the interaction between her best friend and JD and off Rose's look joked. "Maybe, it’s a good thing I don't know Italian. I really don't want to know what you just said to her."

Heath came back with Sam's plate and a plate for himself and sat down next to Sam who thanked him for the food with a kiss added at the end.

Rose took a sip of her soda and looked at Sam, "Happy Birthday. Are you going to be reminding me, now, that you’re older than me?"

Sam laughed slightly, "Thanks and only if you give me a reason to. You know, older, wiser."

Rose rolled her eyes and laughed, "Yeah, sure."

Matt had gotten Courtney's food and put it down on the table, along with his own but Courtney wasn't back, yet. He was wondering a little what was taking her so long but didn't want to pry, either.

JD just smiled at Rose's reply. "Prego,'' he said. He took a few bites of his pizza when Rose said happy birthday to Sam. "Happy birthday Sam," he said. Then turn back to Rose. "Sam potrebbe essere più vecchio. Ma penso di aver avuto la ragazza migliore." (Sam might be older. But I think I got the better girl.) said JD.

Conner walked over to a table near JD and sat with his pizza and a few cupcakes. He looked around. He did not sit by anyone intentionally trying to show his neutrality towards other girls in the room but he would not turn them away if they did sit with him. For being a rich kid his eating pizza was not the neatest thing. He wolfed down the pizza like someone was going to steal it from him. He was happy with his food and happy to be with friends. He looked over where Courtney should be but wasn't. "Matt, what's up with Courtney?" he asked.

Sam replied to JD's birthday comment, "Thanks."

Rose tried not to blush as JD complimented her. She ate some of her pizza and drank some soda.

Matt responded to Conner's question, "I don't know. She got a call that she said she had to take and she's still outside. I guess on the call. I'd go find out but I don't want it to seem like I'm prying." They weren't dating, yet. So, Matt felt him going outside to check on her might be overstepping just a little.

Kaylee got her pizza and looked around. Kyle was sitting near Justin. Dawn, April, Zander, and Riley were all sitting together and from the looks of things, each couple might be headed towards official couple status. Kaylee stood there for a moment deciding where to sit. Well, her brother was by Conner, she went over to that table, sitting across from her brother but not so close to Conner that it would seem weird or like she was trying to crowd him.

Blossom grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza, a cupcake, and a water bottle before looking for a place to sit. Feeling unsure where to sit Blossom looked around since Conner managed to rattle her cage earlier. At this point, she was not feeling brave enough to sit by Conner so she sat by Justin who was already eating with Kyle.

Blossom: Can I sit here?

Justin: Sure. Have a seat.

Justin smiled at Blossom as he took a bite of supreme pizza. Unknown to others he was gently rubbing his knee against Kyle's knee under the table.

Kyle also smiled at Blossom, glanced sideways at Justin, he picked up his slice of pizza and ate some. Casually letting his hand lightly, and not noticeable to anyone but Justin, graze Justin's leg.

He finished his bite of pizza. Blossom seemed a little rattled still or something. He kind of wanted to ask her if she needed anything in particular done tomorrow but then thought better than to mention it, at the moment. "The pizza is pretty good. Kind of reminds me of one of the places I get pizza at, at home." Just to discuss something other than the auction at the moment.

Justin chuckled as remembered enjoying various forms of pizza as he traveled.

Justin: Yeah same here. I traveled a lot and noticed that pizza changes everywhere you go. They change the ingredients and design but it’s still called pizza. Just like fashion, food comes in a variety as well.

Blossom: Really? I didn't know that.

Justin: I'm sure, if you travel more in the future, you will notice that as well.

Blossom nodded as she cheered up and ate her pizza.

Conner looked at everyone enjoying their pizza. He saw Blossom and knew he had laid it on too much, he almost got up to go talk to her. He decided he would do it later and let her calm down some. Courtney was right, Conner did get too carried away. Conner made a mental note not to do that again. Conner felt like she was still very innocent like back in middle school innocent. It made him feel a little uneasy thinking about it.

He looked around again for Courtney, who was still not back. Maybe Matt did not want to feel like he was checking up on her but Conner did not care. He would wait a few more moments before going to see what's up.

JD was talking with others at the table he laid his hand on Rose's knee and ate with using the other one. He really likes these times with his friends and, even more, being with Rose.

Kyle nodded. Blossom seemed to be better. So, that was a good thing. He ate more of his pizza and drank some soda. "We should all take a trip someplace, sometime. I could even invite everyone to my house. There are always things to do in LA." It was more of a passing thought than an actual plan but he knew his Dad would be good with it.

Rose, Sam, and Heath kept talking and eating and just enjoying the moment.

Riley, Zander, Dawn, and April talked, ate, and discussed possible future plans.

Courtney wasn't back yet and Matt turned to Conner. "Ok, I might be changing my mind about checking on her."

It was about then that Courtney came back into the room and took a seat next to Matt in front of her food. She sighed but then smiled and thanked Matt for the food.

"No problem," He smiled back but he didn't miss the sigh.

Kaylee didn't say much, she just ate her food but she did notice Conner looking at Blossom and, having no idea what had happened earlier, wondered if sitting here had been a mistake. She was starting to wonder about all of it. It was just all more complicated than she could have ever prepared herself for.

Blossom looked at Kyle as he made a proposal.

Blossom: Umm really? That sounds like fun.

Justin: I concur. It sounds like a fab time.

Justin gave Kyle a sly grin as if he was thinking of something he could not say in public. Flirting with Kyle under the table was becoming a fun game now.

JD looked in Justin and Kyle's direction. He still did not understand why they hid their interest in one other. He had been taught how to read people's body language and their eyes. His father said that eyes seldom lie. Justin’s and Kyle's eyes said a lot but he would not make a big deal out of it. He would not like people getting in the middle of his and Rose's relationship.

He could not ignore Conner either. He seems more withdrawn than normal. If he is not hanging on some girl something is wrong.

JD looked back at Rose, "Do you want me to get you anything else?" He asked Rose.

Conner looked at Kaylee and was about to say something but didn't. He just gave her a wink. Then took another bite of pizza.

Kyle nodded, "Sure. I mean I'd have to let my dad know we're coming but he'll be fine with it."

Kyle gave Justin a side glance and took a sip of his soda. He so wanted to spend a weekend or even just a day being open with Justin but he understood where the other boy was coming from. He wasn't going to push that kind of thing on anyone.

Rose shook her head, "No, I'm good. Thanks."