Rising From The Shadow 22-24

Sorry! again, I'm at Grandma's, no wifi=multiple chapters on one Opuss! 

[22]

Ian
"....Alyssa..." Rich said awkwardly.
"Yeah," she looked at me. "What are you talking about?" she asked again with a forced smile.
"Not much?" Carlisle lied.
She rolled her eyes. "Okay." she sat next to me and rubbed my arm. "Ian, if you guys are hanging out then I can go."
"Oh, thats okay!" I put on a fake smile and glared at Carlisle. He shrugged.
"Good," Alyssa said, smiling. "So whats up guys?"
Rich glanced at me. Hes painfully honest, and his eyes pleaded to let him tell her. "No!" I mouthed.
"Carlisle thinks he's in love with you," Rich rushed out the sentence, then let out a sigh of relief.
"Ummm....." Alyssa looked at Carlisle awkwardly. "What?"
"Uh....... Haha?" Carlisle mumbled.
"Um... I think I'd rather leave then..."
"No no no," Rich got up, nudging Carlisle's shoulder, who followed him. "We'll let you two, uh, talk this out." he shut the door behind him and Alyssa turned to me with her arms crossed. "What's going on?"
"Okay, stop," I said, getting up. "Are you saying you're angry because someone else likes you?"
"Well," she sounded kinda pissed. "Are you saying you were talking to him about it? And you were going to let him ask me out!!"
"Stop!" I yelled, pissed off. "No! I was mad that he said it!"
"Yeah right, besides. All my friends say you can't take a relationship seriously!"
"Are you kidding me?!" I sighed and grabbed her arm when she tried to walk away. "Are you really letting your friends control this?"
"Quit yelling at me," she whined, starting to cry. "They all said Carlisle could be a really good catch."
I let go, feeling like I was slapped. "No," I whispered in disbelief. "You aren't thinking about actually dating him, are you??"
She shrugged and cried harder, her words lost in the sob.
"Alyssa," I brought her in close and put my forehead on the top of her head. "It's okay, but I need to know."
She pushed me away. "I love you Ian, but if you can't trust me then-"
"I love you too!" I interrupted. "I'm willing to do anything I can to make this relationship perfect."
She shook her head. "I- I don't know." she walked over to the door, and I watched as she turned around once more and whispered something.
"I love you."

[23]
Ian
she shut the door quietly behind her, and I was left wondering what the hell happened. Did we... Did we break up? I grabbed my laptop and went on FaceBook to see the inevitable.
Alyssa Caskey is now single.
I sighed, maybe I shouldn't change my status, maybe Alyssa will see I really care about her. No, that's stupid. I decided that the next time I saw her I would confront her and tell her I only meant well. I could already tell that I'm going to miss her.
My phone buzzed after I changed the status, following Alyssas move. Rich had texted me, "Sorry bout Alyssa bro." I sighed and texted that it was okay, but he asked if I wanted to go out with some friends for a bro's night out. I said sure and went to go get ready.
I combed through my hair, and thought, Do I need to shave? Alyssa liked it and maybe another girl would...
I sighed, walking out of the bathroom and throwing myself on the couch. Old me would be fine with that, just picking up a new girl, but Alyssa was different, she made me actually want to take a relationship more seriously.
I ran up to my room and switched my shirt with a brown plaid button down, just in time to hear Rich honking his horn out front.
I sat in the front passengers seat. Rich drove, and Anthony, Adam, Carlisle, and Jake sat in the other seats.
"Here," I leaned forward, putting in a CD. "My mix for getting psyched, you guys will love it."
I pressed play and Bad Name (SORRY IF THAT'S NOT THE SONG NAME) by Bon Jovi started playing.
Adam laughed. "Turn it up."
We had a good time in the car, singing-sometimes terribly- to our favorite songs. Adams probably got the best voice out of all of us. I'm okay, not insanely good.
"So," Jake asked. "What's our plan?" we were in the tailend of 11th grade. Now that I think of it, I wonder how long it took for the news of Leia to reach us, because we werent allowed to see her for a few months after the whole roof incident. But anyways, we were only 17. Jake was 18, and Carlisle was 20.
"Oh yeah..." Rich thought. He fumbled around and pulled up a mini cooler. "Eh?" he said suggestively, grinning.
"You drink?" Adam said nervously.
Rich shrugged. "It tastes good." he laughed. "It's not like I've ever gotten drunk."
I tried a beer once, but that was it. People drink at parties all the time but I didn't know if I could do that.
"I guess I look older, they never card me," Carlisle said. "I can buy some stuff?"
I sighed. "um... I'm out."
"Yeah, me too," Adam agreed. "I'll go in but I'm not going to drink."
Rich shrugged. "Suit yourself." I hoped this wasn't some weird way he had gotten over Leia.
We all got out of the car and headed into the bar/restaurant and got a booth.
Of course, Jake aka the player of the group, began picking out girls immediately. "She could be a new Alyssa, Ian."
Adam raised an eyebrow questionably. "You and Alyssa broke up?" he laughed sympathetically. "Even I kind of regretted not dating her."
Yes, I enjoy making me the center of this convo 
I groaned. "I know, Adam. And Jake, if I wanted another girl, I could totally get one."
"Ian, chill." Rich said. "Trust me, I got over Leia this way." he seemed uneasy as he said this.
"See," Jake said. "You'll be fine."
"Well," Carlisle finally spoke up. "I know I'm glad about Alyssa."
"Dude, shut the hell up already!" I hissed. "I get it, you love her and crap, just go straight to her already!" I kinda regretted it as I said it. He glared at me, got up and left.
"Don't listen to him," Adam comforted me. "He's a jerk, and how exactly do you know him anyways?"
"Really long story," I muttered, looking up from my hands.
"Ian, what do you think it'll take for you to go back to the old, happy, single ready to mingle Ian?" Rich asked.
I sighed. "I don't know!"
"I'll tell ya what," Jake said. "A girl toy, a one night stand, an adventure!! Tonight's gonna be legen- what for it and I hope your not lactose intolerant because the second half of this word is DARYY!!"
Adam rolled his eyes and I scoffed. "I told you that."
"Yeah!" he exclaimed excitedly. "We want our old Ian back, the flirtter and joker and awesome Ian!"
Rich laughed. "I'll raise a glass to that."
I laughed. "Okay, okay. What are you suggesting then?"
"Right over there, that really cute redhead."
I made a face. "Cute on what level?"
"Okay.... Then the black haired girl by the jukebox," Jake offered. She walked towards our booth. He grabbed my shoulder, pulling me up. "Let's play have you met Ian."
"Have you met Ian?" he asked the girl, motioning to me before going back to Rich and Adam.
I chuckled. "Hi, I'm Ian."
She smiled. "Hi."

[24]
Adam
I watched as Jake walked back to the table with a smirk on his face. "Why are you so happy?" I chuckled.
He picked up his drink, taking a sip. "I just got Ian over Alyssa," he bragged. "Top that."
Ian walked back over and sat down next to me. "She's not gonna get me over Alyssa," he stared at Jake.
"COME ON!" Jake moaned, exasperated, as Rich and I laughed. "I really want bragging rights, man."
"Hey Adam," Rich leaned in towards me. "You sing.. Right?"
I sighed. "Umm...... Yes..."
He smiled. "Then go up to that karaoke machine, and sing something to get everyone PSYCHED."
I sighed. "I don't know if I would do that. Besides, it's duet time."
I flinched and prayed Rich wouldn't volunteer me when the announcer asked if anyone would sing the male lead with this girl. I knew the song though, it was called All About Us.
"OOH! him!" Jake and Rich pointed at me and the announcer motioned for me to step up. It was obvious at this point that they were drunk.
"Oh geez," I muttered when I saw who I was supposed to sing with. Alyssa. But Ian was busy talking to that other girl, so who knows? Maybe he learned to just move on and learn to live without her. Sure, they've been dating since before Leia died, in July, and it was March now. I think he'd be fine.
"Alyssa," I laughed.
"Adam? They sent you?" she asked, then, barely audible,"Thought they'd send Ian."
I pretended I didn't hear the last part. "Yeah, but I mean, really. I have an okay voice."
"No," she smiled. "You have an amazing voice."
I grinned, feeling warm and pleased by the comment. "Thank you."
The first few notes of the song floated through and Alyssa opened her mouth to sing. Everyone seemed to be pairing up to dance, and I wondered if Ian would dance with the girl. I wondered if I was allowed to do this to Ian...
I grinned and joined in at the chorus.
I think it'll be okay for a while.