Why Does He Have to Like Every Girl I Know!?

Chapter Two:

Get Out, Just Get Out

Bristol Campagne walked around the apartment and was very pleased.

The space was large and furnished. It had the young person look that him along with sophisticated class. The main living and dining area was a very large room all together.

Walking down the main steps, Bristol admired the brickwork surrounding him. Everything looked new and elegant as his eyes roamed over spotless black countertops and chrome appliances in the kitchen in the left corner, and then the black upholstered leather couches and 58 inch TV pressed up against a wall with darkly tinted windows that showed off an appreciative view of the city at seven o'clock in the morning. The TV seemed to be centered with the room's main entrance, the front door, so he hypothesized that the fair room was meant to be the center of attention.

Then, Bristol took in the last side of the room, which was half a brick wall; the other half was in two quarters. One quarter was a glass wall and the other was left to be an open space that was in plain sight, alone with a set of brick stairs at the right of the wall. With his logic, Bristol registered that the stairs most likely led to a bedroom loft.

With curiosity and a need to know if he was right, Bristol made his way to the brickwork. On the way, he noted the floor was a dark hardwood before sauntering up to the brick stairs and taking in a brightly lit bedroom loft. He stood at the top of the stairs and admired the view.

The bedroom was small and rectangular with two walls of windows viewing the city. The third wall was on the right and it had two sets of doors; one for a closet that would hold all of his clean-cut clothes and another that must have closed off a bathroom. He'd have to paint over the Robin's Egg blue paint and get rid of the yellow bedspread but other then those the room was perfect, he noted.

Finished with surveying the bedroom and viewing the closet, Bristol opened the bathroom door. He had welcomed himself into a pastel lavender room with chrome fixings. The room was filled with mainstream music and because of it, he failed to hear the shower running and because it was mid-September, the room was already warm so the shower hadn't fogged up. He only realized there was someone in his bathroom when he heard a female voice singing along to the song playing from the stereo on top of the toilet.

"Hello? Who's in here?" Bristol demanded to know.

"What the-" Came the reply. The water stopped running and a fairly tanned arm reached out from behind a pale yellow shower curtain and grabbed a white towel like it was part of a routine, except there was nothing regular about this, Bristol hoped, about having a guy walk-in on her showers. Seconds later, Bristol was facing an angry young woman, "Who are you? Why are you in my apartment?"

"Me? I'm Bristol Campagne and I just rented this apartment." he answered and gave her a questioning stare. She just stared at him with furious brown eyes as water dripped from her hair to the floor. Bristol smirked and then opened his mouth, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself and explain what you're doing here?"

She sighed when she it appeared to her that he was like a typical, arrogant and good-looking male and she had almost thought he was a gentleman. What was wrong with her? "Alie Bernard and this is my apartment. My grandfather lets me live in it for half the regular rent. He lives in the apartment before this one."

"Your grandfather's the renter then?"

"I implied that, yes. Why?"

Bristol grinned mischievously, "That same man rented me this apartment for the first semester. Purposely, I believe."

The fine lips of Alie's mouth opened low and wide then closed and repeated the same action once more before the young woman no longer looked dumbfounded but looked more likely to be compared to a still rogue elephant.

"Are you accusing my grandfather of renting you this apartment for a reason? He would never do something like that! It must have been an accident! Uh! Get out, just get out!" she grunted and forced Bristol out of the bathroom as easily as her average female frame would allow her. Once she had discarded him from the bathroom in her caveman-resembling ways, Alie shut the door on Bristol's handsome face.

After a few screams and shouts of profanities came from the washroom, Alie appeared minutes later in a tight-fitting dark purple robe with a stone-cold face. She marched up to her intruder, anger apparent as it emitted from her, whom turned away from the beautiful view out of her bedroom windows and emotionlessly to wait in the living room until she came down in fifteen minutes.

Not realizing his banishment was meant as a punishment, Bristol walked by Alie and down the stairs. He spent the time exploring the left side of the apartment and scanning the second bedroom behind the kitchen that he had found five minutes into waiting for Alie.

-

"Tell him he's a liar, Gramps!" Demanded Alie.

Behind her stood the blond haired roommate, grinning. Bristol wasn't worried at all; in fact, he was amused. He didn't expect the elderly man to call him a liar; Bristol respected him already. He had given him a fair price and knew what he was doing when he told him it was the last door on the left.

"Oh? What's this?" Asked the soft-spoken aging man in his gruff voice. He looked away from his desk that was full of papers meaning work and repairs, and toward his granddaughter. He noticed Bristol, smiled and acknowledged him, "Why hello Mr. Campagne."

"Hello sir."

"So what is this problem, Al?"

"This guy thinks you rented my apartment. To him."

"And…?"

"Well you obviously didn't, I live there."

"Well I did, Al. It does cost money to run this place and a little more in the bank is never a problem. I'm sorry if you disagree, and if it bothers you, I'm sure you could Mr. Campagne make some new living arrangements."

"Good because I don't want him living with me, grandpa."

"Come now Al, be a good sport and show Mr. Campagne around the apartment. Later you can take him out to meet Carmel."

"Uh-but-…" Stuttered Alie.

"What a nice offer, Mr. Bernard. Shall we go back to the apartment now, Alie?" Bristol offered charmingly with an arm out-stretched as if he was Alie's date waiting to take her to prom. Alie didn't speak a word. Her grandfather smiled at Bristol before returning to his work. Bristol held the door open for her to numbly walk through.

As soon as the door to Alie's grandfather's apartment had been shut, Alie began walking back to their apartment. While still walking she said, "It's Maddison."

"What?" Bristol questioned as he caught up with the woman.

"I know you're probably a brainless guy that tries to make up by using his looks but understand this: it's Mister Maddison, not Bernard."

"Huh?"

"Gramps was my mother's father. Her maiden name was Maddison. Bernard was my father's last name." she explained.

"Oh." Bristol breathed. He chose not to question her, but soothe, "Would you like some coffee?"

"Is that what you were doing while I changed?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.

Bristol shrugged, "So. How do you want it?"

-

"You're not going to shower again, are you? That wouldn't be doing your hair a favour."

"And you would know because you're vain, right?"

"Actually, my sister is studying to be a hairdresser. She lectures me on all things hair related. I just I'd share the information."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Well, since you're not using the shower, I'm going to take a quick one."

"Mmhmm." she murmured.

She had misjudged him, if only by his vanity. His ego led to who he was, how he thought and what things factored greatly to him. It certainly wasn't appearance though. He had just proved Alie wrong and she would suspect he was the hardheaded type to not be diverted, except then she'd be judging him again and she obviously couldn't trust her judgement.

Fifteen minutes later, Bristol exited the bathroom he and Alie would have to share dressed in a blue collared striped shirt with a beige jacket worn overtop with a form-fitting pair of dark blue jeans to cover his lower half. He met up with Alie who was standing at the front door.

He studied her small form dressed in a stripped silver and lighter grey knee-length dress. It's fabric trailed downward in a 'V' and stopped before going too low, and the silver straps met around the back of her neck. Along with the dress, she wore a simple and sophisticated silver chain. The damp, wavy and dark hair Bristol had seen earlier had dried, been pulled up and straightened, though it didn't show. Alie's hair was in a twisted bun with the aggravating exception of one light brown piece hanging in front of her right eye and catching on her lashes.

Alie had her hand on the doorknob but hadn't opened the door because she was scrutinizing Bristol.

He was wondering why she was wearing such a flashy outfit. He would have figured she would have worn something more likely labeled 'casual' or 'plain'. She'd certainly played a casually laid-back bitch earlier. When he and Alie got out of Bristol's car and walked into a fancy and expensive-looking restaurant, he was still thinking about it. His question was answered when Alie introduced him to the blond Carmel.

The best friend embraced him immediately by kissing his cheek and then stepping back. She studied him over and then gave him a sultry grin.

Carmel was average height, slim but curvy 'in the right places' and ravishingly gorgeous. Her blond tresses were naturally blond and curly. She wore a fair amount of make up; lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and blush. All dolled up her face glowed. She also had on a pale eggshell white dress with matching high heels.

Alie dressed the way she did so as not to be over-looked because of Carmel, the thought flickered into Bristol's mind.

Bristol did not kiss Carmel back and instead held out a hand that she firmly shook for impressions sake.

"Carmel, this is Bristol Campagne. Bristol, this is Carmel Inka-Anderson." Alie acknowledged with careless gestures to both parties.

"This is our table. Let's sit down, we don't need to steal attention." Or any more of it, Alie thought, not that her best friend would have had a problem with it. Her statement was ironic actually. The three of them had gathered attention as Alie and Bristol came in, greeting Carmel and then standing in front of their dinning table in the upper-class modern restaurant.

Alie re-entered the conversation as the two good-looking people spoke of Carmel's unusual last name, "It's from your mother, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's it Alie," Carmel said as if she needed someone to remind her because it was below her to try to remember herself. "When my mother was younger she got caught up by a trendy religion." Religions aren't 'trendy' Alie huffed. "This happened at the time she was pregnant with me. When I was born the religion had passed but my mother still named me with one of names common to the religion members. She added Anderson on the end when she married her second husband and since then I haven't bothered to remove it. Anderson was my father."

Bristol nodded with intrigue and then gestured toward the waiter standing at attention at the end of their table. Not bothering to look at her menu, Carmel named off what she would be having, as did Alie, and then Bristol did too with his eyes set on the menu.

Then on until any food arrived Alie was still included in the conversation. It was a good thing she didn't mind being involved in the banter or not because once the pricey appetizers arrived she was disinclined from the conversation.

Alie listened to the two talk about their similarities. The fancy cars Bristol matched to Carmel's descriptions of the sleek vehicles she owned. He knew quite a bit about cars but he said he only owned two, which led to Carmel teasing him about his measly two to her seven. He explained he only needed two: one for driving out of town and the other for in-town dealings.

A minimalist? Who would have thought?

"So you like to drive outside of San Francisco?" Carmel asked.

"Yeah, I used to live out of the downtown area with my family, in a quieter location. Now that I'm living in San Francisco I'll be using my in-town car permanently."

"Oh, really? A newbie. I'd love to show you around. Where do you live?"

At Carmel's question Alie squirmed and blushed whereas Bristol smirked and replied, "In Alie's apartment. We're 'living together' actually."

"Oh, great!" Said Carmel, shooting a glance at Alie who gave Carmel a weak smile and shrugged just as the main course arrived, "Well that's interesting. Alie never told me."

"I didn't know until this morning when he barged in on my fucking shower." Alie explained through clamped teeth that chomped down on bites of salad.

"No need for profanities, Alie. Did she have a gorgeous body, Bristol? I'm sure my Alie had an extraordinary body."

"He didn't see my 'extraordinary' body." Alie told Carmel before Bristol could open his mouth and let out a feared reply.

Carmel tsked but said with a wink that was directed toward Bristol, "There's still time. Anyway, how's your pasta, Bristol?"

"Not as good as my mother's but the chef did well."

"Oh, I see. We could order you something else if you like." Carmel said and missed the unheard laugh flash between Alie and Bristol by way of their eyes.

"Uh, no thanks. I'm all right here."

The conversation continued smoothly after that with no more exchanges from alit laughing eyes.

Alie broke loose from false silence and solitude when Bristol got up, pulled Carmel's chair out and moved to get her coat, after he hesitantly took steps toward Alie to pull out her chair also.

At least he has some sense, Alie rolled her eyes, though he's lacking in taste.

Alie pushed her chair aside before Bristol could pull it out for her and denied jealousy. She retrieved her own jacket and headed out after her best friend.

"Oh! I forgot you drove here too, Alie. Do you mind if Bristol rides with me? I can show him a few small places on the way that he might not know about seeing as he doesn't come here very often."

"No, take him. He's all yours." Alie gestured with a wave of her hand at Bristol dismissively before getting into her own vehicle. "See you there, bitches!" She called out through her window with a wide set grin on her face. There was a renewed chipper tone in her voice that she only felt when she was in a mood to dance, party and possibly get smashed.

Though she was a little worried that Carmel might ditch her and head off with Bristol, when she stopped the British voices of the boys from a new punk band she really liked, Carmel's figure attached to Bristol's at the hip calmed Alie and sparked something inside of her that she refused to feel for Bristol.

Walking toward the pair with a half forced-half natural smile, Alie joined Bristol and Carmel in skipping the line and walking up to the club's bouncer. Carmel took out her ID and showed the bouncer, using that little piece of plastic, that she was the daughter of the prestigious Nancy Caraway.

"And these are my friends." Carmel gestured to the dumbstruck Bristol- who still managed to look suave, Alie noted- and Alie herself, who just rolled her eyes.

"You may go inside. Have a good night, Miss Anderson."

"Thank you."

They entered and were met with a wave of heat, a strong smell of sweat that overpowered Carmel's highly priced and very exotic feminine perfume.

Carmel got rid of a group of people sitting and drinking in Carmel's favourite spot to search for men with a quick explanation to an employee that she was Carmel Inka-Anderson and added that she 'wanted to sit with her guests at her favourite table'.

The employee asked the group to remove themselves from the table with his own elucidation. The young adults moved quickly with some minor glares and looks of annoyance that Carmel was indifferent to.

The three sat in a dark corner both that allowed them to converse easily over the moderate dance beats. They ordered and downed drinks –a margarita for Carmel and a beer for Alie and Bristol- and ten minutes of casual conversation later with Alie actually involved, another fast tracked song played and Carmel perked up.

"Would you dance with me, Bristol? I really adore this song." Carmel asked from her already-standing position.

With a glance at Alie –who was staring at her beer and sloshing it around in a purposely-oblivious state-, Bristol nodded his head and took Carmel's outstretched hand.

Not enjoying being alone in a club full of people and pretending she didn't care, Alie finished a second beer and went to dance. Happy to dance alone, that's what Alie did. Since she was a slightly more of an introvert than extrovert, Alie was content dancing alone but she still had lots of an extrovert in her. She didn't mind when her hips slammed into the almost non-existence ones of another person.

She lost track of time, guys that came and went, and how many drinks she'd had during slow songs she'd skipped out on but wished she would remember it all later. She might not remember more than Carmel on one of her rowdy nights but there was always a possibility of remembering more than Bristol.

Alie wasn't so sure how she felt about her new housemate. She vowed not to think about him for the rest of the night, she'd already misjudged him once. He would only need to be dealt with if Carmel fell in love with him and that was very unlikely.

Carmel only thought of love as the new slang term for lust and relationships to be serious after two weeks. Two weeks didn't just mark Carmel's next appointment with her hairdresser, no, she would also hook up with a new guy. He would surface in her life just to disappear back to wherever he came from –Alie made it a point never to ask anymore, Carmel didn't hold any answers-, and Alie wished guys would realize that by now. She at least had hope in some of them… but they always failed her. Carmel had 'commitment phobic' written all over her, was Alie the only one that knew it, did guys find it attractive or did they all apprehend the facts and not have a problem with it because 1. Carmel was an alluring girl and 2. That was all they wanted from her: two weeks of good sex?

That led Alie back to Bristol. Was he the type of guy that only wanted a night of Carmel's time?

Ugh, no. I'm not thinking about them anymore! But contradicting herself, Alie comprehended that she hadn't seen Carmel and Bristol in over an hour. She searched for the table they had sat and found it empty with the exception of her jacket.

Not being an overly happy drunken girl in the booming San Francisco club at that moment, Alie through back the supplied alcohol in the shot glass in her hand and grabbed her jacket off the secluded booth's table and headed to the exit. She didn't fell the wave of cold air when she stepped outside with her car key's fumbling in her hand, not even when her jacket was still bent over her arm; the buzz of alcohol was giving her a false warmth. She radiated heat, drunkenness and anger as she stood with a blank expression and car keys still barely in her grasp as she made her way to her car.

---

So... I finally finished chapter two. Love me now? Thanks for any reviews. R&R