Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 10:53:19 -0500 (EST)
From: sliders21@iname.com
Subject: ordinary-love-8 (adult-friends)

Note: This is a work of fiction. That means that certain situations in the
story may or may not reflect reality.  While I try very hard to make the
story very realistic, I can't help but put certain characters in situations
that's a little bit forced.

Note: Thanks to everyone who had written me and I want all of you to know
that I appreciate your emails.


****************
Ordinary love 8
****************


	Drew was busy typing a report in his computer later that
afternoon. The meeting in Nick's office went a lot smoother than he was
expecting so he was a little bit relaxed now. That and the fact that he had
a great time with Clint.

	"Mr. Matthews?" A voice said behind him. He swiveled his chair and
saw a guy carrying a bouquet of red roses. "These are for you."

	"For me?" Drew stood up as the guy placed the flowers on his
desk. He looked at the flower oddly as he signed the paper the delivery guy
handed him. Then he sat back down on his chair and reached for the card. He
opened the envelope and fished out the card.

		D.

			Thanks for the wonderful time in Boston.


N.

	This couldn't be from Nick, could it? Drew sighed out deeply as he
slumped back on his chair. He was feeling giddy and mushy inside. He hated
himself for that. Why can't he feel that towards Clint or anyone else? Why
Nick of all people? Nick and his stupid fiancee and his stupid fear of
coming out!

	"Tell us about him," A teasing voice said behind him. He turned
around again and saw Rinoa and Gerald giving him a huge smile.

	"Tell you what about who?" Drew said as he pocketed the card.

	"You're boyfriend!" Rinoa said excitedly. "The one who sent you
these flowers! Is it Clint?"

	"No, Not Clint," Drew shook his head. "Just someone I know. And
he's not my boyfriend, okay?"

	"Who's gay around here aside from Clint?" Gerald asked Rinoa
quizzically.

	"John from Accounting and Cody from Legal," Rinoa said
thoughtfully. "But I think they're both committed already."

"Don't you guys have anything better to do than talk about people's love
life?" Drew shook his head at them.

	"We do but this is more interesting," Rinoa laughed out. Drew
rolled his eyes before he turned his back on them and continued with his
work. He heard Rinoa and Gerald walk away. Half an hour later, he felt
someone standing besides him. He looked up and saw Lisa smiling at him as
she sipped a cup of coffee.

	"I wish someone would send me flowers every now and then," Lisa
sighed out deeply.

	"You don't have to be jealous," Drew gave her a wry smile. "This is
nothing."

	"Nothing," Lisa raised an eyebrow.

	"Nothing," Drew shook his head. "It was sent by a friend."

	"A friend?" Lisa leaned on his desk and looked at him keenly. "Tell
me more about this friend of yours."

	"There's not much to tell really," Drew laughed nervously. "He's
just a friend. Not my boyfriend, nor my lover. Not anything to me really."

	"So he just sent you a dozen roses just for the heck of it?" Lisa
said to Drew sarcastically.

	"Maybe he's going insane," Drew smiled at her.

	"Love can do that," Lisa nodded her head at him as she patted his
shoulder before walking away. Drew looked at her quizzically, not sure what
to make of that conversation.

***************

"I don't think this is such a good idea," Drew said slowly as Drew parked
his car in the country club where the dinner party was being held.

	"I just mentioned my parents being here and you want to back out
already?" Clint grinned at Drew. "Don't worry. I'm not going to introduce
you as the guy who's going to steal their little boy away."

	"That's suppose to comfort me Clint?" Drew couldn't help but laugh.

	"Come on Drew," Clint reached for his hand and squeezed it
tightly. "You'll charm my parents. I'm sure of it." They got out of the car
and proceeded inside. Clint grabbed Drew's hand and led him to their table,
which was near the stage. Drew noted that a fiftyish couple were sitting on
the table, drinking wine. They both stood up when Clint and him approached
them.

	"Hi Mom, Dad," Clint greeted the couple as he released Drew's hand
and gave the two a kiss of the cheek and a hug. Then he turned to Drew and
said, "I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Drew. Drew, this is my mom
and my dad."

	"Please to meet you Mrs. Dupree, Mr. Dupree," Drew said to them
politely.

	"It's William and Alice," Mr. Dupree said to him with a smile. Then
he looked at drew from head to foot and said, "So, you're Clint's
boyfriend, huh?"

	"Dad!" Clint said in embarrassment.

	"Ummm," Drew blushed deeply. "Actually, I'm not your son's
boyfriend. We're just friends."

	"Why don't we sit down," Mrs. Dupree said. To Drew's surprise,
Clint pulled out a chair for him. When they were all seating down,
Mr. Dupree called over a waiter and got Drew and Clint some wine. They
talked for a while until Drew saw Helen walking over to them. Right behind
her was Nick and Fiona!

	"Here's comes your sister with Nick and Helen," Mr. Dupree said to
Clint. The four stood up to greet the new comers.

	"Drew? Is that you?" Helen smiled at him. "What are you doing
here?" Drew gave Helen an awkward hug as he glanced at Nick.

	"Drew is Clint's date tonight Helen," Mrs. Dupree said to
her. "Clint tells us Drew works for you Nick?" Mrs. Dupree looked at her
future son-in-law quizzically.

	"Actually Drew here is set to become a VP in the company," Nick
gave Drew a smile. "We're just ironing out a few details." They all sat
down and things proceeded quietly.

	Drew was relieved that Clint's parents talked to Helen most of the
time. He wasn't really that comfortable talking to them since they think
he's Clint's boyfriend and he was having a sort of an affair with their
daughter's fiancee.

	"So Drew," Fiona smiled at him as the dinner started. "How's Nick
treating you at the office?"

	"I can't complain," Drew said slowly.

	"I thought you said that you weren't coming tonight," Clint said to
Nick. "Why did you change your mind?"

	"Fiona called me up again and since this is for charity, I said
what the heck," Nick answered him.

	"When's the big day guys?" Clint asked the two teasingly.

	"We...uhhh...are still talking about that," Fiona said in a stiff
voice. "We agreed not to rush things."

	"Rush things already, okay?" Clint grinned at them. "I want to be
an uncle already."

	"Then why don't you find a girlfriend and knock her up?" Fiona said
to him sarcastically. Drew looked at her for a second in discomfort before
he turned his attention to the band playing on stage.

	"Fiona!" Nick hissed out to his date as he nodded at Drew. Everyone
became silent for a while before Clint cleared his throat and started to
babble about how his boss was a pain in the ass.

	"Ummm," Drew stood up and looked around. "I'll just go to the men's
room. Excuse me." Drew hurriedly left the table. Instead of going to the
men's room, he went to the parking lot and sat down in a bench under a
tree.

	He was looking at the stars when he noticed a figure walking up to
him. As it got closer, he recognized Fiona.  He watched as Fiona came up to
him and sat down besides him.

	"I'm sorry Drew for that stupid remark," Fiona said to him in a
sincere voice. "It was very inappropriate."

	"It's okay Fiona," Drew forced a smile at her.

	"It's just that I get so frustrated with Nick sometimes!" Fiona
exclaimed out suddenly as she burst out into tears. She leaned on Drew's
shoulders and began to sob softly. Drew became tense for a while before he
forced himself to relax. He reached for Fiona's shoulder and patted it
gently.

	"Everyone must think I'm such a desperate woman to force myself on
a guy who doesn't even love me," Fiona said softly as she pulled away and
wiped her tears away. "Somehow I keep hoping that Nick will open up his
eyes one morning and finally learn to love me."


	"I....ummm..." Drew looked at her uncomfortably, not sure what to
say. He felt a little guilty because he was part of the reason why she's so
unhappy.


	"I'm not such a bad person," Fiona said as she stares out into the
horizon. The stars were shining brightly in the night sky. "Why can't Nick
love me?"

	"Why are you telling em all of this?" Drew asked her softly.

	"I don't honestly know," Fiona laughed softly as she looked at
Drew. "I can't talk to my family or friends because they'll just laugh at
me. Either they think that Nick and I are the perfect couple or they think
that I'm just fooling myself in thinking he could love me. You look like an
intelligent person. You've got to tell me what to do."

	"And what do you want me to say to you?" Drew looked at the person
in front of him and saw a very miserable woman. He felt disgusted with
himself because he knows that he was a part why she was so unhappy.

	"The truth Drew," Fiona said softly. "Do you think I'm wasting my
time with Nick or not? Should I break up with him?"

	Drew felt his heart racing. If he say yes, Nick would be free and
things between them wouldn't be that complicated anymore. But as he looked
at Fiona, he saw a woman who desperately wants Nick to love her. She'd make
a great wife for Nick. She could provide him with kids and security and a
lot of other things he couldn't provide. Nick's family and friends would
easily accept her. And he wasn't really sure that Nick wouldn't give a
marriage with Fiona a chance if he weren't in the picture.

	Should he say yes or no?

*************
ToBeContinued
*************

All comments are welcome at:

Sliders21@iname.com