Chapter Twenty-Six

January 10, 2008

"Hello?" I said answering my phone unsure of who was calling.
"Hi Joey. Its Abby Malone."
"Oh.. hey whats up?" I said kind of confused.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to catch lunch or go to dinner before the game or something?" she asked.
"Sure." I said.
"I just figured it would be good for you to know atleast one of the girlfriends well."
"Yeah.. I don't really hang out with any of them because I am not really as old as you all and stuff."
"I know.. but would you want to do that?"
"Yeah.. the only problem is that if we have dinner before the game I don't usually drive to the games cause I come home with Sidney.." I said hesitantly.
"Well lunch then? I mean the boys will be taking their naps."
"Yeah.. thats fine."

"Hey babe." Sidney said awhile later.
"What you doing?"
"Just got back.. about to go up to nap."
"Yeah.. I'm going to lunch with Abby Malone." I said.
"What?"
"Yeah, I don't really know. I'll see you after the game tonight and then we will talk about it."
"Okay babe.. have fun and love you."
"Good Luck.. love you too." I said and hung up the phone.

I got ready to go meet Abby for lunch in the city. I couldn't figure out why we were going to lunch. I mean I have known Sidney for a long time and no girlfriend ever wanted to go get lunch with me one on one. I was interested in seeing what was up, nonetheless it might be nice to have an ally.

"Hi, Abby." I said when I saw Abby sitting in the lobby of the restaurant.
"Hey Joey." She said. Once we got our food the news came out.
"So I wanted to talk to you about something one of the girls were talking about." She started to say.
"What?"
"I guess the boys were out the other night at Diesel."
"Yeah.. did you go?"
"Oh no.. pregnant Abby doesn't really do the club scene." She said.
"Yeah.. I had school and I never do the club scene.. but Sidney wanted to go so whatever."
"Well one of the girls told me something about Sidney."
"What and who?"
"I don't know.. I guess Sidney was talking to some girl like the whole night and buying her drinks and stuff. Then I guess they left the club together."
"Who said that?" I asked.
"It was just some of the girlfriend saw it and they were talking about it."
"Did Ryan say anything?"I asked confused.
"No, but there is kind of a guy code."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean a lot of the guys do stuff and the other guys just don't say anything."
"So what you are saying is that the girlfriends just deal with their guys cheating?"
"No.. I'm just saying if the girlfriends don't want their guys to stray they go to the club with them."
"Well, I'm underage.. and I don't like going to clubs, so thats not happening."
"Well did he say anything about it?" Abby asked.
"No but don't you think I would have found out about it? I don't think Sidney would do that.. he wouldn't do that."
"Are you guys like good?" She asked.
"Yeah.. we are good.."
"Then I don't really know what to say.. I just thought I would tell you."
"Thank you.. its just I don't even know what to think." I said just really confused.
"I guess you just have to figure out who to trust."
"Well I trust Sidney.. but I don't get why girls would just lie about this stuff." I said blatantly.
"I would just talk to Sidney if I was you."
"Yeah.. I will after the game. Thanks for telling me.. I don't really like being in the dark."
"I understand. You should sit with us all tonight."
"I will.. Sidney will be happy about that."
"See you tonight." She said hugging me before we parted ways.

After the Game
"Hey baby." He said hugging me and kissing me on the cheek after he was done with the media.
"good game." I said keeping it short and walking to his car.
"Thanks.. how was sitting with the girlfriends?"
"Fine." I said getting into the car.
"Why are you being so short with me?" He asked once we were both in the car.
"I just didn't have a good game." I said looking out the window.
"Whats wrong?" He said before putting the car into drive.
"I just heard something interesting today at lunch and then heard about it tonight at the game."
"What?"
"Is there anything you need to tell me?" I asked turning and looking him into his eyes.
"I really have no idea what you are talking about." He said confused.
"I heard you were flirting and touching and buying this girl drinks the whole night at Diesel the other night." I said again looking out the window.
"What?"
"You heard me, Sidney."
"I didn' know that talking to a girl was classified at cheating."
"Touching? Flirting? Oh wait.. did I mention that you left together?" I said getting upset.
"I was talking to a girl.. but it was nothing."
"You were talking to ONE GIRL FOR LIKE THREE HOURS.. how is that nothing?" I asked.
"girls come up to us and stuff at the club.. I just was being nice."
"Being nice doesn't mean you have to flirt and touch and leave together."
"we didn't leave together.. I promise you." He said.
"Why would they lie?"
"Whose they?"
"All the girlfriends. You don't know what it felt like to hear this from Abby and then come to the game and hear them talking about it. I just felt stupid. I don't want to be lied too nor do I like being a fool."
"You aren't being lied to and you aren't a fool." He said.
"then why did you have to do that? Why did you do that and why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think it was a big deal.."
"How isn't that a big deal?"
"I was just talking to a girl.. thats it. Nothing happened."
"Fine." I said.
"You don't believe me?"
"I believe you.. I just don't get why they would lie."
"Because they have nothing better to do?"
"I want to be able to trust you."
"You don't trust me?"
"Sidney.."
"this is a big deal.. if you don't trust me we have a problem." He said.
"I trust you and I want to believe you and I want to not care what these girls say, but I just don't get why they would lie."
"Do you want me to call Colby and ask Mel? I'll call them right now.. I have nothing to hide."
"No.. its fine. I just don't lie to me."
"I never lied to you."
"Then tell me exactly what happened that night."
"I went and had a few drinks. Some girl came up to me and we were talking. I bought her a drink and we talked but she was totally drunk. When we were leaving she walked out with us and I got her a cab and thats it."
"Sidney.. its just hard."
"do you belive me?" He asked worried.
"I do.. its just hard with having these girls want you. Having you live this world and stuff.. its just hard."
"I don't want to hurt you.. I never want to hurt you."
"I just don't want to be apart of that girlfriend group. I'm not like them and I don't want to be like them. I don't want to be okay with girls coming up to my boyfriend and flirting and shit. Thats not me.. that will never be me."
"Okay, babe." He said grabbing my hand.
"I just want to go home." I said.