Blush

Jimmy POV

About a week after the day at the beach, during which Amber and Brian still acted like children, petty and always complaining about everything the other did, we were all at Zack's house, eating chips and laughing. A rerun of some reality show was on, and Amber had something to say about everyone, sending everyone into fits of laughter.
"Jesus Christ, she looks like a real life version of Shrek."
"Oh my God, did anyone tell her that lipstick isn't a substitute for toothpaste?"
"Tacky bitch."
I pulled her dark brown ponytail. "Don't be so mean, Am." She knew I didn't mean that; without her constant borderline offensive comments about everything from eyebrows to the way people sat, I'd have no amusement in my life. She pulled out her phone, and suddenly sat straight up.
"Shit, it's already six. I've gotta go get ready, I've got a date tonight."
Zack paused the T.V, giving her a look. The rest of is sat forward, fixing her with stares. "Hold the fuck up. A date? With who?" Zack asked. Amber shifted uncomfortably under our gaze. Brian, I noticed, was gripping the side of the couch with one hand, the other white knuckled in his lap.
"You haven't gone on a date in a long time." Matt pointed out.
Amber shrugged. "Hadn't found the right guy."
"Who is the right guy?" Johnny asked.
Val frowned at us. "Let her go out with whoever she wants, leave her alone." Matt opened his mouth to protest, but Val cut him off. "I know you guys are protective, you don't want her to get hurt, but God, quit being so damn worried about what she's doing."
Amber smiled at her gratefully. I didn't say anything, because I was a firm believer in letting people make their own choices. I was more worried about Brian, who stood up and stalked out of the house, saying something about needing a smoke, slamming the door behind him. Amber sighed and after a minute, got up to follow him.

Amber POV

I slid through the door, closing it quietly behind me. Brian was leaned over the railing around the porch, cigarette forgotten in his hand. If he heard me come outside, he didn't say anything - I walked over to him, mimicking his posture. He didn't look at me.
"Brian."
"What?" He snapped, bringing the cigarette to his lips, not meeting my eyes.
"You okay?"
Brian laughed, dry and humorless. "Just peachy."
"Liar." I accused.
He shrugged. "Why do you care?"
I didn't answer, just stared out at the sky, tinged violet in the dying light.
Brian cracked first, snubbing out his cigarette and turning to look at me. "Who's the lucky fella?"
"His name's Jeff. Met him at Johnny's one night. He seemed nice, bought me a drink, we talked for a while. He wasn't even plastered."
Brian frowned. "Jeff? Jeff Calloway? Please tell me it's not Jeff Calloway, because if it's Jeff Calloway, I'm not going to let you go."
I raised my eyebrows. "Yeah, Calloway. And I'm going."
"No, you're not, and if I go in there and tell them that it's Calloway, they won't let you go, either. Val might not help you." Brian spat, lighting another cigarette and taking a drag, blowing a sharp stream of smoke into the evening air.
"What's wrong with Jeff?"
At that, he laughed, like he found it amusing that I didn't know what he did. "Go ask Val, he grabbed her ass. Or, go ask Matt, he beat the shit out of him. Maybe you could ask him about the time he blackmailed a girl into blowing him in the bathroom. I'm sure he's got a lot of fun stories about that." Brian scowled.
"Don't get mad at me, Haner. How the hell could I have known? You think he mentions being a misogynist pig when he's chatting you up at a bar and sliding his number in your hand on a dirty napkin? My fucking bad, for not asking."
We stood still, glaring at each other silently, until my phone rang. Brian snatched it from where I'd set it on the railing before I had even registered the noise.
"Oh, it's Jeff!" He said, bringing it to his ear. I could barely hear Jeff's tinny voice through the speaker.
"Hey baby, what's your address so I can pick you up? You dressed up real nice?"
I grimaced. I swear he hadn't sounded so sleazy that night in the car. Brian didn't look pleased either.
"Don't call her baby. Unfortunately, Amber won't be joining you for dinner tonight, she isn't in the mood to be sexually harassed."
"Haner? Is this Brian Haner? Quit fuckin' around and give doll face the phone."
Brian growled. I reached for the phone, but he jerked away from my hand. "Listen asshole, cut it out with the pet names. She's not going on a date with you, you goddamn pervert." He hung up and shoved the phone in my hand roughly, turning on his heel and started back towards the door.
"No, no, you don't get to do that and just walk away." I said, grabbing his arm and jerking him towards me. Brian yanked his arm out of my grip but stayed facing me, arms crossed.
"Brian, what the fuck? Usually you'd be jumping for joy at the idea of me in an uncomfortable situation."
"Except it wouldn't be just uncomfortable, Amber." Brian huffed, running a hand through his hair. "You could get hurt, that asshole could've assaulted you, you think any of us would've been able to live with ourselves if you got raped by some creep at a bar?"
"You don't even like me, Brian."
He groaned. "I don't dislike you enough that I'd be okay with that, Amber."
As I looked into his dark eyes, something dawned on me. "You were mad about it before you knew it was Jeff. Why?" I asked.
The corners of his mouth turned down, and he looked the other way. "I -- I just...you know how we get about stuff like that, just worried, and protective." He stammered, walking back towards the railing, sagging against it like this conversation was draining him.
"But not you. You don't slam doors and walk out like that. That's Matt. Or Zack. Never you."
"God, just drop it, Amber." Brian snapped.
"Fine. Fine, Brian. It's over, done with, in the past." I turned to walk back in the house.
"Amber, wait." I didn't face him, but I stopped. "Don't date guys you meet at bars anymore, okay?" He actually sounded concerned. I laughed and went inside, sitting back down on the couch and grabbing a bowl of chips, ignoring the quizzical way the guys were staring at me, and at Brian when he walked in a minute later, looking calmer than he had five minutes ago.

Brian POV

I was thinking about how nice it'd be to slam my fist into Jeff Calloway's temple. I was thinking about how much I'd love a shot right about now. I was also thinking that Amber looked great in her jean shorts with a faded plaid shirt tucked into them. I tried to focus on the first two.
Matt got up to get a beer, and I followed him into the kitchen. "Jeff Calloway." I whispered in his ear. He looked at me like he didn't understand. "That's who she was going to go out with."
Matt shot up from where he was leaning over the fridge. A harsh sound ripped out of him, and for a nanosecond, I regretted telling him. Jeff was Matt's least favorite person in Huntington Beach, mostly because he flirted with Val and sometimes tried, and succeeded in copping feels. He stopped doing that to Val when Matt broke his nose.
"Amber Jade Dawson, what the hell were you thinking?" He thundered, storming into the living room. Amber winced -- full name was never a good thing, especially not with Matt, who was like an angry dad.
"You told him?" She hissed at me, eyebrows pulled into the center of her forehead. I shrugged apologetically.
"Damn right he told me. You almost went on a date with Jeff fucking Calloway!"
Amber looked almost scared; Jimmy, while looking shocked, pulled her under his arm, holding her against his shoulder.
"Matt, don't yell at her. She didn't and that's what matters. There's no way she could've known he was an asshole." I defended her. I felt kinda bad about releasing Matt's wrath on her like that. She didn't even look at me, wide eyes trained on the burly dude with the red face, Val trying to calm him down.
"Amber, Jeff is a fucking creep. Once, he-" Zack began. Amber cut him off.
"Yeah, I know. You think I didn't get an earful outside? God, I'm here and not with him for a reason. Did you expect him to give me a briefing of all the shitty things he's ever done?"
Johnny frowned, and looked like he was about to say something, possibly defending Amber, when Matt sighed and sagged into a chair.
"I'm not mad at you, I swear. It's just that -- Jeff isn't known for respecting boundaries and the idea of him screwing you over...and he knows you're friends with us, he so did that on purpose." Matt was still fuming, but his anger was more under control now, more obviously directed at Jeff rather than funneling in a furious whirlwind at Amber.
"He knew it was me on the phone. Jeff called her while we were outside, and I answered and he knew it was me, like he was expecting it."
"I'm gonna beat his ass." Johnny said, eyebrows pinched over his nose.
"No, you won't." Amber said, frowning, still pressed into Jimmy's side, who hadn't spoken. She leaned over and whispered something into Jimmy's ear.
"What?" He said incredulously. She whispered again, and a smile spread over Jimmy's face. "Not a bad idea, Bambi. Not bad at all."
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Zack inquired.
Amber and Jimmy shared a look before he spoke. "Let her go on the date. She calls him back, says they're on, meets him for dinner, and she mentions his...unsavory history, and maybe punches him, and leaves. She gets dinner and you guys get to know that Jeff got what he deserves. It's a win for everyone."
"Hell no!" Zack said at the same time Matt said "No way!". Johnny and I stayed quiet, him because he thought it was a good idea, and me because it was such a bad one. While Zack and Matt berated Jimbo and Amber for the idea, I pondered it.
It was stupid and dangerous, but it wasn't an awful idea. My main concern was the moment after Amber punched him in the dick, what he'd do. Knowing him, probably grab her entirely too roughly and god knows what else. That was an image I didn't like.
"I'll go." I blurted out. Zack and Matt glared at me, Val and Johnny smiled, and Jimmy and Amber looked at me like I was crazy, which was probably right. A tinge of pink was appearing along Amber's neck and the tips of her ears. Her blushing only solidified my decision -- something told me that her face being pink because some prick slapped her wouldn't make me quite so happy.
"If I go, and sit somewhere nearby, I can listen in and keep an eye on them and make sure he doesn't try anything."
After a few more minutes of arguing, they grudgingly agreed, and Amber and I headed to her house so she could get ready. Once we were in her bedroom, she flopped on the bed, gesturing towards a white swivel chair by her desk, which I sank into. Amber pulled out her phone and dialed a number, putting it on speaker and telling me to be quiet.
"What do you want?" Jeff snarled as soon as he picked up. I halfway rose out of my seat but she gave me a look and I sat back down.
"I'm sorry about Brian. He just grabbed my phone, I didn't tell him to say any of that. He's an asshole. Are you still free?" I shot her a look at the "asshole" comment, but stayed quiet.
"Well, I suppose there's still time to catch dinner. I know a little place, you'll love it."
"I'm sure I will. I'll text you my address, pick me up in an hour." Amber hung up without waiting for his reply.
"God, this is an awful idea." I groaned, shaking my head.
"Yep." She walked into her closet, grabbing a black dress and bright red heels. "Y'know, you're a kind of noticeable guy. Can I give you a disguise?"
I scoffed, trying not to notice the nonchalance with which she took off her shirt, leaving her in a bra and her shorts. "A disguise?"
She slid the dress up her legs, shimmying the shorts down her legs and off her bare feet, somehow removing the straps off her bra and throwing them at me. "Yes, a disguise. I could just, like put your hair in a ponytail and maybe some eyeliner?"
"Oh no, no, hell no. I am done with eyeliner."
She started brushing her hair in the big mirror on her dresser. "Please? The harder you are to recognize, the closer you can sit to me." Amber sprayed something into her hair and fluffed it out, settling on her shoulders in waves.
"Fine." I conceded.
"Yay! Let me finish my makeup and I'll do yours."
"Eyeliner." I reiterated. She waved me away and started putting all sorts of pencils and brushes and spiky things near her eye. I'd forgotten how uncomfortable eyeliner was to apply, and I wasn't looking forward to it.

Amber POV

"Stop blinking! No, don't fucking move, or I'll poke your eye out."
"You're doing that already, goddamnit." Brian yelled, breath a mix of tobacco and mint, and all in my face. "Ow!"
"Brian, I wasn't even touching you! Stop whining." I grabbed his chin in my free hand and locked it in place while I finished the eyeliner.
"Watch the hair!" He warned as I tugged it all to the back of his head and wrapped a white rubber band around it.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm all done. He should be here any minute. You take my car and follow us. I'll make sure we get a booth, you get one on either side, as long as you're not facing him."
"And if he makes any sort of unwanted move?" He presses.
I sighed. "I'll punch him in the face and you can finish him off. Brian, I can fend for myself. I'm not particularly worried about him."
He didn't say anything, because the doorbell rang. "Stay up here." I said, slid into my heels, and dashed down the stairs. Before I opened the door, I made myself plaster on a smile so I wouldn't be scowling at him. I flung open the door, and Jeff stood there grinning at me. He had a baby face, cute but not hot, and he looked trustworthy; he had a round face, blue eyes, and short brown hair. His arms, which were half covered by a blue button down, were well muscled.
"Hi, Amber. You look...great."
I blushed. "Thanks. You ready?"
-----
We'd been at dinner for a half hour, and the only thing that'd happened is Jeff struggling keep his eyes above my neck. Brian was sitting in the booth beside us, his brown eyes boring holes into mine, flashing when Jeff says particularly offending things. Halfway through dinner, I decide it's time to start the plan.
"So Jeff, I was talking to my friend about how excited I was to go out with you -- Val, Valary Sanders, y'know, Matt's wife? Yeah, she said you were so sweet when she met you, that time you grabbed her ass and got the shit kicked out of you by her husband." My voice was saccharine sweet, sickeningly fake to my own ears.
"Y'know, I also heard about that time when you threatened to beat the shit out of some girls boyfriend if she didn't blow you in the bathroom. Oh, and that time when-"
Jeff's face was red. He stood up and threw a few bills down on the table, grabbing my arm and yanking me out of the booth. He dragged me towards the back door, humid air hitting me like a train when we got outside. I saw Brian, sleek as a cat, tug the tie out of his hair and follow us out.
Jeff pushed me against the brick wall of the back alley, a few feet from the large trashcan. "What the hell are you talking about, you slut?"
"Just making friendly conversation. And, say it, don't spray it."
"You little bitch." Jeff raised his hand to hit me, but a long fingered hand wrapped around his wrist, tightly.
"Well, that wasn't very nice." Brian said, voice like velvet. He'd tried to wipe off the eyeliner, and the black smudged around his eyes and across one cheekbone should've looked ridiculous, but paired with the look on his face, it looked deadly. I drove my knee into the area between Jeff's legs as hard as I could, not waiting for Jeff to say anything. As he doubled over, I slid across the wall and into the arm Brian was holding out for me. He curled it around my shoulder, shielding me, and drove his fist straight into Jeff's jaw.
"C'mon, let's get you home."

Notes

I just really like the way Brian talks and in fanfics, I struggle hearing their voice saying the lines, but Brian, I could hear him saying this stuff in that sarcastic deadpan of his and it made me happy. Protective Brian is one I can totally get behind. Also, I posted this without anything written after Amber and Brian came inside, but I wasn't happy with the length and so I came back and wrote the second half. Thanks for reading and please to check out my story A Taste of Something New :)