Ren & Wade

 "What are you really trying to do, J?" Roni wanted to know. He wasn't sure what his so-called frienemy was up to when it came to Ren.

They stopped by the old diner next to the old book store when Roni got off from work for an early supper perhaps. It had been awhile since he'd caught up with his college mate.

"What do you mean?" J was busy cutting into the chopped steak, swirling the juicy piece into the the mashed potatoes. For a moment, Roni thought he might be  making art. He knew J always wanted to be an art major but everyone said not to, in his family.

"You know, she's..she's with Wade now." Roni said as he attacked a piece of broccoli, wishing he'd asked for the broccoli cheese soup instead.

"And?" J looked up at him as if he didn't get why any of this surprised him. He held his fork and knife steady in mid-air as if he might truly be ready for a foodie photo.

Roni sighed and finally tasted his mashed potatoes. He hoped he didn't get a stomach ache later, but he'd be home with his sweetie Sabrina who would be there to listen to his moans and groans in silence.

"You can't do this," Roni told him. 

"Why can't I?" That pious look of his in his sharp black suit only made Roni bitter. How were they ever friends? Actually, J was his first roommate at the university. Roni remembered trying to fit in. J treated him like a little brother as long as he agreed with everything he did. "Look, I let her alone as long as I could. We both know I'm much better than that Wade fellow will ever be. I can offer her so much, that he has no clue....." J laughed then as if he loved his own joke. Of course, Wade was the butt of that joke.

"Wade is my friend," Roni practically shouted.

"You just want to fuck him." J's voice was low and he made Roni's dark eyes bulge.

"How could you say that!" He swelled a frown and pushed his plate away. His appetite was gone, and to think he paid for their meals. Oh, he knew J, always looking for a steal. Yeah, if Wade wasn't around, Roni knew Ren wouldn't be so appealing.

Roni knew he had to get through to Ren. J was after something. He wasn't really helping Ren get a full-time job.