the many colors of us

"God, who knew there were so many shades of lavender?" Allie was beginning to think they might not ever get Angie's room painted. She and Cory stood staring at the wall of paints. They'd go back from the chart to the wall. It was practically insane. They just needed to pick one.

She looked over to Declan standing close by too.

"What are you doing here?" She grinned as if this was a surprise.

"We're gonna paint our room." He said with a yawn as if he were letting someone else decide. She noticed the guy with his back to him, who was a little taller and very metrosexual with his puffy curls and hunter green sweater that actually matched Declan's. He turned and leaned over his shoulder to show him the color they were looking for.

"Oh." She was a little shocked. She didn't know.

Declan introduced her to River. Thus, she had to take Cory's hand and introduce him. Suddenly, she felt they were a much more romantic couple than she and Cory would ever be. She could see it, the way River's fingertips touched Declan's shoulder. His smile. It was so unexpected. Allie couldn't help but stare.

Finally, they moved on and Cory picked up a can of paint. It was so small. She thought he'd buy a pail.

"Is that enough?" She wanted to think about the problem at hand. Not what she saw. Why had it bothered her? Spencer had a boyfriend. Benny and Keith were together. But she'd felt so close to Declan, and..and now this.

"Well, yeah. I think so." Cory said there was no need to get too much paint. "What if you don't like it?" He got a darker color just in case.

"OK."

"You all right?" He winced.

"Uh-huh."

"Who are they, again?" Cory wondered if he were suppose to know them. He guessed he'd seen them around. "I didn't know they were a couple." He said quietly.

"I know. I didn't either." She shrugged.

"Well, lets get this done." Cory told her, Angie and Manny would be there in a couple of days.