Summary: The title pretty much speaks for itself.
Disclaimer: Not my characters. They belong to Shoot the Moon
and Warner Brothers Productions.
Setting: Around the same time as my last very short story, The
Double Date.
Lee Stetson walked into Billy Melrose's office. Agent Henderson was there ahead of him, and looked embarassed when Lee entered.
"So, anyway, Billy, thanks for the ahhh, information on Mrs. King. I appreciate it." Without a look at Lee, Henderson sped out the door.
"What was that all about, Billy?" Lee asked.
"Oh, nothing for you to worry about," Billy waved his hand dismissively.
"If it has to do with Amanda, it *is* for me to worry about," Lee argued. "Come on, what's up?"
"Scarecrow, trust me on this. It's not even related to business," Billy said, evading the subject again.
"What do you mean? If it's not related to business, then what's it related to?" When Billy refused to respond, Lee said, "Come on, Melrose - spill it!"
"Alright, alright," Billy surrendered. "You're going to kill me with this, aren't you?" Billy gave Lee an exasperated look. "Henderson is very interested in Amanda on a personal level, and he was asking me if she was seeing anyone."
Lee folded his arms across his chest. He was annoyed, at the very least. "What did you say?"
"Well," Billy shrugged. "I just told him that I don't know too much about Amanda's personal life, and that he should just take a chance and ask her out to dinner or something."
"You *what*?" Lee stood up and started pacing. "Billy, how could you tell him that?"
Billy frowned, watching his friend's out of character behavior. "Lee, calm down," Billy ordered. "Why do you care so much?"
"I don't," Lee almost shouted. "I mean, I do. But...not the way you mean. I mean, I feel responsible for her and-"
"You are not responsible for her personal life," Billy rationalized.
"I - Billy! Why should anyone from here want to take her out, anyway?" Lee fumed.
"Amanda is a very attractive, intelligent, caring person. I can see why she would be appealing to most men, actually," Billy narrowed his eyes. Something was up.
"I'm not saying she's not attractive in a...suburban way, it's just that-" Lee found himself at a loss for words, not able to think clearly.
"You sound like Francine," Billy interrupted. "You also sound jealous."
Lee looked like he would explode. "Jealous? Jealous! Me? You're crazy, Billy!"
"Am I?" Billy asked, all the more convinced that Lee's behavior was due to unacknowledged feelings for Amanda.
"Yes!" Lee shouted.
A knock came at the door, and Billy said, "Come in."
Amanda opened the door and stepped inside. She immediately noted Lee's reddened face and somewhat disheveled demeanor. "I'm sorry," she held onto the door. "Have I come at a bad time?"
"No," Lee said, avoiding her eyes. "I was just leaving."
He walked past her, as far from her as he possibly could.
"Sir?" Amanda looked askance at Billy. "Is Lee upset with me again?"
Billy laughed. "No, he's upset with me, actually."
"Oh," she said, puzzled.
"Amanda," Billy began, but was cut off when Lee reentered the office.
"Excuse us, Billy." Lee said. "Amanda, I need you to give me a hand upstairs."
"Of course," Amanda agreed.
Billy winked at Lee, and Amanda watched the color rise in his face.
"Are you okay?" she asked as they walked down the hall.
Lee looked at her and smiled tightly. "Yeah, fine. Just fine. Do me a favor, though, will you?"
"If I can," Amanda agreed.
"If Agent Henderson asks you out, just say 'No'. Can you do that?"
"Agent Henderson!" Amanda said, wrinkling her nose in distaste, much to Lee's delight. "No problem there. May I ask why?"
"No, you may not," Lee said adamantly.
The End