01-21-2017, 06:06 PM
Julian had awoken early that weekday morning. He made a tray of fresh fruit, cereal with milk on the side, and a cup of hot green tea with a smile on his lips.
His mother had stood to the side and watched her son in the kitchen. It was the first time she could recall him actually making something for himself other than popcorn from the microwave. She assumed he knew how to do more since she wasn’t always there to make anything for him, albeit there was no actual cooking involved.
She had already made the batter and was waiting to ask each child if they wanted pancakes or waffles. In fact, she had been in the middle of prepping the fruit side when Julian strolled in and started chopping the fruit for her.
He had eaten while he prepared the tray and when he started making the green tea, she knew this wasn’t for him but the sleeping princess upstairs.
“You really do like her, don’t you?” Nanette asked.
“Uh?” Julian looked away from the steeping tea and towards her, before he nodded. “Yeah, also, I want her to skip some classes and spend the day with me. I was hoping this will sweeten the pot.”
She wanted to tell him not to skip classes, but the two got great grades, so she decided it wouldn’t hurt for them to have one day to play. “Where are you going to take her?”
“I don’t know yet. I was going to ask her.” Julian stopping playing with the tea bag and stood up straight to look at his mother. “There is so much shit her dad never let her do, it might take a lifetime to get all of it done.” He picked up the tray and walked out of the room.
He left his mom with a slight smile on her lips, because she had never heard her child speak like an adult towards her. Of course, Julian had no idea how proud he had made his mother as he ascended the stairs.
Heading down the hall, Zachary appeared and rolled his eyes. “Ugh, you are gross.” He mumbled as he walked passed his brother towards the stairs. “Mom! I want waffles!” He yelled as he fell out of sight.
Riane’s bedroom door wasn’t shut all the way, so he nudged it open with his back and stepped inside. She was still sleeping which hadn’t been the norm when she first arrived. She had always been the first one awake and to be waiting patiently in her room for others to stir.
Setting the tray down on her vanity, Julian moved towards her bed and gently brushed his finger over her nose. This made her nose twitch, but she didn’t awake. He did it again and this time she swatted at an imaginary fly.
“Riane, wake up.” He pushed against her shoulder as he was losing patience with this cutesy attempt.
Her eyes snapped open and she looked at the man hovering over her. The first reaction she had was to pull her blanket up over her chest, even though she was wearing a t-shirt. “What… What are you doing in here?”
“I brought you breakfast.” He said with cheer and grabbed the tray from the vanity to place on her lap.
Riane looked over the meal before her. She loathed raisin brand cereal and had no idea why he thought to choose it for her, but she decided to be gracious and tell him later. “Thank you.”
He smiled as he sat down at the end of her bed, “Eat, eat.”
She cleared her throat and took a sip of her tea, before pouring the milk over her cereal. The first bite, she had to force herself not to gag on the dehydrated grapes from hell. Each bite made her think of eating rat’s feces, but she tried her best to force the image out of her head.
In the end, she ate the cereal quickly to get the worse of the meal over with. Her fruit bowl was next and she was much more receptive to the cantaloupe, strawberries, honeydew melon, and actual grapes.
Julian watched her eat with a smile on his face and offered no hint he knew of her internal struggle with the cereal. “Let’s skip classes today.”
“Why?” She asked as she put a cube of honeydew in her mouth. “Mmm, your mom always picks the best fruit.”
“It’s the cook not my mom.” He told her before jumping right into his pitch. “We go to school without fail every Monday through Friday. Let’s take a day off, just the two of us and hang out. We can do whatever you want.”
“We can hang out on the weekend and do whatever I want then. I am trying to get my band teacher on my side.” She continued to pick at the fruit bowl with her fingers and delicately put one slice at a time in her mouth.
“Everyone is off on weekends. The world will be empty for us today. We can go to the aquarium and there won’t be a ton of people hogging the halls.” His voice was nearly to the register of begging.
“I’ve never been to the aquarium before.” She told him nonchalantly.
He tried to push down a devious grin as he had a feeling such a location might get her to follow along. “See, and if we go on the weekend, you’ll be filled with anxiety because of all the people, but if we skip classes and go today, then the aquarium will be our playground.”
Riane stared at him for a couple moments, before sighing. “Alright, but we can’t make a habit out of this.”
“Deal.” Julian jumped out of bed. “I am going to get dressed. Wear sensible shoes, we will be walking a lot. OK?”
“Ok.” She watched him leave the room and looked down at the tray. “Am I suppose to take this back down to the kitchen?” She asked, but got no response.
Picking up the tray and tossing the blankets off of herself. She placed it on the vanity, before drinking down her tea. Once she was finished, she immediately picked up her phone to let Blake know she wouldn’t be at school today.
“Are you sick?” He replied back.
“No, I am just taking a personal day. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She answered as she tried to pick out an outfit from the closet.
It took a little while for him to respond back, and she wondered if her text had gone though. “Alright, see you tomorrow then.”
She grinned at the reply and began to look through her clothing quickly, before settling on a shirt and jeans along with a pair of tennis shoes which Julian had suggested.
Riane wanted to attend her first class that morning in order to get back her test results. Julian had begged her not to go, but she was insistent. After all, she had studied hard for this test and she simply had to know how well she had done.
The bells rang around campus, and the first class was dismissed. Julian waited outside the classroom, when Blake happened to walk by. Though in Julian’s mind he was most definitely stalking Riane.
“Hey, Julian. I thought Riane was taking a personal day today?” He walked through the crowd of students as he came to stand next to the other man.
Julian cleared his throat and prepared himself to tell Blake off, but remembered Riane asking him to be nice to her friend. “Yes.” The answer hissed out of him like venom. “She will be, but she wanted to get her test results back for this class.”
“Yeah, mathematics has never come easy for her. She is trying really hard to keep her grades up in order to prove to herself the switch in majors wouldn’t hinder her.” Blake looked towards the classroom door.
She hadn’t told Julian any of that, but he nodded his head as if he already knew everything.
“Uh, she always waits until everyone clears out before exiting herself.” Blake chuckled, “During high school, one time, she waited but other students began to filter in and she got herself stuck. I had to go inside and pull her out, she was in such a panic about bumping into oncoming students.”
Go away! You are not my friend! Was the chant playing in Julian’s mind and he was barely listening to what Blake had to say.
In his mind, he shoved the other man away and into the crowd over and over again. Just the thought brought a grin to his lips, but he remembered the glare Riane had given him when he tripped him not to long ago. Blake had been the one to apologize to him, but Riane knew he had done it on purpose.
He apologized to her before she even had the chance to yell at him, which had defused the situation.
Stepping out of the classroom, Riane smiled at Blake first and jog over to him. She offered out her free arm as the other was holding books, and the two hugged briefly. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Ditto, but I saw Julian lurking around your first period and I thought you had changed your mind.”
She slowly shook her head, “No, I would have sent you a text if I did. We are going to the aquarium. I’ve never been.”
“I think you’ll like it there.” He held humor in his voice and a large smile on his lips.
Julian thought perhaps was sarcasm and believed Blake didn’t think Riane would enjoy it. He would show him. She loved seeing animals of any kind. She pointed at squirrels whenever they drove by one. He knew her better and she was going to love the aquarium just to spite Blake, he decided.
“Riane.” A gentle voice spoke from behind them and everyone turned to look upon Adonia.
“Adonia, hello.” Riane didn’t know if she should lower her head in anxiety or look the woman directly in the eyes.
Adonia looked at the two men standing behind her and her heart raced wildly. She hadn’t expected to find her with both of them. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“I am about to leave campus.” She informed her.
“Yeah, so make it quick.” Julian seethed with anger, while Blake stood calmly with his arms folded beside him.
In truth, Blake was not pleased to see her either, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of an emotional response.
“Oh, well, I wanted to tell you how horrible I feel about Hawaii. It was so ridiculous and I am so ashamed of myself. To think I could do such a thing… well, if I hadn’t been so emotionally distressed I would never have been so brazen. I truly am sorry.” She lowered her head to act as if she might cry.
“It’s alright, Adonia. I understand.” Riane reached out her hand and gently pat her on the shoulder.
Adonia looked up with a smile, but frowned at the two man harem behind her. Those were suppose to be her men and now this skinny, shapeless brat had stolen them both. How greedy did she need to be? The two didn’t even like one another and she was forcing them to coexist just for the great pleasure of her company.
“Thank you. I hope we can return to being friends.” Adonia continued to smile and watched Riane nod her head briefly.
“Of course.”
“Come on, Riane, we need to get going.” Julian nudged her with his shoulder and she agreed.
“Bye, Blake. See you tomorrow. Make sure you eat with Seth and Dalen, they will be expecting you.” She gave him a hug, “Ok?”
“Ok.” He replied and watched Julian grab her head and hurry away from them into the crowd.
Adonia waited for them to disappear before looking back at Blake. “After telling her the truth, she is still letting you follow her around?”
Blake suddenly realized the horror he had been left with and cursed Julian’s name internally. “Our friendship is stronger than you would expect.”
She slowly nodded her head, “You know, I often wondered why the two of them went on a couple’s date with us, when it was obvious later on they weren’t even really a couple at the time.”
Blake shrugged.
“It was to break us up.” She responded candidly. “They did a good job of it too, other than the part where they fall in love with each other and leave our relationship dead and broken.”
“I think we did that all by ourselves, Adonia.” He took his cellphone from his pocket and looked at the time. “I need to hurry to class.”
Before he could turn away from her, she grabbed his upper arm. “Is that what you are doing? Waiting for the inevitable demise of their relationship, so you can finally have her for yourself?”
Blake scoffed, “Were you always this bitter and cruel?”
“Yes.”
“You hid it well then.” He shook her hand off his arm. “Get to class, and don’t worry about my friendship with Riane anymore.”
Riane and Julian stopped in the middle of their day for lunch. They had spent the entire morning at the aquarium and showed no signs of stopping.
Julian couldn’t help but smile as Riane looked over the wildlife with wide eyes. She reminded him of a child on their first adventure there, and even some of the children around them were not as enthralled by the large glass displays.
She had watched a scuba diver in one of the tanks and they discussed in length once again their own scuba diving experience. The little activity displays were among her favorite, even if they were more for children, but Riane loved them.
Her smile created his own, and it wasn’t longer before he realized how much his cheeks hurt. However, he just kept smiling as he watched her, even when there was no smile on her face but a look of amazement.
She made everything new for him, even an old trip to an aquarium his parents had dragged him to against his will time and time again. This time he actually wanted to be here. He wanted to chase her from exhibit to exhibit. He enjoyed listening to her read out the placards in front of each one. He loved watching her try to move close despite the people around them.
Riane, on the other hand, had noticed his long gazes. They made her feel uncomfortable, but at the same time she didn’t want him to stop. At times she played up her enthusiasm in order to get him to stare a little longer or smile a little wider.
She took his hand so he didn’t feel like he was always in charge of their interactions. In this small gesture, she was leading their relationship for a moment.
Her heart never beat so fast as the first time she grabbed hold. She didn’t know what she was afraid of, as if he would suddenly reject her.
Of course, when she did grab it, Julian only held onto her hand tightly and every time she took his hand after that came easier.
Riane ate a pretzel with cheese while Julian had a slice of pepperoni pizza. Sitting at a table inside the aquarium, they continued to act as if the hundreds of people surrounding them were not there. It was just the two of them, enjoying their day together.
“We probably should have done the outside portion first, it will be warmer outside now.” Julian mumbled right before he took a bite of his pizza.
Riane chuckled, “It’s not like it is summer time. I am sure it will be comfortable enough this time of year. I hope not too many of the displays are down since it’s still not very warm.”
He nodded his head in response, but in truth he already knew she would answer his worry in that way. He had just wanted to say something to her, and hear her say anything at all in return.
“I hope Dalen and Seth are being nice to Blake and letting him eat lunch with them.” She said as she picked another piece off the large preztel and dipped it into the cheese sauce.
He didn’t like she had brought up Blake during their time together, but he didn’t want to start anything over it and ruin their day, so he simply gave another nod.
“I wish they had a garlic, Parmesan dip inside.” She mumbled to herself right before putting the large piece of bread in her mouth.
“They had a marinara.” He replied. “They really missed something here. They have the pepperoni, they have the marinara, they have the pretzel.”
She looked at him quizzically as if she was unable to put the puzzle together, which he felt he had lined up perfectly for her.
“Pepperoni pretzel!” He shouted excitedly and then lowered his voice when he realized others around them were watching him. “It’s all I am saying.”
Riane chuckled, and playfully rolled her eyes. “I am not certain it is something I would order.”
“That’s because you are boring.” He told her playfully, and then pulled a piece of pepperoni from his pizza. He gathered some pizza sauce from his crust on it. “Give me a little bite of pretzel.”
She did as she was asked by tearing a large chunk off and handing it to him with a large grin on her lips.
Julian put the pepperoni slice on the pretzel and popped it in his mouth. He chewed for several moments, before swallowing and then picking up his bottle of water. He chugged it down before putting it back on the table.
“Well, how was it?” She asked with curiosity when she realized he wouldn’t give her a response on his own.
“Probably best to do with a non-salted pretzel.” He stuck out his tongue, “Is it all dried and shriveled up?” He asked before sticking it out again.
Riane laughed, “I’d offer to kiss it and make it better, but that would just be awkward.”
He smiled widely before laughing himself, “I don’t know if kissing a boo boo works with an overly salted meal.” He leaned forward and stuck out his tongue, before speaking, “Githe ith a tray.”
“No!” Riane swatted him away, and motioned around the room, “There are children here.”
“I’ve seen many of them eating their boogers. You would think after a long morning of snacking on those things, they wouldn’t be hungry enough for lunch.” He said as he looked around the room.
“Gross, Julian, I am eating here.”
Julian chuckled, “You aren’t seriously sensitive to something like that?” He put on his best baby voice, “Does your stomach hurt now, little baby? Was the mean man icky? Poor little princess.”
“Shut up.” She hissed playfully before she stuck out her tongue covered in chewed up pretzel at him.
Julian’s eyes widened, “Now that is truly disgusting! How can you call yourself a lady when you go around showing chewed up food to people you supposedly love?” He bite into his pizza quickly, chewed it up, and then immediately showed it to her.
“Gross, Julian!”
“You did it to me first!”
They both began to laugh loudly, and ignore the looks of the other guests around them.
“Are you done?” He asked, “I don’t think I can eat anymore of this disgusting pizza. We should eat dinner after we leave here, alright? I’ll take you somewhere better than this.”
Riane nodded as she picked up her tray and headed towards the garbage cans with Julian close behind her.
Dalen had been at home with Emma and Seth. The two had a rather cutesy relationship which made anyone not in it feel uncomfortable. In fact, Dalen felt downright disgust around them.
He had tried to call Joe to get her to come visit him and go on a double date, but she didn’t answer her phone. It lasted an hour of trying to get her to answer before he finally realized she just wasn’t answering his calls.
“I don’t want to be a third wheel, you two go on without me.” Dalen had told them.
They both had enough courtesy to tell him to come along one final time, before they gave in to his demand and left the house.
As annoying as they were, Dalen knew it was a sense of jealousy and if Joe had been with him he would have found their relationship endearing.
The longer he went without speaking to Joe, the more he understood what was going on. She had wanted an open relationship with him, and whoever she had in mind was now taking up all of her time.
Perhaps, she had called it an open relationship instead of what it actually was; a break up.
As he stood in his kitchen, his phone rang and the name Ivy popped up on his screen. Answering it, he tried to clear any sorrow from his voice.
“Ivy, hi!” He smiled so she could hear it in his voice.
“Dalen! I was just calling to thank you! I got a job at Hurstmart and they just gave me my ugly green polo shirt today. I am so excited. I even had to buy khaki pants and some comfortable shoes. I start tomorrow.” Ivy’s excitement sounded like she was nearing tears more than being happy.
“That’s wonderful news.” Dalen’s false smile turned into a real one as he realized how touched she was to get a job like this one.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get something like this, if you hadn’t given me a chance and I promise I won’t let you down. I am going to work hard, as soon as I am finished training I am going to take all the overtime I can.”
He could hear her breathing hard and wondered if she had been jumping for joy or running somewhere. “I don’t think you need to go that far. Just keep yourself clean and work hard. We like to hire managers from within.”
“Don’t worry, I am not going to squander this opportunity. Please let me buy you coffee with my first paycheck in a couple weeks, alright?”
Dalen remembered this woman dancing on the bar tops and inhaling cocaine off another woman’s bottom. He could recall clearly walking in on her and Julian in the man’s restroom and her offering to take care of him next if he waited.
Julian never liked the woman other than as a way to party, and he didn’t care who else did what with her. So, he got to see her with many men over the years while her and Julian were on and off again.
He would never be able to understand why he helped get her this job, after all he had seen her do. She was not trustworthy, but he figured giving her a chance wouldn’t hurt anything. The most she could do was steal some electronics before she was caught, fired, and prosecuted.
He remembered her at the coffee shop the night he offered, and how she had looked so defeated. This wasn’t the woman he had met before. He was disgusted by that woman and often felt unclean when she merely held his arm to prevent herself from falling.
However, his heart went out to the woman she seemed to be becoming. A woman who actually apologized for what she had done and seemed to be trying to make the necessary changes.
“I’d love to.” Dalen replied.
There was such happiness in her voice now, which he had never heard before, no matter what drug or mix of them she had taken before. “Great! I will be looking forward to it.”
“Me too.” Somehow talking to her made his own pain feel a little less, and he wanted to keep her one the phone a bit more when he realized she was about to hang up. “Are they paying you well?”
“A couple bucks more than minimum wage, and I will probably make less without tips then at my other two jobs, but it is worth it to get out of that environment.” He heard her take a sip of something. “After my training is done, I’ll get a raise and in a couple years, I could be up for assistant manager and so forth.”
“Will you be able to pay all your bills?”
Ivy laughed, “Yes, don’t worry. Now I don’t have to buy so many clothes for work, I am sure everything will be a lot easier.”
“That’s good.”
There was a pause before Ivy decided to change the subject as she didn’t seem to want to exit the conversation either. “How are Emma and Riane?”
“Oh, great! Emma is dating Seth now, and Riane and Julian are still thick as thieves. You couldn’t get between the two of them with a crowbar.”
Ivy laughed, “That’s good to hear, and how are you?”
The question brought all his pain back, but he didn’t really feel comfortable explaining it to her. “I’m fine.”
“That’s good to hear too.” Ivy cleared her throat. “The bus is coming, and it’s rude to chat on the phone in front of other people, so I’ll call you soon.”
“Yes, please call me and let me know how your first day was, alright?” Dalen didn’t know why he asked her to do that, but he thought maybe it was to give her another reason to call.
“Will do. Have a good night!”
“You too.”
He hung up his phone and stared at it for a couple moments, before tossing it on the kitchen isle. He looked over at the spot where Joe used to stand while he was preparing food.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand what it was he had done so wrong. Not when they first broke up, or anything he had done in Hawaii that deserved his immediate exile.
There just was no rhyme or reason in any of this. He felt like he was the monster even though he had been victimized.
He wanted so desperately to understand what had gone wrong, but without Joe willing to speak to him, he didn’t know where else to turn.
With an audible sigh, he turned towards the fridge and decided to make himself a big meal to liven his spirits.
Riane stood behind Julian who was on his knees. She had his arms in the air with her arms wrapped around his in order to keep him from putting them down. “Get him!”
Zachary laughed as he tried to tickle his older brother, and Julian tried to kick him away, but once he was in close it was too late.
The younger brother did tickle very well, but he got a couple good spots which made Julian jerk around. “Stop!” He squealed.
Sitting on the couch, Bryce was playing on a video console and kept giving the group of three dissatisfied looks. He wanted to yell at them to shut up and get out of the room, but he had yet to show that side of himself to Riane.
The doorbell echoed in the background and no one listened as they continued to rough house. Julian got loose from Riane and grabbed his brother into the air, holding him horizontally in his arms, he exposed his belly for Riane. “It’s your turn! Riane has slim fingers that really get into the good spots too!”
“No! No!” Zachary cried with laughter.
“Tickle, tickle, tickle!” Riane said as she walked towards him with her fingers motioning her intentions.
“Riane!” Nanette called from the hallway.
Dropping her hands to her side, Riane left the room and Julian put his brother down in order to follow her.
Simon, her father, stood in the hallway and when she appeared in sight, he frowned. “We are leaving. This engagement is off!”
Julian was quick to move in front of Riane, so her father couldn’t grab at her. “What? Why? We didn’t do anything wrong.”
Simon looked towards Nanette, “I told your husband in no uncertain terms she was not to change her major, especially not to music.”
“She loves music, we...” Nanette tried to explain herself, but Simon tossed up his hand and silenced her.
“Riane, get your coat, we are leaving!” He shouted.
Zachary and Bryce entered into the hallway and they both took a place at her side, while Julian remained in front of her.
“I like it here. I want to stay with Julian.” Riane spoke softly to her father and the three males around here watched her wither back into the person she was on the first day she had arrived.
“Too fucking bad. Come here now!”
Nanette stepped into the way, “Please, Simon, I was unaware of any such promise made by my husband. We will have her change it back, and then everything will be fine. She can stay here.”
“No, this family was barely a choice for me, but you were the only ones who would have her at the time. Now, I know you aren’t to be trusted.” Simon snapped then looked back at his daughter, “Let’s go now!”
Riane took a deep breath and began to step towards her father, but Julian pushed her back behind him. “She is not leaving here! She is an adult who can make her own decisions!”
“Mom will pay for your school.” Zachary told her, as he grabbed hold of her hand. “Right, mom?”
Nanette nodded, “You don’t have to go anywhere with him. We will take care of you, I promise.”
Bryce placed his hand on her shoulder, “We’ll protect you.”
Simon’s anger rose, “They may be able to support you financially, but I am the one who gets to say whether you ever get to see your brother again. I’ll will end all this sneaking around Deidra thinks she is getting away with. You will never see Russell again, do you understand?”
Riane’s heart dropped into her stomach. She clenched tightly to Zachary’s hand, before letting it go. Her eyes went to Bryce first, “It’s alright. I’ll go pack.”
“I’ll send someone to collect your things. You won’t be see these people again.” Simon growled.
She swallowed as she began to step forward, but Julian grabbed both of her shoulders and his eyes begged her more than his words. “Please, don’t go. We will help you figure something out. Please stay here with me.”
She held her breath for a moment as she desperately wanted to stay here, but she knew Russell was all alone with their father. He needed her more than anyone else in this family needed her. Even if she couldn’t help protect him with her presence, her words of encouragement kept him afloat. “I can’t abandon my brother. He needs me.” She mumbled and brushed Julian’s hands off. “Please, understand.”
As she walked by him, Julian grabbed her hand. “Please, don’t go.”
Looking into his eyes, she gave a brave smile. “It’s alright. Don’t worry. Everything will work out as it should.”
He squeezed her hand tightly, “Don’t go.”
Riane squeezed his hand back, before using her other hand to pull it away. “Be nice to your mother and take care of your brothers.” She told him before she kissed his cheek and whispered, “I love you.” Not allowing Julian to respond, she walked towards her father.
He tossed her coat at her and they headed towards the front door. He opened it and hurried her out before shutting the door behind him.
Julian stood in the hall in disbelief.
“I… I have to call your father.” Nanette came to her senses after a few moments. “He.. he can’t do this.” She was trying her best not to cry, but the tears were already beginning to flow. “I won’t let him do this.” She hurried to find her phone.
Zachary stepped forward and placed his hand on Julian’s shoulder even though it was a bit of a reach. “Are you alright?”
Bryce did the same, “Yeah, are you alright?”
Julian shook his head, “No.”
The three brothers stood quietly for a few moments, before Zachary spoke. “Why did she leave? I thought her brother was her father’s favorite.”
“He is a mean man, and her brother needs her support. He needs his soft place to land when things get too hard.” Julian told them.
“This isn’t over, right?” Bryce asked.
Julian looked towards his older brother, “Not by a fucking long shot. I didn’t even get to tell her….” He cut himself short, “This isn’t ending like this or any other way.”
His mother had stood to the side and watched her son in the kitchen. It was the first time she could recall him actually making something for himself other than popcorn from the microwave. She assumed he knew how to do more since she wasn’t always there to make anything for him, albeit there was no actual cooking involved.
She had already made the batter and was waiting to ask each child if they wanted pancakes or waffles. In fact, she had been in the middle of prepping the fruit side when Julian strolled in and started chopping the fruit for her.
He had eaten while he prepared the tray and when he started making the green tea, she knew this wasn’t for him but the sleeping princess upstairs.
“You really do like her, don’t you?” Nanette asked.
“Uh?” Julian looked away from the steeping tea and towards her, before he nodded. “Yeah, also, I want her to skip some classes and spend the day with me. I was hoping this will sweeten the pot.”
She wanted to tell him not to skip classes, but the two got great grades, so she decided it wouldn’t hurt for them to have one day to play. “Where are you going to take her?”
“I don’t know yet. I was going to ask her.” Julian stopping playing with the tea bag and stood up straight to look at his mother. “There is so much shit her dad never let her do, it might take a lifetime to get all of it done.” He picked up the tray and walked out of the room.
He left his mom with a slight smile on her lips, because she had never heard her child speak like an adult towards her. Of course, Julian had no idea how proud he had made his mother as he ascended the stairs.
Heading down the hall, Zachary appeared and rolled his eyes. “Ugh, you are gross.” He mumbled as he walked passed his brother towards the stairs. “Mom! I want waffles!” He yelled as he fell out of sight.
Riane’s bedroom door wasn’t shut all the way, so he nudged it open with his back and stepped inside. She was still sleeping which hadn’t been the norm when she first arrived. She had always been the first one awake and to be waiting patiently in her room for others to stir.
Setting the tray down on her vanity, Julian moved towards her bed and gently brushed his finger over her nose. This made her nose twitch, but she didn’t awake. He did it again and this time she swatted at an imaginary fly.
“Riane, wake up.” He pushed against her shoulder as he was losing patience with this cutesy attempt.
Her eyes snapped open and she looked at the man hovering over her. The first reaction she had was to pull her blanket up over her chest, even though she was wearing a t-shirt. “What… What are you doing in here?”
“I brought you breakfast.” He said with cheer and grabbed the tray from the vanity to place on her lap.
Riane looked over the meal before her. She loathed raisin brand cereal and had no idea why he thought to choose it for her, but she decided to be gracious and tell him later. “Thank you.”
He smiled as he sat down at the end of her bed, “Eat, eat.”
She cleared her throat and took a sip of her tea, before pouring the milk over her cereal. The first bite, she had to force herself not to gag on the dehydrated grapes from hell. Each bite made her think of eating rat’s feces, but she tried her best to force the image out of her head.
In the end, she ate the cereal quickly to get the worse of the meal over with. Her fruit bowl was next and she was much more receptive to the cantaloupe, strawberries, honeydew melon, and actual grapes.
Julian watched her eat with a smile on his face and offered no hint he knew of her internal struggle with the cereal. “Let’s skip classes today.”
“Why?” She asked as she put a cube of honeydew in her mouth. “Mmm, your mom always picks the best fruit.”
“It’s the cook not my mom.” He told her before jumping right into his pitch. “We go to school without fail every Monday through Friday. Let’s take a day off, just the two of us and hang out. We can do whatever you want.”
“We can hang out on the weekend and do whatever I want then. I am trying to get my band teacher on my side.” She continued to pick at the fruit bowl with her fingers and delicately put one slice at a time in her mouth.
“Everyone is off on weekends. The world will be empty for us today. We can go to the aquarium and there won’t be a ton of people hogging the halls.” His voice was nearly to the register of begging.
“I’ve never been to the aquarium before.” She told him nonchalantly.
He tried to push down a devious grin as he had a feeling such a location might get her to follow along. “See, and if we go on the weekend, you’ll be filled with anxiety because of all the people, but if we skip classes and go today, then the aquarium will be our playground.”
Riane stared at him for a couple moments, before sighing. “Alright, but we can’t make a habit out of this.”
“Deal.” Julian jumped out of bed. “I am going to get dressed. Wear sensible shoes, we will be walking a lot. OK?”
“Ok.” She watched him leave the room and looked down at the tray. “Am I suppose to take this back down to the kitchen?” She asked, but got no response.
Picking up the tray and tossing the blankets off of herself. She placed it on the vanity, before drinking down her tea. Once she was finished, she immediately picked up her phone to let Blake know she wouldn’t be at school today.
“Are you sick?” He replied back.
“No, I am just taking a personal day. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She answered as she tried to pick out an outfit from the closet.
It took a little while for him to respond back, and she wondered if her text had gone though. “Alright, see you tomorrow then.”
She grinned at the reply and began to look through her clothing quickly, before settling on a shirt and jeans along with a pair of tennis shoes which Julian had suggested.
---***---
Riane wanted to attend her first class that morning in order to get back her test results. Julian had begged her not to go, but she was insistent. After all, she had studied hard for this test and she simply had to know how well she had done.
The bells rang around campus, and the first class was dismissed. Julian waited outside the classroom, when Blake happened to walk by. Though in Julian’s mind he was most definitely stalking Riane.
“Hey, Julian. I thought Riane was taking a personal day today?” He walked through the crowd of students as he came to stand next to the other man.
Julian cleared his throat and prepared himself to tell Blake off, but remembered Riane asking him to be nice to her friend. “Yes.” The answer hissed out of him like venom. “She will be, but she wanted to get her test results back for this class.”
“Yeah, mathematics has never come easy for her. She is trying really hard to keep her grades up in order to prove to herself the switch in majors wouldn’t hinder her.” Blake looked towards the classroom door.
She hadn’t told Julian any of that, but he nodded his head as if he already knew everything.
“Uh, she always waits until everyone clears out before exiting herself.” Blake chuckled, “During high school, one time, she waited but other students began to filter in and she got herself stuck. I had to go inside and pull her out, she was in such a panic about bumping into oncoming students.”
Go away! You are not my friend! Was the chant playing in Julian’s mind and he was barely listening to what Blake had to say.
In his mind, he shoved the other man away and into the crowd over and over again. Just the thought brought a grin to his lips, but he remembered the glare Riane had given him when he tripped him not to long ago. Blake had been the one to apologize to him, but Riane knew he had done it on purpose.
He apologized to her before she even had the chance to yell at him, which had defused the situation.
Stepping out of the classroom, Riane smiled at Blake first and jog over to him. She offered out her free arm as the other was holding books, and the two hugged briefly. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Ditto, but I saw Julian lurking around your first period and I thought you had changed your mind.”
She slowly shook her head, “No, I would have sent you a text if I did. We are going to the aquarium. I’ve never been.”
“I think you’ll like it there.” He held humor in his voice and a large smile on his lips.
Julian thought perhaps was sarcasm and believed Blake didn’t think Riane would enjoy it. He would show him. She loved seeing animals of any kind. She pointed at squirrels whenever they drove by one. He knew her better and she was going to love the aquarium just to spite Blake, he decided.
“Riane.” A gentle voice spoke from behind them and everyone turned to look upon Adonia.
“Adonia, hello.” Riane didn’t know if she should lower her head in anxiety or look the woman directly in the eyes.
Adonia looked at the two men standing behind her and her heart raced wildly. She hadn’t expected to find her with both of them. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“I am about to leave campus.” She informed her.
“Yeah, so make it quick.” Julian seethed with anger, while Blake stood calmly with his arms folded beside him.
In truth, Blake was not pleased to see her either, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of an emotional response.
“Oh, well, I wanted to tell you how horrible I feel about Hawaii. It was so ridiculous and I am so ashamed of myself. To think I could do such a thing… well, if I hadn’t been so emotionally distressed I would never have been so brazen. I truly am sorry.” She lowered her head to act as if she might cry.
“It’s alright, Adonia. I understand.” Riane reached out her hand and gently pat her on the shoulder.
Adonia looked up with a smile, but frowned at the two man harem behind her. Those were suppose to be her men and now this skinny, shapeless brat had stolen them both. How greedy did she need to be? The two didn’t even like one another and she was forcing them to coexist just for the great pleasure of her company.
“Thank you. I hope we can return to being friends.” Adonia continued to smile and watched Riane nod her head briefly.
“Of course.”
“Come on, Riane, we need to get going.” Julian nudged her with his shoulder and she agreed.
“Bye, Blake. See you tomorrow. Make sure you eat with Seth and Dalen, they will be expecting you.” She gave him a hug, “Ok?”
“Ok.” He replied and watched Julian grab her head and hurry away from them into the crowd.
Adonia waited for them to disappear before looking back at Blake. “After telling her the truth, she is still letting you follow her around?”
Blake suddenly realized the horror he had been left with and cursed Julian’s name internally. “Our friendship is stronger than you would expect.”
She slowly nodded her head, “You know, I often wondered why the two of them went on a couple’s date with us, when it was obvious later on they weren’t even really a couple at the time.”
Blake shrugged.
“It was to break us up.” She responded candidly. “They did a good job of it too, other than the part where they fall in love with each other and leave our relationship dead and broken.”
“I think we did that all by ourselves, Adonia.” He took his cellphone from his pocket and looked at the time. “I need to hurry to class.”
Before he could turn away from her, she grabbed his upper arm. “Is that what you are doing? Waiting for the inevitable demise of their relationship, so you can finally have her for yourself?”
Blake scoffed, “Were you always this bitter and cruel?”
“Yes.”
“You hid it well then.” He shook her hand off his arm. “Get to class, and don’t worry about my friendship with Riane anymore.”
---***---
Riane and Julian stopped in the middle of their day for lunch. They had spent the entire morning at the aquarium and showed no signs of stopping.
Julian couldn’t help but smile as Riane looked over the wildlife with wide eyes. She reminded him of a child on their first adventure there, and even some of the children around them were not as enthralled by the large glass displays.
She had watched a scuba diver in one of the tanks and they discussed in length once again their own scuba diving experience. The little activity displays were among her favorite, even if they were more for children, but Riane loved them.
Her smile created his own, and it wasn’t longer before he realized how much his cheeks hurt. However, he just kept smiling as he watched her, even when there was no smile on her face but a look of amazement.
She made everything new for him, even an old trip to an aquarium his parents had dragged him to against his will time and time again. This time he actually wanted to be here. He wanted to chase her from exhibit to exhibit. He enjoyed listening to her read out the placards in front of each one. He loved watching her try to move close despite the people around them.
Riane, on the other hand, had noticed his long gazes. They made her feel uncomfortable, but at the same time she didn’t want him to stop. At times she played up her enthusiasm in order to get him to stare a little longer or smile a little wider.
She took his hand so he didn’t feel like he was always in charge of their interactions. In this small gesture, she was leading their relationship for a moment.
Her heart never beat so fast as the first time she grabbed hold. She didn’t know what she was afraid of, as if he would suddenly reject her.
Of course, when she did grab it, Julian only held onto her hand tightly and every time she took his hand after that came easier.
Riane ate a pretzel with cheese while Julian had a slice of pepperoni pizza. Sitting at a table inside the aquarium, they continued to act as if the hundreds of people surrounding them were not there. It was just the two of them, enjoying their day together.
“We probably should have done the outside portion first, it will be warmer outside now.” Julian mumbled right before he took a bite of his pizza.
Riane chuckled, “It’s not like it is summer time. I am sure it will be comfortable enough this time of year. I hope not too many of the displays are down since it’s still not very warm.”
He nodded his head in response, but in truth he already knew she would answer his worry in that way. He had just wanted to say something to her, and hear her say anything at all in return.
“I hope Dalen and Seth are being nice to Blake and letting him eat lunch with them.” She said as she picked another piece off the large preztel and dipped it into the cheese sauce.
He didn’t like she had brought up Blake during their time together, but he didn’t want to start anything over it and ruin their day, so he simply gave another nod.
“I wish they had a garlic, Parmesan dip inside.” She mumbled to herself right before putting the large piece of bread in her mouth.
“They had a marinara.” He replied. “They really missed something here. They have the pepperoni, they have the marinara, they have the pretzel.”
She looked at him quizzically as if she was unable to put the puzzle together, which he felt he had lined up perfectly for her.
“Pepperoni pretzel!” He shouted excitedly and then lowered his voice when he realized others around them were watching him. “It’s all I am saying.”
Riane chuckled, and playfully rolled her eyes. “I am not certain it is something I would order.”
“That’s because you are boring.” He told her playfully, and then pulled a piece of pepperoni from his pizza. He gathered some pizza sauce from his crust on it. “Give me a little bite of pretzel.”
She did as she was asked by tearing a large chunk off and handing it to him with a large grin on her lips.
Julian put the pepperoni slice on the pretzel and popped it in his mouth. He chewed for several moments, before swallowing and then picking up his bottle of water. He chugged it down before putting it back on the table.
“Well, how was it?” She asked with curiosity when she realized he wouldn’t give her a response on his own.
“Probably best to do with a non-salted pretzel.” He stuck out his tongue, “Is it all dried and shriveled up?” He asked before sticking it out again.
Riane laughed, “I’d offer to kiss it and make it better, but that would just be awkward.”
He smiled widely before laughing himself, “I don’t know if kissing a boo boo works with an overly salted meal.” He leaned forward and stuck out his tongue, before speaking, “Githe ith a tray.”
“No!” Riane swatted him away, and motioned around the room, “There are children here.”
“I’ve seen many of them eating their boogers. You would think after a long morning of snacking on those things, they wouldn’t be hungry enough for lunch.” He said as he looked around the room.
“Gross, Julian, I am eating here.”
Julian chuckled, “You aren’t seriously sensitive to something like that?” He put on his best baby voice, “Does your stomach hurt now, little baby? Was the mean man icky? Poor little princess.”
“Shut up.” She hissed playfully before she stuck out her tongue covered in chewed up pretzel at him.
Julian’s eyes widened, “Now that is truly disgusting! How can you call yourself a lady when you go around showing chewed up food to people you supposedly love?” He bite into his pizza quickly, chewed it up, and then immediately showed it to her.
“Gross, Julian!”
“You did it to me first!”
They both began to laugh loudly, and ignore the looks of the other guests around them.
“Are you done?” He asked, “I don’t think I can eat anymore of this disgusting pizza. We should eat dinner after we leave here, alright? I’ll take you somewhere better than this.”
Riane nodded as she picked up her tray and headed towards the garbage cans with Julian close behind her.
---***---
Dalen had been at home with Emma and Seth. The two had a rather cutesy relationship which made anyone not in it feel uncomfortable. In fact, Dalen felt downright disgust around them.
He had tried to call Joe to get her to come visit him and go on a double date, but she didn’t answer her phone. It lasted an hour of trying to get her to answer before he finally realized she just wasn’t answering his calls.
“I don’t want to be a third wheel, you two go on without me.” Dalen had told them.
They both had enough courtesy to tell him to come along one final time, before they gave in to his demand and left the house.
As annoying as they were, Dalen knew it was a sense of jealousy and if Joe had been with him he would have found their relationship endearing.
The longer he went without speaking to Joe, the more he understood what was going on. She had wanted an open relationship with him, and whoever she had in mind was now taking up all of her time.
Perhaps, she had called it an open relationship instead of what it actually was; a break up.
As he stood in his kitchen, his phone rang and the name Ivy popped up on his screen. Answering it, he tried to clear any sorrow from his voice.
“Ivy, hi!” He smiled so she could hear it in his voice.
“Dalen! I was just calling to thank you! I got a job at Hurstmart and they just gave me my ugly green polo shirt today. I am so excited. I even had to buy khaki pants and some comfortable shoes. I start tomorrow.” Ivy’s excitement sounded like she was nearing tears more than being happy.
“That’s wonderful news.” Dalen’s false smile turned into a real one as he realized how touched she was to get a job like this one.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get something like this, if you hadn’t given me a chance and I promise I won’t let you down. I am going to work hard, as soon as I am finished training I am going to take all the overtime I can.”
He could hear her breathing hard and wondered if she had been jumping for joy or running somewhere. “I don’t think you need to go that far. Just keep yourself clean and work hard. We like to hire managers from within.”
“Don’t worry, I am not going to squander this opportunity. Please let me buy you coffee with my first paycheck in a couple weeks, alright?”
Dalen remembered this woman dancing on the bar tops and inhaling cocaine off another woman’s bottom. He could recall clearly walking in on her and Julian in the man’s restroom and her offering to take care of him next if he waited.
Julian never liked the woman other than as a way to party, and he didn’t care who else did what with her. So, he got to see her with many men over the years while her and Julian were on and off again.
He would never be able to understand why he helped get her this job, after all he had seen her do. She was not trustworthy, but he figured giving her a chance wouldn’t hurt anything. The most she could do was steal some electronics before she was caught, fired, and prosecuted.
He remembered her at the coffee shop the night he offered, and how she had looked so defeated. This wasn’t the woman he had met before. He was disgusted by that woman and often felt unclean when she merely held his arm to prevent herself from falling.
However, his heart went out to the woman she seemed to be becoming. A woman who actually apologized for what she had done and seemed to be trying to make the necessary changes.
“I’d love to.” Dalen replied.
There was such happiness in her voice now, which he had never heard before, no matter what drug or mix of them she had taken before. “Great! I will be looking forward to it.”
“Me too.” Somehow talking to her made his own pain feel a little less, and he wanted to keep her one the phone a bit more when he realized she was about to hang up. “Are they paying you well?”
“A couple bucks more than minimum wage, and I will probably make less without tips then at my other two jobs, but it is worth it to get out of that environment.” He heard her take a sip of something. “After my training is done, I’ll get a raise and in a couple years, I could be up for assistant manager and so forth.”
“Will you be able to pay all your bills?”
Ivy laughed, “Yes, don’t worry. Now I don’t have to buy so many clothes for work, I am sure everything will be a lot easier.”
“That’s good.”
There was a pause before Ivy decided to change the subject as she didn’t seem to want to exit the conversation either. “How are Emma and Riane?”
“Oh, great! Emma is dating Seth now, and Riane and Julian are still thick as thieves. You couldn’t get between the two of them with a crowbar.”
Ivy laughed, “That’s good to hear, and how are you?”
The question brought all his pain back, but he didn’t really feel comfortable explaining it to her. “I’m fine.”
“That’s good to hear too.” Ivy cleared her throat. “The bus is coming, and it’s rude to chat on the phone in front of other people, so I’ll call you soon.”
“Yes, please call me and let me know how your first day was, alright?” Dalen didn’t know why he asked her to do that, but he thought maybe it was to give her another reason to call.
“Will do. Have a good night!”
“You too.”
He hung up his phone and stared at it for a couple moments, before tossing it on the kitchen isle. He looked over at the spot where Joe used to stand while he was preparing food.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand what it was he had done so wrong. Not when they first broke up, or anything he had done in Hawaii that deserved his immediate exile.
There just was no rhyme or reason in any of this. He felt like he was the monster even though he had been victimized.
He wanted so desperately to understand what had gone wrong, but without Joe willing to speak to him, he didn’t know where else to turn.
With an audible sigh, he turned towards the fridge and decided to make himself a big meal to liven his spirits.
---***---
Riane stood behind Julian who was on his knees. She had his arms in the air with her arms wrapped around his in order to keep him from putting them down. “Get him!”
Zachary laughed as he tried to tickle his older brother, and Julian tried to kick him away, but once he was in close it was too late.
The younger brother did tickle very well, but he got a couple good spots which made Julian jerk around. “Stop!” He squealed.
Sitting on the couch, Bryce was playing on a video console and kept giving the group of three dissatisfied looks. He wanted to yell at them to shut up and get out of the room, but he had yet to show that side of himself to Riane.
The doorbell echoed in the background and no one listened as they continued to rough house. Julian got loose from Riane and grabbed his brother into the air, holding him horizontally in his arms, he exposed his belly for Riane. “It’s your turn! Riane has slim fingers that really get into the good spots too!”
“No! No!” Zachary cried with laughter.
“Tickle, tickle, tickle!” Riane said as she walked towards him with her fingers motioning her intentions.
“Riane!” Nanette called from the hallway.
Dropping her hands to her side, Riane left the room and Julian put his brother down in order to follow her.
Simon, her father, stood in the hallway and when she appeared in sight, he frowned. “We are leaving. This engagement is off!”
Julian was quick to move in front of Riane, so her father couldn’t grab at her. “What? Why? We didn’t do anything wrong.”
Simon looked towards Nanette, “I told your husband in no uncertain terms she was not to change her major, especially not to music.”
“She loves music, we...” Nanette tried to explain herself, but Simon tossed up his hand and silenced her.
“Riane, get your coat, we are leaving!” He shouted.
Zachary and Bryce entered into the hallway and they both took a place at her side, while Julian remained in front of her.
“I like it here. I want to stay with Julian.” Riane spoke softly to her father and the three males around here watched her wither back into the person she was on the first day she had arrived.
“Too fucking bad. Come here now!”
Nanette stepped into the way, “Please, Simon, I was unaware of any such promise made by my husband. We will have her change it back, and then everything will be fine. She can stay here.”
“No, this family was barely a choice for me, but you were the only ones who would have her at the time. Now, I know you aren’t to be trusted.” Simon snapped then looked back at his daughter, “Let’s go now!”
Riane took a deep breath and began to step towards her father, but Julian pushed her back behind him. “She is not leaving here! She is an adult who can make her own decisions!”
“Mom will pay for your school.” Zachary told her, as he grabbed hold of her hand. “Right, mom?”
Nanette nodded, “You don’t have to go anywhere with him. We will take care of you, I promise.”
Bryce placed his hand on her shoulder, “We’ll protect you.”
Simon’s anger rose, “They may be able to support you financially, but I am the one who gets to say whether you ever get to see your brother again. I’ll will end all this sneaking around Deidra thinks she is getting away with. You will never see Russell again, do you understand?”
Riane’s heart dropped into her stomach. She clenched tightly to Zachary’s hand, before letting it go. Her eyes went to Bryce first, “It’s alright. I’ll go pack.”
“I’ll send someone to collect your things. You won’t be see these people again.” Simon growled.
She swallowed as she began to step forward, but Julian grabbed both of her shoulders and his eyes begged her more than his words. “Please, don’t go. We will help you figure something out. Please stay here with me.”
She held her breath for a moment as she desperately wanted to stay here, but she knew Russell was all alone with their father. He needed her more than anyone else in this family needed her. Even if she couldn’t help protect him with her presence, her words of encouragement kept him afloat. “I can’t abandon my brother. He needs me.” She mumbled and brushed Julian’s hands off. “Please, understand.”
As she walked by him, Julian grabbed her hand. “Please, don’t go.”
Looking into his eyes, she gave a brave smile. “It’s alright. Don’t worry. Everything will work out as it should.”
He squeezed her hand tightly, “Don’t go.”
Riane squeezed his hand back, before using her other hand to pull it away. “Be nice to your mother and take care of your brothers.” She told him before she kissed his cheek and whispered, “I love you.” Not allowing Julian to respond, she walked towards her father.
He tossed her coat at her and they headed towards the front door. He opened it and hurried her out before shutting the door behind him.
Julian stood in the hall in disbelief.
“I… I have to call your father.” Nanette came to her senses after a few moments. “He.. he can’t do this.” She was trying her best not to cry, but the tears were already beginning to flow. “I won’t let him do this.” She hurried to find her phone.
Zachary stepped forward and placed his hand on Julian’s shoulder even though it was a bit of a reach. “Are you alright?”
Bryce did the same, “Yeah, are you alright?”
Julian shook his head, “No.”
The three brothers stood quietly for a few moments, before Zachary spoke. “Why did she leave? I thought her brother was her father’s favorite.”
“He is a mean man, and her brother needs her support. He needs his soft place to land when things get too hard.” Julian told them.
“This isn’t over, right?” Bryce asked.
Julian looked towards his older brother, “Not by a fucking long shot. I didn’t even get to tell her….” He cut himself short, “This isn’t ending like this or any other way.”