09-25-2017, 02:42 PM
Even if it was only one person, the house felt empty to Nanette. She had called her husband home as Julian slowly began to do nothing but sit in his room and make calls which were never answered.
Colin sat in the dining room with the phone to his ear as he waited for Simon to answer. His wife chewed on her nails due to nerves, and she hoped they could bring back Riane.
She had never seen her son so upset, and he wasn’t the only one. Zachary used to spy on her while she played her music, but soon would just sit happily in the room and listen to her. He never wanted any lessons and instead just enjoyed watching.
Nanette had overheard them speaking, and Zachary had told her when she was a famous pianist, he would come to all of her concerts. He promised to always provide money for her events and charities.
Riane had chuckled at the comment, but Nanette knew even though Zachary was young, he was trying to be genuine.
Now, Zachary was heartbroken. He missed Riane, but all he could think to say was there would be no concerts if Riane’s father had his way. She knew he meant to say things were unfair and this was cruel, but Zachary was like Julian in many ways, unable to say what he really meant.
Bryce had been sitting on the couch playing video games all week. It was unusual for him since he only did it with Zachary, and he couldn’t seem able to study. Nanette had asked him to talk to Julian, but Bryce informed her he was unable to console someone who was in just as much pain as he was.
She didn’t understand what he meant though she got the word “no” from it. She also understood how much all her sons missed Riane. She had become part of their family, and it broke her heart to know why Riane left. Riane didn’t feel like she was part of their family so she feared losing what was left of her own.
Of course, Nanette told herself it was a selfish way to view Riane’s reasons, but it made it a little easier for her to be able to blame Riane, just for a little while.
“She won’t change majors again, I promise.” Colin said and Nanette realized her husband had been talking on the phone while she was lost in thought.
She could hear Simon’s words loud enough.
He snorted, “She wasn’t meant to change them to begin with. I warned you about this, and you refused to keep your own house in order.”
“I didn’t mention it to my wife, because I thought it would be a non-issue. I don’t understand why an apology and a promise can’t fix this issue. It was nothing life altering and it can be set right.” Simon looked at his wife who was exhausted. He could tell she had been crying all night because her eyes were puffy.
“It is obvious Riane is too free in your home. She needs boundaries and it would seem you are either incapable or unable… or perhaps you downright refuse to provide her with any.” He raised his voice, “Your younger sons are a menace, I don’t know how I could possibly have thought attaching my daughter to one of them would bring them down to earth, when instead all it did is make a wild thing out of her too.”
“I hardly think a major in music makes ones child a “wild thing,” Simon. Aren’t you being a little dramatic right now?” Colin tried not to laugh as he was speaking as he couldn’t believe how ridiculous this man was being.
“Is it dramatic when you give guidelines to a contract and the other person doesn’t follow them? Riane will not be returning to your home ever. She will have another marriage arranged by the end of next week.”
“Simon, I...”
“Enough, my mind has been made. Goodnight, Colin.”
Colin turned his phone off and set it on the table with the screen facing down. He looked up at his wife, who was close to nearing tears again. “This could have been avoided if I had just told you. It slipped my mind, I am so sorry. You were excited about her playing music, I know, but I never thought you would change her major. I am so sorry, Nanette.”
Bryce entered into the dining room, where his two parents sat at the table. “I am assuming Mister Nairne refused to give us another chance?”
Nanette nodded her head, “I don’t know what else to do.”
Bryce smiled gently at his mother, “I don’t think you two need to do anything.” He explained and both of his parents perked up a bit. “I mean we are talking about Julian here. He is as stubborn as they come.” He chuckled slightly, as he walked over to the table and sat down beside his mother. “I know he spent all week calling her, but giving her space at school too. I highly doubt something like that will stand for long. He is being respectful for now, but there is only so long before Julian goes and well… Julian’s everything up.”
“Riane left on her own though. She did it for her family.” Nanette sniffled and tried to hold back her tears. “She didn’t want to lose her family, even though we were her family.”
Bryce put his hand on his mother’s shoulder, “I know, and I think she knows it too. She just needs some time and a little bit of a shove from Julian, and I know she’ll be back here all on her own.”
“You think so?” Nanette touched his hand on her shoulder.
“Mom, trust me, those two are mad crazy over each other. I mean, it’s kind of gross considering it is Julian, but it is sweet too. No way Riane is gone forever. We just got to get Julian out of this funk and into a fighting mode.”
Nanette nodded, “Yes, of course, they were… are in love, right? She said she loved him before she left, didn’t she?”
Bryce nodded.
“Oh, you are right. I must be worrying over nothing.” She halfheartedly giggled before standing up. “Maybe something for us to eat will get my mind off things. You get your brother into fight mode, alright?”
“Alright.” Bryce watched his mom leave the room for the kitchen and looked towards his father.
“Thanks, I doubt I would have been able to accomplish it.” Colin looked at his son with gratitude.
“No problem, I was getting really hungry anyway.”
Colin laughed and leaned over the table to playfully hit his son in the shoulder, and as he sat down he smiled. “I was afraid we were going to have to order out too.” He exhaled audibly, “Did you mean what you just said though?”
“I am counting on it.” Bryce stood up, “I’m going to try to rally Julian for dinner at least.”
Walking out of the room, Bryce smiled to himself. He realized in those moments it wasn’t Riane he was in love with, but the idea of a relationship. He decided he would start looking for one at school soon enough. Right now, Julian was his priority.
Now, Emma missed her friend and Seth had watched his own look heartbroken all week. He also had to watch his girlfriend rely entirely on him for friendship, and he knew she wanted her female friend returned to her. As much as they wanted to take their minds off of it, they were always reminded at school.
The void where Riane was meant to be seemed to feed on any happiness they might find, even if only for the smallest of seconds.
Sitting in the small pizza joint, they sat at a booth with green table top and green fabric to line the benches. They shared a medium pizza between them with half plain cheese pizza and the other half pepperoni.
Emma looked down at the slice of cheese pizza on her plate and slowly added Parmesan cheese from the shaker on the table. It was followed by some red pepper flakes before it was finally edible in her eyes.
Seth just ate his pepperoni as it was offered to him, and found all the prepping Emma did to be somewhat annoying. Although, he was glad she didn’t use a napkin to soak up the grease from the slice.
After he took his first bite, he looked up at Emma who didn’t seem too thrilled with her food. He knew it wasn’t the pizza, but she hadn’t been in a good mood throughout the week.
“We should have ordered veggies of some sort. This feels like a decadent meal without them.” He tried to joke and Emma gave him a partial smile followed by a slight nod.
Without saying anything, Emma stood from the table and walked over to the woman standing behind the register. She talked to her for a moment then took out her bank card and purchased something.
When she returned she had a small container of ranch dressing, which she proceeded to dip her pizza in.
“That is disgusting.” Seth hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it got Emma’s attention.
She smiled and chuckled, “I don’t like the pizza sauce here. It’s too sweet.” She told him and dipped the pizza slice again.
“Then why did you agree to come here? We could have gone somewhere else?” Seth shook his head in amusement.
She shrugged, “You like it here, so I don’t mind.”
He watched her dip the slice once more, “Are you actually enjoying that? My mouth is watering watching you do it, and not in a good way.”
She nodded, “Growing up, we always bought those cheap pizzas you have to cook at home.”
“You mean frozen ones?”
“No, the ones you get raw and have to cook.” She stuck out her tongue slightly, “They were also heavy on the bread and light on the sauce. My mom would buy jarred pizza sauce to dip her pizza in, but the jarred stuff wasn’t great either. So, my siblings and I would use ranch dressing.”
“The fact ranch dressing was at your disposal is gross enough as it is.” He teased right before he bit into his pizza.
Emma playfully flipped him off, “I love ranch dressing. On my salads. To dip baby carrots in. I prefer it for my dipping sauce for buffalo wings instead of blue cheese dressing, because that is disgusting.”
He agreed with a nod, “Any cream based dressing is.”
She ignored his comments, “I even love the packets of the dried stuff you put into sour cream and dip potato chips in.”
“Ok, well that is pretty good.” He was happy to see her talking about something she enjoyed, even if it was just salad dressing. The whole group had been depressed this week, and he wanted something to help take her mind away from Riane for a little while. Even if it was something he loathed.
“What kind of dressing do you like for your salad?” She asked after she sipped her soda through a straw.
“I really like champagne dressing, but you don’t find it at restaurants often. So, I either go with Italian or Caesar.”
“Eww, Caesar has anchovies in it. It’s fish salad dressing.” Emma shook her head in disgust, “It’s so gross.”
He snorted, “It doesn’t taste fishy.”
“Yes it does.”
Seth rolled his eyes, “You are just food stubborn, huh?” He watched her nod her head with her eyes wide and laughed. “Fine, fine, dip your sweet pizza into your nasty dressing.”
“I had no intention of stopping.” As if to prove her point, she dipped the edge of the pizza into the small plastic container and took a huge bite.
Seth pressed his lips together and looked disgusted by the dripping sauce. “Even if I gagged?”
“Especially if you gagged.” She laughed, “This is my favorite. You better get used it or our relationship won’t be long for this world.”
“You’d break up with me over salad dressing?” Seth asked with partial offense and the other part humor.
“Dude, this isn’t just salad dressing. It’s ranch dressing. I use it for everything. I’d brush my teeth with it, if I could.” Emma continued to laugh as she watched the disgusted face he made. “So, good. So, yummy.”
“Nasty.”
“This place makes you pay fifty cents for this tiny ass container, and I loved it so much I paid it.” She dipped her pizza slice in once again and took another big bite from her pizza.
Seth wasn’t as disgusted by the ranch dressing as he pretended, but he could tell this brought some joy to his girlfriend. He wanted her to have a moment before they had to return to reality.
She couldn’t believe a man she had shown so many horrible sides of herself to would be willing to help like this. After everything that had happened, she was certain all bridges had been burned.
They both ordered and then found a little table near the windows. Dalen had gotten a latte and added a little bit of sugar to it, when they sat down. She had asked for an extra chocolate mocha. In truth, she just wanted a hot chocolate, but she didn’t want to seem like a child.
“How is work?” Dalen broke the ice when he could see her looking for something to say, but not willing to settle on any topic.
“It’s great! Thank you so much for helping me to get it. I had applied before but they never called me back, even when I called to check on my application.” She smiled widely, “I am actually enjoying going to work, and I think in a few months I’ll be able to save enough to get a real apartment. One with an actual bedroom and no crackheads lining the stairways.”
Dalen felt proud of himself. He had been a little hesitant to help her as she had been an issue many times in the past. Sometimes going above and beyond to make Julian jealous by trying to sleep with him or Seth.
Seth swore he never slept with her, but there had been moments when Dalen was certain he had. Such as witnessing them leaving the men’s bathroom together. Of course, Dalen didn’t say anything, because he had been part of the nights activities and didn’t know if it had been his mind playing tricks on him.
He supposed Seth saying it wasn’t true had to be enough, even though he wondered if Seth would have even remembered it as wasted as they had been.
“Good, I am glad it is working out for you.” He cleared his throat, “Listen, I haven’t told Julian about this.”
“Oh? He doesn’t need to know.” She felt a little hurt that she had to be a dirty little secret, even though all he did was get her a job. She could understand though why this might look strange to Julian.
“Nah, he does. I just can’t tell him right now, because he is going through… well, he and Riane broke up.” He decided to be straightforward. If Ivy was truly better, she wouldn’t use this opportunity to go after an old flame.
“What? How?” She asked flabbergasted, “I mean why?”
“It wasn’t their own doing. Her father broke them apart, and Julian is focused solely on that right now. I don’t want to distract him. Mostly, because I think he wouldn’t care right now, and then after this is all said and done forget I told him at all.” He frowned, “Either way I am sure he is going to be annoyed, and say I kept it from him. So, if I am going to be yelled at about keeping it from him, I am actually going to keep it from him until he can emotionally handle it. Does that make sense?”
Ivy chuckled, “Yeah. I think so.”
“Anyway, I plan on telling him in the near future, so could you do me the courtesy of not telling anyone what I did until then?”
She nodded, “Of course. So, is Riane alright?”
He shook his head, “She doesn’t appear to be. Her and Emma aren’t talking since she is dating Seth now.” His face brightened for a moment, “Maybe you should get into contact with her. I mean this isn’t like an order or anything, but it would be nice to have a link to her, and I am sure she could use a friend.”
Ivy thought for a moment, “If I do this though, I won’t be a spy, you understand? I am not reporting everything back to you, but if I think it is something that could help, then I will think about letting you know.”
He smiled, “Deal, if you actually do it.”
She watched him sip his coffee, “You don’t look like your usual self, how are you and your girlfriend?”
“I don’t know if girlfriend is the proper term anymore. She and I decided to get back together in Hawaii, and then she immediately rescinds it and says she wants an open relationship. Apparently one I am not part of.”
Ivy looked confused for a moment, “One you aren’t part of?”
“She hasn’t called me or anything since we returned. My understanding is she has been spending all her time with some guy from her college.” He took another sip, “While I am sitting around like an idiot waiting for her to call me over.”
“It doesn’t sound like she is interested in you. It seems like calling it an open relationship was just a way for her to end it peacefully, check out some other guy, and if it doesn’t work out, she can come running back to you.” Ivy hadn’t drank any of her mocha yet and just continued to stir it with her spoon. It was always too hot for her to drink for at least a half hour.
Dalen didn’t seem taken aback by her words, but it was because he had been thinking them himself. He had just been too afraid to admit it to himself, and hearing them out loud made them real.
He grinned sadly, “Yeah, you are probably right. I just wish she had ended it properly, instead of leaving me in a state of hope.”
“Not everyone will leave you cleanly, and some will use you to their own ends. It’s important to learn to extinguish hope when it no longer serves you, but harms you instead.” Ivy got a spoonful of her mocha and blew on it before tasting it. The chocolate they used here was very powerful tasting, and the extra chocolate made it taste nothing like a hot chocolate. However, Ivy did her best to pretend it didn’t bother her.
“No one has ever told me to kill hope before.” Dalen smirked, “Everyone always tells you to hold onto hope; that you’ll never have your dreams if you let hope die.”
“Sentiment, really. Adults tell that to children, but the truth of the matter is there is times when hope needs to die. Like holding onto an old girlfriend, who is very obviously telling you she wants nothing to do with you.”
He nodded, “I see your point.”
“Anyway, I am going to get this in a to go container. I have work in a couple hours and I want to run a couple errands. Sorry, I couldn’t stay longer.”
“No, it’s no problem. Thank you for the coffee. Let’s get together again soon, alright?” He asked as she stood from the table.
The request threw her off for a moment, and she didn’t know if he was just saying it to be nice. “Um, ok, alright. I’ll see you soon then.”
Stepping inside, Bryce shut the door behind him and walked over to his brother’s bed. “You awake?”
Julian laid very still, but Bryce could tell simply by his brother’s breathing he was not actually asleep.
He pushed his brother’s shoulder gently and Julian groaned, but did not turn over to face him.
“Come on, Julian. Let’s talk about this. Let’s form a plan. Let me help you figure this out.”
Julian continued to lay still and showed no signs of wanting to act like an adult in those moments.
Bryce stared down at his immobile brother, “Talk to me.” He shoved his shoulder again, and once more only received a moan.
With a sigh, he looked around the dark room and thought to harass his brother with something, but decided it was not the time. “Don’t be a child. Let’s figure something out.”
Julian moved this time but to put the pillow over his head in attempt to drown out his brother’s voice.
Realizing this would get him no where and Bryce decided he needed to talk to the adult in the relationship first. Stepping outside, he shut the door behind him and headed down the hall to his bedroom.
His room was rather plain, despite his mother’s attempts. All he really needed was a bed, a computer desk with his gaming computer, and an area to study. He had placed a sofa to sit in while he read, because he hated reading in bed and the computer chair wasn’t pleasant either.
Sitting down on the olive colored couch, he pulled his phone from his pants and found the number he wanted to dial. He highly doubted she would answer his call, but he wanted to give it a shot. Maybe she could tell him something which would allow him to help her, and in doing so his brother.
“Hello.” The gentle voice answered after a couple rings. She obviously knew it was him from the caller ID.
Bryce could barely believe she had answered, and for a moment stuttered. “Riane, how are you?”
“I am fine.” She paused for a moment. “How are you?” It almost sounded like she was a robot reading from a script, and he assumed she was a little worried about what he could be calling about.
“I’m fine.” He mimicked back to her. “Um, Riane, we all miss you.” He hadn’t prepared himself for exactly what he was going to say, so he decided the truth would be the best place to start.
“I know, I miss everyone too.” The robotic tone left her voice and real emotion replaced it.
“Julian is a mess. He lays in bed when he isn’t at school, and he isn’t doing his school work now. Bastard never went to class and yet somehow manages to do better than me.” He tried to joke, but he could tell she wasn’t in the mood. “Now, his grades are dropping.”
“It’s only been a week. I am sure he will recover soon enough.” She told him coldly.
“That’s harsh, Riane.” Bryce snapped, “My mom is crying her eyes out. She wants to know why we weren’t your family. Why didn’t you consider us before you left? Why didn’t you at least say goodbye?”
“I couldn’t say goodbye, my father wouldn’t let me. You were there, you know that.” She cleared her throat, “As for why I didn’t consider you as family, I did, but you guys don’t need me. Russell does, and I don’t want to lose my brother and leave him here with my father to be raised with love from only one source.”
He knew she meant Deidra, and as much as he wanted to be angry with her choice, he did understand her reasoning. “Does it have to be this extreme? Do you have to cut us completely out like this?”
“I am afraid so. My father made his instructions very clear.” Riane was trying to keep her voice calm, so Bryce couldn’t hear her heartbreak.
“You realize this makes us feel like nothing to you. Like all the time we were together...” He wanted to be cruel to her, but as the words flowed out, all they did was hurt himself.
“I am sorry. I never wanted it to end this way. Maybe someday in the future, when Russell is older, we can all get together again, but for now, I have to do as my father tells me to do.” She cleared her throat of the lump which was forming. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you, but I knew you would be reasonable and listen to me. Please help Julian to understand. He followed me from classroom to classroom all last week, and I really need him to stop.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Thank you, Bryce. Goodbye.”
“Wait!” He cried out and waited for her to reply so he knew she didn’t hang up on him.
“Yes?”
Bryce was quiet for a moment, “Help me to understand how I can help you? Give me some information, anything, so I can get you back here.”
Riane chuckled bitterly, “There is nothing you can do. My father has absolutely lost all sense of reason. I am hoping in a couple months, he might calm down a bit, but right now he is out of his mind.”
“Why? I don’t understand. Why is a music degree such a big deal?”
“My mom was a musician, but that’s all I can figure out. I don’t know why he hates her so much, but the moment he shoved her out, he threw everything away that belonged to her. I got to play music in high school, but he always told me to never think of making it my career.” She sighed audibly, “I just think he really hates my mom, so I am not allowed to do anything she has done.”
“So, he is punishing you because of your mom?” Bryce didn’t need an answer, but heard her gently confirm. “Don’t stay there. Come back here. We can figure something out with Russell.”
Riane smiled and was genuinely touched at Bryce’s attempts, “I can’t do that. I am going to hang up now.”
Before he could tell her not to hang up, she had already done it. Bryce stared at his phone for a moment, before tossing it on the couch beside him. He hadn’t gotten her to agree to come back, but he did figure out the problem with her father. It was something Julian would need to hear.
“You awake, yet?” He asked as he walked over to the bed and sat down near Julian’s feet.
Julian didn’t respond.
Inhaling deeply, Bryce stared at his brother’s body laying in the bed, before grabbing his legs and shoving them repeatedly into the bed. “Wake up!” He shouted and chuckled.
Julian finally turned over with a look of pure rage in his eyes as he flung his pillow towards his brother’s face. “Stop!”
The older brother continued to smirk as he held the caught pillow in his hands. “I just talked to Riane.”
His younger brother’s eyes opened widely briefly, before he remembered he was in pout mode and he quickly looked away before crossing his arms over his chest. “So?” Those his tone held jealousy, probably because she would talk to Bryce and not him.
“I found out a little something as to why her father doesn’t like the music degree, but I guess if you aren’t interested.” Bryce tossed the pillow back at his brother and it hit him in the face as Julian’s arms were crossed and he wasn’t expecting the attack. After a brief moment of giggles from seeing his brother being hit, Bryce moved towards the door and opened it.
Julian refused to ask for the information, but Bryce wasn’t going to give it to him so easily. If he wanted it then he would need to at least earn it in the most basic of ways. After all, Julian respected nothing that came free.
“It might help, but whatever.” Bryce told him before stepping out into the hall. He closed the door as slowly as possible, but still Julian didn’t ask.
Once the door was fully closed, Bryce mumbled about his brother’s stubbornness before heading back into his own bedroom.
Sitting down on his bed, he sighed. Riane hadn’t lived here long, but it had been long enough to change their day to day lives. Returning to the way things were before just wasn’t fulfilling. It felt like they had taken steps back.
Even Zachary who tried his best not to like her, enjoyed watching her play music in the music room. Sometimes, he would do it openly and other times he would hide somewhere in the room. It was as if Riane’s playing was a siren’s song for him, but he refused to have any interaction with her other than that.
It had been heartbreaking watching Zachary try to convince her to stay. He never begged anyone for anything.
His bedroom door opened and Julian stepped inside. He glared down his older brother for a moment, before walking over to the bed and sitting down. He still did not speak and continued to only look at him.
“What?” Bryce asked when he could no longer be distracted by the phone, because of the intensity Julian brought.
Julian frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.
“If you want to know, you have to use your words like a human being and ask for it.” Bryce told him as he got off the bed and walked over to sit at his computer desk. He started to look through some of his textbooks.
Standing up from the bed, Julian walked over to his brother and immediate shoved his hand into his brother’s head. “Fucking tell me!” He shouted.
Bryce stood from his chair to hover over his shorter brother, “Do it again, I dare you!”
Julian shoved him in the chest, “What the fuck is it?”
Bryce retaliated that time and shoved his brother back, which caused Julian to stumble backwards a few steps before catching himself on the couch. “If you want to fight then let’s fight, but if you want to talk then let’s talk. I am not doing both with your right now.”
Standing up from his fallen position, Julian seemed to think over the choices his brother gave him. He remained quiet while Bryce held firm in his stance, just in case Julian decided to charge him.
He knew this was an attempt to alleviate his anger and stress. Julian wanted to fight him because he wanted to be in physical pain, because it hurt less then the pain he felt on the inside.
“What did she say?” Julian finally asked.
“She told me her mother was a musician, and her dad loathes her.” He explained and watched Julian look at him in annoyance, as if this wasn’t anything which could held him. “So, in essence he is punishing Riane for her mother, even though Riane says she doesn’t know what wrong her mother did.”
“So?” He shrugged.
“So?” Bryce snorted, “So, you now have Simon’s motive and having information about the enemy is half the battle.”
Julian seemed to be shutting down again, but Bryce wasn’t going to have it. He charged towards his brother and grabbed him by the collar.
“Are you seriously going to do this? Just give up and lay around? Everyone else is fighting more to bring her back then you are!” He shook his brother harshly.
Julian grabbed his brother’s wrists as he tried to pry them away from his clothing. “She told me not to do anything.”
He laughed bitterly, “She told you? So, what? That’s it then. Riane tells you to go away and you act like a kicked puppy?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Anything! Anything at all!” Bryce shouted, which caused his mother to come up the stairs and find her way to his bedroom door.
“What is going on?” Nanette asked.
“I can’t do anything!” Julian yelled back, “She doesn’t want our help. She wants us to leave her alone!”
“Do something anyway!”
Julian stared at his brother and shoved his arms away, before speaking sarcastically. “Fine, fine, you want me to do something? I’ll fucking just go get her. Who fucking cares what Simon could do to our family?”
“Good, go. Bring her back!” Bryce ordered without a hint of sarcasm.
“Fine, I am going!” Julian pushed passed his mother and headed for the front door. They heard it slam behind him, and Bryce smirked.
“What are you doing?” Nanette asked.
Her eldest son looked towards her with a smile, “Making him act, because when he is acting and being rash that is the best, most stubborn version of him. Don’t you think?”
Colin sat in the dining room with the phone to his ear as he waited for Simon to answer. His wife chewed on her nails due to nerves, and she hoped they could bring back Riane.
She had never seen her son so upset, and he wasn’t the only one. Zachary used to spy on her while she played her music, but soon would just sit happily in the room and listen to her. He never wanted any lessons and instead just enjoyed watching.
Nanette had overheard them speaking, and Zachary had told her when she was a famous pianist, he would come to all of her concerts. He promised to always provide money for her events and charities.
Riane had chuckled at the comment, but Nanette knew even though Zachary was young, he was trying to be genuine.
Now, Zachary was heartbroken. He missed Riane, but all he could think to say was there would be no concerts if Riane’s father had his way. She knew he meant to say things were unfair and this was cruel, but Zachary was like Julian in many ways, unable to say what he really meant.
Bryce had been sitting on the couch playing video games all week. It was unusual for him since he only did it with Zachary, and he couldn’t seem able to study. Nanette had asked him to talk to Julian, but Bryce informed her he was unable to console someone who was in just as much pain as he was.
She didn’t understand what he meant though she got the word “no” from it. She also understood how much all her sons missed Riane. She had become part of their family, and it broke her heart to know why Riane left. Riane didn’t feel like she was part of their family so she feared losing what was left of her own.
Of course, Nanette told herself it was a selfish way to view Riane’s reasons, but it made it a little easier for her to be able to blame Riane, just for a little while.
“She won’t change majors again, I promise.” Colin said and Nanette realized her husband had been talking on the phone while she was lost in thought.
She could hear Simon’s words loud enough.
He snorted, “She wasn’t meant to change them to begin with. I warned you about this, and you refused to keep your own house in order.”
“I didn’t mention it to my wife, because I thought it would be a non-issue. I don’t understand why an apology and a promise can’t fix this issue. It was nothing life altering and it can be set right.” Simon looked at his wife who was exhausted. He could tell she had been crying all night because her eyes were puffy.
“It is obvious Riane is too free in your home. She needs boundaries and it would seem you are either incapable or unable… or perhaps you downright refuse to provide her with any.” He raised his voice, “Your younger sons are a menace, I don’t know how I could possibly have thought attaching my daughter to one of them would bring them down to earth, when instead all it did is make a wild thing out of her too.”
“I hardly think a major in music makes ones child a “wild thing,” Simon. Aren’t you being a little dramatic right now?” Colin tried not to laugh as he was speaking as he couldn’t believe how ridiculous this man was being.
“Is it dramatic when you give guidelines to a contract and the other person doesn’t follow them? Riane will not be returning to your home ever. She will have another marriage arranged by the end of next week.”
“Simon, I...”
“Enough, my mind has been made. Goodnight, Colin.”
Colin turned his phone off and set it on the table with the screen facing down. He looked up at his wife, who was close to nearing tears again. “This could have been avoided if I had just told you. It slipped my mind, I am so sorry. You were excited about her playing music, I know, but I never thought you would change her major. I am so sorry, Nanette.”
Bryce entered into the dining room, where his two parents sat at the table. “I am assuming Mister Nairne refused to give us another chance?”
Nanette nodded her head, “I don’t know what else to do.”
Bryce smiled gently at his mother, “I don’t think you two need to do anything.” He explained and both of his parents perked up a bit. “I mean we are talking about Julian here. He is as stubborn as they come.” He chuckled slightly, as he walked over to the table and sat down beside his mother. “I know he spent all week calling her, but giving her space at school too. I highly doubt something like that will stand for long. He is being respectful for now, but there is only so long before Julian goes and well… Julian’s everything up.”
“Riane left on her own though. She did it for her family.” Nanette sniffled and tried to hold back her tears. “She didn’t want to lose her family, even though we were her family.”
Bryce put his hand on his mother’s shoulder, “I know, and I think she knows it too. She just needs some time and a little bit of a shove from Julian, and I know she’ll be back here all on her own.”
“You think so?” Nanette touched his hand on her shoulder.
“Mom, trust me, those two are mad crazy over each other. I mean, it’s kind of gross considering it is Julian, but it is sweet too. No way Riane is gone forever. We just got to get Julian out of this funk and into a fighting mode.”
Nanette nodded, “Yes, of course, they were… are in love, right? She said she loved him before she left, didn’t she?”
Bryce nodded.
“Oh, you are right. I must be worrying over nothing.” She halfheartedly giggled before standing up. “Maybe something for us to eat will get my mind off things. You get your brother into fight mode, alright?”
“Alright.” Bryce watched his mom leave the room for the kitchen and looked towards his father.
“Thanks, I doubt I would have been able to accomplish it.” Colin looked at his son with gratitude.
“No problem, I was getting really hungry anyway.”
Colin laughed and leaned over the table to playfully hit his son in the shoulder, and as he sat down he smiled. “I was afraid we were going to have to order out too.” He exhaled audibly, “Did you mean what you just said though?”
“I am counting on it.” Bryce stood up, “I’m going to try to rally Julian for dinner at least.”
Walking out of the room, Bryce smiled to himself. He realized in those moments it wasn’t Riane he was in love with, but the idea of a relationship. He decided he would start looking for one at school soon enough. Right now, Julian was his priority.
---***---
Seth and Emma had all the hope in the world when their relationship was able to go forward. They had laid awake on the phone with one another making plans, and had held hands and kissed openly. Things were sweet in the first days of their relationship, and the excitement seemed as if it would be never ending.Now, Emma missed her friend and Seth had watched his own look heartbroken all week. He also had to watch his girlfriend rely entirely on him for friendship, and he knew she wanted her female friend returned to her. As much as they wanted to take their minds off of it, they were always reminded at school.
The void where Riane was meant to be seemed to feed on any happiness they might find, even if only for the smallest of seconds.
Sitting in the small pizza joint, they sat at a booth with green table top and green fabric to line the benches. They shared a medium pizza between them with half plain cheese pizza and the other half pepperoni.
Emma looked down at the slice of cheese pizza on her plate and slowly added Parmesan cheese from the shaker on the table. It was followed by some red pepper flakes before it was finally edible in her eyes.
Seth just ate his pepperoni as it was offered to him, and found all the prepping Emma did to be somewhat annoying. Although, he was glad she didn’t use a napkin to soak up the grease from the slice.
After he took his first bite, he looked up at Emma who didn’t seem too thrilled with her food. He knew it wasn’t the pizza, but she hadn’t been in a good mood throughout the week.
“We should have ordered veggies of some sort. This feels like a decadent meal without them.” He tried to joke and Emma gave him a partial smile followed by a slight nod.
Without saying anything, Emma stood from the table and walked over to the woman standing behind the register. She talked to her for a moment then took out her bank card and purchased something.
When she returned she had a small container of ranch dressing, which she proceeded to dip her pizza in.
“That is disgusting.” Seth hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it got Emma’s attention.
She smiled and chuckled, “I don’t like the pizza sauce here. It’s too sweet.” She told him and dipped the pizza slice again.
“Then why did you agree to come here? We could have gone somewhere else?” Seth shook his head in amusement.
She shrugged, “You like it here, so I don’t mind.”
He watched her dip the slice once more, “Are you actually enjoying that? My mouth is watering watching you do it, and not in a good way.”
She nodded, “Growing up, we always bought those cheap pizzas you have to cook at home.”
“You mean frozen ones?”
“No, the ones you get raw and have to cook.” She stuck out her tongue slightly, “They were also heavy on the bread and light on the sauce. My mom would buy jarred pizza sauce to dip her pizza in, but the jarred stuff wasn’t great either. So, my siblings and I would use ranch dressing.”
“The fact ranch dressing was at your disposal is gross enough as it is.” He teased right before he bit into his pizza.
Emma playfully flipped him off, “I love ranch dressing. On my salads. To dip baby carrots in. I prefer it for my dipping sauce for buffalo wings instead of blue cheese dressing, because that is disgusting.”
He agreed with a nod, “Any cream based dressing is.”
She ignored his comments, “I even love the packets of the dried stuff you put into sour cream and dip potato chips in.”
“Ok, well that is pretty good.” He was happy to see her talking about something she enjoyed, even if it was just salad dressing. The whole group had been depressed this week, and he wanted something to help take her mind away from Riane for a little while. Even if it was something he loathed.
“What kind of dressing do you like for your salad?” She asked after she sipped her soda through a straw.
“I really like champagne dressing, but you don’t find it at restaurants often. So, I either go with Italian or Caesar.”
“Eww, Caesar has anchovies in it. It’s fish salad dressing.” Emma shook her head in disgust, “It’s so gross.”
He snorted, “It doesn’t taste fishy.”
“Yes it does.”
Seth rolled his eyes, “You are just food stubborn, huh?” He watched her nod her head with her eyes wide and laughed. “Fine, fine, dip your sweet pizza into your nasty dressing.”
“I had no intention of stopping.” As if to prove her point, she dipped the edge of the pizza into the small plastic container and took a huge bite.
Seth pressed his lips together and looked disgusted by the dripping sauce. “Even if I gagged?”
“Especially if you gagged.” She laughed, “This is my favorite. You better get used it or our relationship won’t be long for this world.”
“You’d break up with me over salad dressing?” Seth asked with partial offense and the other part humor.
“Dude, this isn’t just salad dressing. It’s ranch dressing. I use it for everything. I’d brush my teeth with it, if I could.” Emma continued to laugh as she watched the disgusted face he made. “So, good. So, yummy.”
“Nasty.”
“This place makes you pay fifty cents for this tiny ass container, and I loved it so much I paid it.” She dipped her pizza slice in once again and took another big bite from her pizza.
Seth wasn’t as disgusted by the ranch dressing as he pretended, but he could tell this brought some joy to his girlfriend. He wanted her to have a moment before they had to return to reality.
---***---
Ivy smiled as Dalen walked into the coffee shop. She had promised to purchase him a coffee for getting her a new job, and she was determined to make good on that promise.She couldn’t believe a man she had shown so many horrible sides of herself to would be willing to help like this. After everything that had happened, she was certain all bridges had been burned.
They both ordered and then found a little table near the windows. Dalen had gotten a latte and added a little bit of sugar to it, when they sat down. She had asked for an extra chocolate mocha. In truth, she just wanted a hot chocolate, but she didn’t want to seem like a child.
“How is work?” Dalen broke the ice when he could see her looking for something to say, but not willing to settle on any topic.
“It’s great! Thank you so much for helping me to get it. I had applied before but they never called me back, even when I called to check on my application.” She smiled widely, “I am actually enjoying going to work, and I think in a few months I’ll be able to save enough to get a real apartment. One with an actual bedroom and no crackheads lining the stairways.”
Dalen felt proud of himself. He had been a little hesitant to help her as she had been an issue many times in the past. Sometimes going above and beyond to make Julian jealous by trying to sleep with him or Seth.
Seth swore he never slept with her, but there had been moments when Dalen was certain he had. Such as witnessing them leaving the men’s bathroom together. Of course, Dalen didn’t say anything, because he had been part of the nights activities and didn’t know if it had been his mind playing tricks on him.
He supposed Seth saying it wasn’t true had to be enough, even though he wondered if Seth would have even remembered it as wasted as they had been.
“Good, I am glad it is working out for you.” He cleared his throat, “Listen, I haven’t told Julian about this.”
“Oh? He doesn’t need to know.” She felt a little hurt that she had to be a dirty little secret, even though all he did was get her a job. She could understand though why this might look strange to Julian.
“Nah, he does. I just can’t tell him right now, because he is going through… well, he and Riane broke up.” He decided to be straightforward. If Ivy was truly better, she wouldn’t use this opportunity to go after an old flame.
“What? How?” She asked flabbergasted, “I mean why?”
“It wasn’t their own doing. Her father broke them apart, and Julian is focused solely on that right now. I don’t want to distract him. Mostly, because I think he wouldn’t care right now, and then after this is all said and done forget I told him at all.” He frowned, “Either way I am sure he is going to be annoyed, and say I kept it from him. So, if I am going to be yelled at about keeping it from him, I am actually going to keep it from him until he can emotionally handle it. Does that make sense?”
Ivy chuckled, “Yeah. I think so.”
“Anyway, I plan on telling him in the near future, so could you do me the courtesy of not telling anyone what I did until then?”
She nodded, “Of course. So, is Riane alright?”
He shook his head, “She doesn’t appear to be. Her and Emma aren’t talking since she is dating Seth now.” His face brightened for a moment, “Maybe you should get into contact with her. I mean this isn’t like an order or anything, but it would be nice to have a link to her, and I am sure she could use a friend.”
Ivy thought for a moment, “If I do this though, I won’t be a spy, you understand? I am not reporting everything back to you, but if I think it is something that could help, then I will think about letting you know.”
He smiled, “Deal, if you actually do it.”
She watched him sip his coffee, “You don’t look like your usual self, how are you and your girlfriend?”
“I don’t know if girlfriend is the proper term anymore. She and I decided to get back together in Hawaii, and then she immediately rescinds it and says she wants an open relationship. Apparently one I am not part of.”
Ivy looked confused for a moment, “One you aren’t part of?”
“She hasn’t called me or anything since we returned. My understanding is she has been spending all her time with some guy from her college.” He took another sip, “While I am sitting around like an idiot waiting for her to call me over.”
“It doesn’t sound like she is interested in you. It seems like calling it an open relationship was just a way for her to end it peacefully, check out some other guy, and if it doesn’t work out, she can come running back to you.” Ivy hadn’t drank any of her mocha yet and just continued to stir it with her spoon. It was always too hot for her to drink for at least a half hour.
Dalen didn’t seem taken aback by her words, but it was because he had been thinking them himself. He had just been too afraid to admit it to himself, and hearing them out loud made them real.
He grinned sadly, “Yeah, you are probably right. I just wish she had ended it properly, instead of leaving me in a state of hope.”
“Not everyone will leave you cleanly, and some will use you to their own ends. It’s important to learn to extinguish hope when it no longer serves you, but harms you instead.” Ivy got a spoonful of her mocha and blew on it before tasting it. The chocolate they used here was very powerful tasting, and the extra chocolate made it taste nothing like a hot chocolate. However, Ivy did her best to pretend it didn’t bother her.
“No one has ever told me to kill hope before.” Dalen smirked, “Everyone always tells you to hold onto hope; that you’ll never have your dreams if you let hope die.”
“Sentiment, really. Adults tell that to children, but the truth of the matter is there is times when hope needs to die. Like holding onto an old girlfriend, who is very obviously telling you she wants nothing to do with you.”
He nodded, “I see your point.”
“Anyway, I am going to get this in a to go container. I have work in a couple hours and I want to run a couple errands. Sorry, I couldn’t stay longer.”
“No, it’s no problem. Thank you for the coffee. Let’s get together again soon, alright?” He asked as she stood from the table.
The request threw her off for a moment, and she didn’t know if he was just saying it to be nice. “Um, ok, alright. I’ll see you soon then.”
---***---
Bryce opened the door to his brother’s bedroom and looked inside. It was dark as per usual, but he wasn’t watching a movie on the projector screen. Instead, Julian laid on his stomach on his bed with his head cocked to the side. His back was towards the door, so Julian didn’t notice him even if light shined in from the hallway… or perhaps he did and intentionally didn’t respond.Stepping inside, Bryce shut the door behind him and walked over to his brother’s bed. “You awake?”
Julian laid very still, but Bryce could tell simply by his brother’s breathing he was not actually asleep.
He pushed his brother’s shoulder gently and Julian groaned, but did not turn over to face him.
“Come on, Julian. Let’s talk about this. Let’s form a plan. Let me help you figure this out.”
Julian continued to lay still and showed no signs of wanting to act like an adult in those moments.
Bryce stared down at his immobile brother, “Talk to me.” He shoved his shoulder again, and once more only received a moan.
With a sigh, he looked around the dark room and thought to harass his brother with something, but decided it was not the time. “Don’t be a child. Let’s figure something out.”
Julian moved this time but to put the pillow over his head in attempt to drown out his brother’s voice.
Realizing this would get him no where and Bryce decided he needed to talk to the adult in the relationship first. Stepping outside, he shut the door behind him and headed down the hall to his bedroom.
His room was rather plain, despite his mother’s attempts. All he really needed was a bed, a computer desk with his gaming computer, and an area to study. He had placed a sofa to sit in while he read, because he hated reading in bed and the computer chair wasn’t pleasant either.
Sitting down on the olive colored couch, he pulled his phone from his pants and found the number he wanted to dial. He highly doubted she would answer his call, but he wanted to give it a shot. Maybe she could tell him something which would allow him to help her, and in doing so his brother.
“Hello.” The gentle voice answered after a couple rings. She obviously knew it was him from the caller ID.
Bryce could barely believe she had answered, and for a moment stuttered. “Riane, how are you?”
“I am fine.” She paused for a moment. “How are you?” It almost sounded like she was a robot reading from a script, and he assumed she was a little worried about what he could be calling about.
“I’m fine.” He mimicked back to her. “Um, Riane, we all miss you.” He hadn’t prepared himself for exactly what he was going to say, so he decided the truth would be the best place to start.
“I know, I miss everyone too.” The robotic tone left her voice and real emotion replaced it.
“Julian is a mess. He lays in bed when he isn’t at school, and he isn’t doing his school work now. Bastard never went to class and yet somehow manages to do better than me.” He tried to joke, but he could tell she wasn’t in the mood. “Now, his grades are dropping.”
“It’s only been a week. I am sure he will recover soon enough.” She told him coldly.
“That’s harsh, Riane.” Bryce snapped, “My mom is crying her eyes out. She wants to know why we weren’t your family. Why didn’t you consider us before you left? Why didn’t you at least say goodbye?”
“I couldn’t say goodbye, my father wouldn’t let me. You were there, you know that.” She cleared her throat, “As for why I didn’t consider you as family, I did, but you guys don’t need me. Russell does, and I don’t want to lose my brother and leave him here with my father to be raised with love from only one source.”
He knew she meant Deidra, and as much as he wanted to be angry with her choice, he did understand her reasoning. “Does it have to be this extreme? Do you have to cut us completely out like this?”
“I am afraid so. My father made his instructions very clear.” Riane was trying to keep her voice calm, so Bryce couldn’t hear her heartbreak.
“You realize this makes us feel like nothing to you. Like all the time we were together...” He wanted to be cruel to her, but as the words flowed out, all they did was hurt himself.
“I am sorry. I never wanted it to end this way. Maybe someday in the future, when Russell is older, we can all get together again, but for now, I have to do as my father tells me to do.” She cleared her throat of the lump which was forming. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you, but I knew you would be reasonable and listen to me. Please help Julian to understand. He followed me from classroom to classroom all last week, and I really need him to stop.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Thank you, Bryce. Goodbye.”
“Wait!” He cried out and waited for her to reply so he knew she didn’t hang up on him.
“Yes?”
Bryce was quiet for a moment, “Help me to understand how I can help you? Give me some information, anything, so I can get you back here.”
Riane chuckled bitterly, “There is nothing you can do. My father has absolutely lost all sense of reason. I am hoping in a couple months, he might calm down a bit, but right now he is out of his mind.”
“Why? I don’t understand. Why is a music degree such a big deal?”
“My mom was a musician, but that’s all I can figure out. I don’t know why he hates her so much, but the moment he shoved her out, he threw everything away that belonged to her. I got to play music in high school, but he always told me to never think of making it my career.” She sighed audibly, “I just think he really hates my mom, so I am not allowed to do anything she has done.”
“So, he is punishing you because of your mom?” Bryce didn’t need an answer, but heard her gently confirm. “Don’t stay there. Come back here. We can figure something out with Russell.”
Riane smiled and was genuinely touched at Bryce’s attempts, “I can’t do that. I am going to hang up now.”
Before he could tell her not to hang up, she had already done it. Bryce stared at his phone for a moment, before tossing it on the couch beside him. He hadn’t gotten her to agree to come back, but he did figure out the problem with her father. It was something Julian would need to hear.
---***---
Bryce walked into his brother’s bedroom once more, but this time he was armed with information. He hoped any hint of how he could help Riane would be enough to jerk his brother out of this mood.“You awake, yet?” He asked as he walked over to the bed and sat down near Julian’s feet.
Julian didn’t respond.
Inhaling deeply, Bryce stared at his brother’s body laying in the bed, before grabbing his legs and shoving them repeatedly into the bed. “Wake up!” He shouted and chuckled.
Julian finally turned over with a look of pure rage in his eyes as he flung his pillow towards his brother’s face. “Stop!”
The older brother continued to smirk as he held the caught pillow in his hands. “I just talked to Riane.”
His younger brother’s eyes opened widely briefly, before he remembered he was in pout mode and he quickly looked away before crossing his arms over his chest. “So?” Those his tone held jealousy, probably because she would talk to Bryce and not him.
“I found out a little something as to why her father doesn’t like the music degree, but I guess if you aren’t interested.” Bryce tossed the pillow back at his brother and it hit him in the face as Julian’s arms were crossed and he wasn’t expecting the attack. After a brief moment of giggles from seeing his brother being hit, Bryce moved towards the door and opened it.
Julian refused to ask for the information, but Bryce wasn’t going to give it to him so easily. If he wanted it then he would need to at least earn it in the most basic of ways. After all, Julian respected nothing that came free.
“It might help, but whatever.” Bryce told him before stepping out into the hall. He closed the door as slowly as possible, but still Julian didn’t ask.
Once the door was fully closed, Bryce mumbled about his brother’s stubbornness before heading back into his own bedroom.
Sitting down on his bed, he sighed. Riane hadn’t lived here long, but it had been long enough to change their day to day lives. Returning to the way things were before just wasn’t fulfilling. It felt like they had taken steps back.
Even Zachary who tried his best not to like her, enjoyed watching her play music in the music room. Sometimes, he would do it openly and other times he would hide somewhere in the room. It was as if Riane’s playing was a siren’s song for him, but he refused to have any interaction with her other than that.
It had been heartbreaking watching Zachary try to convince her to stay. He never begged anyone for anything.
His bedroom door opened and Julian stepped inside. He glared down his older brother for a moment, before walking over to the bed and sitting down. He still did not speak and continued to only look at him.
“What?” Bryce asked when he could no longer be distracted by the phone, because of the intensity Julian brought.
Julian frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.
“If you want to know, you have to use your words like a human being and ask for it.” Bryce told him as he got off the bed and walked over to sit at his computer desk. He started to look through some of his textbooks.
Standing up from the bed, Julian walked over to his brother and immediate shoved his hand into his brother’s head. “Fucking tell me!” He shouted.
Bryce stood from his chair to hover over his shorter brother, “Do it again, I dare you!”
Julian shoved him in the chest, “What the fuck is it?”
Bryce retaliated that time and shoved his brother back, which caused Julian to stumble backwards a few steps before catching himself on the couch. “If you want to fight then let’s fight, but if you want to talk then let’s talk. I am not doing both with your right now.”
Standing up from his fallen position, Julian seemed to think over the choices his brother gave him. He remained quiet while Bryce held firm in his stance, just in case Julian decided to charge him.
He knew this was an attempt to alleviate his anger and stress. Julian wanted to fight him because he wanted to be in physical pain, because it hurt less then the pain he felt on the inside.
“What did she say?” Julian finally asked.
“She told me her mother was a musician, and her dad loathes her.” He explained and watched Julian look at him in annoyance, as if this wasn’t anything which could held him. “So, in essence he is punishing Riane for her mother, even though Riane says she doesn’t know what wrong her mother did.”
“So?” He shrugged.
“So?” Bryce snorted, “So, you now have Simon’s motive and having information about the enemy is half the battle.”
Julian seemed to be shutting down again, but Bryce wasn’t going to have it. He charged towards his brother and grabbed him by the collar.
“Are you seriously going to do this? Just give up and lay around? Everyone else is fighting more to bring her back then you are!” He shook his brother harshly.
Julian grabbed his brother’s wrists as he tried to pry them away from his clothing. “She told me not to do anything.”
He laughed bitterly, “She told you? So, what? That’s it then. Riane tells you to go away and you act like a kicked puppy?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Anything! Anything at all!” Bryce shouted, which caused his mother to come up the stairs and find her way to his bedroom door.
“What is going on?” Nanette asked.
“I can’t do anything!” Julian yelled back, “She doesn’t want our help. She wants us to leave her alone!”
“Do something anyway!”
Julian stared at his brother and shoved his arms away, before speaking sarcastically. “Fine, fine, you want me to do something? I’ll fucking just go get her. Who fucking cares what Simon could do to our family?”
“Good, go. Bring her back!” Bryce ordered without a hint of sarcasm.
“Fine, I am going!” Julian pushed passed his mother and headed for the front door. They heard it slam behind him, and Bryce smirked.
“What are you doing?” Nanette asked.
Her eldest son looked towards her with a smile, “Making him act, because when he is acting and being rash that is the best, most stubborn version of him. Don’t you think?”