10-02-2017, 04:19 PM
Riane entered into her apartment and looked at the guests sitting on their couch. Chad and Luke played a racing video game on the television, while Brian and Kalei watched and cheered them on.
They were being exceptionally loud and after what she just experienced with Julian, she didn’t really wanted to be around visitors, especially strangers.
This place didn’t have wall around their bedroom and in order to get to it, she would have to use the stairs near the television. Going up them would bring unwanted attention to herself.
As she thought about hiding in the bathroom, Blake appeared on the upper level in the bedroom. “Hey, Riane, can you come up here for a moment?”
Kalei cooed at the request and playing sang, “Blake and Riane sitting in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g!”
The guys laughed, but it only made Riane feel more bothered by the entire experience. She tried to ignore them and headed up the stairs to find Blake sitting on the bed. She sat down beside him and they both spoke in low voices.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered as if Julian showing up was somehow her fault, and she seemed to flinch as if she were a puppy about to be punished when Blake turn to face her.
“What did he want? I mean beside the obvious.” Blake asked. He didn’t know where his heart lies anymore. He half expected Riane to never enter in through that front door again. He was both relieved and frustrated when she did so.
She shrugged her shoulders, “He is being desperate and trying to come up with anything.”
“Anything?”
“Yeah, he wants to run away together and hide until things settle down. He doesn’t understand with my father things never settle down. He gets his way or he destroys everyone else around him.” She sighed.
It was one of many sighs Blake had gotten used to hearing. He had known her a very long time and in that time he had learned how much of an ass her father was. However, it wasn’t until Julian that she started to show fatigue from her father’s cruelty. She used to just endure as if he was as easy as breathing air, but now she was suffocating and he was part of the reason.
He knew she was grateful for being able to stay here and his sacrifice allowed this to happen, but he wondered if she understood his selfishness behind the act. His heart called him a traitor to his friend and then immediately told him to grab hold to make her see only him.
“Why don’t you go?” He finally asked as the friend in him won the conversation once again.
“I would never see Russell again, and my father would probably try to hurt the people who were around me in his hissy fit.” She sighed again; a sigh which hurt his heart even more.
“When you lived with the Swithins, you never saw your brother unless Deidra sneaked him a tablet to call you.” He decided he was going to use some tough love on her because she was refusing to act at all. “Since we have lived together, you haven’t seen him. Don’t you think it’s time to stop using him as an excuse, because your father is already keeping him from you?”
Riane stared at him for several seconds, “Sometimes I wonder if you are trying to get rid of me. Do I bother you that much?”
“You are not the problem.” He was trying to keep his voice calm so the others couldn’t hear them. “It is this situation we are put into right now. I mean think about this, will you? Right now, we are pretending to be a couple to keep you here, it’s only a band aid solution for a pretty substantial wound, Riane.”
“I know.”
Blake exhaled loudly, “What are we going to do in a year? After graduation? Are we going to pretend during our wedding and the birth of our children? Will we pretend as one of us is dying in a hospital and the other one holds the dying’s hand out of obligation? How far are we going to go before you just own your own life?”
Riane remained quiet for several moments before finally looking up at him. “Just until graduation, and then we can call it quits. Please, I don’t want to leave my friends or this school.”
“What friends, Riane? You can’t stand mine, and you have thrown away everyone else but Ivy. You are lonely and miserable. I can’t watch you do this for much longer. Either you need to decide to be with me with feeling or you need to go be with the person you want to be with.” He couldn’t believe he was actually talking to her like this, but once the words started he couldn’t stop. “Or better yet, go be by yourself until you figure yourself out. Are you going to let your father control you forever?”
“Are you guys just going to stay up there all night?” Kalei’s amused voice called from downstairs. Her question was followed with laughter from the others, who assumed they were engaged in amorous activities.
Blake cleared his throat before replying. “No, we are just finishing up our conversation. Be right now.”
“Conversation. Right!” Brian teased.
Looking towards Riane, Blake frowned. “We need to get back to our guests, but I need you to think hard about what your plans are. Do you really want to live like this? Because I don’t, but I am not going to risk losing you if you want to stay.” He knew his words were confusing, but he also knew he was confused.
Riane returned his frown, “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She snapped and headed down the stairs.
“Finally, welcome back!” Luke teased and the group laughed.
Pulling out his phone, Blake sent a text to Bryce. “Your brother came over here and tried to convince Riane to run away with him.”
He didn’t really know his intent behind sending the message. Part of him hoped it would get Julian in trouble, and another part hoped Bryce could help him out. In truth, he probably just wanted an end to this. Any end would be enough as long as this pain went with it.
Bryce was quick to reply. “Did he? Fuck’s sake. He said he was over here just the other day. I’ll talk to him. Sorry, man.”
“No problem.” Blake replied before stuffing his phone into his pocket and heading down the stairs. It sounded like he got him in trouble, and that was an acceptable outcome for him.
Julian, instead, went straight for his room and slammed the door behind him; ignoring Bryce calling out his name.
He tossed himself on the bed of the dark room and laid with his face in the mattress.
Was Blake so confident in his relationship with Riane now he wasn’t bothered to leave the two of them alone? Did he really know she would never go with him? These questions bothered him more than anything Riane had said. If Blake did truly know she would never leave then what chances did he have of returning her to his side?
The bedroom door opened after a brief knock and Bryce stepped into the room. He cleared his throat to gain his brother’s attention and kept the door open to allow in light from the hallway.
“I heard you went to see Riane.” Bryce asked in the most gentle way he could muster. He didn’t want Julian to think he was accusing him of anything.
His younger brother remained quiet and laid still on the bed. It was an act he often did in order to get people to go away.
“Didn’t work out as planned?” He asked, but he received no confirmation from his brother. “Alright, if you want to talk you know where to find me.” Bryce told him as he stepped back out into the hall.
“Who told you?” Julian asked as he wasn’t quite ready for his brother to leave the room.
“Blake.” He replied.
Julian snorted and turned himself over, “That prick is tattling on me to my brother now? What a piece of shit!”
“I don’t think tattling is what he was attempting to do. Blake is my friend and he had always been very concerned for Riane’s feelings. I think because of Riane’s feelings for you, he was concerned about you as well. He wants you both to get better.” Bryce stepped back into the room. He wanted to turn on the lights in the bedroom, but knew his brother hated his dark room being lit up.
Again, Julian snorted. “You should have seen him today then. As soon as I showed up, he ran down to pull Riane away from me.”
“Did he?”
“Yeah, and then he just went upstairs and told her he would make an excuse to their guests. Can you believe it?”
Bryce didn’t know where the source of disdain was coming from, as it sounded like a perfectly reasonable thing to do. He opened his mouth to agree with his brother, but he couldn’t figure anything to say to do so. “I’m afraid I am going to need more context then that.”
Julian sat up all the way and leaned his elbows on his knees. “The asshole was certain she would stay with him. He knew he won so why be over protective or try to convince her to come with him. He already knew she would go back up to that fucking apartment.”
“I don’t think Blake is so confident in their relationship. He was probably doing what a best friend should, and giving her space to have a conversation with you.” Bryce couldn’t believe he was having to discuss this topic. It was obvious Julian was just jealous and looking for a rival in anyone.
“Whatever.” Julian tossed himself back onto the bed and returned to ignore his brother.
“I just think you are judging Blake too harshly. He is a really good guy. I mean he kind of makes me a little sick to be around, because he can be a little too moral.” Bryce explained. “The only reason he and Riane are even together right now is because her dad made them do it.”
That spiked Julian’s attention, who opened his eyes although he didn’t move much else.
“He was going to send her away across country if he didn’t agree to it.” Bryce could see his brother eyes had opened and smirked to himself at his obvious interest in everything Riane.
Julian laid there thinking for a moment but still not speaking.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your brooding. With all the errands you have run today, I’m sure you haven’t hit your daily quota.” Bryce once again stepped out into the hallway and reached to close the door.
“It won’t stop.” Julian spoke when he realized his brother was really leaving, and once again he didn’t want to be left alone just yet.
“What won’t stop?” Bryce asked with his hand still on the knob of the door, as he didn’t know if this would be a long enough conversation to get comfortable again.
“My feelings. I see her at school and I want to run over to her. I want to pretend none of this has happened and that we are as happy as we were before Simon showed up and ruined everything.”
Bryce’s heart dropped as he listened to his brother speak. He could hear the tears forming in his voice, so he stood up straight letting go to of the door knob. His brother remained with his back to him in order to hide the waterworks. “I’m sorry, Julian. I wish there was something I could do.”
“I just want her to do something, anything at all to let me know she hasn’t given up. I want her to tell me she is working on a way or thinking about me at all. Every time we make eye contact at school, there is nothing there. I sometimes don’t know if she is even the same person.”
“It’s not the same person. Her heart has been destroyed. She was only just trying to manage it while also trying to fool her father and be kind to Blake who is helping her.” Bryce wanted to sit on the bed with his brother, but knew that might be one step too far when his brother was feeling vulnerable like this.
Julian fell silent and the two remained in the room as the moments ticked by, but Bryce didn’t really want to leave his brother until he thought he was feeling slightly better.
It sounded like the tears had dried up when Julian spoke again. “Just leave me alone.”
Bryce nodded his head even though his brother couldn’t see him. “Yeah, ok. I’ll be in my room if you need me.” Reaching for the door knob he pulled the door closed as his own heart broke for his brother.
At the end of a movie, Emma smiled at Seth. “Let’s eat dinner.” She stretched out her arms.
“How about I go grab some burgers and fries, and you can pick the next movie?” Seth suggested as he stood up.
“You mean stay here alone? I don’t know if that is a good idea.” She was nervous and didn’t like the idea of having to explain to anyone why she was there.
“It’s fine. My dad is down south and my mother is visiting relatives, and the help already know you.” It was like he had read her mind.
She nodded, “Alright, only because it took us an hour to pick the last movie.” She smiled as he winked at her and headed out the door.
Seth grabbed his car keys and a light jacket before heading out; leaving Emma to search through the movie listings and decide on another film.
Only a few moments after Seth left did he send her a text from the driveway. “I didn’t ask what kind of burger you wanted? Cheese and bacon?”
Emma read the text and replied, “And avocado if they have it. What are you getting?”
“Probably a jalapeno burger or a barbecue burger.” He replied and then she heard his car drive away.
She continued to look through the listings and though she found a few she wanted to watch, she knew Seth had fallen asleep through the last romance movie she had picked. It had been a disappointment as she hadn’t been so rude to his boring science fiction films.
After a short while, the front door opened and Emma jumped to her feet. “That was quick.” She said as she walked out into the hallway, but she found a woman standing there instead of her boyfriend.
The long legged blonde was in her forties but could easily pass for thirties. She had a face full of immaculate make-up from false eyelashes to a perfectly contoured face. This was without a doubt Mrs. Barras; the former model and mother of Seth.
“Mrs. Barras, I’m sorry I thought you were...”
“I know who you thought I was.” She set her luggage down and hug up her coat in the closet. “Where is the help?”
“Seth sent them home since it was supposed to be just him and me today.” She explained and wondered if the woman knew who she was. “He said you were visiting relatives.”
The beautiful woman kept her red lips in a pout as she walked over to the younger woman and looked her up and down. “Emma Mcclure, correct?”
She merely nodded her head.
“So, you’re the gold digger?” She sighed, “In my days, they would at least attempt to look and act like the perfect woman. I see the homeless chic is in for the well to do generation now.”
This was exactly what she had been afraid of when Seth left her behind. It was as if the universe itself saw her fear and said to itself, “Let’s make that happen. Won’t it be funny?”
Emma cleared her throat, “Well, Seth and I were just going to lounge around and watch movies, and I prefer to watch them in sweatpants.” She watched the woman glare at her. “He is wearing pajamas. Red ones.” Come to think of it, he went out in those. She wondered what his mother might say.
Mrs. Barras pressed her lips together, “Any excuse for laziness then?” She sighed audibly, “Where is my son?”
“He went to get us burgers. Do you want me to tell him to grab you one?” She was trying her best to be friendly to the rude bitch in hopes that she wouldn’t find a reason to kick her out.
She rolled her eyes, “Everyone knows I am a vegan. You don’t keep this slim figure by feasting on beef.”
“You could if you exercised or counted calories.” Emma regretted her words as soon as they slipped out of her mouth.
Mrs. Barras looked the girl over once more, “Yes, I suppose so.”
She was surprised the woman didn’t become enraged with her response as it seemed everyone was scared of her around the household. “So, you don’t want anything to eat?”
“No, I ate on the plane. Thank you.” She walked into the living room and looked at the pile of blankets which Emma and Seth had been using as a nest. “I see the two of you are quite cozy.”
Emma followed in behind her. “Oh, it’s a bit chilly and all.”
She turned to face the younger woman, “Have you slept with my son yet?”
Opening her mouth to answer all she got was several uncomfortable “ums” out before Mrs. Barras saved her with further insult.
“I am just curious if you plan to get married because you have a baby or get rich and take the child far away.”
“I have no intention of getting married. I am a college student the last thing I need is a child.” Emma was feeling the heat rising but she knew she couldn’t explode on the woman no matter what, after all this was her home.
“So, you believe you can win Seth over without some sort of leverage. You realize how much money is on the line for him right?” She rolled her eyes once more. “Do you honestly believe he will give it up for you in the end?”
That’s what all this was about. She wanted to poke at their relationship in hopes it would end.
“I don’t know where Seth and I are going right now. We are still a young couple. Marriage and children aren’t even a something we have talked about, and I am certainly not interested in it right now.” Emma tried her best not to ball her fists up.
Seth’s mother was about to speak again when the front door open, and Seth called out. “They had onion rings, so I got those instead. I hope you don’t...” He turned the corner and saw his mother. “Mom, I thought you were visiting grandma.”
“Yes, well, when your father told me you would be here all alone for a couple months, I decided to come and keep you company.” She looked towards Emma. “Had I known you already had it, I wouldn’t have bothered.” Before her son could say anything else, she spoke again. “Take my bags to my room since you sent away the help, and draw me a bath. Then you can get back to whatever this is.”
Dalen smiled at her and she returned the gesture, before stepping aside and letting him in. He removed his jacket and tossed it on the arm of the couch, while she shut the door.
They had been meeting for dates at her new place because they didn’t want to be seen outside. Dalen didn’t know how his family would react to him dating an older woman who was a former alcoholic and drug abuser, but somehow he feared how Julian would react more.
His friend was in a fragile state and it seemed he exploded at anything which was even slightly irritating. No doubt finding out his friend was dating a long term ex-lover would send him over the edge.
Ivy had her own reasons for not wanting anyone to know about their relationship. Her first concern was her new job which was going very well, and she didn’t want her co-workers to know she was dating the future CEO of the company.
“I made dinner. I hope you are hungry… and prepared to be disappointed since I am a terrible cook.” She continued to smile at him.
Dalen held his smile as well, “I am starved and I’m sure it will be fine.”
The two continued to hold eye contact and remained unmoved. Ivy wanted to throw herself at the man and do terrible things to him that she imagined he had never seen before, but Dalen had been a gentleman since the beginning.
He had held her hand but that was the extent of their relationship. She knew in many ways this was for the best. After all, she had tossed herself sexually at far too many men only for the relationship to turn sour. Julian being one of them.
No this was meant to be a serious relationship and not a one night fling. If Dalen needed time to think things through and to grow feelings for her then she would wait.
Little did she know as Dalen held eye contact with her, he too thought of kissing her and much more. However, he was afraid too go to far. Not just because of Julian, but he didn’t want this woman to think he only wanted one thing from her.
Hand holding, accidental touches, and small brushes lit his skin on fire and remained for hours after her contact was gone.
Ivy finally broke the eye contact when the alarm in her kitchen went off. She rushed into the small room and pulled out a casserole. “It’s hash brown casserole. I figured I would make a bunch and be able to eat it for breakfast over the next few days.”
Dalen looked down at the concoction. “It smells good.” Though it looked hideous. Little hash brown circles covered in cheese and what appeared to be cream of chicken soup with bacon and sausage. He hoped it would taste better than it looked.
She smiled at his compliment, “I’ve made it many times before. It lasts a while in the fridge, plus you can freeze it if need be.”
Ivy didn’t have a table and chairs even though there was room for a small set in her kitchen, so she filled the mix matched plates with the food and pulled out two forks which were not of the same make.
Dalen took his plate as they made their way to the brown couch which Ivy had gotten from a neighbor who was throwing it out. The couch had a few rips in it, which she had tossed a blanket over. Her smell television was on a side table across the room, but she didn’t have any cable so it was for mostly viewing movies with the dvd player she had bought from work.
“Every time I come over here, it feels like you have something new.” Dalen said referring to the dvd player.
Ivy nodded, “They had them one sale for fifty percent off so I hid one in the back. Realizing who you are, I probably shouldn't have admitted to that.”
He chuckled, “It’ll be our little secret.” He watched her take a bit of her meal, and then reluctantly stabbed a hash brown circle of his own. Placing it in his mouth, he demanded in his head not to gag. However, it was delicious. It was a surprise he hadn’t been expecting. “This is very good.” He said with food still in his mouth as he pointed at it with his fork.
Ivy’s smile widened, “I am so glad you liked it. My grandmother is from the south and she makes all kinds of amazing casseroles. This has always been my favorite.”
“Well, if they are all this good, I might have to try more of these casseroles.” He began to eat happily. “This is the type of stuff that can make a man fat.” He joked.
She chuckled, “Explains my grandpa then.”
They both laughed at the joke and continued to eat with smiles on their lips. Ivy kept taking glances at Dalen to see if he really enjoyed his meal and wasn’t just saying he did. He never looked up from his food and quickly shoveled it into his mouth.
It was a joyful experience to watch him and she could feel a warmth growing in her chest. After a couple moments passed, she finally spoke. “How is Julian?”
Dalen looked up from his food and shook his head, “The same as ever. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“Yeah, Riane seems to be getting her humor back, but there is just this deep heart broken feeling you get just by being around her. I sure do miss the way she was before all this happened.”
“Me too, but let’s not talk about them. It brings down the room. How was your day?” Dalen took another bite of his casserole.
She shrugged, “It was my day off, but I went to the thrift stores to see if I could find any art for my walls. It was mostly clowns and cats.”
“I don’t think I have ever been to a thrift store. I’ve donated plenty, but never been. You should take me with you next time.”
Ivy laughed briefly, “No, you don’t have to do that. You moving through all of that stuff. I don’t think I could handle the mental image let alone the memory of you actually doing it.”
“Are you saying I am uptight and I would somehow be offended by donations?” He actually looked upset.
“No, you are just so… posh. I can’t imagine you in that environment.”
“Posh?” He smirked, “Well, torment to you or not, I would still like for you to take me some time.”
“Why?”
Dalen cocked his head to the side, “So, I can hang out with you. Obviously.”
She knew he meant without anyone he knew seeing them together, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment, nor did she want him to think she was angry with the way things were. For now, this was good enough.
He walked into the dining room, and inhaled deeply. “He went over to Riane’s apartment today to try and get her to leave with him.”
Nanette frowned, before also sighing audibly. “This is a wound that just won’t heal. Every time I think he might be getting better, he just does something to make it bleed again.”
“Mom, he sees her almost everyday at school. He spends most of his time, either pretending not to see her or staring holes into the back of her head. Of course, he’ll keep reopening it.”
She nodded her head slowly, “You are correct. Maybe I should send him to another school.”
“He wouldn’t allow it, besides summer break isn’t too far off. He’ll get three months without seeing her, and I’m sure...” Bryce thought of his brother’s words and how his feelings just wouldn’t stop. “Well, I’m sure something will happen for better or worse. We just need to be patient and let Julian and Riane deal with their own issues.”
Nanette listened to her son’s words and saw his father within them. Zachary and Julian may be geniuses, but Bryce was emotionally intelligent and capable of understanding people better than she ever could.
“I know you are right. I just want to do something to help my baby. Had I known this is how it would have ended, I never would have allowed your father to go through with this.” She held back tears. “I would much prefer the night club, drug doing Julian, who brings random women home.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
She slowly shook her head as she tears began to fall. “No, I wouldn’t. I want Riane to come home and I want to know they are happy. Is she happy? She couldn’t possibly be with Julian in this state, could she?”
“From what I know, happiness is not an emotion in her daily life right now.” He touched his mother’s shoulder.
Nanette slowly started crying as a small wave of guilt over came here. “Look at me. Hoping she is not happy because Julian isn’t. How cruel of me to wish such a thing on her. Of course, I want her to be happy and to know she isn’t, well it pains just as much to know Julian is up there upset.”
“I know you really didn’t really mean it.” He continued to touch her shoulder as he talked. “You just wanted to know Riane had just as strong feelings for Julian, and to know this wasn’t an easy change for her. We all grew to love her.”
When his father left suddenly for work, Bryce felt the need to talk over the emotional mess which was left behind. It seemed ever ending, because if Julian wasn’t brooding or throwing a fit, then his mother was crying over not only her son’s heartbreak, but what she perceived as the loss of a daughter.
She frantically nodded and looked up into her son’s eyes. “Do you know what Zachary does after school everyday?”
Bryce shook his head, even though he did know what he was doing. However, he wanted his mother to say it out loud since she seemed to need something to fill the air with.
“He goes into the music room and plays with the instruments. He used to love watching her practice and I think it was making him interested in playing, but when I try to talk to him about it...” She inhaled sharply, “well, he just doesn’t want to talk about her or he curses her name.”
“Zachary has a harder time dealing with loss than anyone else in the family, so just leave him be. He’ll find you when it’s time.”
Nanette patted her son’s hand on her shoulder. “I know. I just don’t want to feel helpless.”
“I know the feeling.” Suddenly he smiled, “Mom, why don’t you go make some homemade hot cocoa. You know how much Julian loves it and maybe it will brighten his spirits for a moment.”
Nanette returned the smile. “That’s a wonderful idea. I’ll make some for all of us. I’m sure Zachary will want some, and you need something sweet for how you are handling all this while your father is away.”
“Great, I can’t wait.” He watched his mother disappear into the kitchen with a little pep in her step.
Sitting down at the table, he folded his hands on it and exhaled loudly. There never seemed to be an end to the daily battles this family was facing over the loss of one person. It wasn’t like she was dead, but the fact that she acted as if none of this had happened was heartbreaking.
Bryce had tried to strike up a conversation with her at school a few weeks ago, and she acted as if he were a total stranger. When he tried again, she finally told him she couldn’t be spotted with anyone from the Swithin family and he needed to leave her alone. It was a painful moment in his life.
He watched her walk away and as much as he wanted to hate her for acting like he had been nothing, he also understood the consequences her father had laid out for her. So, he sat on a fence between anger and understanding though sometimes the anger side won out more than the other.
Zachary entered into the kitchen and sat at the table with his big brother. “Why are you just sitting here?”
Bryce grinned at his brother, “I convinced Mom to make hot chocolate.”
“From scratch?”
He nodded, “Hey, why are you going into the music room all the time? I thought you hated the idea of playing an instrument.”
He lowered his eyes for a moment before looking back up to Bryce. “She acted like she didn’t know I was there, but she gave me a concert almost every single day. Sometimes, I think if I sneak in there, she might be at the piano playing.” He swallowed, “She never is.”
Bryce placed his hand on top of Zachary’s head and roughed up his hair a bit. “I miss having her around too.”
The younger brother looked annoyed that Bryce would dare say he ever liked or missed that girl, but any energy he had just wasn’t worth it to deny anything or fight with his brother.
“Stupid girl. I knew she was a bad idea.” Zachary mumbled under his breath before standing up from the table. “I’m going to my room.”
They were being exceptionally loud and after what she just experienced with Julian, she didn’t really wanted to be around visitors, especially strangers.
This place didn’t have wall around their bedroom and in order to get to it, she would have to use the stairs near the television. Going up them would bring unwanted attention to herself.
As she thought about hiding in the bathroom, Blake appeared on the upper level in the bedroom. “Hey, Riane, can you come up here for a moment?”
Kalei cooed at the request and playing sang, “Blake and Riane sitting in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g!”
The guys laughed, but it only made Riane feel more bothered by the entire experience. She tried to ignore them and headed up the stairs to find Blake sitting on the bed. She sat down beside him and they both spoke in low voices.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered as if Julian showing up was somehow her fault, and she seemed to flinch as if she were a puppy about to be punished when Blake turn to face her.
“What did he want? I mean beside the obvious.” Blake asked. He didn’t know where his heart lies anymore. He half expected Riane to never enter in through that front door again. He was both relieved and frustrated when she did so.
She shrugged her shoulders, “He is being desperate and trying to come up with anything.”
“Anything?”
“Yeah, he wants to run away together and hide until things settle down. He doesn’t understand with my father things never settle down. He gets his way or he destroys everyone else around him.” She sighed.
It was one of many sighs Blake had gotten used to hearing. He had known her a very long time and in that time he had learned how much of an ass her father was. However, it wasn’t until Julian that she started to show fatigue from her father’s cruelty. She used to just endure as if he was as easy as breathing air, but now she was suffocating and he was part of the reason.
He knew she was grateful for being able to stay here and his sacrifice allowed this to happen, but he wondered if she understood his selfishness behind the act. His heart called him a traitor to his friend and then immediately told him to grab hold to make her see only him.
“Why don’t you go?” He finally asked as the friend in him won the conversation once again.
“I would never see Russell again, and my father would probably try to hurt the people who were around me in his hissy fit.” She sighed again; a sigh which hurt his heart even more.
“When you lived with the Swithins, you never saw your brother unless Deidra sneaked him a tablet to call you.” He decided he was going to use some tough love on her because she was refusing to act at all. “Since we have lived together, you haven’t seen him. Don’t you think it’s time to stop using him as an excuse, because your father is already keeping him from you?”
Riane stared at him for several seconds, “Sometimes I wonder if you are trying to get rid of me. Do I bother you that much?”
“You are not the problem.” He was trying to keep his voice calm so the others couldn’t hear them. “It is this situation we are put into right now. I mean think about this, will you? Right now, we are pretending to be a couple to keep you here, it’s only a band aid solution for a pretty substantial wound, Riane.”
“I know.”
Blake exhaled loudly, “What are we going to do in a year? After graduation? Are we going to pretend during our wedding and the birth of our children? Will we pretend as one of us is dying in a hospital and the other one holds the dying’s hand out of obligation? How far are we going to go before you just own your own life?”
Riane remained quiet for several moments before finally looking up at him. “Just until graduation, and then we can call it quits. Please, I don’t want to leave my friends or this school.”
“What friends, Riane? You can’t stand mine, and you have thrown away everyone else but Ivy. You are lonely and miserable. I can’t watch you do this for much longer. Either you need to decide to be with me with feeling or you need to go be with the person you want to be with.” He couldn’t believe he was actually talking to her like this, but once the words started he couldn’t stop. “Or better yet, go be by yourself until you figure yourself out. Are you going to let your father control you forever?”
“Are you guys just going to stay up there all night?” Kalei’s amused voice called from downstairs. Her question was followed with laughter from the others, who assumed they were engaged in amorous activities.
Blake cleared his throat before replying. “No, we are just finishing up our conversation. Be right now.”
“Conversation. Right!” Brian teased.
Looking towards Riane, Blake frowned. “We need to get back to our guests, but I need you to think hard about what your plans are. Do you really want to live like this? Because I don’t, but I am not going to risk losing you if you want to stay.” He knew his words were confusing, but he also knew he was confused.
Riane returned his frown, “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She snapped and headed down the stairs.
“Finally, welcome back!” Luke teased and the group laughed.
Pulling out his phone, Blake sent a text to Bryce. “Your brother came over here and tried to convince Riane to run away with him.”
He didn’t really know his intent behind sending the message. Part of him hoped it would get Julian in trouble, and another part hoped Bryce could help him out. In truth, he probably just wanted an end to this. Any end would be enough as long as this pain went with it.
Bryce was quick to reply. “Did he? Fuck’s sake. He said he was over here just the other day. I’ll talk to him. Sorry, man.”
“No problem.” Blake replied before stuffing his phone into his pocket and heading down the stairs. It sounded like he got him in trouble, and that was an acceptable outcome for him.
---***---
Julian entered his home and immediately ascended the stairs. He paid no attention to his brother whom had stepped out into the hall upon hearing his brother’s footsteps. It was obvious he wanted to talk to him, but the younger brother was in no mood. It wasn’t that he was upset or angry, but that he couldn’t pinpoint his exact emotion in that moment. This put him on edge.Julian, instead, went straight for his room and slammed the door behind him; ignoring Bryce calling out his name.
He tossed himself on the bed of the dark room and laid with his face in the mattress.
Was Blake so confident in his relationship with Riane now he wasn’t bothered to leave the two of them alone? Did he really know she would never go with him? These questions bothered him more than anything Riane had said. If Blake did truly know she would never leave then what chances did he have of returning her to his side?
The bedroom door opened after a brief knock and Bryce stepped into the room. He cleared his throat to gain his brother’s attention and kept the door open to allow in light from the hallway.
“I heard you went to see Riane.” Bryce asked in the most gentle way he could muster. He didn’t want Julian to think he was accusing him of anything.
His younger brother remained quiet and laid still on the bed. It was an act he often did in order to get people to go away.
“Didn’t work out as planned?” He asked, but he received no confirmation from his brother. “Alright, if you want to talk you know where to find me.” Bryce told him as he stepped back out into the hall.
“Who told you?” Julian asked as he wasn’t quite ready for his brother to leave the room.
“Blake.” He replied.
Julian snorted and turned himself over, “That prick is tattling on me to my brother now? What a piece of shit!”
“I don’t think tattling is what he was attempting to do. Blake is my friend and he had always been very concerned for Riane’s feelings. I think because of Riane’s feelings for you, he was concerned about you as well. He wants you both to get better.” Bryce stepped back into the room. He wanted to turn on the lights in the bedroom, but knew his brother hated his dark room being lit up.
Again, Julian snorted. “You should have seen him today then. As soon as I showed up, he ran down to pull Riane away from me.”
“Did he?”
“Yeah, and then he just went upstairs and told her he would make an excuse to their guests. Can you believe it?”
Bryce didn’t know where the source of disdain was coming from, as it sounded like a perfectly reasonable thing to do. He opened his mouth to agree with his brother, but he couldn’t figure anything to say to do so. “I’m afraid I am going to need more context then that.”
Julian sat up all the way and leaned his elbows on his knees. “The asshole was certain she would stay with him. He knew he won so why be over protective or try to convince her to come with him. He already knew she would go back up to that fucking apartment.”
“I don’t think Blake is so confident in their relationship. He was probably doing what a best friend should, and giving her space to have a conversation with you.” Bryce couldn’t believe he was having to discuss this topic. It was obvious Julian was just jealous and looking for a rival in anyone.
“Whatever.” Julian tossed himself back onto the bed and returned to ignore his brother.
“I just think you are judging Blake too harshly. He is a really good guy. I mean he kind of makes me a little sick to be around, because he can be a little too moral.” Bryce explained. “The only reason he and Riane are even together right now is because her dad made them do it.”
That spiked Julian’s attention, who opened his eyes although he didn’t move much else.
“He was going to send her away across country if he didn’t agree to it.” Bryce could see his brother eyes had opened and smirked to himself at his obvious interest in everything Riane.
Julian laid there thinking for a moment but still not speaking.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your brooding. With all the errands you have run today, I’m sure you haven’t hit your daily quota.” Bryce once again stepped out into the hallway and reached to close the door.
“It won’t stop.” Julian spoke when he realized his brother was really leaving, and once again he didn’t want to be left alone just yet.
“What won’t stop?” Bryce asked with his hand still on the knob of the door, as he didn’t know if this would be a long enough conversation to get comfortable again.
“My feelings. I see her at school and I want to run over to her. I want to pretend none of this has happened and that we are as happy as we were before Simon showed up and ruined everything.”
Bryce’s heart dropped as he listened to his brother speak. He could hear the tears forming in his voice, so he stood up straight letting go to of the door knob. His brother remained with his back to him in order to hide the waterworks. “I’m sorry, Julian. I wish there was something I could do.”
“I just want her to do something, anything at all to let me know she hasn’t given up. I want her to tell me she is working on a way or thinking about me at all. Every time we make eye contact at school, there is nothing there. I sometimes don’t know if she is even the same person.”
“It’s not the same person. Her heart has been destroyed. She was only just trying to manage it while also trying to fool her father and be kind to Blake who is helping her.” Bryce wanted to sit on the bed with his brother, but knew that might be one step too far when his brother was feeling vulnerable like this.
Julian fell silent and the two remained in the room as the moments ticked by, but Bryce didn’t really want to leave his brother until he thought he was feeling slightly better.
It sounded like the tears had dried up when Julian spoke again. “Just leave me alone.”
Bryce nodded his head even though his brother couldn’t see him. “Yeah, ok. I’ll be in my room if you need me.” Reaching for the door knob he pulled the door closed as his own heart broke for his brother.
---***---
The large house was empty of parents, so Emma and Seth sat in the large dark wood living room and watched several movies that day. She introduced him to a couple he had never seen and he had done the same for her.At the end of a movie, Emma smiled at Seth. “Let’s eat dinner.” She stretched out her arms.
“How about I go grab some burgers and fries, and you can pick the next movie?” Seth suggested as he stood up.
“You mean stay here alone? I don’t know if that is a good idea.” She was nervous and didn’t like the idea of having to explain to anyone why she was there.
“It’s fine. My dad is down south and my mother is visiting relatives, and the help already know you.” It was like he had read her mind.
She nodded, “Alright, only because it took us an hour to pick the last movie.” She smiled as he winked at her and headed out the door.
Seth grabbed his car keys and a light jacket before heading out; leaving Emma to search through the movie listings and decide on another film.
Only a few moments after Seth left did he send her a text from the driveway. “I didn’t ask what kind of burger you wanted? Cheese and bacon?”
Emma read the text and replied, “And avocado if they have it. What are you getting?”
“Probably a jalapeno burger or a barbecue burger.” He replied and then she heard his car drive away.
She continued to look through the listings and though she found a few she wanted to watch, she knew Seth had fallen asleep through the last romance movie she had picked. It had been a disappointment as she hadn’t been so rude to his boring science fiction films.
After a short while, the front door opened and Emma jumped to her feet. “That was quick.” She said as she walked out into the hallway, but she found a woman standing there instead of her boyfriend.
The long legged blonde was in her forties but could easily pass for thirties. She had a face full of immaculate make-up from false eyelashes to a perfectly contoured face. This was without a doubt Mrs. Barras; the former model and mother of Seth.
“Mrs. Barras, I’m sorry I thought you were...”
“I know who you thought I was.” She set her luggage down and hug up her coat in the closet. “Where is the help?”
“Seth sent them home since it was supposed to be just him and me today.” She explained and wondered if the woman knew who she was. “He said you were visiting relatives.”
The beautiful woman kept her red lips in a pout as she walked over to the younger woman and looked her up and down. “Emma Mcclure, correct?”
She merely nodded her head.
“So, you’re the gold digger?” She sighed, “In my days, they would at least attempt to look and act like the perfect woman. I see the homeless chic is in for the well to do generation now.”
This was exactly what she had been afraid of when Seth left her behind. It was as if the universe itself saw her fear and said to itself, “Let’s make that happen. Won’t it be funny?”
Emma cleared her throat, “Well, Seth and I were just going to lounge around and watch movies, and I prefer to watch them in sweatpants.” She watched the woman glare at her. “He is wearing pajamas. Red ones.” Come to think of it, he went out in those. She wondered what his mother might say.
Mrs. Barras pressed her lips together, “Any excuse for laziness then?” She sighed audibly, “Where is my son?”
“He went to get us burgers. Do you want me to tell him to grab you one?” She was trying her best to be friendly to the rude bitch in hopes that she wouldn’t find a reason to kick her out.
She rolled her eyes, “Everyone knows I am a vegan. You don’t keep this slim figure by feasting on beef.”
“You could if you exercised or counted calories.” Emma regretted her words as soon as they slipped out of her mouth.
Mrs. Barras looked the girl over once more, “Yes, I suppose so.”
She was surprised the woman didn’t become enraged with her response as it seemed everyone was scared of her around the household. “So, you don’t want anything to eat?”
“No, I ate on the plane. Thank you.” She walked into the living room and looked at the pile of blankets which Emma and Seth had been using as a nest. “I see the two of you are quite cozy.”
Emma followed in behind her. “Oh, it’s a bit chilly and all.”
She turned to face the younger woman, “Have you slept with my son yet?”
Opening her mouth to answer all she got was several uncomfortable “ums” out before Mrs. Barras saved her with further insult.
“I am just curious if you plan to get married because you have a baby or get rich and take the child far away.”
“I have no intention of getting married. I am a college student the last thing I need is a child.” Emma was feeling the heat rising but she knew she couldn’t explode on the woman no matter what, after all this was her home.
“So, you believe you can win Seth over without some sort of leverage. You realize how much money is on the line for him right?” She rolled her eyes once more. “Do you honestly believe he will give it up for you in the end?”
That’s what all this was about. She wanted to poke at their relationship in hopes it would end.
“I don’t know where Seth and I are going right now. We are still a young couple. Marriage and children aren’t even a something we have talked about, and I am certainly not interested in it right now.” Emma tried her best not to ball her fists up.
Seth’s mother was about to speak again when the front door open, and Seth called out. “They had onion rings, so I got those instead. I hope you don’t...” He turned the corner and saw his mother. “Mom, I thought you were visiting grandma.”
“Yes, well, when your father told me you would be here all alone for a couple months, I decided to come and keep you company.” She looked towards Emma. “Had I known you already had it, I wouldn’t have bothered.” Before her son could say anything else, she spoke again. “Take my bags to my room since you sent away the help, and draw me a bath. Then you can get back to whatever this is.”
---***---
Ivy opened the door to her new apartment when she heard the doorbell ring. She was expecting a visitor so it was no surprise to see him standing there.Dalen smiled at her and she returned the gesture, before stepping aside and letting him in. He removed his jacket and tossed it on the arm of the couch, while she shut the door.
They had been meeting for dates at her new place because they didn’t want to be seen outside. Dalen didn’t know how his family would react to him dating an older woman who was a former alcoholic and drug abuser, but somehow he feared how Julian would react more.
His friend was in a fragile state and it seemed he exploded at anything which was even slightly irritating. No doubt finding out his friend was dating a long term ex-lover would send him over the edge.
Ivy had her own reasons for not wanting anyone to know about their relationship. Her first concern was her new job which was going very well, and she didn’t want her co-workers to know she was dating the future CEO of the company.
“I made dinner. I hope you are hungry… and prepared to be disappointed since I am a terrible cook.” She continued to smile at him.
Dalen held his smile as well, “I am starved and I’m sure it will be fine.”
The two continued to hold eye contact and remained unmoved. Ivy wanted to throw herself at the man and do terrible things to him that she imagined he had never seen before, but Dalen had been a gentleman since the beginning.
He had held her hand but that was the extent of their relationship. She knew in many ways this was for the best. After all, she had tossed herself sexually at far too many men only for the relationship to turn sour. Julian being one of them.
No this was meant to be a serious relationship and not a one night fling. If Dalen needed time to think things through and to grow feelings for her then she would wait.
Little did she know as Dalen held eye contact with her, he too thought of kissing her and much more. However, he was afraid too go to far. Not just because of Julian, but he didn’t want this woman to think he only wanted one thing from her.
Hand holding, accidental touches, and small brushes lit his skin on fire and remained for hours after her contact was gone.
Ivy finally broke the eye contact when the alarm in her kitchen went off. She rushed into the small room and pulled out a casserole. “It’s hash brown casserole. I figured I would make a bunch and be able to eat it for breakfast over the next few days.”
Dalen looked down at the concoction. “It smells good.” Though it looked hideous. Little hash brown circles covered in cheese and what appeared to be cream of chicken soup with bacon and sausage. He hoped it would taste better than it looked.
She smiled at his compliment, “I’ve made it many times before. It lasts a while in the fridge, plus you can freeze it if need be.”
Ivy didn’t have a table and chairs even though there was room for a small set in her kitchen, so she filled the mix matched plates with the food and pulled out two forks which were not of the same make.
Dalen took his plate as they made their way to the brown couch which Ivy had gotten from a neighbor who was throwing it out. The couch had a few rips in it, which she had tossed a blanket over. Her smell television was on a side table across the room, but she didn’t have any cable so it was for mostly viewing movies with the dvd player she had bought from work.
“Every time I come over here, it feels like you have something new.” Dalen said referring to the dvd player.
Ivy nodded, “They had them one sale for fifty percent off so I hid one in the back. Realizing who you are, I probably shouldn't have admitted to that.”
He chuckled, “It’ll be our little secret.” He watched her take a bit of her meal, and then reluctantly stabbed a hash brown circle of his own. Placing it in his mouth, he demanded in his head not to gag. However, it was delicious. It was a surprise he hadn’t been expecting. “This is very good.” He said with food still in his mouth as he pointed at it with his fork.
Ivy’s smile widened, “I am so glad you liked it. My grandmother is from the south and she makes all kinds of amazing casseroles. This has always been my favorite.”
“Well, if they are all this good, I might have to try more of these casseroles.” He began to eat happily. “This is the type of stuff that can make a man fat.” He joked.
She chuckled, “Explains my grandpa then.”
They both laughed at the joke and continued to eat with smiles on their lips. Ivy kept taking glances at Dalen to see if he really enjoyed his meal and wasn’t just saying he did. He never looked up from his food and quickly shoveled it into his mouth.
It was a joyful experience to watch him and she could feel a warmth growing in her chest. After a couple moments passed, she finally spoke. “How is Julian?”
Dalen looked up from his food and shook his head, “The same as ever. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“Yeah, Riane seems to be getting her humor back, but there is just this deep heart broken feeling you get just by being around her. I sure do miss the way she was before all this happened.”
“Me too, but let’s not talk about them. It brings down the room. How was your day?” Dalen took another bite of his casserole.
She shrugged, “It was my day off, but I went to the thrift stores to see if I could find any art for my walls. It was mostly clowns and cats.”
“I don’t think I have ever been to a thrift store. I’ve donated plenty, but never been. You should take me with you next time.”
Ivy laughed briefly, “No, you don’t have to do that. You moving through all of that stuff. I don’t think I could handle the mental image let alone the memory of you actually doing it.”
“Are you saying I am uptight and I would somehow be offended by donations?” He actually looked upset.
“No, you are just so… posh. I can’t imagine you in that environment.”
“Posh?” He smirked, “Well, torment to you or not, I would still like for you to take me some time.”
“Why?”
Dalen cocked his head to the side, “So, I can hang out with you. Obviously.”
She knew he meant without anyone he knew seeing them together, but she didn’t want to spoil the moment, nor did she want him to think she was angry with the way things were. For now, this was good enough.
---***---
Bryce had made his way downstairs to find his mother standing in the dining room. She pointed towards the ceiling and mouthed the words, “What’s going on?” Julian wouldn’t be able to hear her from down here, but it was a quirky thing his mother often did in order not to upset the beast.He walked into the dining room, and inhaled deeply. “He went over to Riane’s apartment today to try and get her to leave with him.”
Nanette frowned, before also sighing audibly. “This is a wound that just won’t heal. Every time I think he might be getting better, he just does something to make it bleed again.”
“Mom, he sees her almost everyday at school. He spends most of his time, either pretending not to see her or staring holes into the back of her head. Of course, he’ll keep reopening it.”
She nodded her head slowly, “You are correct. Maybe I should send him to another school.”
“He wouldn’t allow it, besides summer break isn’t too far off. He’ll get three months without seeing her, and I’m sure...” Bryce thought of his brother’s words and how his feelings just wouldn’t stop. “Well, I’m sure something will happen for better or worse. We just need to be patient and let Julian and Riane deal with their own issues.”
Nanette listened to her son’s words and saw his father within them. Zachary and Julian may be geniuses, but Bryce was emotionally intelligent and capable of understanding people better than she ever could.
“I know you are right. I just want to do something to help my baby. Had I known this is how it would have ended, I never would have allowed your father to go through with this.” She held back tears. “I would much prefer the night club, drug doing Julian, who brings random women home.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
She slowly shook her head as she tears began to fall. “No, I wouldn’t. I want Riane to come home and I want to know they are happy. Is she happy? She couldn’t possibly be with Julian in this state, could she?”
“From what I know, happiness is not an emotion in her daily life right now.” He touched his mother’s shoulder.
Nanette slowly started crying as a small wave of guilt over came here. “Look at me. Hoping she is not happy because Julian isn’t. How cruel of me to wish such a thing on her. Of course, I want her to be happy and to know she isn’t, well it pains just as much to know Julian is up there upset.”
“I know you really didn’t really mean it.” He continued to touch her shoulder as he talked. “You just wanted to know Riane had just as strong feelings for Julian, and to know this wasn’t an easy change for her. We all grew to love her.”
When his father left suddenly for work, Bryce felt the need to talk over the emotional mess which was left behind. It seemed ever ending, because if Julian wasn’t brooding or throwing a fit, then his mother was crying over not only her son’s heartbreak, but what she perceived as the loss of a daughter.
She frantically nodded and looked up into her son’s eyes. “Do you know what Zachary does after school everyday?”
Bryce shook his head, even though he did know what he was doing. However, he wanted his mother to say it out loud since she seemed to need something to fill the air with.
“He goes into the music room and plays with the instruments. He used to love watching her practice and I think it was making him interested in playing, but when I try to talk to him about it...” She inhaled sharply, “well, he just doesn’t want to talk about her or he curses her name.”
“Zachary has a harder time dealing with loss than anyone else in the family, so just leave him be. He’ll find you when it’s time.”
Nanette patted her son’s hand on her shoulder. “I know. I just don’t want to feel helpless.”
“I know the feeling.” Suddenly he smiled, “Mom, why don’t you go make some homemade hot cocoa. You know how much Julian loves it and maybe it will brighten his spirits for a moment.”
Nanette returned the smile. “That’s a wonderful idea. I’ll make some for all of us. I’m sure Zachary will want some, and you need something sweet for how you are handling all this while your father is away.”
“Great, I can’t wait.” He watched his mother disappear into the kitchen with a little pep in her step.
Sitting down at the table, he folded his hands on it and exhaled loudly. There never seemed to be an end to the daily battles this family was facing over the loss of one person. It wasn’t like she was dead, but the fact that she acted as if none of this had happened was heartbreaking.
Bryce had tried to strike up a conversation with her at school a few weeks ago, and she acted as if he were a total stranger. When he tried again, she finally told him she couldn’t be spotted with anyone from the Swithin family and he needed to leave her alone. It was a painful moment in his life.
He watched her walk away and as much as he wanted to hate her for acting like he had been nothing, he also understood the consequences her father had laid out for her. So, he sat on a fence between anger and understanding though sometimes the anger side won out more than the other.
Zachary entered into the kitchen and sat at the table with his big brother. “Why are you just sitting here?”
Bryce grinned at his brother, “I convinced Mom to make hot chocolate.”
“From scratch?”
He nodded, “Hey, why are you going into the music room all the time? I thought you hated the idea of playing an instrument.”
He lowered his eyes for a moment before looking back up to Bryce. “She acted like she didn’t know I was there, but she gave me a concert almost every single day. Sometimes, I think if I sneak in there, she might be at the piano playing.” He swallowed, “She never is.”
Bryce placed his hand on top of Zachary’s head and roughed up his hair a bit. “I miss having her around too.”
The younger brother looked annoyed that Bryce would dare say he ever liked or missed that girl, but any energy he had just wasn’t worth it to deny anything or fight with his brother.
“Stupid girl. I knew she was a bad idea.” Zachary mumbled under his breath before standing up from the table. “I’m going to my room.”