Guy Donnelly
My dinner trip with Mark to the bad side of town was interesting, it felt good I think. I actually get to say that and mean it too. We just sat and ate and he didn't ask me bullshit questions or apologize for everything he didn't do. I am not sure what he has planned next but he talked about me and him working out or something. I think he just wants to do things together and figure it out which is more than I can say for everyone except Abigail. That 'sister' of mine has been in my room everyday going over things on both our homework with me and now that it's Friday I'm wondering what the hell happened with our one night thing.
"Okay well I'm done with homework so explain to me what the hell didn't happen the other night," I ask Abby who thinks for a moment to remember.
"Listen I don't know either, I was trying to be there for you, then we were in bed and then 'IT' happened and it was a bit naughty and nice but I'm not sure it's something we should be doing. I like you and I've been a shitty sister for a long time but if I'm going to be your sister then being your booty call isn't really something I should be doing," Abby explains and I can see the reasoning.
"So why not just be my girlfriend or something," I ask and she smiles.
"We grew up together despite everything that happened and I do like you but and I hate the way this sounds but I want a brother, one who I can relate to and even though I love Mark that's not him," Abby lets me know where she stands and she's not trying to hurt me.
"Well at least you are honest about it. But for the record I'd never let you be a booty call," I half joke and she laughs a little.
It's good to laugh a little with Abby but I'm not sure about where things are with her and I. Brother/sister or whatever is honestly in the odd category considering everything that has gone on over the past few years. It's not like I have a lot of options and I don't think Abby is a bad one honestly but if she's not interested then it's a moot point. I have a costume for the Halloween party tonight and Bethany made sure that I'd be there but she picked the costume and looking at it I'm really not sure if I'm being set up or not. There is a lot being set up in the backyard around the pool with lights and shit. Mom and Mr. D are also going to be in attendance probably to keep the peace and watch out for stupid shit. I get dressed up and realize that I don't look completely ridiculous and the mask covers my mostly healed eye. I wait and head down to see Mom and Mr. Delauter as a Frankenstein and a vampire? I don't know the reference but they look happy to see me. Abigail and Brittany apparently are twins without being twins, Abby is Velma and Beth is Daphne from Scooby freaking Doo. Bethany is nice and all but the sweater on Abby is about to burst. Mark is in a fur loin cloth and leather armor but not proper leather armor, more like Conan leather armor with chest, legs and arms exposed. I wait and watch as people start to arrive. Apparently the amount of people we go to school with is compounded by the families that Mom and Mr. D know and their children. Total there must be a hundred people in the back yard and what I was told was a Halloween party for me to be formally considered a member of the family is not a massive Halloween bash that I know, personally know, five people at.
I drink some punch, listen to conversations, a few people talk to me but fellow students give me odd looks in passing. I'm mostly miserable and even though Abigail and Mark keep coming around to take me to a group to talk I find the people are talking and when I do say something they listen then go right back into their tangents on what is popular in their own respect. An hour in and I'm in the kitchen sitting down while everyone else is outside. I can hear the talking and laughing intermingled with music and dancing when Bethany comes into the kitchen boyfriend in tow behind her.
"Why aren't you enjoying your party," she asks as her boyfriend, Brett, hangs back.
"Because it's not my party. There is nothing that could have illustrated more that I'm not a part of this family more than a party where everyone is friends with you and your family and doesn't even know me," I state and Beth's face frowns for a second.
"Well I need you for something, you have to Karaoke," Beth says, taking my casted hand and pulling me.
Oh what sweet hell is this, I have to sing. I'm led out to the stage at the end of the pool and there is a spotlight, lovely. I sit and as soon as I hear the music I groan, she actually did her homework on me. It's Music of the Night from as my costume dictates, Phantom of the Opera. I've sung this privately, I've sung a great many things privately and away from the ears of my so-called family and now here is the instrumental picking up for it. For those who don't know it's one of the pieces that have only one vocalist in it.
I feel awkward and simply close my eyes and re-watch the scene in my head feeling the tempo and verse as I play it out. It's not a grand piece so lengthy but about half way through the accompanying audio cuts out and I'm still singing into a microphone. I can hear the music in my head and I finish the soft piece before calmly bowing my head to those that were listening and opening my eyes. Oh fucking Christ everyone is staring at me silent and I can barely see them or their faces. I feel embarrassed and panicked but remain calm and quietly step off the stage and head towards the dark corners of the yard away from everything and everyone. I hear people murmuring as I pass but I don't stop and when music comes back on I am in the dark alone and left to my thoughts. I sit in the quiet and the dark only to find I'm not alone as there is another who has crept up and is looking for me.
"Hello," I hear her voice but I don't know her and her accent is not local, it's very Scottish.
"Yes," I stand and step out to be visible, I was in the shadows so sue me.
"There you are, I went looking for you after your song. The man running the machines is getting a proper chewing from your family," she says and I get a good look at her.
"Not really my family," I remark and she smiles.
"Oh yeah, we've all been hearing that from Beth. You wanted to be your own person, didn't want anyone to help you and are going to make your own way in the world," the accent is amazing and I'm taking in a full look at her now.
"You're one of Beth's friends," suspicion meter rising.
"Not really, I feel like sometimes I'm the funny foreign girl with the accent," she says with a laugh," We've spoken to each other but this is the longest I've been in her company."
"Well you're not exactly in her company now," I remarked and she smiled again, a big smile.
"Ah know I'm here trying to speak with you but you seem so skittish. Is it my dress," she asks and I take a good look at her.
About 5 '7'' or so with long wavy brown hair down past her shoulders, the dress she's wearing looks like a medieval renaissance faire in pale purple with one difference. They had to use rope or twine around her breasts because they're huge and pulling the hell out of her top. One lose point in the knot and the girls will be out for the world. She is a shapely lass as her people would call her, meaty all around and not a little waist either, a waist that says 'yes I'll eat your piece of cake since you're on a diet' but still looks womanly. Hell everything about her screams woman. And now she's noticed me looking at her.
"I think it looks nice," I comment while making it a point to not completely stare at her breasts.
"Well thank you, Bridget," she offers her hand and I shake.
"You probably already know my name," I reply and she laughs a little.
"Aye but I didn't know why you are hiding in the shadows," she asks and we begin to walk so I'm not easy to find, more so.
"Mostly because I don't know anybody there," I state and smile.
"Well they don't know you either. Why not try talking with them," Bridget asks and I smile.
"Because I'm talking to you," I remark and she smiles.
We talk a little about her being an exchange student from Scotland, a little about the fact that I'm self taught when it comes to singing. Mostly she seems interested in my stance towards my family.
"So you really didn't want them to help you for all of high school," she asks and I shrug.
"I guess not," I am not sure what to say as Bethany seems to have made a story for her own convenience as well as her siblings.
"Well I can't understand why? You're Mum and Da," She says it and sees my face before correcting," Step Dad has a lot to be proud of. They have done very well for themselves."
"Yeah, they're a couple of big go-getters in the world," I make the comment but don't really like myself for it.
"So what about you, are you going to make your mark on the world," Bridget asks and I shrug," Oh come on, you've been the poster boy for brooding gifted geniuses at the school now for a month."
"I'm the what," I ask and she smiles.
"You are the, what did they call you, dark prince of the white castle," Bridget says and I stare at her like she's grown a horn out of her head," What?"
"Why the fuck do they think that," I ask and she laughs.
"Your sister, that's why. She's been talking about how you were always so much tougher than everything else and how you wanted to earn everything without everyone else giving you any help. It seemed kinda foolish to me but here you are walking and talking after everything that happened to yah," Bridget says looking around," I'm just waiting here to see if you're gonna kiss me or not?"
I don't remember moving to Bridget or her moving to me but I know her lips are soft and she has cinnamon lip gloss or something because it burns a little when my lips touch hers. She isn't pressing hard or anything, it's just a soft and sweet kiss that has me embarrassed when it stops. She smiles at me a little and I get pulled into a new set of hedges where I discover the other half of kissing. My hands are going across her ass and her tongue is taking its time getting into my mouth and coaxing my tongue out of hiding. Cinnamon and berries, that is what I taste and smell as we paw at each other and I'm surprised, happily, when she moves my hand up to her breast. They are soft and I can feel the warmth of her through the soft plush fabric. Bridget's arms wrap around my neck and I hold her waist with my hands as I continue my first course in kissing. It's all soft and warm, Bridget is sweet and pleasant to touch and all of this is interrupted by Mom calling out looking for me.
"Guy?! Guy are you over here," she's calling and I don't want to answer.
"Shhh, go see her. We can get back to this," Bridget tells me and I regain my composure and let her wipe my lips off.
I exit the bushes and move out to where Mom can see me. She is happy I didn't run off but when she tries to lead me by the arm back to the party I avoid her extended hand and simply walk with her.
"Bethany is sorry about the Karaoke thing," Mom says and I keep silent," She hoped you would think it was fun. When did you learn to sing like that?"
"I didn't learn, I just do it," I tell her which is pretty much true.
"Well we could look at getting you formal lessons, I could see about a vocal coach," Mom offers and I shake her off," Honey you have real talent."
"I have a real talent of getting screwed with," I say it and Mom is right there on it.
"Beth has done some bad things but she was really trying to be nice," my Mother says the words but I don't believe it.