Awake [ L.T Short Story ]

lack of better words

        I've been having thoughts of sonder over Brooks's parents. We've been sitting in this cafe' for over an hour and he always properly dismisses my mentions whenever I attempt to talk about it. He just brings up the weather or how "damn good" his meal is. How amazingly original.

        ". . . and I kept telling Bobby I would never in a million years date his first cousin."

        Brooks has been talking about his friend, Bobby Waters, for the past few minutes. Apparently, he was recruited by the Yankees or something in the like late last fall. Brooks says he's got a fantastic throwing arm. Best in the state.

        "What was so odd about her?" At some point, back when he was a junior in high school, Bobby wanted to set up Brooks on a blind date. Obviously, he seemed to have profusely objected.

        "Well, for lack of better words, she was a horrid little bitch. I met her at a party once. She bossed around people, high-demanding, spoiled to the rotten core of it all." Brooks scoffed. "Her name was Juliet, I believe."

        "Why on earth would Bobby assume you'd be interested in her?"

        "Beats me. One thing's for certain, Bobby Waters is completely ignorant when it comes to women."

        "Obviously so . . ." I agreed.

        I placed my palm on my cheek, pushing the flesh upward until my left eye nearly closed up. My eyes wandered over the restaurant. God, I should just ask him.

        "Brooks, about you're parents. What's going on?" I despised being so forward, but I'm not exactly the best at putting things "gently." I'm more of a "rip the band-aid off" type. Although, the look that formed on his face afterward made me immediately mentally slap myself for being so curious.

        He sucked his thinned lips inward, his blue eyes searching for a sense of composure from that window again. They became filled with a tidal wave of disturbing nostalgia. The same as they had on the shore a couple of hours previously.

        "God, I apologize, Brooks. I tend to be inconsiderate by accident." I drew my head in out of embarrassment. "My curiosity gets the absolute best of me."

        "Hey, North. It's all right. I've been jaded over it anyhow. I'd be curious as well." He shot me an encouraging grin. Though, it was an excruciatingly saddening one.

        "See, um, my mom. Her father, Mr. Luminer, owned a wide string of a hotel franchise across Europe. Excluding Russia."

        "As in Luminer's Bed and Breakfast?" I was taken aback. I'd not a clue his grandfather had owned such a large business company. Then again, how could I have.

        "Exactly." Brooks adjusted himself in the seat and propped his feet on the nylon fabric of the booth. "One spring break from college, my mom and a few of her girlfriends traveled to London. They stayed at one of my grandfather's hotels since it would practically be free on all expenses. Well, my dad worked half-time as a bellhop at this certain location. They met and began to hang out together around the hotel every chance they possibly could get. After spring break was over, they had sworn to remain in touch. They did and began to date. My grandfather found them out and gave her an ultimatum: either she leaves my dad, or she will be severed from his income. He refused to have someone from her social stature to fool around with one of his own employees. Since my grandmother was deceased, she had no one to defend her choices. Even though it was an enormous risk for her well being, she chose the first.