Just Enemies (Original Story)

Dinner

Brandon and Lena sat there in his room and he went to his guitar to try to show her more chords. Lena wanted things to go back to normal and she didn't know how to make that happen. Was all that a game? A joke to him. Why confuse her and make her feel uncomfortable. At the same time Lena didn't want to lose him as a friend. She had literally only Brandon and school would be a lot worse without him. So she threw that awkward moment aside and as he showed her chords she listened.

Brandon then handed her the guitar and Lena tried to copy how he had positioned his fingers but either the placement was off. Or that she wasn't pressing hard enough.

"When you play long enough you get calloused fingers."

Lena looked up and Brandon showed his hands and his fingers had the callouses. And then she looked at the mark on her finger and it was tender but if she wanted to play. She would look past it. But she still struggled to even loosen up her hands,she was so tense. So Brandon gently touched her hands and rubbed her palms. Lena asked why and he said it would help her to relax while playing and it felt nice. Lena again hadn't realized how close they were in terms of proximity. Brandon was less than an arms length from her. He smelled her hand lotion and she smelled like sugar,well her hands did. But then Lena pulled her hands back to strum the guitar again.

"Sorry..."

"No..I just wanna at least get one chord progression down.."

"Right."

Then Lena heard Brandon's mom and she told everyone it was time for dinner and so they all made their way down. At this large wooden square dinning table is where Lena met Brandon's brother a mini him but with chubby cheeks and mischievous smile. A sweet little brother. And Brandon's mom brought out the tray with already made tacos and salsa, it was the standing hard shell tacos and each person had a plate. Then someone came in and it was a bald man with a dad body and in a suit. He looked tired and Brandon's mom went to give him a kiss.

"Oh is that your dad?."

"That's Scott."

"Ummm. Brandon?."

"Scott's the step dad but he is our dad since ours passed away."

"Oh! I'm so sorry...how old were you."

"I honestly was a kid and I don't remember even going to the funeral...we aren't close with that side of the family. So Scott's dad..."

"So did you guys take his last name?."

"Yeah my mom thought it was appropriate since they were getting married."

"So then your brother."

"My names Jacob."

"Sorry..so then you're half brothers."

"Yeah but still brothers."

Scott sat down and said hi to Lena and had washed up. Lena forgot to ask what Brandon's mothers name was. She did feel more comfortable now that she knew the family more or less it was tense and she still felt anxious because Brandon's mom had watched her. More than was normal but maybe that was just the light or Lena looking for drama.

"So mrs.Jackson."

"Oh call me Aileen please."

Lena looked at Alieen and Brandon has her smile and she was a pretty woman. Small no more than five foot five with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had a defined nose that complimented her face. Brandon must look like this dad.

"So tell us about you Lena."

"Uh well my family and I have lived here for years. We moved from Regina."

"Oh is that where you're from?."

"Uh...no we are from Croatia and came here after the war..."

"Oh well your English is so good!."

"Thanks.....I was five so..."

"So what does your mom do?."

"She's a doctor."

"Oh my that's quite the achievement! Did she get her degree here?."

"Yeah she raised two girls while doing that. She's my heroine."

"And your father."

"He's a VP of marketing at an advertising agency."

"Well good for you all making the Canadian dream come true eh!."

Lena's anger was at boiling point what with all these prejudice insinuations against her hardworking parents. What was her damage with immigrants anyway. She reminded Lena of the kids from her old school who would use handicap slurs as an insult for her poor English. Or the adults who'd grumble when they heard her parents at Walmarts complaining about how they were there to take all the jobs. Her mom worked as a cleaning lady at the holiday inn for gods sake. She and her dad worked for where they are now. They all wished to be back home in Croatia but the war had ruined their peaceful existence. Not to mention the rest of the family stayed behind. So it was the four of them and Nacho the cat whom they found here.

Before Lena could respond Brandon told his mom that she didn't need to give Lena the inquisition. That they were friends and suddenly his mom relaxed and smiled but Brandon went on and told his mom that trying to belittle Lenas parents was wrong and that she was owed an apology. Lena couldn't believe how silent everything went. A pin drop could be heard.

"Did I say anything inappropriate?."

"Everything you said was inappropriate!."

"Lena dear what did I say."

Lena thought about dropping it but years of hearing condescending things from other so called real Canadians had bubbled to the surface. She let Brandon's mom have it but it was measured and calm. With more dignity then the woman deserved.

"You come off pretentious and that you hate immigrants."

"What? Excuse me you're in my home."

"And I'm giving it the respect it deserves. You however will hear me. Canadians like you give the country a bad name. This country is built off immigrants because the jobs you think we steal are the ones you don't want. You bring us here to this crumbling place and say fix it."

"I never said any of that."

"You didn't have to I can read between the lines and I want you to at least learn something from this."

"I..I'm so sorry if I came off wrong...it wasn't my intent."

"Well if we see one another again remember this conversation. I'm calling my sister for a ride I'll be outside."

"Oh there's no need."

Lena walked out and closed the door. Not slam but closed it and Brandon came after her. He apologized again for his mom that she's weirdly protective of him and that she can be clingy.

"I just don't need to be around that."

"You're right so I'll wait with you."

"You don't need to."

"It's eight pm and Toronto isn't always safe."

"Thanks Brandon."

Lena called and Kat said she'd be there in about ten minutes according to google maps. As they sat on the stoop and talked Lena felt the chill and wished she'd worn her jacket today. She just had her bag and phone. That's when Brandon without a word put his coat around her and just sat there beside her.