Worlds Away

CHAPTER TWO

hello dear readers, a coupla announcements -

firstly, this chapter is dedicated to dear nicole who i've been requesting covers from ever since ever - not to mention her rad, rad stories! <4 thanks for the gorgeous cover, nix!

secondly - you may have noticed the change in story-title, and that's simply because I realized that I wasn't too keen on the old one. Alas, details, details, but - let's get driving, shall we?

CHAPTER TWO

Derek's fork drops to his plate in a clatter, and the slight, barely-noticeable jowls under his chin start to wiggle and wobble as he lets out a hearty laugh, polishing off his last tortilla - the fifth giant Mexican delicacy.

Well, I'm not one to talk. I've always beat my brother at the whole Mexican Monday Nights Game, which involves me scarfing down about three and a half more burrito rolls than he could ever fit under his secret double-chin.

"Lucas is completely straight as a bent piece of iron, Isla. I'm talking serious ab-licking and - "

"Derek."

"- back in those college parties he used to host. Sorry, Angelique?" I do a major eye-roll at his one-hundred-and-eighty degrees change in tone and attitude when he talks to his wife. Typical.

"Those parties where you held two girls on each arm, bro?" I jerk my thumbs up, letting a grin take over my face, "Sure."

He kicks me under the table, while Angelique places a hand on his shoulder. "Isla, you have to understand that this trip is something that me and your brother feel essential to a complete - er, refresher of your life. You know, a new start!" Angelique announces cheerily, like she just hadn't spent the last ten seconds dissing my entire life thus far.

"But I don't need a change! I'm completely fine writing my old classics -"

"Trashy romances", Derek cuts in conveniently.

"That's not the point!"

He raises an eyebrow.

"The point is that Lucas isn't who you think he is! He cheated on his last girlfriend, Derek! He's fudging straight as a motherclucking player!" I stop dipping my bites of wrap into salsa just to show how serious I am. My brother only leans across the table and blows a raspberry at me. Sigh. How mature.

"I'm telling you, Is, you and him have a lot in common, sure - "

"Including the fact that we're both straight as fu - "

"- and by that I mean that you're both very bright, young people who are choosing to waste your prime time of your lives away by watching those silly cartoon characters parade around on a screen!"

"Hold up, he watches anime as well?"