Duality - oc x Isaiah Jesus

Chapter 9

"Hello again Mr Shelby, I thank you for having me tonight" Alejandro said reaching out to shake Tommy's hand, who was now more occupied on his guest standing behind Mr Dominguez, "Ah yes, I must introduce you to my daughter, Maria Dominguez" Alejandro stated as he followed Tommy's and the other two Shelby brother's gazes. Tommy processing the girl, more like woman, standing in front of him, desperately trying to read her, to see what had changed, as she reached out her hand and placed it in his shaking softly. "A pleasure Mr Shelby", she softly cooed. All still trying to understand what was happening, Tommy decided it best to show Mr Dominguez around and offer him a seat at his table. "Papá, necesito un trago (I need a drink)" she spoke up breaking the stillness, shocking the three Shelby brothers at her words, "Si mija" he waved her off as he pointed at Anton and Fernando to follow her.

The three boys sat at the bar stared at the newly arrived guests from across the room, looks of utter surprise riddling the faces of Finn and Isaiah, though Michael was more fascinated by her looks to notice the two boys shift in mood. "I never thought she'd be back" Finn broke the trance both boys were in, "who'd be back" Michael so graciously stated as he gulped down the rest of his whiskey, turning to face Finn. "She was our friend, the girl across the room" Finn pointed her out to Michael, "oh the pretty one", "Marianna" Isaiah finally spoke up, though not diverting his gaze, as he carefully studied her as best he could from his position. "So youse were friends with one of them spaniards then" Michael laughs out, "cuban, though she wasn't one of them when we knew her" Isaiah retorted, "she was just our Marianna" though this time was only quiet enough for himself to hear.

John had slipped away from the boring political discussions and treading on eggshells with Mr Dominguez and Tommy, to find his younger brother and friends. "Got you boys just as ball grabbed as us, has she" he slapped on Michael's back as he spurted out his drink and wheezed, offering some break from the tense atmosphere. Marianna was so graciously placed on the bar, balancing between the two men either side of her, as they sipped on their drinks and stared out into the crowd, offering up whispers and slight chuckles under their breaths. "Reminds me of youse two, never left her side, like dogs their pair of you" John yelled out, referring to Isaiah and Finn, and what once was. "Though now she's matured, become a real women, and you two are still, well you" and although Isaiah and Finn laughed along with him, deep down they were seething, a trickle of jealousy spilled out of them.

What started off as an escape from her father's boring business discussion, turned into more than a few drinks. As the boring classical music finally switched to a smooth, latin melody, Anton placed his drink down and reached out his hand looking at Marianna knowingly, as she responded with a questioning look "this fundraiser has bored me so far, might as well dance", "que, you can't even ask, pendejo (stupid)", she responded with a frustrated grunt, as he wasted no time and pulled her closer to him and towards the dance floor. "This beat reminds me of home, the breeze" she gleamed as she let out her hair, and he snaked his hands around her waist, as they began to dance.

Isaiah looked on, the pair weaving through the dance floor, intertwining their bodies to the sway of the rhythm, he couldn't tell what it was that he was feeling, what the burning sensation was that was rising through his body, all he knew was he didn't like it, and he didn't like what he was watching. 

"They're watching us" Anton grunted as he continued to dance through the crowd with Marianna, "I know" she smiled smugly, "but I" she paused for a moment, a tease in her tone "am watching you" she continued dancing as if her words meant nothing, because to her they didn't, he meant nothing. But she knew the effect she had on Anton, and now, without realising, on a glaring boy across the room.