deep blue eyes // Antoine Griezmann

Chapter 51 - Present Opening

Dinner consists of mostly small talk, but that is fine. I'm happy to just focus on my favourite food choice, grilled lobster tails, from my favourite seafood restaurant of all time.

I do notice, though, that Gale is unusually silent. Usually, he is silent, because though he's an extrovert, he's also not a very talkative one.

But he's very quiet today. Especially silent.

So, yeah, it's mostly just poor Antoine carrying the small talk with my parents, who honestly aren't the most easy to talk to, either.

Before I can help Antoine out with that, though, dinner is finished, and Gale says for the first time throughout the whole dinner, "Hey, why don't we head to the living room? Sage, I think there might be some birthday gifts in there waiting for you..." He shows a playful smile.

"Wait, seriously?" I leap up and rush to the living room as my family and Antoine follow. I see two wrapped boxes and one gift bag sitting on the coffee table, and chuckle, "Aw, guys! You didn't have to!"

"Of course we did," my dad chuckles, dragging a hand across his forehead as he sits down on one of the armchairs. "I mean, you're eighteen, after all, Sage. It's not like we're not going to get you anything."

My mom settles down on the other armchair, and me, Antoine, and Gale squeeze onto the couch, with each of the boys on one side of me- Antoine on my left and Gale on my right. Antoine casually drapes his arm over my shoulders, which I like. I reach for my mom's present first, but stop and look up at my brother when he suddenly says, "Antoine. Did you get Sage anything for her birthday?"

I freeze as a lump forms in my throat as the accusatory edge to Gale's tone. I turn my head to watch Antoine. 

But he looks right back at Gale's sharp gaze without wavering. There's a moment in which thick, stuffy silence hangs in the air, before Antoine says simply, clearing his throat, "Yes, I did, actually. I just don't have it with me, because I planned to give it to her at another time, when we're alone, which I'm sure Sage will understand. Right, Sage?"

I nod, slipping my hand over Antoine's, which is resting on his knee. "Of course," I nod, and we share a look, though I'm not really sure what it means.

Well, Antoine's brave. And I'm really impressed, to be honest. Even though Gale can be just the sweetest, to someone who isn't his sister, I can see how he could be utterly terrifying, with his gruff voice, residual scent of cigarettes, tattooed arms, numerous piercings, and striking eyes. And very intimidating.

"Mh," he grunts simply, before gesturing with his head and saying, "Anyway, Sage, go on and open your presents, then."

I swallow, nod slowly, and pick up the one from my mom again, which is the one in the bag. I take it out of the bag to see it's a fuzzy throw blanket. I read the tag, seeing that it's high quality, and made from an artisan. I wholeheartedly thank my mother as I put it over me and Antoine's laps and snuggle into him, avoiding Gale's burning gaze on Antoine.

Then I move onto my father's gift to me, which is in a little wrapped box. I pull out a silver necklace with a little glimmering diamond on it, and gasp. "Dad! How did you afford this?!"

But he just smiles and says simply, "Eighteen is a big milestone, Sage."

I beam. "Thanks, Dad!" Then I grab the last box, which is from Gale. I eye him, grinning, and he eyes me back, grinning as well. I open it, and inside, I find a neon sign- and another and-

"Gale!" I squeal, taking them out. Different words, and pictures, like one that says 'Girls' another that's a rose, and another that reads 'Good Vibes Only.' 

I grin as Gale comments teasingly, "I figured that's something stupid and girly you'd like. You, know, for your new flat, when you move out. You'll need some of your own decor, right?"

I grin. "Right. Thanks so much, Gale. This is awesome!" I lean over to wrap my arms around him. He's never been much of a hugger, so as he grins and pats my back, he rolls his eyes, too. I don't care.

When I lean away, then, Dad says, "Well, guys. I've get to bed early. Early shift tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, and I've got some work to finish now before I go to bed," my mother adds. "But you three can feel free to stay here and hang out a bit. Oh, and Gale- tell Sage about our surprise for her if you get a chance. Just make sure to keep the volume down, though, because your father will be sleeping and I'll be working in my office in the other room. But have fun!" She waves, giving a little smile. "Did you have a good birthday, Sage?" she asks suddenly, hesitantly.

I look up in surprise. "Of course. Any time spent with the people I love is a good birthday, Mom."

She smiles tiredly. "Good. Good night. I love you, Sage and Gale. It was lovely meeting you, Antoine."

We all nod, wave, and return her comments, before she exits the room, and I'm left sitting in between my brother and my boyfriend on the couch. "Well!" I say, slapping my thighs. "Do you guys want to watch television or a movie or something?"

Gale shrugs and nods. "Sure." He turns on the television, and goes to the sports channel, where there's a football game on. "Want to just watch this?"

"Sure," I respond with a nod, before saying, "I'll go get some snacks from the kitchen?"

Gale nods back. "Sounds good to me."

So I stand up and go to the kitchen to prepare some cheap store-bought cupcakes that were sitting on the counter, a bowl of barbecue potato chips, and some chips and salsa, leaving my boyfriend and my brother, who certainly, clearly, have some sort of strange tensions building up between them, alone together, in the same room.