All Too Well - Erik Menendez

Take My Breathe Away

Beverly Hills. CA. 1988.

Whisper POV:

"She's probably thinking about her mystery man." Someones voice mutters, bringing me out of my thoughts. Riley. Of course.

Weeks have passed since the party and I unfortunately made the mistake of informing Riley about what happened when I left. Hoping this could be a 'girl gossip' moment that stays between us. However it has now become public information within our friend group of that boy. Blue eyes. My fascination with him has caused me to think about him more times than I care to admit. I have shared a few phone calls with Lyle during the past few weeks, usually just small talk conversations, him insisting I come to this celebratory night he's having to celebrate his success on his latest tennis match over he weekend. I have learnt his passion and fondness for tennis is the equivalent of my passion for the law. He has never brought up Erik since, and I have been far too scared to ask. I'm not sure why, perhaps I just don't want to look as if I'm a creep or asking too personal things. Perhaps I'm a little intimidated by Lyle, I'm really not sure.

"Whisp, you better switch on, you have to come to my tennis match after school." Craig says as he sits down next to JJ, opposite me and Riley in the library. "It's gonna be massive!"

"I know bu-"

"Shes been distracted lately, even from her classes, this Erik boy is living in her mind." Riley teases, dragging out the name 'Erik' to prove her point further.

"Erik?"

"Just this boy I briefly saw at the party we went to, he lived basically next door."

"Menendez?" Craig responds, eyebrow raised, lips forming something of a smirk.

Menendez. He knows.

"You know him?"

"Shepherd's awesome, shy but a good guy, good tennis player." Craig says as he flicks open his history book, an obvious fondness growing in his eyes by the mention of blue eyes. Craig never says such positive things about anyone. Strange.

"Shepherd?" I inquire further.

"Shepherd, Erik, it's a nickname." He starts. "Guy's a beast on the court, get ready for his psycho parents to fuck things up later though."

"What do you mean?"

"Well his dad is really strict, gets wound up big time if Erik isn't performing at his best."

"His best at tennis?"

"At anything, it's really strange."

He continues. "His mom is a total nutcase though, she always seems to be on the drink."

"You're sounding pretty judgy Craig, be nice. I'm sure they can't be that bad." JJ interferes, rolling his eyes as he knocks Craig with his elbow.

My gosh, he was right.

~

Following hours later, I'm staring at blue eyes from a distance; Erik Menendez. However I feel like I am almost staring at a ghost. I've just finished congratulating Craig on his massive tennis win when I can't help but notice - and hear - who Craig informs me is Mr. Menendez - Jose - yelling at his son. In front of everyone. Everyone. Parents and their children attempting not to look, perhaps to save Erik from further embarrassment, however they all fail miserably. You just can't help but to look, to watch, to stare. Erik has played amazing, I know very little about tennis, barely anything and could tell her was fantastic.

Setting my eyes on him after so many weeks, now not intoxicated by alcohol, I could see just how gorgeous he was. Leaner than he was on the night I met him, perhaps slightly more pale as well. But his curls just as bouncy, his face just as gorgeous, his shy smile and dimples just as mesmerizing, even from a distance, I found myself just watching him the entire match. I was far too happy about seeing Erik Menendez again. However, he had not won his match, and this evidently had Jose Menendez visibly shaking with anger.