The Boy's of Westbrook

~Brave~ Chapter I

Chapter I

"We got pummeled man!"

Eric didn't have to turn around to know that had to be the famous Damien Barraza. He'd know that voice anywhere in school but what was it doing here? With Spanish features, the body most guys envied, hair that was either stylishly messy, spiked, or gelled to the side. He looked good, no matter what he did with his hair. He had the entire package any girl (or guy) would want as a boyfriend. A beautiful smile with ultra-white teeth that made his face pop next to his brown skin. He did have a vertical scar that ran down on the left side of his face. As if that were notable compared to the rest of him. Not to mention the perfect voice that came with it when he sang. Like he should be in a boyband.

Then again, he'd pull it off if he went solo anyway.

Eric had his back turned at the time. His nerves suddenly jittery. Just standing in the same room as Damien Barraza was like standing in the presence of a god. He froze like he always did. The room was actually a lower living room with a screen door connected to a screened in patio. The other side was sort of a bar, with stools lined up on one side. Just further to the right was an old slot machine for decoration. Two bedrooms were further down, one straight across and facing the bar area and the other across the hall facing the other bedroom. A long bathroom with a shower and no tub was the last door to the right.

Eric finally turned, no longer sure what he was digging through his bags for anymore. Was it a book he was looking for? If so, there were three different books, but he had no idea which one he came down here for.

Damien was drenched from head to toe. His once stylishly messy hair was hanging in long strands over his nose. Then there was that smile. God that smile. Eric hoped his knees weren't shaking, or would get caught staring. He was hoping if he stayed very still, Damien would pass by. Eric wanted to be invisible. He'd often had fantasies of moments like this, but not like THIS. This happened so...

Unexpectedly.

Two of Eric's cousin's, Martin and Frankie were with Damien. Clearly there'd been a water fight. Damien's white v neck stuck to his bronze colored skin. He was dripping almost everywhere.

There had been rumors, about him messing around with other guys, but nothing was for certain yet. Damien didn't go through girls like toilet paper (though he could have!). He showed up to Homecoming dances single and seemed completely liberated. Eric tried to turn, hoping he wouldn't be noticed. He'd just arrived only a few minutes ago. This was a family reunion. What was Damien Barraza doing here?

Was he possibly related? Eric hoped not! He'd rather Damien noticed his presence before that. Not that Damien wasn't aware of Eric's existence. Eric was very good at avoiding confrontation. He never knew what to say!

But Damien Barraza, one of the most popular guys in high school, was here. Of all places!

"Hey!"

Eric was sure he was being acknowledged by someone. Perhaps one of his cousins. Maybe Eric was having one hell of a hallucination, because there was no way Damien Barraza would be here! Why would he be? How was it possible? So if Eric turned around, Damien Barraza would be gone and it would just be his two cousins standing there. Then the 3 day weekend family reunion would go as it always had.

Eric turned gradually as if thinking about something deep. Then he froze, because Damien was still there, and looking at Eric. Eric was sure he paled and might have gone a little green around the gills. He was the kind of guy you'd admire from the distance.

Martin was the speaker, Frankie was the younger brother by two years and was wringing out his shirt next to Damien. Eric tried to avoid looking at Damien at all costs. He instead focused on his cousins because getting a boner would be highly embarrassing. Why did Damien have to look so gorgeous? Even better when wet.