Perfectly Unseen

29: spectacular barbecues

S p e c t a c u l a r
                            barbecues
                          ~+~+~+~

THE Broussard household threw spectacular barbecues. With a backyard fit for a queen, all that needed to be done to achieve the perfect luau feeling to the large closed off space was the food and homemade lei's. We walked through the beautiful lit up garden, bursting at its seams with flowers of all types and colours, leading to the in-ground pool -hidden by perfectly trimmed shrubs. The pathway lead to the centre of the pool where tables and chairs sat, surrounded by the calm water. The pools lights were on, creating a soft pink glow in the blue water. Much like the aquarium Liam snuck me into, a small section of the pool around the pathway was closed off and made into an exotic fish resort. Lights were sprung up everywhere, and it was beyond breathtaking.

"So, Ailie," Aunt Mel started with a mischievous sparkle in her grey eyes as she delicately placed her napkin on her now empty plate, "I heard you have a pretty cute boyfriend waiting for you back at home." She glanced over at me, a knowing smile curving her red lips.

"Two," Aurora spoke up with an evil grin on her made-up face from across the table from me, "My dorky sister landed the two hottest guys in Mika High." After a smug smirk, she took an uncharacteristically sophisticated drink of her punch while batting her green eyes innocently at the two boys on the side with Danny.

With warmed cheeks, I shoved my nuisance of a sisters foot as she stuck out her tongue at me --showing her true colours. "I did not land anyone." I corrected with a squeaky voice, "I'm friends with one of them, and the other hates my guts most of the time-"

"Sure, Cuz': friends." Daniel joined in, waving his half-eaten barbecued kabob in the air sarcastically, "'Could I, maybe, -like uh- call you before Monday?'" He mocked Liam, using an unnaturally deep voice that made him sound utterly brainless.

"Tehe, I'll be waiting for that call, Mr Turner. Tehehe." Brett, Daniels friend, added in a high shrill that resembled a dolphin more than an actual female as he fluttered his dark lashes and swatted at Danny pathetically. I was thoroughly insulted.

"I can assure you, I didn't say 'tehe' or hit him." I mumbled embarrassedly, biting into the piece of chicken I had pulled off of the kabob while everyone laughed at me.

"Who's the blushing dweeb now, Cuz'?" Danny chuckled, kicking my leg under the large table just before a piece of food hit my chest, making an orange splotchy mess on my white summer dress.

"Oh darn, Jonathan. Not this again," Melissa scolded lightly as I scrunched my nose up at the little assailant; sitting all innocent-like in his highchair while flailing his dirty hands around and getting everyone around him covered in his leftover carrots while giggling gibberish.

"Ow! Carrot in the eye!" Aurora suddenly cried with a laughing sob. "Lee, help me!" Blindly, she stood up, knocking over the pitcher of juice with the accidental swing of her arm like something straight out of a movie.

Instantly, everyone recoiled as the pink punch covered the table and leaked down the cracks; spilling on everyone laps almost all at once. Brett backed up too far, stumbling over the ledge of the aquarium before loosing his footing and falling backwards into the pool. However, before he could hit the water, with a girly squeal his hand latched onto my sisters wrist, and down she went too with a horrified expression on her face.

Needless to say, I -and everyone else- was in stitches by the time their soaked heads popped back up; sputtering water out of their mouths like a broken fountain. Ryan and Melissa had the right idea, getting into the clear with Little John before all hell broke loose.

Aurora instantly started to hit Brett while trying desperately to push back her thick stubborn hair, "You jerk! You just had to take me with you, didn't you?" She screamed, her hands splashing water at his face furiously while he lamely attempted to block her attacks without drowning.

With a laugh, Brett finally grabbed her tiny wrists, dunking her under the water easily as she gasped in a quick breath. "Yep." He popped the p loudly as she swam back up to the surface, his tanned face in a smug expression. "At least the carrot is out of your eye." He winked as my sister blushed --still pretending to be mad at him.

"You better sleep with one eye open tonight, boy. Because I'll ruin you." She warned in a low smooth voice that made me choke back a laugh. She was so trying to seduce him and it was totally working --he looked so frazzled at her bluntness.

Sitting at the edge of the pool, I amusedly watched my sister flirt shamelessly with Brett until Tyler and Danny suddenly appeared out of nowhere with two fully loaded water-guns pointed straight at me.

"Any last words, Cuz'?" Danny's lips twitched up with a fire in his hazel eyes.

My own eyes widened as my life flashed before me with the jump of my heart. "I'm wearing white so please don't-"

"Even better!" Tyler laughed evilly before with one pump of the gun, I was instantly soaked to the bone.

Daniel swore, pushing his friend into the pool mercilessly before covering his eyes with his hands. "Crap! Sorry, Ailie! I didn't even stop to realize." He said frantically as I looked down, seeing the results of the water before quickly covering my practically exposed top-half --the one time I don't wear a bra and this happens. Of-freaking-course.

Grinding my teeth, I walked over to my cousin and with a hard shove to his chest, watched as he tumbled down into the water satisfyingly. Nodding my gratitude at Rora as she held her hands over the two boys' eyes, I left them to the mishaps.

It may not have ended the way I had expected, but family dinners were still just as embarrassing, awkward, and kick-ass as I remembered.

I'm a little rusty with this story! Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter though.