The Brother

3

“So Ray has a brother.” My best friend Kristen mused. I haven’t talked to Kristen since the funeral. She was my best friend, next to Ray and we had everything in common. “Is he hot?” She sipped her coffee playfully.

“He’s a jerk, don’t waste your time.” I mixed my coffee with the wooden stick furiously. His behavior was unacceptable. He was not allowed to talk to me like that. I was so used to the Chamber’s manners, that I didn’t think that they could make a discourteous child.

“Yes, but is he a hot jerk? Like a bad boy?” she meowed. I liked how she didn’t bring up me being sad of Ray. Everybody constantly asked “How are you coping?” “Are you okay, honey?” It would get annoying overtime.

“Sure, he’s a ‘hot jerk’.” I put up air quotations.

The doorbell of the coffee shop rang as someone stepped in. I heard the crunching of leather boots, and the strong scent of cologne burst into my nose.

Seth.

Why was I always running into him?

I groaned and buried my head in my arms. “What?” Kristen shook my shoulder.

“That’s him.” I murmured under my breath.

“That’s who?” she asked confused.

“Ray’s brother.” I squeaked and put my head back up.

She turned around and her eyes bulged out of her sockets. “Holy mama,  that is one fine looking guy. How is better looking than Ray? Seriously, I thought Ray was like the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.” I eyed her and she backed away. “What’s his name?”

“Dick,” I took a sip of my coffee.

“That name only exists in children’s books.” She wagged her finger.

“His name is Seth.” He sat down at a booth. Across from him was a really pretty girl with wild curly blond hair. She was wearing a short, tight, revealing V-neck. No wonder he liked her.

She hissed in a sexy way. “Ooh, I likey.” She purred. “Should I go over there?”

“You are crazy!” I hissed. “He’s with some other attractive girl.”

“Well I’m more attractive.” She was right. With Kristen’s tamed blond hair, fancy clothes, and long legs, she could pass for a model.

“Still, look at what she’s wearing.” I rolled my eyes.

She took a quick glance and frowned. “Slut,” she mumbled. “Anyway,” she shook out of her dazed expression, “how was your shrink?”

I thought of when I was throwing pillows and screaming at her. It almost brought a smile to my lips. “Weird, I threw pillow at her and screamed.”

“How fun,” she laughed.

We then heard a sharp gasp. I think everyone in the café heard because all eyes were on her. It was the girl Seth was with.

Her hand was pressed to her mouth and her eyes were in shock. The whole café was also quiet so we could hear anything they were about to say. Apparently, they didn’t mind.

“What do you mean you are breaking up with me?” she exclaimed. She wasn’t angry, just heartbroken in a clueless way. “We’ve been only dating for a month?! What could have possibly gone wrong? I gave you everything.”

“Well your everything wasn’t good enough. You are just too fragile for me.” Seth crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. “Sorry Tamara, but I don’t think it’s working out.”

“What about last night! Huh! You said you loved me!” She got up; tears were in her cloudy gray eyes. Yesterday was the funeral. How could he do something with another girl on the night of his brother’s funeral?!

“Then I was obviously drunk.” He looked away. His eyes glanced over to me, he smirked.

“But… But…” she stammered.

“No ‘buts’.” He shrugged. Everyone in the restaurant had their mouths hung open, including Kristen and I. They were experiencing a jerk in action. “We are done. You’re too boring for me.”

She let out a high girl squeal and stormed out of the café with tears in her eyes.

It was quiet for a few more seconds. Soon everyone started to talk again. I could make out a few people’s conversations. Most of them were the same annoying complaints.

“How rude!”

“She should have been firmer!”

“So glad we’re not like that.”

Then few giggles on and off. At Seth’s table, a girl with short brown hair and a black apron around her was serving him coffee. She looked a little stiff, probably worried he was going to try something on her. He gave her a charming smile and started to talk.

“Audrey, why are you always right about boys.” Kristen smirked.

“It’s a gift.” I laughed.

After a while of not talking about Ray with Kristen, Seth came up to our table. He looked calm and more sincere, not like at the therapy office.

“Aw, Audrey, I missed seeing your bra.” Kristen’s eyes widened out towards me. It was like a spark of fireworks just exploded in her mind. He took a sip of my coffee.

Before I could say something, he interrupted, “Don’t answer that. I know you think I’m irresistible since you love to follow me around everywhere.”

“Just to let you know, I was in here first.” I grabbed a five dollar bill from my pocket and smacked it on the table. “We’ll be leaving.”

“You’re not going to introduce me to your lovely friend.” Seth complained with an evil grin on his charismatic face. Seth scanned her from head to toe.

“She’s too smart for you.” I retorted.

“Last time I checked, I am in medical school.” He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. I wanted to move to the door but his muscular body stopped me. I stood there for a few seconds with my cheeks heated up.

“My brother just died and you’re already hitting on me?” he considered. I smacked him across the face. My hand burning was the result of me smacking him. The restaurant got quiet once again. Tears started to form in my eyes. I gave him a cold piercing look then took off out of the restaurant with Kristen tailing behind me.