Contest entries

I SEE YOU {entry} #dec2016 first day of holiday

I SEE YOU 

Talia had been dating Edward for almost a year. He was sweet and funny, and he had a way about him that made her think they could make it all the way through college and into adult life. She knew that she was probably on the verge of being too wild for him, since he was buttoned up and normal. But for Talia, that didn't matter. Her crazy Russian family didn't as much as flinch when she brought the boy home, even if her mother had loudly asked her why on earth she was seeing someone so dull. Clearly she hadn't asked any of this in English, but in eussian, and Talia had gone off on rant, telling her mother that Edward was a perfectly nice young man who had his shit together. 

Knocking on the door to the Barrett household, she half expected the maid to get the door, she even half expected Mrs Barrett to come to the door. But she had no such luck, oh no. The person who answered looked a lot like Eddie, but there were differences. His eyes were a startling, beautiful blue. His mouth seemed to be set in a smirk. He was taller, just a few inches, and his chest wider. She stood there, for a few seconds just looking at him, before he laughed. "You must be Talia."

"You must be the infamous brother." 

Oh yes, she'd heard all about Andrew Barrett III, about how he was a playboy in everysense of the word, how he didn't know how to change his socks without changing women and cars as well. The glass of whiskey in his hand told her that this was him, and despite herself, she could feel her stomach flutter and tingle at the same time. 

"You can call me Drew," he said, his voice like honey and whiskey as it slid over her, and he opened the door to step aside, letting her into the house. "Eddie and mother are still out, looking for an appropriate way to celebrate this lovely first day of summer for us all, so until then... You're stuck with me." He didn't sound half as sad about that as he tried to look, and Talia did her best not to feel like she had just walked into the lion's den. 

"That's fine. I could use something to drink though. Non-alcoholic," she added, and he laughed when he closed the door. 

"Pregnant?"

"Driving." 

It seemed to be a good enough answer for him, and he found his way to a small fridge next to the drinks cart. She had never understood why someone would leave alcohol out like that, but then again, her parents weren't New England rich, they were just well off. His eyes were on her as he pulled out two different bottles of soda, as if asking which one. She pointed to his left, and he put the other one away. 

"So, Talia. Tell me how you and my brother met," the words not really a question as he handed her the bottle, and she sat down. 

"In class. Economics 101. I outsmarted him in a debate, and after that, well. Here we are." 

But he didn't seem impressed, quite the opposite. "That's a boring way to meet."

Yeah, it wasn't the start she had imagined for a future husband either, but she was tired of bad boys. Tired of men like Drew. "Not everyone needs to be swept of their feet by expensive cars and fancy clothes, or, lack there-of," she said pointedly, and he raised his glass in reply. 

"Touché, Tal," he grinned. No one called her Tal, not even her mother, and it made her stomach flutter again. "So, what are your plans for this glorious first day of summer?"

Tapping the bag she had dropped to the floor, she smiled a little too sweetly, "We were going to study."

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Nope." 

He laughed then, a laugh that wasn't forced or strained, a laugh that came from his stomach and made him lean back in his seat. His shirtless torso rippled with the effort, and Talia found herself smiling. "Oh god help me, my brother's got no clue what he's got his hands on," he smirked, laughter still in his eyes. 

"And you do?"

"Better than he does."

***

Edward and Mrs Barrett came home with dinner, bags and bags filled with one thing after the other. Andrew retreated out into the garden, and Talia did her best to help her boyfriend prepare the meal he was talking about. 

It was like he had made up his mind about the perfection of it all - again and again he pointed out how it had to be perfect. At 19 Talia had only had foie gras once, and seeing it raw made her stomach turn. 

"Honey, I think I'll sneak out, get some sun and some reading done, it is summer after all," she said softly, kissing his cheek as he kept cooking. He was a sweet, simple man who didn't see the way she hurried out of the kitchen to the patio, pulling her cardigan off to leave her in her summer dress next to his charming older brother. 

Talia knew she was in deep when he offered her a sip from his glass, saying he'd drive her home if she was really worried about drinking and driving. 

She told herself that this was what first days and summer vacations were supposed to be. So she accepted the bubbling glass he offered, and leaned back in her chair. She wouldn't tan, but the heat of the sun and the soft music from somewhere, the easy conversation with Drew... By the time dinner was done, Talia had decided this was the best first day of summer vacation she'd ever had.