Time and Again

Chapter 3 - Part 1: Unbelievable

"Excuse me, can you please do that elsewhere?" Barrett coughed loudly when the kissing couple did not respond. "If you didn't know, this is my party. Please leave."

The man turned around as Barrett placed a hand on his shoulder, seeming to awaken from a drunken stupor. "What?"

"I said... leave," Barrett muttered with a tight-lipped expression.

"And who do you think you are?" The man rotated to face Barrett, one arm pushing his girl behind him. "You think you can talk to me like that, huh?"I stood in back of Barrett in the main hall, near the door that we had just exited. The man rolled up his shirt sleeves, but he still stood about half a foot shorter than Barrett's tall 6' frame. I smothered a laugh.

Barrett backed up a couple of steps and stood still as the man continued to take steps towards him, oozing fake bravado and testosterone.

"Yeah, back it off, loser. Run back to your mommy."

A short man dressed in a suit and tie hustled into the room, nearly bumping into me in the process. I recognized him as the same man who ushered me into the party. He made it to Barrett's side and I saw his eyes sweep over the situation with disinterest.

"Ah, yes, Martin. Thank you for coming. If you would please usher this sad excuse of a man off the premises, I would be eternally grateful," Barrett said with barely disguised disgust. Martin nodded once and grabbed the man roughly by the arm, almost dragging him out of the main hall to the front drive. An expression of confusion was etched on the man's face as Barrett sarcastically waved goodbye. I was surprised by the strength of Martin; I wouldn't have guessed he would have been able to haul a typical football-type out of a room.

The woman - who appeared more like a young teenage girl now that the man's face wasn't covering hers - shivered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Barrett wasted no time approaching her. "My name is Barrett Anderson and I am the host of this party. I believe the festivities can continue now that your boyfriend has been removed."

The girl nodded feebly, diverting her gaze to the ground as her cheeks turned rosy. She slowly opened her mouth to speak. "My name is Gabry." She stumbled on her speech. "Oh, he-he wasn't my boyfriend."

"Even better," Barrett grinned, extending his arm to her. She placed her arm inside his hesitantly, obviously still confused about the previous exchange with her not-quite-boyfriend. Maybe they had met at the party? I trembled when I thought of Drake's previous closeness. "Miss Grace?"

I snapped out of my analysis of the situation to see Barrett holding his other arm out for me to take. Come on, idiot, take his arm. I was never going to get this close to Barrett Anderson again, for pete's sake. And, here he was - the host of the party - being a complete gentleman to not only me, but a girl that he didn't know. Shelley would have already swooned multiple times. But, I had Liam to think of right now.

Forget Liam, Grace. He can wait. You're at the Anderson's now. Embrace it.

It was all too easy to side with the devil on my shoulder and I walked forward, placing my arm in his.

"Sir?" Martin stood behind us with his eyes directed to the floor in submission. "The man has been led off the premises and was given strict instructions to stay away from the manor. Is that all that you required?"

Barrett closed his eyes in concentration. When he opened them, he appeared even more authoritative and, when he spoke, his voice was stronger, less silky-smooth. "I believe that's all, Martin. Thank you for your assistance."

Barrett started to lead us towards the doors to the dance floor when Martin spoke up again.

"Sir, I do believe you'd be interested in knowing that your sister is not in her room. Miss Katie went inside to turn over the bed, but did not come across her."

Gritting his teeth, Barrett let go of our arms and stalked towards Martin. Leaning over him, he whispered something in Martin's ear. Nodding slightly, Martin exited out another door.

"Our plans have changed," Barrett exclaimed, trying to paste a smile onto his face and failing miserably. "Gabry, I think that you ought to attend the dance. Perhaps you may find a far superior man that is worth your attentions and time there."

Gabry flushed, embarrassed, and stumbled away from us towards the dance floor as she mumbled a brief "thank you" to Barrett. I started to follow her, thinking that he wanted to be by himself to sort out the dilemma involving his sister.

"Wait, Grace." I shivered at the delicate way that he said my name. "Are you sure you're okay? Maybe we should get you looked at."

I looked down at myself and didn't notice any obvious cuts or bruises. It's not like I was barefoot around the glass, I thought to myself. There wasn't much reason for concern. My head pulsed slightly, still recovering from the nasty headache, but I didn't need to be checked out.

"I'm fine," I laughed, liking the sound of it as it echoed in the tall, empty hall. The absurdness of the moment is not lost on me. Most girls would die to have Barrett Anderson concerned about their wellbeing. But, for some reason, I cannot stop thinking about Liam. "Not a scratch on me, I promise."

"Good. I won't hold you here any longer, then." Bowing to me, Barrett spun on his heel and disappeared behind a pair of doors to my left. His departure was so sudden and unexpected that I felt the emptiness  of the room like a heavy weight on my shoulders.