Blank Skies

28

Rebecca

I turn up the volume on the radio and Ashlee laughs from the other side of the piano. I take a deep breath and begin singing along. Carrie Underwood always gets me excited. I dance around the piano with her and she laughs at my facial expressions.

I grab her hand and slide out of the room on my socks, the whole house is filled with the busting speakers. I let go of her and see Kaitlyn running down the stairs. Her face is broke out in a smile, "Wait for me!" She yells and I turn to look at Ashlee who throws the tv remote at me. I catch it and begin singing into it as long as my lungs will let me.

I skip into the kitchen where my mom and Victoria are fixing themselves a snack. I climb onto the counter and begin dancing and singing even louder belting out every note. My mom sends me a playful glare as the song changes to a latest song by maroon five.

Andre

I can hear the music blaring from my spot in the garage, "So are you gonna tell me why you brought me in here?" Deja asks, "I mean the bed is fantastic and so is the shower." She goes on crossing her arms, "Unless it's what I think it is?" She smiles goofily, "I mean that party thing is tomorrow and it's about that time for me to go to sleep." I roll my eyes and pull out the small box in my baggy pant pocket, "Dre."

Her eyes grow wide as I open the top, "Grandma gave me her old ring and I got it fixed up so she'd like it." The two karat diamond sat beautifully on the gold band. Rebecca likes simple things and she was hinting it every way a woman could.

I'd get random messages from her about jewelry shops and how great it be if I'd go check them out. We can't forget about the countless pictures of rings sent and shown all the time. It always make my day seeing a message like that pop up, yeah it sounds weird but what she and I have is special.

"Andre, this is beautiful." Deja whispers holding her face, "You think she'll like it?" She chuckles, "Like it?" I turn the box around to look at the round diamond once again, "Try love it bro." She smiles and I close the box and make it disappear again. I smile and hug Deja, "Oh man I can't believe it." She chuckles, "You guys are made for each other." I smile as she pulls away from me.

"Andre!" Becca's dad calls my name as he comes out of the house and into the garage. The music is still playing and I can hear Becca singing and laughing, "I'm over here." I say moving out from behind one of the cars, "So are you showing it off?" He smiles nodding at Deja, "It's gorgeous." She says squeezing my arm, "I wouldn't know I haven't seen it yet." Her dad crosses his arms over his chest.

I pull out the box and he happily walks over keeping me blocked from the door, "I didn't realize you had it." I nod, "I can't tell you how long I've had this thing." I laugh opening the box, "Oh wow." He says staring at the contents of the little box, "She loves simple." He smiles rubbing his chin, "So tomorrow? You ready?" He asks and I nod, "At least I think I am." I chuckle softly putting the ring away as the music disappears , "Oh you're never going to be ready, but you just gotta do it." He smiles.

I nod and Deja elbows me as the door opens, "What are you guys doing out here?" Becca says breathlessly. She has on athletic shorts, which are only used for her to lounge in, and a big shirt. Her deep brown hair is a little messy from the dancing I assume she was doing, "Your music was obnoxious." I groan jokingly, "Psht." She sighs, "I'm gonna go to bed, you coming?" She says sweetly, "Yeah." I say smiling, "I'll see you up there?" She asks and I nod.

I watch as she walks away from the door, "Perfect like I said." Deja says and I bump her using my elbow as she laughs. I walk away from the two, "Night guys." I say walking out of the garage. My socked feet slide a little I move along the hardwood. Becca stands in the doorframe of her room as she looks behind her. My eyes meet hers and she ducks into the room, I jog up the steps avoiding my mom before she can ask questions.

I sigh as I get to the top and see the door cracked with the light still on. I push the door open and close it behind me, "Babe?" I call out, "I'll be out in a minute!" She says from behind the bathroom door. I take the time to put the ring in my bag in one of the pockets. I walk over to the side of the bed I've been sleeping on, which is the left closest to the door.

I've always slept on the side closest to the door or wherever I could slide in when Becca fell asleep. The door opens and she holds her shorts in her hands, "Oh my lord." She drops the shorts before clicking on the lamp beside me and turning off the light. Her hair is still wet from her shower, "What?" She asks softly as I lean back into the headboard.

I shake my head and she climbs over me onto the other side. The feeling of her next to me is enough to send me into overdrive, "Nothing." She rolls her amazing deep brown
eyes, "Mhmm." She moans getting under the blankets, "Are you going to sleep?" She says laying her head on the pillow and I look down at her eyes drifting off to sleep, "Get some sleep baby girl." I say and she snuggles into the bed.

I slide off the bed and peel off my sweats and my socks, "Copy cat." Her sleepy voice is muffled by the pillow and I pull on my gym shorts, "Be quiet." I say sliding under the blankets, "I thought you were going to sleep." I say turning off the lamp, "I can't sleep without you beside me." She reaches out and wraps her fingers around my wrist. Her touch sends sparks through my body, "Well I'm not going anywhere." I scoot closer to her and lay the hand she's taken for herself on her leg.

Her face squishing itself is the last thing I remember before falling asleep.

*

"AHHHHHHH!"

I jolt up from the bed and see Becca isn't laying there and her shorts aren't on the floor. I throw the blankets off me and see the bedroom door opened slightly. I rub my face as I walk out and hear people talking downstairs. I keep my space as I scan for Becca. She's hugging people and her face is branded with that beautiful smile.

Mark walks out of his room and shares the same look of irritation that's written on my face. He makes me chuckle as he glares down at the people coming in, "Why do they show up earlier every time and insist on screaming?" He looks at me and I bite back a laugh, "I mean come on people," He gestures between us, "Like to sleep." He gives me a sleepy smile. I put my hand on his shoulder, "Sleep is beautiful." He laughs, "We better go down there." He sighs.

I walk down the steps yawning and at the same pace as Mark, "Fuck my sleep." He groans making me laugh, "Get used to it dude." I say as we go into the kitchen and Becca is sitting on the counter with her legs crossed cradling a cup of coffee in her hands. Her eyes catch mine, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to have them wake you." Her smile is genuine, "I think it's hitting Mark harder." Mark pulls out a coffee mug, "I'll be fine after this." He mumbles pouring himself a glass.

Becca offers me some of hers and I gladly accept, "I heard someone screaming." I give up the warm cup, "Did your cop instincts pop out?" Jack says smiling sitting at the island, "You could say that." Stomping footsteps make us all stop talking. Ashlee has her eye mask on her forehead and she makes a beeline to the coffee maker, "Don't even start Jack." She says mixing her coffee together with sugar and cream, "I didn't even say a thing!" He holds out his arms.

She picks up her cup and tilts the cup back taking a rather large sip, "Okay." She says wiping her mouth with her thumb, "Now you can speak to me." She smiles and I lean into the counter beside Becca, "I hate it." Grams walks in and comes over to me, "This family is fucking nuts." She whisper yells, "Mom!" Becca's dad says from the doorway, "Do I have to remind you who birthed you?" He sighs leaving the room.

Wow this family is crazy.