Heartthrob of Aclea

Chapter 11 - Brian and I

My touch is black and poisonous
And nothing like my punch drunk kiss
I know you need it, do you feel it
Drink the water, drink the wine

Oh we gotta turn up the crazy
Livin' like a washed up celebrity

Splash! Splash! Splash!

If only this tub was huge enough for me to float on my back, that would be great. Along with Victorious by Panic! At The Disco on repeat, I was totally deaf to outside noises. I felt like I was four, not twenty-four. Mum's bath bomb had a very pleasant smell and its combination with essential oils created an aromatherapy effect. I could feel the toxins being drawn out, my skin was deeply cleansed, and the energy inside me was replenished. I scrubbed, splashed, scrubbed again, blew some bubbles, and scrubbed again until the wrinkles started crawling up every tip of my fingers. The last rays of the late evening sun fell slanting through the window. The warm breeze gently carried away dried leaves before they eventually fell to kiss the earth. Autumn was usually Aclea's raining season, so I had to be ready for wet weather!

Raining was never bad weather, just bad clothing. Just bringing on the wellington boots, unleashing the waterproof coats and essentially, cracking open a very windproof, miraculously wide of Davek Elite Umbrella and then I was ready for a proper yomp through puddles and shimmery wet Aclea streets. That would just happen in my fantasy land. There was no way I was going to do that. The raining season was only suitable to hide under a thick comforter and sleep until it ended.

ZAP! PHHUUUT!

'Holy macaroni!' I stared in horror as someone landed a hard thwack on my bare, bubbly back. I could feel the colour draining from my face; felt like someone had thrown me in a freezer and forced to stop my circulation.

'HAHAHAHAHA!' Brian laughed maniacally. He walked closer whilst stopping the music.

'What's this smell? Did you just fart?'

'Have you ever heard of knocking?! Even if I farted, that shouldn't be your problem.'

'Gosh, this smells worse than rotten eggs! You just raped my nose. I lost one sense, thanks to you.' He pinched his nose as my charm had diffused to the area he was standing.

'Ya welcome.'

He crept to my direction with a bucket of water that he had filled after complaining about the fart and emptied it on me with a full force. From bubbly to only fully soak with water, I snorted my nostrils clear, smoothed out my hair, and caught my breath before declaring a water war between us. My intention to snap him back dissolved along with it. The floor became wet; Brian almost stumbled down when I squeezed the last drop of my shampoo. I intended to put on my bathrobe when I caught a glimpse of Brian's face that got aflame like paprika when he realised there was no single string covering up my private part. Here were the things that should be everyone's mental note:

A) This was not my fault because this was my bathroom and I could be naked anytime that I wanted to.

B) There was no fun submerging with clothes hanging on your body!

And C) I was basically a naturalist. I gripped tightly on the idea of My Body Is a Wonderland as gospel.

'My eyes! They are burning!' He fanned his eyes, as though they were really burning. Dramatic arse.

I ushered him to the small living room downstairs – reminder: the bathroom was upstairs – and handed him a beer. He looked dashingly appealing; the brunettes of Brian's hair were fresh, warm, with tints of evening sunlight melting into the chocolate strands. In his ocean blue eyes, the weariness of weighing his responsibility showed.

'Get dressed, brother. We are going on an adventure!' Brian exclaimed.

'Am I hearing this right?'

'No bodyguards. Just the two of us. Like our good ole days'

'Thought you'd never ask.'

'Duh. And I'll be wearing your boots. The white one.'

Yep, two gorgeous brothers were hanging out together, with their hideous white wellington boots covering their feet.

Again, raining was never bad weather, just bad clothing.