by Rue Volley
“Don’t keep him up too late.” She said as she leaned on the bar.
“No…no I…”
Johnathan grabbed my free hand and started to drag me to the side of the bar and stopped in front of a huge window. He stood there and stared out as the skyline started to change in color. I stood there too, letting him have his moment.
“It’s beautiful.” He said as he looked at the colors streaking the sky. We felt the airship slightly lift and all the clouds descended under us.
“This is the time when the plane skirts the atmosphere; it is so pretty to watch it as the colors bleed into one.” He said as he continued to keep his eyes on the sky.
“How many times have you travelled overseas?” I asked him.
“Many, the last time was with Brooke… five years ago.” He said.
“Oh.” I said as I felt his hand vibrate in mine.
He looked down at our hands and grinned.
“I’m sorry, I’m drunk.” He said.
“It’s okay Johnathan, I know.” I said.
“You know I made love to her, for the first time on this flight.” He said.
I stood there, wanting to say something but feeling like I should just let him talk.
He looked at me and grinned.
“Tell me if I make you uncomfortable.” He said.
I shook my head ‘no’ and held onto his hand, with the bottle in my other hand clutched to my chest.
He looked back out the window.
“It was perfect, it really was. She looked amazing, the skyline was beautiful and we had been drinking. I just wanted her to be happy. I really did.” He said.
“I am sure you did Johnathan, Brooke loved you.”
“I know.” He said.
“She wanted me to live in London with her, we talked about before we ah…” he said, being a gentlemen and not going into details about the one night they had together.
“Why didn’t you?” I asked him.
“I couldn’t, and after what I did… she said that she wanted me to go home.” He said.
“What happened Johnathan?” I asked him.
He looked at me and let my hand go.
“We umm, well you know and when I… uhhh, you know… I said the one thing that I should have never said.” He said to me.
“Stop being all spy like, what happened?” I asked him.
“I called out your name,” he said.
I sucked in my breath and stepped back from him. You would of thought that the airship had dropped about a thousand feet and it so felt that way, but it didn’t. It was me and my reaction to his crazy that made me feel that way.
“Oh shit.” I said as I turned and started to walk away from him. He stood there and let me go, I busted through the door and ran down the hallway towards the room, hoping that I could settle myself down before I reached Josh. He could always tell when I was upset, or anything really. I stopped at the door and leaned my forehead against it, catching my breath.
“Stupid, stupid… stupid.” I muttered as I leaned there. I turned and slid down the door and sat on the floor with the bottle in between my legs. My head was spinning; no way had I ever thought that the whole reason Brooke and Johnathan had not been together was because of me. Well, not me… but Johnathan and how he feels about me. I thought that we had come to an understanding, one that made it possible to be friends. I sat there and all the years since Brooke had left went through my mind. Johnathan leaving for six months, him returning, the countless times he came over and how he stayed in our lives. Johnathan stepped around the corner and stood there staring at me. I looked at him and sat there, clutching the wine, not knowing where to even start. He walked towards me and stopped, towering above me, he held his hand out and I sighed and took it. He pulled me up and looked into my eyes.
“It isn’t you… it’s me.” He said.
“Oh, that makes it much better.” I said.
He grinned and I didn’t.
“This isn’t funny.” I said.
“I never said that it was, but seeing you all irritated is.” He said.
“Oh, nice…” I said as the door opened behind me and I almost fell in, Josh caught me and I looked up at him and he grinned.
“Sweet, you found some more poison.” He said as he stood me up and took the bottle from me.
“Yep…” I said as I glanced at Johnathan and bit my lip.
***
Gracie loves water. That she inherited from her dad, not her mom who hated water and everything about it. Rue was a professional at drowning. Gracie on the other hand wanted to sit in the tub every night and does, she would sleep in it if she was allowed. Josh had literally built a new tub, specifically for her to bathe in. He had wound such a strong spell into the porcelain and metal that there was no way anything or anybody could ever drag her under and into memory as Rue had been so many times before. She loved her tub, it was beautiful and she hugged him so hard when he presented it to her that he actually swayed on his feet as she held onto him tightly with such force, whispering thank you. It melted his heart; she could melt him with anything really. Gracie sat in her tub and played with the surface of the water when she looked over and saw Alexander standing there, peeking around the corner.
Gracie grinned and lifted her hand up, letting water drip onto the floor next to the tub and he looked at her and then grinned too. Alex started to take off his clothes and then looked at her. She giggled and covered her eyes as he finished stripping his clothes off and he stepped into the tub, full of bubbles and slid down across from her. Gracie smiled and slid towards him and lifted the washcloth out of the water and rubbed soap on it. She started to clean his face, a little too rough and he blew soap out of his mouth and she laughed again.
“You are dirty.” She said.
Alex blinked and looked at her.
“You are pushy.” He said.
Gracie grinned and splashed him with water and he squealed.
Theo flashed in and looked at the two of them.
“Oh no... No… no.” he said as he lifted Gracie out of the water and wrapped her in a towel. He looked down at Alex and shook his finger.
“We do not bathe naked with girls in this house.” He said.
Alex looked up at him and shook his head.
“I’m sorry.” He said.
“You are lucky that it was I who found you and not Josh.” He said as he walked out with Gracie and started to rub her head with the towel.
Theo sat down on her bed with Gracie in his lap; he continued to dry her off.
“Sara Grace Barrington, I will take this boy out of this house if you do not behave.”
Gracie frowned and looked at Alex as he came out with a towel wrapped around him.
“I didn’t mean anything.” He said as he stood there looking like a drowned rat.
Theo looked at him and grinned.
“I am not angry, we must just think before we go jumping into the tub naked.” He said.
Alex grinned and Gracie giggled. Theo looked at her and smiled.
“It is time for sleep.” He said.
“Can we sleep with you?” Gracie asked him.
Theo glanced at Alex and sighed.
“I would think it best, and I will say that tomorrow we will be investigating your situation.” Theo said as he looked at Alex.
Alex nodded and backed into the bathroom and shut the door.
Theo looked at Gracie and jiggled her.
“Do not make me regret letting him stay here, love.” He whispered.
“Nooooo.” Gracie said as she touched his face and Theo smiled and took her little hand and kissed it.
“I do love you, as the world will.” He said.
Gracie hugged him and he ‘oh’d’ as she squeezed his neck.
“I wuv you Uncle Theo.” She whispered back to him.
He closed his eyes and then opened them as the bathroom door opened up and Alex stood there, looking a little awkward.
“Co
me here.” Theo said as he held out his hand.
Alex walked to him and stopped as Theo took his hand.
“I will not just put you out in the world to fend for yourself, you are still welcome to stay but Gracie’s bathtub is off limits if she is in it… do you understand?” he asked him.
Alex grinned and nodded to him.
“Very well then, time for sleep… tomorrow will be busy, that I am sure of.” Theo said as he stood up and started to walk towards the hallway.
“Should I sleep in here?” Alex asked.
Theo looked at him and shook his head.
“Tonight we all sleep in the same bed, you on one side… me in the middle and Gracie on the other.”
Alex smiled.
“You go down stairs, Gracie needs to get her pajamas on.” He said.
Alex walked out and glanced back at Gracie who giggled. Theo looked at her and sighed.
“You have inherited your charm from two people who are experts at it.”
Gracie looked at him and crinkled her nose.
“Charm.” She said as she giggled.
“Yes, and it is dangerous… I think that young Alex is feeling the effects.”
Gracie laughed as he sat her down and pulled out her feety pajamas, her favorite ones… once again, a hood with ears on it. Everything Gracie wanted had a hood… the ones with ears, her favorite. She liked to think of herself as a small animal. Theo zipped it up for her and she rubbed her hands on the front of it, because she also liked to feel everything. That made her mom nervous to think about, as she would someday be a teenager and just like she once was. Rue hoped she would drop the whole touchy feely thingy before the boys started to notice her.
Theo stood up and Gracie pulled up her hood and the ears stood up, all pointed and cute. Theo grinned at her and took her hand. They walked down the stairs and towards his room. They stepped in and Alex was already under the covers in the middle. Gracie let go of Theo’s hand and ran towards the bed and jumped at it, she was under the covers and next to Alex before Theo could blink.
“Ah.” He said as he walked to the side of the bed and waved his hand.
“You, over there… and you, on this side.” He said.
Gracie giggled and disappeared under the covers jerking Alex under too. The blankets started to jump all over the place and Alex laughed as Gracie tickled him like a ninja at lightning speed.
“Oh dear.” Theo said as he turned and let the crazy wear itself out. The blankets went crazy behind him as he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off. He stood there in his t-shirt and glanced back as the battle continued.
“We need sleep little ones.” Theo said as he sighed and looked at the dresser with his own collection of pictures on it. He had the same Rue and Josh did on theirs, the one of all of them… pre Gracie. A sunlit picture of a happy moment. He stepped towards it as the squealing continued behind him under the covers and picked it up. He traced the picture of Jonah standing there smiling, his arm around Theo who looked happy and not so serious for once. Theo sighed and then dropped the picture when Alex came flying from the bed and hit him in the leg. Theo looked down quickly and crinkled his eyebrows. He looked back at the bed and Gracie sat there, wiggling her fingers, with the comforter wrapped around her.
“Sowry.” Gracie said as she grinned.
Alex rubbed his head and looked up at Theo.
Theo smiled and grabbed his hand and jerked him up.
“You will learn that Gracie is quite strong for her size, she masks it with a giggle.” Theo said as he walked towards the bed with Alex at his side.
“You must be careful, love… you do not understand your own strength.” Theo said to her.
She grinned and tilted her head at Alex.
Alex tried to smile but he had just experienced his first real but kicking from little Gracie and his pride was bruised.
“Scoot over.” Theo said as he waved his hand at Gracie, who flashed in a roll to the side of the bed. Theo climbed in and then Alex did, and settled down next to him. Theo lay there as a barrier between the two of them.
“Okay then, time to sleep… no playing.” Theo said.
Gracie sat up and kissed Theo on the cheek and then looked at Alex who had a look of ‘don’t beat me up’ on his face. Gracie grinned again and showed off her little crooked canines.
“Night.” She said.
Alex half grinned at her and rolled over as she lay down and disappeared behind Theo.
“Night.” Alex said as he closed his eyes and then peeked at his forearm. He rubbed the small bite on it that Gracie had inflicted on him as they battled under the blanket. He sighed and tucked his arm close to his chest and fell into a long needed sleep, with two protectors in the bed behind him.
***
“I said noooo.” Josh said as he stumbled across the room and towards the bed.
Johnathan laughed and looked at me. We both stood there watching Josh as the wine took its toll on him; well… it was taking its toll on us too. I won’t lie.
“Why? I mean are you afraid that I will win?” Johnathan asked him.
Josh stopped and let the bottle drop to the floor and it rolled away from him.
“Afraid? Ha!” Josh said as he looked back at Johnathan and rolled his eyes.
“I can beat your ass anywhere, anytime.” Josh said as he straightened up and grinned at me.
“Okay then.” Johnathan said as he walked towards Josh and held his hand up and a light started to pulsate in the center of it.
Josh lowered his head and his hair fell in his face. He laughed again and then held up his hand quickly and the light flashed in his palm. They stood there and then placed their hands closer together until the light made a humming noise. This was a game that they both had played many times before. I guess the immortals version of arm wrestling. They both push their energy out their palms at each other until one of them is nudged back from the force of it. I walked to the bed and dropped down on it as I watched the circus commence. I mean I was so used to the two of them competing that it was old, but watching them both drunk and trying to do it was amusing. I needed something to take my mind off the crap that Johnathan laid on me earlier anyway. I mean, come on! Why would he screw everything up with the one girl who would want him? Especially by using me as an excuse? There has to be more, something he didn’t say… I mean, there has to. I know that Johnathan and I were once all about each other, but to have him call out my name instead of hers while they…well, you know…just seemed ridiculous. I pushed myself up on my elbows and looked at him.
“You are bullshit.” I said.
Johnathan glanced at me and tilted his head while he tried to maintain his balance. Josh laughed and a flash of light came from his palm and knocked Johnathan to the ground.
“That is right!” Josh yelled out as he looked at Johnathan, sitting there on his butt.
“Whoop Whoop! I am the man!” Josh said as he did his stumbling victory dance around the room. Johnathan didn’t even look at him because his eyes were locked on me.
“We need more wine.” Johnathan said as he pushed himself up. I watched him and then looked at Josh who stopped and threw his hands up in the air.
“Oh, you can get me all messed up and I will still kick your sorry ass every single time.” He said as he laughed.
“Uh huh… I wouldn’t bet on it.” Johnathan said as he pushed himself up from the floor and looked at me.
“You want to come with me?” he asked me.
I raised my eyebrow and shook my head.
“Oh come on, I am drunk… I don’t want to end up in some cabin with a girl all over me.” Johnathan said as he grinned.
I swallowed hard and looked at Josh who grinned.
“Go with him baby; he is afraid to walk out there alone.” He said.
“Uh huh.” I said as I looked at Johnathan and gave him the ‘what the hell’ face.
“Come on, let’s hit the bar.” Johnathan said.
Jo
sh dropped on the bed and I decided to get it over with, maybe this was the moment, maybe Johnathan would start laughing when we leave and say “Fooled you” or maybe he would try to explain the crazy BS he dropped on me the last time we stepped out of the cabin. I stopped at the door as Josh laughed and waved his arms in the air above him and I had to grin. We do not get drunk, and I so was and so was he. I could feel it coming off of him and in turn it made me feel even more drunk than I probably already was. I stepped out and Johnathan followed me. I started to walk and I felt his hand grab mine and he jerked me back, pressing me against his chest. I looked up at him and bit my lip, hard enough to cause the blood to roll over my lip and onto my chin. He looked at it and then grinned at me.
I pulled my hand from his and backed up from him.
“You are an asshole.” I said as I turned and started to walk.
“Why?...because I am honest? I would think that you would appreciate that.” He said.
“Shut up.” I said as I tried to walk down the hallway, but I swayed too. I guess I didn’t really know how drunk I was because I spent my time immobile on the bed while they both played ‘who is the bigger stud’ around the room. I pushed my hair over my ear and just the movement made my head spin; Johnathan grabbed my waist and stopped me from falling. I pushed off of him again and held onto the wall as I walked. He laughed behind me.
“Always so independent.” He said.
I rolled my eyes and tried to focus on the walking part of the equation here. I made it to the corner and the door opened to the girl’s cabin, as it had before. This time she stepped out and lit a cigarette, which I was certain was totally not allowed on the air ship. She sucked in the smoke and held it for a moment as she closed her eyes and grinned. The front of her nightgown covered in blood. I stopped and held onto the wall, not thinking of anything to say fast enough. Johnathan came up behind and stopped, bumping into me and causing me to lean forward. She placed her hand on my chin and pulled it up to look at her. She smiled and sucked on her cigarette again, blowing the smoke above her and then winked at me. I swallowed hard; totally shocked that I didn’t figure out that she was rogue. She had to be. I would not doubt that she just killed her boy in the room for sport. She laughed and looked at Johnathan.
