Unsocial

by Dykes, Nicole

  Cassie: It was soo funny. He spent the whole time trying to get away from her, but she would not take the hint! We just watched the show. Total skank. Hope you’re having fun.

  I smile. Okay, so Dylan didn't want her. I sigh in relief and hope his disinterest was because of me. I can feel the lines blurring, and I'm not sure I want to fix it.

  Me: I am, but will be happy to be home in a few days. Tell everyone I said Merry Christmas for me.

  I put my phone back in my bag and settle back in to soak up Florida’s rays.

  After several hours lying on the beach and soaking up the warm rays of the Florida sun, we make our way home to shower and finish up dinner before Trevor arrives. Just before we get ready to eat, he calls saying he’s delayed and to eat without him.

  Alex and I clean up after dinner and begin our Christmas Eve tradition of hot cocoa, cookies and watching It's a Wonderful Life. About halfway into the movie, Trevor finally arrives. Marjorie jumps up to hug and kiss him after not seeing him for the last year while he was touring. He greets the rest of us before making his way to the kitchen for leftovers. I’m still feeling a little uncomfortable with him after the way he acted on Thanksgiving. I know eventually everything will go back to normal, but for right now I don’t know how to act around him.

  It’s late when the movie ends, and since we always get up early on Christmas morning, we decide to call it a night. I change into PJs after brushing my teeth and climb into bed hoping that I get some sleep tonight. Alex is right behind me, and I let her turn off the light. The room is dark, so I close my eyes and try to surrender to the exhaustion of a sleepless night, the sun, the beach, good food, and the movie running late.

  "Hey, Brooke?"

  I turn my head toward Alex’s voice, "Yeah?"

  "Are you thinking about him? Is that why you couldn’t sleep?"

  Is she asking about Dylan? How could she possibly know? "Him?"

  "Trevor. He told me what happened Thanksgiving night."

  Wow, do I have a guilty conscience or what? "It wasn't that big of a deal. Everything’s fine.”

  "I hope so. I guess I understand that you don’t have feelings for him like that, but I can’t lie and say I wasn’t hoping that maybe you could try. He and I talked before Thanksgiving, and he admitted that he would like to try a relationship with you now that you’re both single. He wanted to before, but he thought you were serious about Will since you two were together so long.”

  "It's never gonna happen, Alex. I just don't see him that way."

  She laughs, "I get it. So can you forgive him and me for pushing it?”

  I smile, "I already have. As long as it never happens again, I'm good."

  “Good. See you in the morning.” After several moments, I can tell she’s finally fallen asleep. One thing about Alex, it doesn’t take her long to drop off, and when she drops off it’s nearly impossible to wake her up.

  Of course, sleep doesn’t come for me tonight either. By 2, I pretty much give up and give in to the urge to text Dylan. I don’t expect him to be awake or text me back, but I feel the need to reach out to him anyway. I open a new message and send a simple, quick text.

  Me: Merry Christmas, Dylan.

  I set the phone on the table and hope getting that off my chest will let me relax and sleep. That gets blown to hell when seconds later my phone buzzes with a text. I pick it up slowly; my hand is actually shaking with anticipation. Jesus, get it together, Brooke!

  Dylan: Merry Christmas, Brooke.

  Holy shit. Was he up, or did I wake him? For him to answer so quickly, he had to have been looking at his phone at the moment I sent the message. Was he expecting a text from someone? Maybe he was waiting for a text from me. Do guys over think this shit as much as women do. Probably not. A woman wouldn't have replied so quickly for fear of seeming desperate and needy.

  Me: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.

  Dylan: I was up playing Santa.

  I smile.

  Me: Aw. I'm sure that was fun. I hope you guys have a great Christmas.

  Dylan: You too, Brooke. I'll see you soon.

  I wish I were seeing him sooner. When my boss told me we were moving to bi-weekly meetings, I didn't feel excited at all. All I could feel was a disappointment, which for someone who’s such a devoted social worker is just sad.

  Me: Goodnight, Dylan. See you on the 5th.

  Dylan: Wish it were sooner.

  Me: Yeah.

  I do finally fall asleep, but it’s restless because now I remember every delicious moment of the last time I saw him.

  The next morning breakfast is a huge affair before we gather around the tree to open presents. I’m present, but I’m not there though I smile, nod, and thank everyone in at all the appropriate times. I wish I were in Overland Park around the Christmas tree with Dylan and the kids. I would give anything to see them open their gifts and then go help at the homeless shelter. I smile at that thought. This being the first Christmas without their parents, I’m hoping that doing something different will ease the pain some for them.

  After the mess from opening, presents is cleaned Alex heads to the shower. Her parents head to the kitchen to get everything ready for Christmas dinner. This year the theme is going to be seafood to commemorate their first year in Florida. That’s another Christmas tradition; each year dinner consists of a different food theme. It’s because us kids were sick of turkey by the time Christmas rolled around. While they do that I go to the ever present game table, this family couldn’t live without one, and start setting up the first game. I pick trivial pursuit because Alex always gets her ass kicked.

  Trevor follows me, but I refuse to shy away if he wants to have a discussion about Thanksgiving. "Brooke, can we talk a minute?"

  I turn to him, "Sure."

  He looks nervous, so not Trevor. "I never really apologized for what happened, and I just want to say I'm sorry. I care about you and don't want this to hurt our friendship. I don't know what I was thinking acting like that with you."

  I smile and tease him a little, "Yeah, I can’t imagine what you were thinking either.”

  "I was acting out of curiosity. Now, no more curiosity. It’s all been cleared up. We’re family.”

  I shake my head, but can't help laughing. "Yeah, we are.”

  He smiles and reaches in to start helping me set up the game. Just like that, just like siblings, everything is back to normal.

  After a Christmas dinner of crab, shrimp, oysters, lobster, and some fish I had no idea even existed we gather around the game table to begin our first round of Trivial Pursuit. Alex tries to beg off by saying she needs a nap, which is to be expected, but there’s no way any of us is letting her duck out. Times like this make me grateful that I’m part of this family. It’s because of them I have some idea of what family interaction is like. I’m not naive enough to think that all family dynamics work like this, I am a social worker, but I know how a happy family interacts and lives. Without them it would have always been just me and my grandmother, who was an awesome woman, but even when I was a very small I always dreamed of a large family with two parents and lots of brothers and sisters.

  I smile as I think of Dylan and his family. I wish I could say that everything I’ve done for them or the reason I’m so engrossed in their lives is because they are everything that I’ve ever wanted, sadly minus the parents, but I would be lying. I have quite a few families on my client list who are large, some happy and some not, some rich and some poor, many with far less baggage than Dylan’s and many with far worse circumstances. But it’s the Monroes who I think about, who I dream of, and who I put forth extra time and attention for. I have no worry of wanting to cross any professional lines with any family, but them which is no secret has happened quite a few times. I entered this profession to make sure that every family out there had someone in their corner fighting for them because I didn’t have that as a young child. And I can proudly say that I work hard every day for each and every o
ne of my families, but only one would I could dinner for, do homework with, go shopping with, share Thanksgiving Day. I should worry, because after this year with them is up there will be no reason that we stay in each other’s lives, and that thought slays me because now I can’t imagine them not in my life.

  After Trivial Pursuit runs for a couple of hours, we all decide to stretch out legs with a walk on the beach, because hey it’s Christmas Day in sunny Florida which I’ve decided beats the hell out of a frigid Kansas Christmas, although part of me loves a white Christmas. After watching the sunset, which alone is worth this trip, we head back in for an active round of Pictionary. Now this is our best game; everyone’s on equal footing because not a one of us can draw. There is a lot of cheating going on. That night I happily succumb to sleep.

  The next day Trevor leaves to join his band back on tour. Alex and I spend the day with Marjorie taking her shopping, out to dinner, and a long walk on the beach. We manage to keep her positive despite the fact that her baby boy flew out again. Hopefully, this time, he will find time between tour dates to visit his family without a year going by. The next day, which is mine and Alex’s last day, we soak up as much beach time as we possibly can. We hit the tourists’ shops, and I find myself replenishing my summer wardrobe with some awesome beachwear.

  On Sunday morning, Alex’s parents take us to the airport to catch our flight. After setting our bags in the Departure area, Marjorie gives each of us a hug and makes us promise to come back down as soon as we can. In my ear, she gives me one last bit of wisdom. “Always choose love, Brooke.”

  I smile and hold her tightly, "Thank you, Marge.”

  Back in frigid Kansas, we waste no time in falling back into our routine. That means we dump our luggage and order Chinese food for dinner before dropping exhaustedly into bed because the next day is back to that awful time of life also known as ‘adulthood.’.

  Falling back into my routine at work is a lot harder than falling back into being home. Obviously, the crazies came out to play during the holiday, which is to be expected based on studies, but really? Most of these issues are just bullshit. But I chug, chug, chug on, like the little engine that could.

  Finally, it’s New Year’s Eve, and unfortunately, being the newbie, which automatically gives me the short end of the stick, I have to work all day with just Janice and Paige to back me. Needless to say, the three of us are swamped with the changes in food stamps, state insurance, and case standings that will happen after the new year begins. It’s just before 5 o’clock, just moments until I’m out of here, and I’m ready. I promised Alex I would go out with her to ring in the New Year, and I’m actually looking forward to it. I close the last folder, put it away, and starting gathering up my stuff to take home. When I look up, I see Janice making a beeline to me. Please, no.

  “Brooke, I’m glad I could catch you before you headed out.”

  Great. An emergency, and I’m the lucky one. "I, uh..."

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Paige heading in this direction. "What's up Janice? I can help out, and I could use the overtime. Credit cards and Christmas, you know." Paige winks at me because she knows from a conversation we had earlier today about my plans for the evening and the fact that I was looking forward to going.

  Janice turns to her, "Great, thanks, Paige." She turns back to me briefly and tells me to have a good weekend before walking with Paige back to her desk.

  I owe Paige big time for this. Don't get me wrong, I still love my job. And yes, I know I just got back from a heavenly vacation, but these last two months have been crazy at work. I'm looking forward to celebrating the New Year with Alex with drinks and dancing. My girl scored us passes tonight to the club Trevor played when he first got to town.

  I grab my purse and haul ass out of there. When I walk in the door, Alex is all ready to hand over her pick for tonight’s wardrobe. And Oh. My. God. It’s perfect. The dress is short and slinky, and the best part is it’s all silver and shiny. Just the kind of dress one should wear for a New Year’s party. I especially love how there’s very little back, and the last couple of days in Florida, when I got to enjoy the beach without having to worry about Dylan’s little bite marks being exposed, I did manage to get a good tan, which has always been easy for me. But as hot as the dress is, I’m loving the stiletto heel, knee-high leather boots. The stiletto heel is silver and just pops with this dress.

  She hands it all over to my waiting arms, “You gonna fight me on this one?"

  I shake my head, "No way, I love it all."

  "Good, get dressed."

  "Okay, but I have to shower. Promise I’ll be quick.”

  I wash my hair and shave my body to within an inch of my life with my favorite new body wash I picked up in Florida. Then I slather the body lotion that came with it all over as well. It has some shimmery stuff that’s supposed to make you glow in all of Florida’s sunshine. I thought it would make me feel all Twilighty, but after I had put it on the first time, it was really hot how it caused my skin to glow. I’m thinking it’s going to do the same thing under the lights of the club tonight. I put the dress on, which is seriously hugging every curve of my body to perfection, and then I slip on the boots. Holy, hell. I’m falling in lust with my damn self. And that’s without the hair and makeup. I am rocking sexy tonight.

  I hurry to Alex’s room anxious to see how she’s going to add to all of my hotness. Of course, she’s dressed flawlessly as always. She inspects me closely. “Damn, Brooke. I doubt we’ll have to buy even a single drink tonight.”

  I laugh and sit at her vanity. She leaves my hair down but sweeps all the mass of loose curls to one shoulder, so you get the full effect of the back of the dress. Freezing my ass off tonight is going to be worth it with the way I look tonight. She leaves my makeup simple because I have color on my face from the sun, she just makes my eyes pop, and when I see the fully-finished Brooke, I love it.

  "You've done it again."

  She laughs, "Well, yes. I'm a miracle worker you know; you were hideous before.” We laugh at her ridiculous assessment while we gather our purses and coats. We’re having a quick dinner before heading to the club.

  The bar is packed, and judging by the line we luckily got to bypass, we would never have gotten in here. They even have a table reserved for us. This is why I love Trevor. He always leaves a good impression and every club owner happy so there are favors that can be called in for later, like tonight. Obviously, Alex had talked to Trevor who in turn had called the owner of the club who set everything up all nice and tight for us. Awesome.

  I slip my coat off and hang it on the back of my stool. Just as I sit down Alex’s eyes go wide, and she freezes in mid-sit. "Oh shit. Do not look behind you. If you do, it will ruin our entire night."

  I swear my heart stops for a minute. No way can it be Dylan. What would be the chances of him showing up at this club the same night that Alex and me? I shake away that thought because I'm sure he's with the kids tonight, or if he is going to a bar, I'm sure it's one of the larger ones in the Power and Light District. No matter, I, of course, have to turn and look.

  The butterflies in my stomach instantly die when I lay eyes on my ex-boyfriend, Will. And he's not alone. I take in his companion. She’s wearing one of the shortest dresses I’ve ever seen someone in person wear. I can tell it’s expensive and as slutty as it looks; she makes it look good. If this weren't Kansas, and one of the last places on earth a famous model would be on New Year’s Eve, I would swear she stepped off the pages of Vogue and right inside this club on the arm of…..oh, shit, is that my stuffy ex-boyfriend? A laugh escapes me as I take him in after being distracted by his date who is in the process of sucking his neck as they make their way toward us. He’s wearing a pair of skinny jeans with rips, in no way a good look for him. He has on a faded t-shirt with a distressed jean jacket. His hair is mussed; I’m guessing from the hands of the Barbie hanging all over his arm. She has to bend to accomplish all the sucking and hanging
because she’s taller than him by at least three inches.

  I turn back to Alex, "Oh my God, do you think Will had a twin out there all this time, and we never knew? And what the hell is he doing here in a club?”

  She looks as shocked as me, "I have no idea. He used to whine like a huge fucking baby every time you wanted to go out until you just quit. And what about the cheap trick he’s with? What in the hell? You think his mommy and daddy approve?"

  Will's father and grandfather were rich lawyers, and his father never approved of Will dating a poor, orphaned girl. "Ugh, please don't remind me about his parents."

  "Oh shit, Brooke, they’re heading this way."

  No, no, no. Please go left, or right, just not straight. Unfortunately, someone missed my plea because I hear Will's voice behind me, "Brooke?"

  Shit. Was his voice always that nasally? I know I have to be polite and turn around and more importantly not laugh at this Will up close. "Hi, Will. What are you doing here?"

  His giggling doll answers for him, "Oh, we come here a lot. Billy just loves the whole vibe here.”

  Did she just call him Billy? I look over to him and look at his beaming face. He looks like a little boy dressed in someone else’s grown-up clothes and preening because he thinks he looks handsome. Alex snorts when she hears what Blondie says. "Really? Billy loves it here?" You can’t miss the disbelief in her voice.

  I crack a small smile at Alex’s blatant taunting, and I see a flash of irritation at her words cross his face. "Yes, it's a totally happening place, so Bianca and I come as often as we can. Don’t we, darling.”

  A laugh escapes which I try to disguise as a cough. Everyone’s eyes turn to me at the sound, “Oh, excuse me. I swallowed wrong.”

  Alex takes a bite from a complementary pretzel on the table, "Well, isn't that sweet."

  Bianca isn't picking up on Alex’s tone at all and nods way too enthusiastically, "Yeah, Billy's just the sweetest guy ever."

  She pinches his cheek and gives him a big kiss on the lips. His smile is so big I’m afraid his face is going to break. What the hell is going on? Am I in the Twilight Zone or something? When she finally removes her lips from his he smiles and clears his throat, "Well it’s good to see you again, Brooke." He nods curtly at Alex and grumbles something I can only guess is rude before leading Bianca away by the hand to the table reserved right next to ours. Oh, joy.