Riede had never worn shoes so absolutely ridiculous in her life, and she absolutely loved it. As a long time fan of anything dark and gothic, she thought the spiky, black boots were just about as perfect as could be, and she was going to make sure her best friend, Jay, knew it.
“These are fucking beast, man!” she said gleefully, rolling over on the bed and kicking her feet back and forth in the air, “There is no way these things were cheap. You’ve gotta let me pay you back!”
Shaking his head and laughing, her friend collapsed on the bed next to her. “Don’t worry about it, R. You’re my best friend, I can afford to buy you presents once in a while. It’s really no big deal,” he said with a grin.
“These are fucking beast, man!” she said gleefully, rolling over on the bed and kicking her feet back and forth in the air, “There is no way these things were cheap. You’ve gotta let me pay you back!”
Shaking his head and laughing, her friend collapsed on the bed next to her. “Don’t worry about it, R. You’re my best friend, I can afford to buy you presents once in a while. It’s really no big deal,” he said with a grin.
Riede rolled her eyes. She hated it when Jay pitied her. He always insisted that it was just because they were friends, but that obviously wasn’t the case. What sort of friends bought each other random, expensive presents for no apparent reason?
No, clearly he was feeling bad about the lack of stuff she ever got from her dad. Again. He acted like he thought her situation was his fault and that he had to make it up to her. But it wasn’t his fault, and she didn’t know how many times she was going to have to tell him, until he would get it into his head.
Choosing to ignore these problems for now, she rolled over again, and rested her head on his lap. “So tell me again about these people you’re introducing me to today,” she said, penetrating the silence that had filled the room.
No, clearly he was feeling bad about the lack of stuff she ever got from her dad. Again. He acted like he thought her situation was his fault and that he had to make it up to her. But it wasn’t his fault, and she didn’t know how many times she was going to have to tell him, until he would get it into his head.
Choosing to ignore these problems for now, she rolled over again, and rested her head on his lap. “So tell me again about these people you’re introducing me to today,” she said, penetrating the silence that had filled the room.
Absentmindedly, Jay started stroking her hair. “One of them is my brother, Tai. He looks like an older, less attractive version of me.” Riede raised an eyebrow at him, but said nothing. Grinning down at her, he continued. “Tai is a pretty cool guy, except when he’s pretending to be a womanizer, but the key word there is pretending. Girls seem to fall head over heels in love with him as soon as they meet him. But as far as I can tell, he’s not actually interested in any of them, no matter how much of a flirt he may seem.”
Riede sat up and stretched, then rested her head on Jay’s shoulder. “That’s not gonna be me, sweet cheeks,” she said with a laugh, glancing up at him, “I am not interested in romance one little bit, and your flirty brother isn’t gonna change that.”
Jay laughed and tackled her, planting a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek. “That’s right! You’re too in love with me for my silly brother, aren’t you? Might as well just marry me today!”
“Didn’t I already reject that proposal?” she asked, jokingly making a disgusted noise and pushing him away, “What makes you think my answer has changed, buddy?”
“Perhaps, the fact that we were nine at the time has something to do with it,” he said, scooting closer to her and puckering his lips playfully. Again, she shoved him away.
“That is so gross,” she giggled, “You’re basically my brother!” Bursting into laughter, she turned and grinned at him. “How disgusting would it be if something like that actually did happen between us?” she added, collapsing backwards on the bed and gasping for breath through her laughter.
Riede sat up and stretched, then rested her head on Jay’s shoulder. “That’s not gonna be me, sweet cheeks,” she said with a laugh, glancing up at him, “I am not interested in romance one little bit, and your flirty brother isn’t gonna change that.”
Jay laughed and tackled her, planting a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek. “That’s right! You’re too in love with me for my silly brother, aren’t you? Might as well just marry me today!”
“Didn’t I already reject that proposal?” she asked, jokingly making a disgusted noise and pushing him away, “What makes you think my answer has changed, buddy?”
“Perhaps, the fact that we were nine at the time has something to do with it,” he said, scooting closer to her and puckering his lips playfully. Again, she shoved him away.
“That is so gross,” she giggled, “You’re basically my brother!” Bursting into laughter, she turned and grinned at him. “How disgusting would it be if something like that actually did happen between us?” she added, collapsing backwards on the bed and gasping for breath through her laughter.
Pain flashed through Jay’s eyes, vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared. He knew that she would never love him, would never feel the same way for him as he did for her. She would never even realize how strongly he felt about her, how much she meant to him. Jay knew all of this, and it was a fact that he had come to terms with long ago.
But god, did it hurt, when she spoke so carelessly; blissfully ignorant of how much pain her words could cause.
He stood up and crossed to his dresser, scared that if she looked at him now, she would see how he really felt. If she knew, would she be scared away from him forever? He clenched his fist. “Yeah,” he muttered` stiffly, “That would be super weird.”
But god, did it hurt, when she spoke so carelessly; blissfully ignorant of how much pain her words could cause.
He stood up and crossed to his dresser, scared that if she looked at him now, she would see how he really felt. If she knew, would she be scared away from him forever? He clenched his fist. “Yeah,” he muttered` stiffly, “That would be super weird.”
Glancing up at the clock, Jay was almost relieved to see that it was approaching 5:30, though it meant they were sure to be late. “Riede, we’re supposed to be there in literally two minutes,” he said, putting on his best surprised voice. Riede glanced over his shoulder at the clock and burst out laughing again.
“Sixteen years and you’re still a total failure at keeping track of time,” she replied between giggles, jumping off the bed. Grabbing Jay’s arm, she pulled him towards the door. “C’mon then. Where are we going?”
“Sixteen years and you’re still a total failure at keeping track of time,” she replied between giggles, jumping off the bed. Grabbing Jay’s arm, she pulled him towards the door. “C’mon then. Where are we going?”
“Hey bro, took ya long enough,” said one of the two men on the couch as Riede and Jay entered the karaoke booth, “Don’t tell me 5:30 if you really mean 5:45, yeah?” Though there was annoyance in his voice, there was also a smile on his face, and it was clear that however inconvenient those extra 15 minutes may have been, they were nothing compared to the love he felt for his little brother.
Jay stuck out his tongue and grabbed Riede’s hand, pulling her towards the large, wrap-around couch. “Sorry Tai, you know how I am with time.”
“Yes,” Tai replied in a dry voice, “Unfortunately I do.”
Jay’s brother looked a lot like him, though Riede would have to disagree about which was the more attractive of the two. Tai exuded confidence, and though Riede always tried to be cold and aloof in front of strangers, something about his presence made her want to smile.
Jay stuck out his tongue and grabbed Riede’s hand, pulling her towards the large, wrap-around couch. “Sorry Tai, you know how I am with time.”
“Yes,” Tai replied in a dry voice, “Unfortunately I do.”
Jay’s brother looked a lot like him, though Riede would have to disagree about which was the more attractive of the two. Tai exuded confidence, and though Riede always tried to be cold and aloof in front of strangers, something about his presence made her want to smile.
Riede quickly shook herself and looked over at the other man on the couch. If she remembered correctly, Jay had said this was Tai’s best friend, Nick. He seemed totally relaxed, calm despite the energy that seemed to be flowing through the room. He wasn’t stereotypically attractive by any means, yet Riede was certain he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
Laughing inwardly she thought that looking at Nick, with his mane of platinum blond hair, was like looking at a Disney princess, and Tai was like a Disney prince.
Crap. Why did her mind keep going back to him? There was no way Riede was going to let herself be another of the girls Jay had told her about, desperately in love with a man who couldn’t care less.
The silence in the room was broken when Tai spoke. “You must be Riede. Jay tells me about you all the time, so I feel like I already know you. I expect you’ll exceed my expectations.” He smiled at her then.
Cautiously, she smiled back.
Laughing inwardly she thought that looking at Nick, with his mane of platinum blond hair, was like looking at a Disney princess, and Tai was like a Disney prince.
Crap. Why did her mind keep going back to him? There was no way Riede was going to let herself be another of the girls Jay had told her about, desperately in love with a man who couldn’t care less.
The silence in the room was broken when Tai spoke. “You must be Riede. Jay tells me about you all the time, so I feel like I already know you. I expect you’ll exceed my expectations.” He smiled at her then.
Cautiously, she smiled back.
“I told you that you’d fall in love,” Jay whispered to her a few minutes later when they had all settled into their seats. Riede blushed scarlet and started to tell him that there was no way she was ever going to fall in love with his brother, but he just laughed and stood up. It was a karaoke place, and Jay was going to sing.
He fiddled with machine a moment, choosing a song. “Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, give it up for the incredible Jay and his rendition of Basket Case by Green Day!” he said, grinning around the room as the sound of guitar echoed from the speakers behind him.
He fiddled with machine a moment, choosing a song. “Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, give it up for the incredible Jay and his rendition of Basket Case by Green Day!” he said, grinning around the room as the sound of guitar echoed from the speakers behind him.
"Do you have the time to listen to me rhyme
About nothing and everything all at once?
I am one of those
Melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bones, no doubt about it!"
"Dude, are you tone-deaf?" Tai chuckled, watching Jay slide to his knees as though performing some grand finale at a concert. He grinned at his brother, who grinned right back at him.
"Why do you think I decided to play the drums, man? I can't sing, no how, no way!"
About nothing and everything all at once?
I am one of those
Melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bones, no doubt about it!"
"Dude, are you tone-deaf?" Tai chuckled, watching Jay slide to his knees as though performing some grand finale at a concert. He grinned at his brother, who grinned right back at him.
"Why do you think I decided to play the drums, man? I can't sing, no how, no way!"
Not that it stops you," Riede murmured, the corners of her lips curving up slightly. Jay shot her a playful glare before sitting down next to her on the couch, crushing her against the side.
“Let’s see you do better,” he said, elbowing her gently in the side. Riede squeaked and tried to shift away from him, but there wasn’t enough room on the chair. He was clearly expecting her to get up and sing, but it wasn’t gonna be that easy. She shook her head, relieved to see that Nick was getting up to sing instead.
He stood up and walked over to the machine, typing in his song selection. As the music started behind him, Nick smiled and took a deep breath.
“Let’s see you do better,” he said, elbowing her gently in the side. Riede squeaked and tried to shift away from him, but there wasn’t enough room on the chair. He was clearly expecting her to get up and sing, but it wasn’t gonna be that easy. She shook her head, relieved to see that Nick was getting up to sing instead.
He stood up and walked over to the machine, typing in his song selection. As the music started behind him, Nick smiled and took a deep breath.
"Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher
But I flew too high...
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man..."
His voice itself was nothing to die for, yet Riede was captivated. Carry On My Wayward Son was one of her favorite songs, but the way Nick sung it was like nothing she had ever heard. With him, it was a lullaby, soft and soothing. A smile appeared on Riede’s lips, but she quickly chased it away with a scowl. No, they were strangers, and if she wasn’t careful, they would hurt her.
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher
But I flew too high...
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man..."
His voice itself was nothing to die for, yet Riede was captivated. Carry On My Wayward Son was one of her favorite songs, but the way Nick sung it was like nothing she had ever heard. With him, it was a lullaby, soft and soothing. A smile appeared on Riede’s lips, but she quickly chased it away with a scowl. No, they were strangers, and if she wasn’t careful, they would hurt her.
As Nick’s song ended, Tai stood up. Almost as if it had been rehearsed, he walked over to Riede and held out a hand. “Let’s do a duet, shall we? See if we can put a smile on that pretty face?”
Riede shook her head. “Go ahead and sing. I’ll... I’ll go next.”
With a laugh, Tai shrugged and walked over to the karaoke machine. “I’ll be singing You’re Beautiful,” he said, winking at Riede, “But, ah, with my own little twist.”
"My life is brilliant,
My love is pure,
I saw an angel
Of that sure.”
Tai grinned and took a few steps forward, though the karaoke machine kept him from going too far forward. He lifted an arm to point at Riede and, staring straight at her with the most startlingly serious expression on his face, he continued.
“She smiled at me in the karaoke booth,
She was with my little bro..."
Riede shook her head. “Go ahead and sing. I’ll... I’ll go next.”
With a laugh, Tai shrugged and walked over to the karaoke machine. “I’ll be singing You’re Beautiful,” he said, winking at Riede, “But, ah, with my own little twist.”
"My life is brilliant,
My love is pure,
I saw an angel
Of that sure.”
Tai grinned and took a few steps forward, though the karaoke machine kept him from going too far forward. He lifted an arm to point at Riede and, staring straight at her with the most startlingly serious expression on his face, he continued.
“She smiled at me in the karaoke booth,
She was with my little bro..."
Riede tried to hide the grin on her face and the blush that came to her cheeks, but it was no use. Soon she started laughing, causing all three of the boys in the room to stare at her, before her laughter spread like a virus and they all joined in.
Finishing his song with another wink at Riede, Tai walked over to her and lifted her out of her chair. "Your turn, beautiful," he chuckled as he slung her over his shoulder and placed a hand quite purposefully on her ass. Riede glowered darkly at him. "Don't call me beautiful unless you're prepared to face the implications," she hissed playfully before squirming out of his grip and typing in the name of the song she planned to sing.
Finishing his song with another wink at Riede, Tai walked over to her and lifted her out of her chair. "Your turn, beautiful," he chuckled as he slung her over his shoulder and placed a hand quite purposefully on her ass. Riede glowered darkly at him. "Don't call me beautiful unless you're prepared to face the implications," she hissed playfully before squirming out of his grip and typing in the name of the song she planned to sing.
Though she acted calm, Riede was terrified. The only person who had ever heard her sing was Jay, and though he told her she sounded fantastic, it was sometimes a little hard to believe. He was her best friend--of course he would tell her what he thought she wanted to hear.
“This is, uh, My Heart is Broken by Evanescence...” she murmured as the song’s intro came to a close, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. As she started to sing, everyone else went silent.
“This is, uh, My Heart is Broken by Evanescence...” she murmured as the song’s intro came to a close, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. As she started to sing, everyone else went silent.
"I will wander ‘til the end of time
Torn away from you...”
She opened her eyes as she sang the first two lines of the song, looking around at everyone in the room. Jay was grinning; Nick seemed curious, leaning back in his seat, and Tai... Tai was staring at her like she was the most incredible thing in the world. Riede smiled sadly as the song continued and she lost herself in the music.
“I pulled away to face the pain.
I close my eyes and drift away.
Over the fear that I will never find
A way to heal my soul.
And I will wander 'til the end of time
Torn away from you..."
Torn away from you...”
She opened her eyes as she sang the first two lines of the song, looking around at everyone in the room. Jay was grinning; Nick seemed curious, leaning back in his seat, and Tai... Tai was staring at her like she was the most incredible thing in the world. Riede smiled sadly as the song continued and she lost herself in the music.
“I pulled away to face the pain.
I close my eyes and drift away.
Over the fear that I will never find
A way to heal my soul.
And I will wander 'til the end of time
Torn away from you..."
“Wow...” Tai breathed, as she finished the song, “That was fucking brilliant... Jay told me you could sing, but that... That was haunting and chilling and absolutely beautiful.” Grinning, he rose to his feet and walked over to her, grabbing her arm. “I could fall in love with a voice like that!”
Riede quickly looked away, feeling tears welling in her eyes. Dammit, but that song had been a bad choice.
“Shit, did I say something wrong...?” Tai said, bringing a hand to her cheek and trying to make her look at him. She glanced up at him and quickly looked away. This was not supposed to happen. No, no, no. Tai hesitated, then spoke again.
Riede quickly looked away, feeling tears welling in her eyes. Dammit, but that song had been a bad choice.
“Shit, did I say something wrong...?” Tai said, bringing a hand to her cheek and trying to make her look at him. She glanced up at him and quickly looked away. This was not supposed to happen. No, no, no. Tai hesitated, then spoke again.
“There I go, making it about me, but this… this isn’t about me at all, is it...? This is about your dad,” he murmured, placing a finger under her chin and racing her head to look at him. Riede was startled. How did he know about her dad? Jay was so gonna get it. Her thoughts were quickly interrupted from a soft growl coming from Tai’s throat.
“Dammit,” he hissed, his arms tightening around Riede as she tried to push him away, “I wanted to get to know you before making this offer, see if there were any other options...” What was he going on about? What offer? And why the hell was he hugging her?
“Riede, my little brother is really fucking worried about you. He said your dad was killing you and you were trapped. I wanted to see how bad it was before I said anything, but I’ll be damned if I can watch a pretty girl cry and not try to help.”
“Dammit,” he hissed, his arms tightening around Riede as she tried to push him away, “I wanted to get to know you before making this offer, see if there were any other options...” What was he going on about? What offer? And why the hell was he hugging her?
“Riede, my little brother is really fucking worried about you. He said your dad was killing you and you were trapped. I wanted to see how bad it was before I said anything, but I’ll be damned if I can watch a pretty girl cry and not try to help.”
He released her then, scratching the side of his head. “Look, I know you just met me and you probably think I’m some creepy older dude who flirts too much, but I know what you’re dealing with. I’ve been there too. And I refuse to let you stay there a minute longer.”
He cleared his throat and stared at her for a moment, as if he were unsure how to say what he was trying to. Riede was getting more confused by the second, but there was no way she was going to say so. Instead, she rose an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
“Riede, I’m not creepy as I might seem, I promise. And I’m not gonna try anything funny. Hell, we had the this whole plan laid out where I was supposed to make this offer after the concert, but how am I supposed to look at you all miserable like that and not say anything... So, uh... Do you wanna crash at my place for a little while?”
He cleared his throat and stared at her for a moment, as if he were unsure how to say what he was trying to. Riede was getting more confused by the second, but there was no way she was going to say so. Instead, she rose an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
“Riede, I’m not creepy as I might seem, I promise. And I’m not gonna try anything funny. Hell, we had the this whole plan laid out where I was supposed to make this offer after the concert, but how am I supposed to look at you all miserable like that and not say anything... So, uh... Do you wanna crash at my place for a little while?”
RSS Feed