209Chapter Twenty-five - No Work and All Play
Jon's Point of View
Monday morning dawned and Claire wasn't the only one insanely nervous. She, however, had a fair reason. It was her first day working for the Nelson Press as a journalist and her nerves seemed as high as her workplace on the sixth floor. Despite the fact that I had assured her that Maureen, the head of the journalism department, was a very friendly, though rather distractable woman, and would take great care of her, she remained unconvinced. I, on the other hand was only insanely nervous, or perhaps just insane, because my traitorous ex had just called and my current fiance was the one who had answered. After seven months of radio silence following her grand exit and betrayal she had chosen now to call me? Now? And when Claire was the one who had picked up the fucking phone?! I was insane to have thought I could keep the truth from Claire. I needed to tell her and desperately. Everything we had, that I hadn't wanted but had come to treasure, could have all blown up in my face yesterday. It could have ended with Claire storming out of my life forever and it would have been acceptable for her to do so. I couldn't exactly just walk up to her and spit it out. That would be disastrous. Oh Claire, by the way I lied to you when I told you there were no important exes in my past. Actually I was engaged for quite some time to that woman who rang you yesterday. Oh yes, she cheated on me and then pretended to be pregnant - no I couldn't say that, it would be ridiculous. I shook my head and picked up two bags of mini bagels from the breakfast bar before getting in the elevator. No. I couldn't do it. I didn't think she'd be insensitive to my story. But she would be out of my life like that.
The elevator doors opened to the design department and Marcus entered as I exited. He held the doors for a moment.
"Morning Jon. Checked up on your girl yet?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No but I'm off to see her after I check in with Harvey."
He nodded to the bags of bagels. "I figured. Ah and I've gotten the financial budget back from Denise for the design and production for February and March. Mind if I have a few words with you about it later?"
"Course not." I said. "Are they overspending again?'
Marcus rolled his eyes. "Artists. Are they ever not?" He went to remove his hand from the elevator but then paused. "Say, how's Stephanie?"
"She's good." I smiled. "Working on a big deal with Japan; busy schmoozing with the best of them. But why don't you give her a call and ask her yourself?"
He smiled and looked down at his feet. "I might do that." looking back at me he said, "Talk to you later. And good luck for Claire." before removing his hand from the elevator.
I nodded to him and once the door had shut I headed for Harvey's area. But a quick glance of the room showed him to be absent. He wasn't at his desk or anywhere else in the room. I sighed. I'd just have to talk to him later. Dropping one bag of bagels on his desk I headed back to the elevator and down to the sixth floor where Claire was having her first day. Unlike the design department that was full of circular tables, drawing boards and computer cubicles the journalism department was neater and rather more flash. All the walls were made of glass, the centre floor boasted a lounge suite and a coffee machine. Sleek desks filled the rest of the room. I had expected to see Claire's blonde head bent over her new desk, hard at work on her first assignment. Imagine my surprise when I instead I found my wayward friend sitting on my fiancee's desk and telling the giggling blonde all manner of embarrassing stories about me. It figured.
"...So that's why he doesn't like cats." Claire chuckled as I approached. She was curled up in her spinney chair. An empty box sat beside her and I could just imagine her setting and then resetting out her belongings over her working space.
I stopped a few yards from them and crossed my arms while I surveyed them. "Slacking off on the first day?" I teased with mock-severity. They turned and saw me. "Shocking."
"Jon, great to see you." she smiled. Her eyes slide slyly to Harvey who was beaming innocently. "Harvey's been telling me all kinds of stories about you."
I shook my head. "He's wrong you know. That isn't why I'm not a cat person. He doesn't know why."
Harvey pouted. "He won't tell."
"And you wonder why not." I came over and leaned next to him, addressing Claire. "Is something wrong? How come you're not doing anything?"
She shrugged. "Maureen's given me the tour and introduced me to the others. But she's going to give me my first assignment after she finishes the article she's working on. She said it wouldn't be long." she glanced over to the end of the room where a glass division separated Maureen from the rest of her humble workers. "That was about three hours ago."
I frowned over at the distracted director. "Do you need me to go and talk to her for you? She won't have forgotten you on purpose, she probably just started and forgot about everything else. It happens."
She nodded. "Happens to me all the time when I get stuck into story.
"I can go remind her if you like." I offered as I got to my feet. But Claire waved a hand at me.
"No don't. I'll handle it myself." she said firmly. "I don't want everyone thinking that I'm getting special treatment because of who my fiance is. It's a fresh start for me. I want to stand up on my own two feet."
Harvey nodded. "She's a woman. Hear her roar."
"If that's the way you want it." I shrugged, dropping her bag of bagels onto her desk. "And those are for you." I smiled.
"Mmm." she picked the bag up and smelt it happily. "The perks of fraternizing with men from the ninth floor."
Harvey looked at me expectantly. "What about me?"
"Oh right." I thwacked him over the head lightly.
"Ow!" he said. "What was that for?"
"Telling Claire all those things, I'm sure I don't want to know what." I said. "How would you like it if I went and told Carla about the time you followed that attractive woman into a building that said it was 'to let' on pretense of asking about the rent?"
Harvey visibly shivered. Claire looked interested. "What happened?"
I grinned. "Turned out it wasn't for let it was a toilet. The woman attacked him with her handbag and called the police. I had to come and bail him out of jail." I laughed. "It was brilliant."
Claire failed to hide a laugh. "Oh Harvey."
"I dropped a bag off for you on your desk." I added.
He pouted again and Claire with a sympathetic look handed him a bagel. He gobbled it up gleefully. He went to add something but was interrupted by another voice. We all turned to look when Maureen called:
"Claire, come on over. Sorry about the wait."
Claire shrugged at us and headed to the director's desk. .
Once she was out of hearing range I turned to Harvey. "Laura called."
"What?" Harvey gasped His face was truly comical. I would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so dire. "What do you mean Laura called?! What did she say?" he demanded.
I shook my head. "I don't know exactly. I was out of my office for a few minutes and when I came back Claire said a woman named Laura had called."
"Claire ANSWERED IT?"
I nodded. "Apparently she said she needed to speak with me and when Claire said I was out she hung up."
"And she didn't say anything?" he glanced over at Claire. "No wonder you're still alive." he fixed me with a look. "Dude you have to tell her."
"How?"
"I don't care how! You have to tell her! If she finds out from anyone other than you things are going to get messy. And I mean your innards all over he floor messy." he said sternly.
"Not that bad surely?" I looked warily over at Claire. She caught my glance, smiled and wiggled her fingers at me. I returned her wave hesitantly.
Harvey's face was deadpan. "All over the floor."
I gulped.
"She'll think that she's a rebound or that you're using her to get revenge on your ex or worse."
"Worse? How could it be worse?"
"Hey guys." Claire said, appearing at my elbow. I jumped. She looked at me curiously before sitting down again. "She forgot the paperwork so she has to go and get all that. Means I have a little longer to wait and I thought, while we're in limbo land why don't we deal with this guest list?"
"Soun-" I cleared my throat. "Sounds great."
"Good." she pulled up a file on her computer and motioned for me to read it. "I was working on this earlier and I think I've got all the main people and certainly everyone from my side but I'm not sure who else you'll want."
I took a closer look and read the list.
Anna, Peter, Aden, Collin, Meredith, Julie and Brett Jackson. Gran, Aunty Betty and Rachel Monroe. Kira Waititi, Carla Lee Brookes, Harvey and Algie Simmons. Georgia, Charlie and Stephanie Winters. Darren, Ben, Derek, Marcus, Hachirou and Daisy Inch.
"I figure if everyone except the people who are already in couples get a plus one then that should work out alright. There's a family that's friends with us, the Millers, who I have to invite." she added. "They'll be about five. Do you have any other family members to invite? And uncles or aunts or cousins?"
I shook my head. "No you've got them all." Leaning past her I added in the last names for the people she didn't know as well as 'Phillip E Bryce' and the 'Townsends'. "There's three of them, in case you're wondering."
Harvey reached across and snatched another bagel, accidentally hitting the keyboard. "Oh sorry."
"Don't worry let me-" Claire started.
"No, no it's my fault let me fix it." he said, fiddling with the keyboard and deleting all the extra words he'd smashed in.
"Really it's okay I can-"
Harvey pulled back. "If you insist."
Claire looked at him oddly and I shot him a 'what the hell?' look. He just smiled smugly.
"Okay then. The list is as follows:" Claire read aloud. "Anna, Peter, Aden, Collin, Meredith, Julie and Brett Jackson. Gran, Aunty Betty and Rachel Monroe. Kira Waititi, Carla Lee Brookes, Harvey and Algie Simmons. Georgia, Charlie and Stephanie Winters. Darren Morgenstern, Ben Smith, Derek Serrano, Marcus Wilson, Hachirou Ogami, and Daisy Inch. The Millers (five). The Townsends (three). Phillip E. Bryce and Laura White."
Wait. What-?
My eyes snapped up to Harvey. He didn't.
"Who's that?" Claire asked curiously.
He did.
"Who?"
"Laura White. I don't think I've heard of her." she looked up at me expectantly.
"Sh-sh-she's a...um." I stammered. I looked desperately at Harvey. Standing behind Claire he mimed 'tell the truth!' "She's an old friend of the family."
Harvey slapped a hand to his forehead.
I should have stopped there but my mouth kept rolling on. "I mean she's an old friend. She's old is what I mean. Horrible teeth. Really disgusting. But a good friend. You can ask Steph if you don't believe me."
Claire was looking at me oddly. Harvey was miming at me to 'kill it!'
"Actually on second thought, don't talk to Stephanie about Laura. Th-they don't get on." I finished.
Claire looked slowly from me to Harvey, who quickly changed from slashing his hand across his throat to scratching an itch. "Is something going on?"
I wrapped an arm around Harvey's shoulders and stuffed a bagel in his mouth. "Nothing. Right Harvey?"
"H-gg-mmnhmh-hjhm."
"Okaaay..." Claire began. Maureen saved my hide by calling Claire over again. This time she presumably had the paperwork. Claire shook her head and said, "Whatever. I'l see you later." as she walked away.
Once her back was turned I blew out a sigh of relief.
Harvey finished chewing his bagel and looked at me with a deadly serious expression. "Mark my words," he said. "This is going to blow up in your face in the worst way possible. And probably it will be sooner rather than later." he walked off.
With one last look at Claire I followed him towards the elevator. Then I heard my phone ring.
I flipped it open. "Hello?"
"Jon, just letting you know I've arranged for a dinner with our parents on the 30th." Steph told me. "It's all arranged and Claire's invited."
"But-"
"No buts. Man up and deal with it." she said, before hanging up.
"What's wrong?" Harvey asked as I caught up to him at the elevator. When I told him he smiled.
"Karma's a bitch." he said as the doors opened. "At least you have my party to look forward to."
Claire's Point of View
"Oh my God Kira! You look amazballs!" Carla cried. She air-kissed Kira who rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Lady's rule number seventy-three: Always dress like you're going to face your worst enemy."
"Lucky for Derek then." I said as I hugged her. "You really do look amazing."
"Thanks." she said modestly. "So do you guys. I'm sure Jon and Harvey will be beside themselves when they see you."
That, unfortunately was an overstatement, though it was nice of her to say so. Lately we'd been going to so many shindigs that required dressing up, it was actually nice to dress down. I was wearing a sheer shirt and shorts, with a tank top underneath the top and some flats on my feet. Carla was wearing jeans and high heeled boots paired with the lacy, burgundy halter top Kira had gifted her a while back. In return for her quitting with the Jon-and-Claire-elope-stuff I think... Either way it was Kira that took the cake. She was wearing one of her own creations: a short black and silver dress, sleeveless with a bodice like a glove and a skirt that flared out dramatically. Silver embellishments in patterns of flowers, birds and trailing ivy covered her breasts and trailed down to her waist over the sheer black material. For the skirt the black material became solid again. It wasn't modest, but it wasn't indecent. It didn't show anything it wasn't meant to show, only hinted and whispered. And with Kira's dark hair and eyes it offset her looks to the maximum advantage.
Of course she would have worn it for Derek. What I wasn't sure of was if it was to please him or to spite him. I was betting on the later. Or maybe a little bit of both. Something to show him what a beauty she was and laugh in his face that he couldn't have her.
She smiled at us. "I think I'm a bit over-dressed."
Carla nodded loudly.
"Yup." I said. "But don't worry about it. It's only friends here...and exes."
She shrugged. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let him get to me." she glanced around the room. "It's a sweet party."
I followed her gaze and glanced around. We were at Harvey's place, of course. It was smaller than Jon's place and rather shabbier but it was full of lively character and spirit. There was a big ramshackle bookshelf across the far wall, and I was interested to note, a lot of them were on mythology. A battered couch and some newer looking armchairs sat in the lounge and every end-table was covered with bowls of chips, dips, pretzels and more. Upbeat music pumped out from the CD player on the floor and from here I could see Harvey in the kitchen seeing to the meal. I took a moment to admire the open-plan layout. It made the small apartment seem larger and Harvey's personality, splashed everywhere gave the place a quirky, homey feel. Why I could even see some vintage food posters hung in glass frames. There was one of ice-cream, one of pretzels, and in the kitchen where the smell of cooking meat was beginning to make my mouth water, I could see a poster of nachos. That was Harvey alright.
We weren't the only ones here of course. Groups of guys and the odd girl were scattered around the place. Some were chilling on the couch, some chatting and leaning against the walls and some pointing at things out the window. Harvey, good host that he was, had introduced us, albeit fleetingly, to his mates. The important ones seemed to be Darren and Ben (who we'd met before), Scott, Marley, Beka and Jason. Those were the only ones I could remember anyway. I hadn't seen Jon or Derek yet as they were off inspecting somethingorother in another room. Harvey had had to leave us after the quick introductions to deal with things in the kitchen. As it turned out he was quite the domestic. And so the girls and I were still huddled in our little group, Carla urging us to come and mingle with her, but neither of us quite prepared to do it. Kira might not show it, and certainly hadn't lately, but underneath her dry, sarcastic exterior she hid a shy personality. She would much rather be back in her work space with her fabrics and threads. I would much rather be curled up on the couch with Gatto reading a good book. Despite our introverted ways however, I was a little excited. Harvey was a good guy and with him at the helm of this shindig it couldn't possibly be anything less than great, or at least - it certainly wouldn't be boring. Carla was quite ready to go and re-introduce herself to everyone. But then she'd never had a problem talking to strangers. Every situation she went into prepared to give her all, and whether she soared or fell flat on her face she always did just that.
"Come on, you fuddy-duddys." Carla moaned. "Let's go and talk to people. They're not that scary."
Kira and I eyed each other uncertainly.
"It won't be so scary once you jump in." she reassured us. "It would have been even easier if we were here on time. Then you have time to mingle before everyone settles into their little groups."
I shrugged. "Sorry, I know I held you guys up."
"That's okay." Kira said.
I frowned at the ring. "It's all this thing's fault. Every time I have a shower or wash the dishes I have to put gloves on and cellotape around them so they're tight and no chemicals get on it. It's really annoying."
"Try having four pounds of make-up plastered on your face." Carla said. "That is annoying."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask. How was it?" Kira asked. "Your first big day as a big actress."
"Well, I'm not a big actress, not yet anyway." Carla said modestly. You could tell she was thrilled to pieces though and sh proceeded to tell us why. "But it was amazing! There are so many different people there and so many cameras! I felt like we did dozens of shots for every scene. It's so busy and big though. I spent today in the studio where they have like forty sets built, but on Wednesday we're going out to some spot across the straight. I'm so excited, I just love it!"
"I'm glad you do!" I said, giving her a quick squeeze. "I bet you're like a duck in water."
Kira laid a hand on her arm. "I'm so happy you finally got your big break."
Carla beamed back at us. "Me too. And actually doing all this stuff today made me realise - oh! Here comes Harvey and the boys."
Kira and I turned around and saw that she was right. Jon and Derek had emerged from the hallway and after Harvey joined him they headed over to us. Kira tensed beside me, while Carla beamed at our host. And me, I had eyes on Jon. We shared a kiss as he approached and then he settled into our circle beside me, slipping an arm around my waist. I surrendered into his hold happily, snuggling my head against his shoulder. Harvey stood next to Carla and greeted us all again. It was all friendliness and ease...almost. Derek stood opposite Kira and I swear I could feel a visible chill running from one to the other as they stared each other down. Harvey was the first to speak.
"So who's gonna wish me a happy birthday, aye?"
Immediately we all rushed to congratulate him, some more eagerly than others. There was a moment of an almost awkward silence before Carla geared up the conversation about something or other and the rest fell into easy discussion. Almost everyone. Once the topic had died down that niggling silence returned. I nudged Kira, who apart from her half-assed 'happy birthday' to Harvey, hadn't said a word.
She smiled sweetly. "So how are you finding New Zealand Derek? Is it up to your standards?"
"Oh it's wonderful." he assured her just as sweetly. "A lot cooler than Spain, but I'm starting to settle in."
"How long has it been since you're been here?" Carla asked good-naturedly.
"Oh I manage to drop in a few times a year, but mainly I live in Spain these days. I have for about the past four years."
"Sounds lovely." I said.
"Doesn't it just." Kira said.
Derek's eyes flashed back to her. "Do you have something you'd like to say?"
She considered it a moment before shaking her head. "Nope. I think I said everything I needed to say at the rehearsal."
"Oh I think you did a lot more talk." he said sharply. I could almost see his cheek stinging at the memory of Kira's hand.
"You deserved it."
"Did I?" he took challenging step closer.
She followed suit. "I have no regrets."
Another step. "I was under the impression that you regretted all our time spent together."
"It wasn't that I was talking about." she snapped. "And as for those days, they're long gone and they'll never be repeated." Step.
"What a pity." he said, sounding as if it was anything but. "We used to be so intimate."
"You arrogant asshole." she jabbed a finger in his face.
He smacked it aside and stepped forward. "You silly, little brat."
They were standing almost nose to nose, glaring. If looks could kill those two would have been six feet under six minutes ago. I could almost feel the waves of hatred pouring off them. The rest of us stood there awkwardly as they had there little showdown.
"Oookay." Harvey said finally, rocking back and forth on his heels. "There is way to much sexual tension here."
"Harvey." almost all of us cried. Kira and Derek snapped their gazes to him.
"What?" he shrugged. "It's what we were all thinking."
Carla chose to smack him on the arm while Jon took a more eloquent response. "Sorry about that." he said to the unhappy couple. They seemed to finally be snapping out of it. "My friend only opens his mouth to change feet."
I rolled my eyes but Derek bristled. He turned to Jon, firmly avoiding Kira's penetrating gaze.
"Apparently he's not the only one." he said politely. He looked to Harvey. "I seem to be upsetting your party-guests. If you don't mind I might go check out that book on Achilles you were telling me about."
"Uh sure." Harvey said dumbly. He scratched his head and pointed to his hap-dash bookshelf. "It's on the bottom right shelf, beside the big red one." Derek nodded to him and the rest of us - all except Kira - and strode off in pursuit of literature.
Carla looked at Kira with disappointment. "Do you always have to fight?" she asked.
"Only with him." she said shortly and tossed a, "I'm gonna go grab some chips." over her shoulder as she walked off in the opposite direction to Derek.
"Well..." Jon said.
"What are we going to do about them?" Carla asked, looking after them.
"I don't think there's much we can do." I said wearily. "Those two are like a lit match and gasoline."
"More like a gas station and an inferno." Harvey muttered.
"Fine apart," I continued. "But when you put them together..."
"Boom."
"Okay, now I really need to talk to you." Carla said to Harvey.
"Finally." he muttered, and dragged her off into the hallway.
Jon and I shared a smile. "'Bout time." We moved over to one of the couches and after greeting those around us settled into our own conversation. At one point I asked:
"How's Stephanie?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You tell me. You only saw her yesterday."
"Ah, well, that's true...I guess I brought it up because - because I wanted to ask you something." I said at last.
He looked at me curiously. "Go ahead."
I avoided his gaze, playing with my fingers. "Yesterday Stephanie mentioned...well she mentioned that she'd been engaged." Jon said nothing but his face displayed complete disbelief. After another few moments of silence I continued, "She said that it had ended suddenly and I was just wondering if you would tell me about it. What happened?"
Jon din't speak for a long time and when he did he sounded winded; out of breath. "I have to say that I'm surprised - surprised that she would tell you that. She usually doesn't talk about it."
"What happened?" I pressed. "She said it was called off, suddenly?"
He nodded. "It was. On the day."
"Oh my God." I gasped. "He jilted her on her wedding day? What a dick."
"No." he looked me square in the eye. "He died."
"Oh. Oh." I said. It seemed as if I couldn't say anything else. I was lost for words. Cold, elegant, closed-off Stephanie had been in love, had been going to get married - but he'd died...on her wedding day? No wonder she was the way she was. "How? I mean did he like die of cancer or something?"
"No." he said uncomfortably. "He was shot." once again I was left without anything to say. But that didn't matter because Jon hurried on anyway. "The reason I'm telling you this is so that you don't accidentally say something to her. You're not tactless, but not knowing the truth you could have gotten the wrong handle on things and said something awful to her." Like call the love of her life a 'dick'. "Please just - just don't mention any of this to her. It was a long time ago and she likes to pretend none of it ever happened. She's just starting to get better. Just don't say anything to her."
"I won't."
"I know you won't." he smiled and caressed my hand. He seemed like he was going to say more but then we caught sight of Harvey and Carla emerging from the hallway. Harvey looked rather pink, and Carla just looked - well - satisfied. Harvey disappeared off into the kitchen and Carla came and sat down next to me.
"What'did you do to him?" I whispered once she was seated.
"We made up." she said happily.
I snorted. "Sure you didn't make out?"
"Claire you-" she was interrupted but Harvey calling to the party:
"Dinner's ready!"
I rolled my eyes at her. "Saved by the bell."
In the kitchen Harvey had a buffet-set-up. The bench boasted grilled sausages and steak patties as well as potato salad, regular salad, nachos (no surprise there), mashed potatoes and more. I saw Carla smile especially at Harvey when she saw the mashed potatoes, her favourite food. The guests grabbed their plates and serviettes and piled their plates high, before retreating back into the lounge to eat with their plates on their knees. When I got to the front of the line I had to ask:
"Harvey, did you make all this?"
He laughed. "Hell no! I got it all from the supermarket. It comes already prepared and ready to serve. I only cooked the meat," he glanced over at Carla in the lounge an added, "And the mashed potatoes."
"Odds on first to catch the bouquet?" Jon whispered to me. I rolled my eyes and elbowed him playfully.
"Quiet or they'll hear you." I hissed.
We piled our plates with food and grabbed a glass of wine. There weren't enough seats for everybody, even with people perched on he arms of chairs and couches and so I ended up sitting on the floor beside Kira and a man named Jason. Jon was roped into a conversation with Derek, and Carla and Harvey were discussing bought vs homemade mashed potatoes. "Face it." she said. "Even badly done homemade mash is better than that store-bought crap. I don't know what they put in it but it isn't spuds."
Kira wasn't in a talkative mood. She was doodling designs on her serviette and drinking her wine. She hadn't touched her food. The few times I tried conversation she brushed me off. I decided to let her be. That left me to talk to Jason, who personally I found rather unpleasant.
"So you're the fiance aye?" he asked holding out a hand. I shook it and let go as quickly as possibly. "Claire right."
"Yep, that's me."
"Huh. So he was telling the truth."
"Excuse me?" I frowned.
"Well when he first said he was engaged I have to admit I didn't really believe him."
I relaxed. That was all this was about. I wasn't surprised that he was surprised considering we'd known each other about two minutes prior to our engagement. But apparently I relaxed too soon. "Yes well it-"
"But what I'm really surprised to see," he interrupted, looking me up and down. "Is that you're not a total dog.
"Excuse me?" Even Kira looked over to see what was going on.
He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just so strange to see him with someone so ordinary after the last one-"
"Hey jerkface." Kira leaned over. "See that wall over there? Why don't you go get acquainted"
He raised his hands in an 'easy' gesture and got to his feet smiling. "Calm down, chicks, no hard feelings. I can tell when I'm not wanted."
Once he'd moved away Kira and I shared a look. "What a dick."
Jon came over not long after to what had happened. Harvey was right behind him.
"What was that about? Was Jason bothering you?" he asked in concern.
"Don't worry darlin', Kira handled him just fine." I giggled. Kira shot him a saber-tooth smile.
"I'll say she did." Harvey muttered.
Jon sighed. "Tell me why you had to invite that two-faced weasel, again?"
Harvey shrugged. "You know why. Jason is Darren's mate. I couldn't snub him without snubbing them both."
Jon grimaced. Kira whispered to me, "And it would be a shame for such a cutie not to get to come to the party."
I eyed Darren. "You think he's cute?"
She nodded. "Have since your rehearsal."
"You didn't say anything."
"I had other things on my mind."
"Oh right." Derek. "Duh."
"What are you gals whispering about?" Harvey asked.
I tapped my nose. "Girl stuff. Top secret."
They rolled their eyes. Dinner passed well. Aside from Kira and Derek who were like social stones of ice, the rest of the party got on splendidly. Harvey was an enthusiastic host and brushed over any awkwardness his guests might feel. Before long it was time for desert and Jon brought out a cake. We all sang happy birthday to Harvey and Jon hugged him to his chest, declaring dramatically, "They grow up so fast!" The rest of us giggled at his momentary lapse in levity. Harvey shrugged out of his grip crying, "Jeez dude! Let me blow out the freakin' candles!" To which all of us laughed uproariously, like we were meant to. The only things that worried me as the night went on was how much Kira was drinking. She was a fish, she was sozzled, and to top it off when it came time for us all to sit down to desert I claimed the most undesirable seat in the house.
Between Derek and Kira.
It started off gradually. Derek commented on the amount that Kira was drinking, in response to which she downed her glass and filled another. With a mocking smile he followed suit. She followed up by commenting that he'd gained weight. He shook his head and said he wasn't the only one. After this were the kind of nasty compliments disguised as insults until finally when Ben was passing around a bowl of sweets Kira plonked the bowl in Derek's lap. More sweetly than the sweets she offered she told him to have some.
He shot her a stern look and passed the candy on.
"Something wrong with it?" I asked.
"No, Kira's just teasing me." he shot a dry look Kira's way. She sat there innocently. "I'm diabetic."
Carla overheard and looked at Kira as if she'd grown horns. "Jeez girl, I swear you've gotten a dark streak lately."
Both Kira and Derek took a drink.
I leaned into Kira and whispered, "Exactly how well does Derek know you?"
"Pretty damn well." she said. She took another swig.
"Does he know about your Bon Jovi obsession?"
"He introduced me to him."
"Whoa."
"So what do you do these day?" Carla asked politely.
"I own a small arts and design shop over in Spain." he said. "Though I do the odd contract for other firms."
"You? A small arts firm?" Kira snorted. "You're such a liar."
"I'm the liar? That's rich. Tell me again when was it you told your friends about me?" he demanded. Kira said nothing. "Yeah that's what I thought. You never told them the truth. I bet ou still haven't. Not the whole truth anyway. I bet you haven't even told them about our tattoos."
"Take a step back...tattoos?" Carla asked.
Grinning maliciously at Kira Derek unbuttoned his shirt and twisted to reveal a tattoo on his left shoulder saying: Amar Siempre.
I looked at Kira. "You never mentioned that."
"What does it mean?" Carla asked.
"To love forever." Kira laughed without humor. "Pretty stupid huh. But that's what you do when you're seventeen and your cousin's working at a tattoo parlor. You get stupid matching tattoos and you do stupid stuff that you always regret." She and Derek stared each other down.
Defiantly he said, "I don't have any regrets."
Just as soberly she said, "Then I don't have any respect for you." She stood and begged for a place over by Darren and the tom-girl Beka, who happily squished over.
"That was intense." Carla muttered.
"You're telling me." I said, shaking my head.
"I think it's time for some dancing." Harvey announced, getting to his feet. He held a hand out to Carla who graciously accepted. Following that Jon asked for my hand. I allowed him to pull me to my feet and wrap his arms around me. I looped my hands around his neck and we stood there, swaying. Out the corner of my eye I saw Harvey and Carla waltzing out of the living room and into the hallway. But Jon stood before me and his presence was undeniable. You couldn't pay attention when anything else was around. The way he looked at me, the way he touched me, it sent butterflies spiraling round in my stomach. But in a good way. It made me feel warm and comforted, safe and fiercely loved. There were no lies between us. I stood there trying not to smile.
No such luck.
"You're smiling." he noted curiously.
"Maybe..." I said coyly.
He spun me around and I shrieked, clinging to him for dear life.
"What are you smiling about?" he laughed.
I shook my head.
"Tell me." he said warningly.
My grin broke loose and I was a mess of giggles. "It's so cheesy."
"What?"
Still I hesitated before I told him. "This must be what it feels like to be in love."
Jon rolled his eyes and kissed me. "That was cheesy."
"I warned you."
"I know." and then his lips were on mine, passionate but sweet. When we came up for air he smiled at me tenderly. "I love you too. I-" his gaze caught something behind me and he sighed. "Claire, your best friend is all over my best friend again. And before you say anything - it isn't Carla."
"What? Kira and Derek? But she hates him-" I said as I spun around to see. There in the doorway to the hall Kira was being pressed up against a wall and thoroughly made out with by a dark haired man. Made what Jon and I has just been doing look like a peck on the check. "-Doesn't she?"
"She does." a low voice to my left said.
Looking for the owner of the voice I found...Derek. But - I looked back to Kira and her mystery man and realised I'd only assumed it was Derek because of the man's dark hair. (And because, hello? Who else would she be sucking face with? It was obvious she still had chemistry with the guy.) But on a closer inspection I realised her dark haired man was Darren. Not Derek. Darren. I thought back to her earlier words. "And it would be a shame for such a cutie not to get to come to the party." Kira whispered to me. I eyed Darren. "You think he's cute?" "Have since your rehearsal." Oh no. A concerned glance at Derek told me that he was looking both irritated and amused.
He saw my concerned gaze and brushed me off with a quick, "She's trying to get back at me. Good for her, but it won't work." He headed off to the kitchen. He didn't hear Jon mutter,
"Then why do you sound so devastated?"
We continued on dancing until I noticed Carla and Harvey re-emerging from the hallway, or whatever room they'd snuck off to. I excused myself from Jon and went off to grab Carla.
"Hey, what were you two up to?" I asked with a sly smile.
"We made up." she said happily.
"Sure you didn't make out?" I smirked, glancing at Harvey's pink face.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Just friendly stuff."
"Oka well whatever." I said, looping my arm through hers. "We have a situation."
"What's up."
"Did you see Kira and Darren?" I asked. she shook her head. "They were taking a leaf out of your book. We have to go have a wee girly chat."
"Wait, they were kissing? Darren and Kira? Not Derek and Kira?"
I nodded soberly. "And more than macking lips too. She's been drinking like a fish. We need to go talk to her before she does something she'll regret."
"This doesn't sound like Kira to me." she said as we headed off to look for her.
"Kira's not Kira when it comes to Derek." I said. "Why don't we split up? You check the bedrooms and I'll check the kitchen etc."
In the kitchen the only person I saw was Derek. He was standing, drinking a glass of water and staring into space.
"Have you seen Kira?" I asked him.
He stood to attention. "No. Why?" I said nothing. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I said quickly. Back in the lounge Carla found me quickly; her eyes sought me out and when I reached her I saw something in her that I didn't usually see. Seriousness.
"What?"
"She's - she's..."
Derek pushed me passed and I realised he must have followed me. "Take me to her." he said shortly. Neither of us argued. Carla led us meekly to Harvey's bedroom. Kira was lying, passed out and pale on the bed. Darren was sitting next to her stroking her hair away from her face. He looked up when we entered; he looked terrified.
"What happened?" Derek demanded, going and crouching next to Kira.
"I was just - I mean we weren't - we weren't doing anything." Darren said hastily. "She just said she felt dizzy - so I helped her in here for a rest and-"
"It's okay Darren." I assured him. "We don't think you took advantage of her."
"You'd be dead if we did." Carla added.
Derek wasn't in a position to say anything on behalf of Kira's well-being but by the look on his face I didn't think Carla or I would have to bother.
"Kira you idiot." he muttered. Despite the irritation in his voice he calmly took her pulse and listened to her breathing.
"Do we have to take her to hospital?" Carla asked panickedly. "Is she going to be okay?"
"She'll be fine." Derek said, getting to his feet. "She'll have one hell of a hangover in the morning but she'll be fine."
"I - I didn't realise she was that drunk. I knew she'd had a few but - are you sure she'll be okay?" he asked.
"She'll be fine." I assured him. Carla looked just as worried and I directed my next comment to her. "She will. Come on, let's get her home. You ready to go?" She nodded. "Okay, help me get her up." Together we got her arms around our shoulders and held her waist. We maneuvered her into a sitting position and from there we managed to lift her up. It gave Jon, Harvey and the rest of the party quite a shock when we brought her in. They offered their services but Derek assured them that he'd see us safely to our car.
"I'll see you later." I told him and blew a kiss his way. Carla made some kind of parting joke to Harvey and then Derek held the door open for us as we walked Kira out into the hall. She murmured a bit and lolled her head from side to side but she never really woke up. Derek opened every door for us and helped us all the way to Carla's little red car. I got the feeling he would have picked her up and carried her all the way herself, except that he knew it wasn't his place to. As Kira's friend I was somewhere in the position of not entirely being comfortable around him, and being thankful for him being so helpful. In the end I just ended up saying an awkward 'thanks' after we got Kira safely belted into the car. Carla waved as she drove us away, and I looked back at Kira's first love and wondered if there would ever be any hope for them.
Bonus Chapter:
Carla's Point of View
"So," I said, once we were alone in Harvey's room. "This talk has been a long time coming."
Harvey settled in onto his desk chair. He didn't say anything but his eyes spoke volumes.
I came and sat on his bed, facing him. Taking a deep breath I said, "I don't know where to start...so I'm just going to go for it. I forgive you."
"You do?"
I nodded. "Yes. I've been working myself up to for a while now but you really hurt my pride, what you said and I - I've just been having trouble with it. But I really got way more worked up than the situation warranted. I mean, yes, you were a dick-"
"That I was."
"-But I didn't exactly make it easy for you."
"No Carla," he scooted his chair forward and took my hands in his. "Don't apologise. I deserve what you gave me after all that stuff I said. Even if you hadn't been standing there it was a dumb move. I was a jerk to you and I'm sorry."
"But I was all those things you called me! I was desperate and pathetic and worse. It's how I always act with guys and it always goes wrong." she sighed. "You were right."
"No I wasn't! I was wrong, so, so wrong." he said feverishly. "Carla you're beautiful and you're clever and you make me laugh like no one else. You have your faults but so do I, and plenty of them. Everyone does. Why - why don't we just agree to forgive and forget."
"A great man once said to forgive but to never forget." I said quietly.
He cocked his head to the side. "Then let's not forget. Let's keep it as a lesson between us. So that we don't screw up like that ever again."
"No. Let's just screw up in entirely new and interesting ways."
"Exactly."
We both laughed. Then I swallowed hard. It was time to get to the more difficult part of my speech. "The thing is," I said, eyes downcast but hands squeezing his tightly. "What you said about me really hit a nerve-"
"If I could take it back-"
I held a hand up. "Please. Let me finish. What you were saying really hit a nerve. It was something my friends and my family have been telling me for a long time. I throw myself at guys and expect them to fall for me, and then when they don't I realise I made a fool of myself and that makes the fall so much worse. Making an idiot out of myself with you gave me the push I needed to start changing...have a little more dignity. I dunno. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm working on it."
"And us?"
"Well...you know that I'm attracted to you." I rolled my eyes. "You certainly already know that. And I'm assuming that you're at least partially attracted to me." he heartily confirmed this. "But I don't want to be that girl. I want to try for a little while...to be something else. I think I'll stay single for a while. I'll see what I can be without a man in the equation, with just me. And it's not like with my acting career finally taking off the ground and Claire's wedding coming up that I'll have a lot of spare time anyway. Are you okay with this? Will you be okay?"
He smiled slowly. "I agree completely. I don't want to mess up whatever it is you've got going on, and I want pressure you into a relationship you don't want, and that I'm not sure would work. If we're meant to be then we'll work out someday and if not we can just be great pals."
"Aww." I grabbed him in a hug. He returned it tenderly. Then I pulled back. "Oh! Oh shit, I forgot to get you a birthday present!"
"What?" he gasped faux-dramatically. "How could you?"
She grimaced. "I guess I was so wound up with making that speech that I forgot all about that."
"That's okay." he grinned. "I'm sure I'll live."
"Are you really sure? There isn't something I could get you?" I pleaded. "It would honestly make me feel better." I could see him wavering and so I pulled out the puppy-dog eyes. "Puh-lease."
"Fine." he said at last and pretended to think. At last he came to a solution. He leaned in close. He looked me square in the eye. And with a look that told me there was not a snowball in hell's chance that I would grant his wish he asked, "I demand a kiss."
So when I put a hand to his cheek and gave him a slow and tender kiss on the lips I think he was honestly shocked. You could have pushed him over with a feather at that moment, and in all honesty I was tempted to try. But I pulled back. And the best thing I'd seen all day was when I saw his cheeks go red. Because it meant despite all my words, and the fact that I was really going to follow hem, his rosy red cheeks meant that he must have felt something too.
Hey guys, sorry it's been a while. This is my first update from University. Hope you like. The Carla part was just a bonus because there was no way I could do that scene from either Jon or Claire's point of view and I needed to establish what had happened. So lucky you! You got a sneak peak inside Carla's head. So did you like the chapter? No like? Love? Loathe? Please review and tell me! I'm all ears. Stay tuned for Claire meeting Jon's family...
Atramento
P.S Don't forget to vote for your favourite character! The poll is on my profile page.