After the Meeting (Sept 10)
Jul 11, 2018 13:52:57 GMT -6
Post by Snick on Jul 11, 2018 13:52:57 GMT -6
Patrick had enough of the meeting, the security, the debriefing... he needed a walk to clear his head. Besides, he wasn't the only one. He had managed to sit in the meeting near Carissa Frank, of the Frank Quodpot Sporting Goods Frank family. His father had been trying to get a corner on their business for years and had encouraged the friendship. It didn't hurt that she was only a year older than he was, had strawberry blonde hair that looked like spun gold, a sweet figure, and lips that looked like they knew how to be kissed.
He strolled out of the meeting, keeping his pace easy. "Hey, Carissa, wait up. Would you like to go for a walk with me?" he asked, offering his arm in his best imitation of a southern gentleman. When she accepted, he gave her his best dimpled smile in exchange. The two were soon talking easily about the meeting and plans for the students' safety.
Before long the talk turned to other things. He told her how silky her hair was and what a beautiful color it was. She told him that he seemed way older than the other boys in his grade. Patrick spread his jacket under a tree and the two rested together, talking about music and which legacy he should pledge.
"My legacy is the Alger Society. You should join me there. I could see you every day," she said softly.
He took that as his cue and kissed her. She didn't resist.
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Phrixos and Siobhan were walking after the meeting, too, but were among the last to leave so weren't prepared to stumble upon this scene. He dropped her hand, scowling. Grabbing Pat by his collar, he jerked him away from the girl.
"What the hell, Pat?" he growled.
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Patrick didn't know whether he was supposed to protect Carissa first or slug his brother. "Pardon me, Carissa," Patrick told the blushing girl.
He turned to his brother. "This isn't anything that concerns you fireflies. You should apologize for embarrassing her, Freak. I wasn't hurting her. How would you feel if I . . . " he glanced meaningfully at Siobhan, wondering if their friendship had gone in that direction yet, considering O'Brien's cheeks were now going bright red. Oh yeah. Two could play that game. If Freak was going to make things difficult, Patrick could just talk to Lorccan.
"Carissa and I are friends . . . maybe a little more than friends, and we'd like to see where it goes. You have no business getting involved." He narrowed his eyes.
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Pratt hated when Pat called him 'Freak'. It hurt much more than he wanted to admit. Especially considering he wouldn't admit it, at all. The pain was masked with anger.
"I have no business?" his face went red, but not from embarrassment. "As your brother I have to protect your reputation. Is this how you want people to see you? Dad's counting on you, Brat. He and I don't see eye to eye, but that doesn't mean I don't-"
Phrixos stopped short, balling his hands into fists. He didn't really care if Patrick wanted to make out with all the girls in school (except Siobhan), but he didn't like that he was doing it right out in the open. "Sorry, Clarissa," he snarled at his brother as he said it, getting her name wrong on purpose. "Sorry you had to swap spit with this loser."
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Carissa stood up and moved behind the tree.
Patrick decided to be a gentleman a little longer. "We were under the tree out of the main walk way, and I thought everyone had been past here already . . . her name is Carissa, and neither of our reputations are impugned by that kiss," (it felt good to use one of those vocabulary words Mom made sure he learned) unlike some others," he added, glancing at Siobhan. "You owe Carissa an apology for embarrassing her. She being here and the trauma Siobhan went through Friday night are the only reason I don't just slug you right now, Freaksos."
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"What are you implying?" he glanced back at Siobhan, wishing she wouldn't look so alarmed at him. He couldn't help it. This was the real Phrixos she wanted to see. "Your reputation is impugned in my eyes, but I guess that doesn't matter. And she should be embarrassed-"
The world was suddenly awash with red and Phrixos grabbed his brother by the shoulders and slammed him up against the tree. "Call me that one more fuckin' time, and I swear I'll-"
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Patrick swung his right arm back around the side of the tree, ignoring the shouts of the two girls and hit his brother squarely in the nose, hard. Then pulled his hand away, shocked at the splatter of blood from his brother's nose. "You're my brother, damn it! Why can't you get that through your head? Just because Dad still wants me to do the whole family business thing, it doesn't mean I'm the enemy!" He reached up and touched his face, not realizing he was wiping a tear from his own eye.
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Siobhan couldn't take it anymore. She went rushing to the two boys, "Blood . . . everywhere . . . how could you?" she yelled at Patrick.
She looked ready to turn her fists on Patrick herself, but seeing the tears in his eyes and the words he was saying, she wasn't sure. Pratt had reeled back clutching his nose, and was releasing a string of swear words that would make a sailor blush.
"Pratt?" she asked, turning to him . . . if he said to AK his little brother, she was quite willing to. On the other hand, if he just wanted his nose cleaned up, she'd do that as well. She looked to Carissa for help, but the girl was remaining silent.
Pratt spit some of the blood out of his mouth and pointed to his nose. She pulled out her wand and did the quick cleaning spell she had learned last year, then hugged him.
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Lorccan had trailed some distance behind Pratt and his sister, wanting to get a moment alone with her so they could talk but she was never alone. Pratt stuck to her like glue and Lorccan was starting to think they were more than just friends. Siobhan was sticking to him like he was her lifeline and it annoyed him to no end. Not because she had a friend but because he should be the one she stuck to as a lifeline.
When they veered off the main path towards a group of trees, Lorccan wondered what they were up to and picked up his pace. It wasn't too much longer before he heard voices, Pratt and somebody else, somebody who sounded like Patrick, then a startled girl's voice. Not Siobhan. He walked faster and soon saw clearly what was going on.
It looked like Pratt caught his younger brother with some girl. Patrick's friend Carissa, somebody who was in his own year. Lorccan hung back, not certain if he should intefere or just get his sister away before the Pratt's ended up fighting. Before he knew it, Patrick swung at his brother and hit him square on the nose.
Then Soibhan rushed to Pratt's aid and healed him up. Lorccan moved forward then, pretty certain now he knew what was going on, at least in regards to his sister. As for Patrick...Lorccan didn't want to see his sister upset so if it meant making sure Patrick didn't attack his brother again, so be it. Kind of sucks though, Lorccan actually liked Patrick.
"Hey, enough of this fighting, hasn't my sister been through enough?" Lorccan moved between his sister and Patrick, looking first at Patrick then to his sister and Pratt. "You both are upsetting my sister and Carissa doesn't look to happy either, so you aren't impressing anybody by fighting each other."
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"It doesn't mean you're my friend, either," he cut his eyes toward Patrick, thanked Siobhan, and reluctantly hugged her back. "I'm sorry, Siobhan, I-"
Then Lorccan came barging into their family business. He quickly released Siobhan and scowled at his girlfriend's brother. His head was pounding and his nose was throbbing. "Stuff it, Lorccan," he warned, rubbing his schnoz. Talking like that to a guy that just attacked his own brother wasn't the wisest thing to do. Especially for someone as disliked as Lorccan.
"I was defending your sister's honor, if you must know," he said through gritted teeth. "He seems to think your sister's reputation is tarnished."
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"Carissa and I are leaving. I'd be your friend if you wanted me to, brother . . . Siobhan, I didn't mean to hurt you. You've been through enough."
He and Carissa walked away.
He wasn't even sure what he meant. It hadn't been a slam against Siobhan, exactly, more about what Phrixos had done to the family name and that Siobhan wasn't rich enough for him. But no, he hadn't really meant that. He liked Siobhan. He could see his brother was happy around her. He had just said it to piss off his brother.
"I'm sorry you had to see all this, Carissa," he said softly to the quietly surprised girl. He offered her his arm.
She took it hesitantly . . . "You make me glad I'm an only child."
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Siobhan wanted to go somewhere safe, somewhere peaceful and not in the open, somewhere protected where there was no conflict. Not here in the open. She looked from her boyfriend to her brother, feeling exposed, but wanting to be strong for Pratt and not wanting him to see how vulnerable this whole fight had just left her feeling. "Are you all right, Pratt?' she asked.
As she waited for her answer, her thoughts formulated in her mind . . .Lor could come visit, right? It was Sunday . . . or at least he could walk with them back to the island and she and Lorccan could talk a little. He needed to talk to her. She needed an hour or two alone with her violin, but both Pratt and Lorccan needed her and her own needs could wait.
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Lorccan didn't hear everything that was said so maybe Pratt was. Either way, the fight was upsetting SIobhan, that was clear to see, at least to Lorccan. He watched as Patrick left with his girlfriend which suited Lorccan fine at that moment.
"Well, that's good you were, Pratt. I know you care for my sister and she obviously likes you too, I can't fault you for protecting her too, even against your own brother." Lorccan didn't particularly like Pratt, but he didn't have any real grudge against him. "But right now, I would like to have a few minutes alone with her, if you don't mind waiting on the path."
Lorccan turned to his sister till Pratt gave his answer. "Siobhan, I know you aren't yourself after everything...and that meeting certainly wasn't doing you all that good. If you can I need to talk to you for a few minutes."
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"I'm fine," he shrugged a shoulder. "I really am sorry. He just... implied things and kept calling me that stupid name. I couldn't stop."
Pratt cringed as Lorccan said almost everything they'd been trying to hide from him. There was probably no hope for them, now. If Lorccan guessed that they were more than friends that like each other, that was it. The relationship would be over before it really began.
"I'll just go," he smiled weakly. "I could use a little time alone to cool off. I'll see you back at the lighthouse, Ginger. Later, Lorccan."
With that, he summoned the beam of light to transport him.
[exit Pratt]
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Siobhan sat down on the ground, overwhelmed and no longer able to keep it back. She pulled her knees up in front of her to hide her face. "You won't tell Mother and Father? Please? I promise I won't do anything bad. We were trying to keep it secret." She couldn't help crying, too overwrought with emotion.
"Please, don't tell. It can't get back to THEM.'' She was no longer talking about her parents. "They'll use it against us . . . it will be one more thing to use to manipulate, try to control us . . . I hate them. Lorccan, they knew about you and me . . . '' Lorccan had knelt by her side, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. "Lor we're not safe, not here, not at home, not anywhere, but the lighthouse."
He strolled out of the meeting, keeping his pace easy. "Hey, Carissa, wait up. Would you like to go for a walk with me?" he asked, offering his arm in his best imitation of a southern gentleman. When she accepted, he gave her his best dimpled smile in exchange. The two were soon talking easily about the meeting and plans for the students' safety.
Before long the talk turned to other things. He told her how silky her hair was and what a beautiful color it was. She told him that he seemed way older than the other boys in his grade. Patrick spread his jacket under a tree and the two rested together, talking about music and which legacy he should pledge.
"My legacy is the Alger Society. You should join me there. I could see you every day," she said softly.
He took that as his cue and kissed her. She didn't resist.
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Phrixos and Siobhan were walking after the meeting, too, but were among the last to leave so weren't prepared to stumble upon this scene. He dropped her hand, scowling. Grabbing Pat by his collar, he jerked him away from the girl.
"What the hell, Pat?" he growled.
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Patrick didn't know whether he was supposed to protect Carissa first or slug his brother. "Pardon me, Carissa," Patrick told the blushing girl.
He turned to his brother. "This isn't anything that concerns you fireflies. You should apologize for embarrassing her, Freak. I wasn't hurting her. How would you feel if I . . . " he glanced meaningfully at Siobhan, wondering if their friendship had gone in that direction yet, considering O'Brien's cheeks were now going bright red. Oh yeah. Two could play that game. If Freak was going to make things difficult, Patrick could just talk to Lorccan.
"Carissa and I are friends . . . maybe a little more than friends, and we'd like to see where it goes. You have no business getting involved." He narrowed his eyes.
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Pratt hated when Pat called him 'Freak'. It hurt much more than he wanted to admit. Especially considering he wouldn't admit it, at all. The pain was masked with anger.
"I have no business?" his face went red, but not from embarrassment. "As your brother I have to protect your reputation. Is this how you want people to see you? Dad's counting on you, Brat. He and I don't see eye to eye, but that doesn't mean I don't-"
Phrixos stopped short, balling his hands into fists. He didn't really care if Patrick wanted to make out with all the girls in school (except Siobhan), but he didn't like that he was doing it right out in the open. "Sorry, Clarissa," he snarled at his brother as he said it, getting her name wrong on purpose. "Sorry you had to swap spit with this loser."
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Carissa stood up and moved behind the tree.
Patrick decided to be a gentleman a little longer. "We were under the tree out of the main walk way, and I thought everyone had been past here already . . . her name is Carissa, and neither of our reputations are impugned by that kiss," (it felt good to use one of those vocabulary words Mom made sure he learned) unlike some others," he added, glancing at Siobhan. "You owe Carissa an apology for embarrassing her. She being here and the trauma Siobhan went through Friday night are the only reason I don't just slug you right now, Freaksos."
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"What are you implying?" he glanced back at Siobhan, wishing she wouldn't look so alarmed at him. He couldn't help it. This was the real Phrixos she wanted to see. "Your reputation is impugned in my eyes, but I guess that doesn't matter. And she should be embarrassed-"
The world was suddenly awash with red and Phrixos grabbed his brother by the shoulders and slammed him up against the tree. "Call me that one more fuckin' time, and I swear I'll-"
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Patrick swung his right arm back around the side of the tree, ignoring the shouts of the two girls and hit his brother squarely in the nose, hard. Then pulled his hand away, shocked at the splatter of blood from his brother's nose. "You're my brother, damn it! Why can't you get that through your head? Just because Dad still wants me to do the whole family business thing, it doesn't mean I'm the enemy!" He reached up and touched his face, not realizing he was wiping a tear from his own eye.
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Siobhan couldn't take it anymore. She went rushing to the two boys, "Blood . . . everywhere . . . how could you?" she yelled at Patrick.
She looked ready to turn her fists on Patrick herself, but seeing the tears in his eyes and the words he was saying, she wasn't sure. Pratt had reeled back clutching his nose, and was releasing a string of swear words that would make a sailor blush.
"Pratt?" she asked, turning to him . . . if he said to AK his little brother, she was quite willing to. On the other hand, if he just wanted his nose cleaned up, she'd do that as well. She looked to Carissa for help, but the girl was remaining silent.
Pratt spit some of the blood out of his mouth and pointed to his nose. She pulled out her wand and did the quick cleaning spell she had learned last year, then hugged him.
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Lorccan had trailed some distance behind Pratt and his sister, wanting to get a moment alone with her so they could talk but she was never alone. Pratt stuck to her like glue and Lorccan was starting to think they were more than just friends. Siobhan was sticking to him like he was her lifeline and it annoyed him to no end. Not because she had a friend but because he should be the one she stuck to as a lifeline.
When they veered off the main path towards a group of trees, Lorccan wondered what they were up to and picked up his pace. It wasn't too much longer before he heard voices, Pratt and somebody else, somebody who sounded like Patrick, then a startled girl's voice. Not Siobhan. He walked faster and soon saw clearly what was going on.
It looked like Pratt caught his younger brother with some girl. Patrick's friend Carissa, somebody who was in his own year. Lorccan hung back, not certain if he should intefere or just get his sister away before the Pratt's ended up fighting. Before he knew it, Patrick swung at his brother and hit him square on the nose.
Then Soibhan rushed to Pratt's aid and healed him up. Lorccan moved forward then, pretty certain now he knew what was going on, at least in regards to his sister. As for Patrick...Lorccan didn't want to see his sister upset so if it meant making sure Patrick didn't attack his brother again, so be it. Kind of sucks though, Lorccan actually liked Patrick.
"Hey, enough of this fighting, hasn't my sister been through enough?" Lorccan moved between his sister and Patrick, looking first at Patrick then to his sister and Pratt. "You both are upsetting my sister and Carissa doesn't look to happy either, so you aren't impressing anybody by fighting each other."
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"It doesn't mean you're my friend, either," he cut his eyes toward Patrick, thanked Siobhan, and reluctantly hugged her back. "I'm sorry, Siobhan, I-"
Then Lorccan came barging into their family business. He quickly released Siobhan and scowled at his girlfriend's brother. His head was pounding and his nose was throbbing. "Stuff it, Lorccan," he warned, rubbing his schnoz. Talking like that to a guy that just attacked his own brother wasn't the wisest thing to do. Especially for someone as disliked as Lorccan.
"I was defending your sister's honor, if you must know," he said through gritted teeth. "He seems to think your sister's reputation is tarnished."
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"Carissa and I are leaving. I'd be your friend if you wanted me to, brother . . . Siobhan, I didn't mean to hurt you. You've been through enough."
He and Carissa walked away.
He wasn't even sure what he meant. It hadn't been a slam against Siobhan, exactly, more about what Phrixos had done to the family name and that Siobhan wasn't rich enough for him. But no, he hadn't really meant that. He liked Siobhan. He could see his brother was happy around her. He had just said it to piss off his brother.
"I'm sorry you had to see all this, Carissa," he said softly to the quietly surprised girl. He offered her his arm.
She took it hesitantly . . . "You make me glad I'm an only child."
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Siobhan wanted to go somewhere safe, somewhere peaceful and not in the open, somewhere protected where there was no conflict. Not here in the open. She looked from her boyfriend to her brother, feeling exposed, but wanting to be strong for Pratt and not wanting him to see how vulnerable this whole fight had just left her feeling. "Are you all right, Pratt?' she asked.
As she waited for her answer, her thoughts formulated in her mind . . .Lor could come visit, right? It was Sunday . . . or at least he could walk with them back to the island and she and Lorccan could talk a little. He needed to talk to her. She needed an hour or two alone with her violin, but both Pratt and Lorccan needed her and her own needs could wait.
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Lorccan didn't hear everything that was said so maybe Pratt was. Either way, the fight was upsetting SIobhan, that was clear to see, at least to Lorccan. He watched as Patrick left with his girlfriend which suited Lorccan fine at that moment.
"Well, that's good you were, Pratt. I know you care for my sister and she obviously likes you too, I can't fault you for protecting her too, even against your own brother." Lorccan didn't particularly like Pratt, but he didn't have any real grudge against him. "But right now, I would like to have a few minutes alone with her, if you don't mind waiting on the path."
Lorccan turned to his sister till Pratt gave his answer. "Siobhan, I know you aren't yourself after everything...and that meeting certainly wasn't doing you all that good. If you can I need to talk to you for a few minutes."
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"I'm fine," he shrugged a shoulder. "I really am sorry. He just... implied things and kept calling me that stupid name. I couldn't stop."
Pratt cringed as Lorccan said almost everything they'd been trying to hide from him. There was probably no hope for them, now. If Lorccan guessed that they were more than friends that like each other, that was it. The relationship would be over before it really began.
"I'll just go," he smiled weakly. "I could use a little time alone to cool off. I'll see you back at the lighthouse, Ginger. Later, Lorccan."
With that, he summoned the beam of light to transport him.
[exit Pratt]
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Siobhan sat down on the ground, overwhelmed and no longer able to keep it back. She pulled her knees up in front of her to hide her face. "You won't tell Mother and Father? Please? I promise I won't do anything bad. We were trying to keep it secret." She couldn't help crying, too overwrought with emotion.
"Please, don't tell. It can't get back to THEM.'' She was no longer talking about her parents. "They'll use it against us . . . it will be one more thing to use to manipulate, try to control us . . . I hate them. Lorccan, they knew about you and me . . . '' Lorccan had knelt by her side, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. "Lor we're not safe, not here, not at home, not anywhere, but the lighthouse."
