Dylan
Declan was out running with Bash, and I was on the phone with Henry.
"Okay so what's the difference between an ion and a cation again?" I asked him. He sighed, he'd explained this to me probably a million times.
"I'm sorry Henry, I just can't grasp this. At least I know more about balancing chemical equations than you do."
"It's a basic chem class," Henry said, "We don't even do labs. So why is this so hard?"
"I have no idea," I replied. Just then the doorbell rang. "Hang on a sec," I told Henry, "I think that's my food delivery."
I got up and walked to the apartment door and swung it open, balancing the phone between my ear and my shoulder so I could take my thai food. But it wasn't the delivery guy in front of me.
"Go away," I said to Bash, and I swung the door shut in his face.
"Is everything okay?" Henry asked, his voice sounding tinny through the phone speakers.
"Yeah, it's fine," I said, "It's just a rat at my door." I turned to head back to my bedroom when Bash knocked on the door again.
"What?" I asked, opening the door impatiently. He pointed at the phone.
"Sorry Henry, I gotta call you back. Try to do number ten by yourself and then let me know what you get, we can compare answers." I ended the call and slid my phone into the back pocket of my designer skinny jeans.
"So, what can I help you with?" I asked, crossing my arms as I leaned against the door frame.
"I had hoped to be able to return this, and I wanted to thank you for the gesture," he said clearing his throat. "And I also wanted to apologize for what I said yesterday. You were just trying to be polite and I..."
"Acted like an ass," I finished as he trailed off.
"Precisely," he nodded.
"Thank you for apologizing," I said. I was grateful for the apology, but I also knew that didn't change his opinion of me.
"Your brother and I seem to get along well. We are evenly matched in sports and it looks like we might even be friends," Bash said, as if the word itself was unfamiliar. "I know how close you two are, I was hoping we could try to be civil from now on."
"Fine. Just don't make any more comments about my weight. Or eating habits. Or appearance."
"I can't fathom why anybody would make any negative comments about your appearance," Bash joked cracking a smile. I was instantly irritated. The day before he'd been making jabs at me about my weight, then he decided to compliment me.
"Well thanks," I said awkwardly. "Listen, I've gotta go. Henry and I were doing homework and-"
"-I understand," Bash interrupted," I don't want to keep you from your work. Have a good night."
"Thanks, you too," I said. And then he turned and walked down the hallway to the elevator.
***
After finishing my homework, Declan walked into the apartment.
"Where have you been?" I demanded.
"Uh, with Bash? Just like I told you?" he said, but his back was turned. Declan never could look me in the eye when I was lying.
"That's really funny because Bash was here over an hour ago and he said he hadn't seen you. He doesn't strike me as the type to leave a friend in the middle of a run."
"Why do you care where I was?" Declan said defensively.
"Because you're my brother and you're the only person on Earth I can trust with everything. Mom and Dad aren't the most stellar role models, you know." I pointed out.
"You don't need to know where I am every second of every day!"
"No, I don't, but if you're going somewhere and you don't want me to know where you're going then just say that. Don't lie to me. What if you'd gone missing or something happened to me or Mom or Dad and we couldn't find you because you said you were with Bash? This is New York, this isn't the suburbs of Seattle like in Lincoln Wood. Bad things happen here!" I exclaimed.
"You are being way too dramatic," Declan said, annoyed. This wasn't like him, he was usually pretty patient. "I can take care of myself and we aren't exactly in Brooklyn. This is the upper east side, not downtown Detroit."
"Fine," I relented, "Listen, everybody is going to that stupid club opening tonight. I don't know how they all got invited all things considered, but maybe we should go?"
"I have a suit for it," he said, "I'd hate for it to go to waste."
"Okay, let me go get ready."
I retreated to my room and sat on the bed for a second, turning on the TV. After turning on HGTV I went to work with my curling iron and various kinds of makeup, carefully applying everything so it was just so. I'd heard through the grape vine the opening has a 20s theme, so I added a jeweled and feathered headband around my head to be true to the time period. My dress was a deep jade green color with gold fringe, and I'd worn the classic 20s t-strap pumps.
I definitely thought I looked nice, but Declan did, as well. He'd chosen a gray suit with black pinstripes and a sharp 20s style hat, along with black and white classic wing tip shoes. He offered me his arm and escorted me to the town car.
"Are we getting Claire?" he asked.
"I haven't heard from her. I'll text her but if she wants to come she can take a cab."
Coming to the club tonight? I sent, but I didn't get a response.
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