This was written for Bluesuzanne(blueandblack)'s epic D R A B B L E C O N T E S T over at LJ comm Sort of Beautiful. The prompt for the stories was "Meet me on your best behaviour, meet me at your worst." Over fifty drabbles were anonymously submitted and I was lucky enough to have this one come in THIRD PLACE!!!! Much love to everyone who voted!
If you haven't been to SOB before, please go check out the other drabbles! You'll be glad you did.
IMPRESSIONS
He couldn't possibly look more uncomfortable.
Sure, she's seen this face before: In the garage when she first met Quil and Embry; In his living room when Billy had caught them on the sofa; In the ten seconds that had elapsed between Bells, I want you to be my girlfriend and so, uh… will you?
But this time it almost looks worse. No… definitely. It's definitely worse.
She jiggles the knot, ignoring his ridiculous gagging noise, and glances back at the screen, squinting.
He'd been so sure that his ignorance would save him; he hadn't expected her to actually Google 'how to tie a Windsor'. Stupid, goddamned miserable technology…
"I hate this," he whines unapologetically. "Please tell me you know I hate this."
"Ah, but you love me." The flaw in his design is easily pinpointed.
"Yeah…" he begrudgingly admits, "I hate that too right now." He tugs on his collar, relieving the pressure, wishing he could send every last shiny-pearl button sailing across her bedroom one-by-one.
"Jake, stop!" She swats his hand away. "She's only here for a week. She wants to meet you," she argues, closing the laptop with a final snap.
"So, fine!" he counters, "Let's meet her someplace where I'm not forced to look like a total knob."
She rolls her eyes, "She picked this place, not me. Besides, I think you look handsome."
He groans.
"Look, I promise you can take it off as soon as we get back…" Her index finger locates his front belt loop, drags him forward by the hips, "In fact, I promise I'll take it off as soon as we get back."
And suddenly the pressure isn't on his neck anymore.
Her laughter fills the room as he grabs her hand and dives dramatically for his keys.
………
"Mom… I'm sorry. He doesn't usually… use that kind of language."
Renee stares past Bella's shoulder, unconcerned with four letter words. "Do you think he's okay? Maybe I should go check…"
"MOM! No! You're not going in there!" she whisper-shouts, preparing to launch herself between her mother and the men's room.
"I think he actually burned himself." Renee eyes the sputtering candle. "These must violate some sort of fire bylaw…"
They lock eyes. Maternal anxiety meets amused exasperation, and suddenly… the dam explodes.
Throughout the intimate space, various sets of eyes dart up from plates dotted with caramelized shallot reduction to discreetly observe the two giggling maniacs at table six.
"Did you…" Bella gasps, clutching her ribs, "Did you see his face when he [snort] cracked his head off the lamp!?"
Renee chokes out, "His elbow… his elbow was on fire!"
They continue to wheeze and shriek until the waiter returns, offers a cloth to mop up all the water. Bella flicks a tear from her cheek, "He's probably climbing out the window as we speak…"
"Honey," Renee chuckles, "if that boy comes back out here after that… he's got my vote."
Bella blushes, turns around with a smile, and waits…
Short but sweet. Let me know what you think :)