Jake Brannock was a pretty scary dude. Well okay to be fair, maybe
scary wasn't the right word. Perhaps intimidating would be a better
way to describe him.

Yes, intimidating that was the best way to describe Jake Brannock.
Though Dan Avidan had been friends with Jake Brannock for years he
still couldn't help but to find the man ever so slightly intimidating.

Dan guessed it was Jake's sheer size that made him intimidating. The
man was well over six feet tall. Yes Dan himself was over six feet
tall, but he was far thinner than Jake had probably ever been in his
life. Dan felt more stringbeanish than usual anytime he stood near
Jake.

Jake's towering height and muscular stocky frame had always worked in
his favor. It worked in his favor in his job as a bouncer and one of
the local clubs. He had played football at one point, in high school.
That was one of the things that had helped Dan and he form a
friendship, their love of football.

Music had been the other mutual love that had helped Jake and Dan form
their friendship. Though Jake didn't have much time to dedicate
himself to music as Dan, the pair still found time to jam and work on
music with one another in their spare time.

Tonight the pair found themselves locked deep in another jam session
at Jake's tiny apartment. It was a bit of a tight fit, but given that
Dan shared a rental property with Barry, Dan hadn't wanted to disturb
the man with Jake's and his noise.

Though Dan was trying his best to keep his mind locked on his notebook
of lyrics he could tell that Jake's brain wasn't 100 percent on the
task at hand.

He wasn't shocked as Jake spoke up repeating the same thing he'd been
saying all night. "You can't stay for long tonight. I gotta pick up my
sister at the airport."

"Yeah you've said that like eight times since I got here a few hours
ago." Dan remarked trying not to laugh at how much his friend seemed
to be repeating himself. He quickly failed though a small chuckle
escaping his lips.

Jake let out a huff though he failed not to chuckle as well. "Yeah,
yeah I know. I just haven't seen her in a few years. I'm excited that
she's coming to stay. I actually haven't seen her in more than a few
years. It seems like she was just a kid the last time I saw her."

"How old is she? What's her name again?" Dan blurted out curiosity
getting the best of him.

Jake wasn't exactly the most open person when it came to anything
about his past or his family. Dan knew that he was originally from
Texas. Jake had left for California when he was barely eighteen and
had been here ever since.

Dan had always gotten the feeling that Jake kept quiet about his
family and his past because it wasn't the happiest past nor the most
enjoyable family.

"Eleanor...though don't call her that unless you want her to kill
you. She prefers Elle. She's twenty six. She was barely eighteen the
last time I saw her...It was only for a few days though...Christmas.
We met up for a couple of days in Galveston...Just me and her.
Holidays are usually like that for us...not really anyone else for us
to celebrate with. I haven't seen her since then...I probably should
have kept better contact with her." Jake remarked his eyes drifting
off to the corner of the room as he reminisced.

Dan couldn't help but to notice the twinge of guilt in the man's voice.

Jake quickly shifted his eyes back to Dan as he finished his statement
stopping himself before he said much more. "Anyway. It'll be good to
see her. I think California will be good for her. She needs a fresh
start...I want to make sure I get to the airport early just in case
her plane lands. Last thing I want her to think is that I forgot about
her.. This move has been pretty stressful for her. It was kind of a
sudden decision."

Dan raised an eyebrow as he stared back down at his notebook. He was
tempted to ask Jake what exactly he meant by a fresh start, and why
her move was such a rash decision. He had a feeling that if he asked
Jake wouldn't provide a clear answer.

Dan wasn't sure why he was so curious. He guessed it was because Jake
had always been so hush hush about anything to do with his family.

It always puzzled Dan a little bit. After all Jake and he had become
pretty close friends, or at least Dan considered them close friends.
They hung out quite a bit when Dan wasn't working and Jake had the
night off.

They had hit bars together and had always served as each others wing
men when it came to hitting on girls. They worked together trying to
break through when one or the other was stuck musically. They always
watched football together especially if one of their home teams were
playing.

So yes they were pretty close. Jake was one of the few local friends
Dan actually had outside of work with the Grumps.

He had found the friendship and change of pace kind of nice. As much
as he loved his YouTube career it was nice to have some friendships
outside of that little social bubble.

While Dan may have shared plenty of stories about his own childhood in
New Jersey, Jake had remained mostly tight lipped when it came to his
own past.

The man's reluctance to say too much about his past only made Dan
curiouser and curiouser. He'd even had some amusing private theories
that perhaps Jake was some sort of outlaw on the run hiding from
capture from the police.

Dan had a feeling though that Jake's reason for remaining so private
about his past was probably far less exciting or dark.

Dan could also admit of course that he was a little curious to see
just what this Eleanor looked like. Anytime he tried to picture her he
always pictured Jake in a long brown wig and pink lipstick.

Although he guessed Jake wouldn't really need a wig. The man already
had dark brown hair down to his shoulders.

Dan was pretty sure Jake wouldn't appreciate if he mentioned that he
pictured Eleanor looking like a wigged make up slathered version of
Jake.

The man was pretty far from feminine. Jake looked like he should be
playing in some sort of death metal band. His wardrobe consisted of
mostly the color black. And he was also covered in tattoos which only
furthered his look of pure intimidation.

To be honest Dan had a feeling most people wouldn't believe Jake and
he would have anything in common if they compared him to Dan on looks
alone.

Dan was tempted to fish for a little more information to sate his ever
curious brain, but didn't have a chance to ask any more questions as
the doorbell rang.

Jake stood up from the drum kit, he'd been sat behind for most of the
evening, making his way to the front door.

Dan was tempted to peek around Jake as he heard the man's shocked
voice. "Elle what are you doing here? I was supposed to pick you up.
Your flight was at eight right? I wasn't late was I? Is my clock
wrong."

"Take a chill pill Jacob. My flight came early." An amused soft toned
voice sounded from behind the massive blockade from Dan's vision that
was Jake.

Jake let out a huff apparently not amused by the chill pill comment.
"Well you still could have called. I would have picked you up."

"It's fine. I took a taxi. Besides I know you usually have jam
sessions with that guy you always hang out with...Dave right?"

"Actually it's Dan." Dan blurted out introducing himself into the conversation.

Jake moved aside revealing Eleanor and Dan couldn't help but to notice
her pale ever so slightly as she realized Jake and she were not alone.

Elle couldn't help but to straighten her spine ever so slightly her
guard rising as she realized her brother had been blocking sight of
his guest.

She silently admonished herself for being so anxious all the sudden.
She couldn't help it though. She'd never done well around
strangers...or men in general...well men who weren't her brother,
though that wasn't shocking considering her past.

Elle cleared her throat trying to pretend that she wasn't a little
intimidated by the stranger who apparently was named Dan and not Dave.

She silently studied him for a moment trying hard to maintain control over her anxieties. He was almost as tall as her brother, probably only a few inches shorter. He was quite thin. The main thing she noticed was his hair. He had a lot of hair. It was so curly that it was practically a fro.

She managed to speak silently hoping she hadn't noticeably been staring "Hi...sorry, I didn't know you were there."

Dan could admit he was a bit shocked at the sight of the woman. She
wasn't at all what he pictured when he imagined Jake's sister.

She was tiny, delicate almost. The dark blue shirt she was wearing seemed almost baggy on her small frame. Dan couldn't help but to notice that She was quite covered up for the California heat. She was short coming only up to barely
her brother's chest. Her hair was just as dark as Jake's but had a
noticeable turquoise blue streak dyed through it. Her eyes were dark
and wide. They almost had a doe like innocent quality to them.

What Dan noticed the most though was the spread of freckles across her
cheeks and nose. It stuck out against her pale skin even with the
attempt to cover them with makeup.

She was pretty and Dan of course might be lying if tried to say he
didn't notice the spread of her hips nor the fullness of her breasts.

Dan cleared his throat suddenly feeling a little nervous himself
though he was a little puzzled as to why. He spoke managing to work
out the first thing that popped into his head. "Hi. Your brother said
not to call you Eleanor."

This comment did manage to work a small smile from Elle's lips though
she couldn't help but to remain mostly closed off. "He did? Good
advice...I mean, yeah, I'm not too crazy about my name."

"Me either. My first name is actually Leigh...I just go by Dan, or
Danny." Dan remarked clearly able to sense the woman's discomfort with
his presence.

He had to wonder what it was about him that seemed to make her so
stand offish? Perhaps he was just over-analyzing things.

She was probably just tired from her flight.

Jake was quick to speak breaking the pair's sight from one another as
he all too clearly hinted that it was time for Dan to go. "Well we're
probably done for the night. I'll set up the couch for you after Dan
gathers his stuff and goes."

Eleanor was tempted to point out that no one had to make a fuss over
her but she didn't have much of a choice as Jake took her suitcase
from her taking it over to the couch.

Dan reluctantly began to gather his things a little shocked by Jake's
quick attempts to kick him out and far away from Eleanor. He guessed
though that the man was probably just excited to have some time to
catch up with his sister without him standing by.

Dan couldn't help but to look Elle's way again as he shoved on his
leather jacket. He gave her a small smile as he spoke. "Yeah I better
go. See you later Jake. It was nice to meet you Elle. Maybe I'll see
you around."

Elle did her best to return his smile silently praying that he didn't
think she was horribly rude. She was almost tempted to blurt out that
it wasn't him and that she was just remarkably screwed up and socially
inept.

She kept this comment in though giving a simple nod of the head. "Bye.
Nice to meet you too."

As Dan exited the apartment his brain couldn't help but to wonder to
Elle and just how sweet her smile seemed.

And at that moment Dan Avidan knew he might not mind seeing Eleanor
Brannock again soon.

—

I know it's starting out a lil slow but this is my first dip into this fandom. Constructive criticism please?