Isabel and David meet in nowadays Barcelona, and their first impression of each other isn't that great. For how long will they struggle before realising they are meant to be? Modern P&P, with a twist.
A/N: One big applause, please, for my beta VickyVicarious. Without her, the chapter would probably sound weird, lack commas, and definitely have the silliest title.
Also, I've been told this is quite confusing. I know. It's not the easiest fic to read -but putting together the pieces should be enjoyable, and the puzzlement will hopefully fade to a simple AU as you read on. I've made sure you get all the clues you need, but if the changed names, genders or setting are driving you crazy, just tell me by review, PM or mail. I'll send you the character key or clarify any other doubts you might have. :D
And that's it, for now. Reviews make my day, even two word reviews, and criticism really helps.
OoOoO
Veles e vents han mos desigs complir,
faent camins dubtosos per la mar.
'Sails and winds will attain my wishes,
trailing uncertain paths in the sea.'
Ausiàs March. Veles e vents
"I met the most wonderful guy today," Julia said, just upon entering my room. Then she jumped on me, seeing I was reading on my bed, and squeezed between me and the wall with an expectant look about her.
I had to close the book. She is my sister, after all. And I can't read all squished up. I've tried it many times in the subway and it just doesn't work.
No, OK, I admit, I also really wanted to hear about this 'wonderful guy'. I set my copy of Don Quixote aside and made room for her. "Go ahead, tell me."
"It was before Romanesque Art. He looked lost, and foreign, and asked me if we were in Romanesque… He's an Erasmus, from Italy. But he's actually American. And…" She actually paused, I guess to make it interesting, before adding: "speaks perfect Spanish. With the cutest accent."
"Sounds quite the prince charming," I said, raising my eyebrows. Julia isn't any good at telling stories but you could see in her face all the exciting things she wasn't saying. Like, he was sooo hot. Such a nice smile. Things like that.
"Don't laugh!" She swatted me playfully and went on, in a sweet dreamy way "He looked very… gentle".
Now, really, I don't know what's wrong with Julia. You know the sexy, dangerous, dark man all girls have been programmed to sigh for? Well, not my sis. I mean, she'd pick Luke Skywalker over Han Solo. Frodo over Aragorn. And Clark Kent over Superman.
So, to all the boys out there trying to be tough but failing miserably: It's OK. She can't be the only one.
"You mean he looked like a lost puppy." I was laughing at her, but it's my job, so she took no offence and did not hit me again. She didn't have room enough, anyway.
"Kind of, yes. He has blue eyes." Seeing I said nothing, she followed a thread of my starry bedcover with the tip of one nail and said, randomly "He likes dogs. His name is Charlie."
Alright. Now, I'll allow it doesn't happen every other day, but my sister telling me she met this incredible person might be… a weekly ocurrence. She'll see me and exclaim, as if she had been refraining herself and waiting all day to tell me: 'I saw the prettiest toddler today!', or 'Spoke with an incredibly wise old man down in the bakery!' It's just too easy to impress her. But some random exchange student making her incoherent?
"Did he flirt with you or something?" I said, all suspiciously. But I was smiling. She looked happy, and I get a fuzzy warm feeling out of Happy Julia. Also, I knew she was about to ask a favour.
"Hm. He said he just arrived two weeks ago. And I told him about the outing tomorrow –the one with Carla and her friends? Only Carla just told me she doesn't feel very well, and… I don't know. I'll feel like I'm intruding and I don't know Charlie that much, not to mention his friends…"
"You are asking me to come along."
"He lives with his sister and his best friend, you know, and they are very pretty! He said they'd come, and if you don't like them you can talk with anyone else, you're good at talking to people!" She kind of hugged me then, actually stabbing me with her elbow, but it didn't matter much. Anyway, we both knew I didn't have any plans.
I had had some offers, because February exams in the UAB (my university) had just finished and everyone is expected to drink and be merry in times such as these. I don't usually do much on Fridays, though, since I always manage to have lessons in the morning and then drama rehearsal. I'm in an amateur company with the same people who were in the Drama club with me in highschool. Carla is in it, too. We do really intensive rehearsals each Friday and then go out together and have dinner at midnight.
Except, well. I just know Julia would do it for me.
"What time then?" I surrendered as expected. It is true, after all. I am good with people. I am comfortable with people I don't know -to an extent Julia finds inhuman. You can put me in a lift with anyone (a random repairman, weird ancient neighbours, a shy twelve-year old) and I'll be alright. I never run out of conversation.
"Ten o'clock in front of the Zurich café. We'll hang out in our Irish pub."
Our Irish pub means 'the Irish pub we usually go to'. It means she actually cares for it (sticky tables, cigarrete smoke, loud music and all). She sometimes makes it sound as if we own it, waitresses and all. It also happens with the cinema around the corner and, don't ask me why, our grocery and our chinese restaurant (we've eaten in twice).
"Let's tell the guys too, then. God knows Mario really needs to go out." I got up, straightened my t-shirt, and looked back at Julia, who had stretched and now basked in the glory of having my whole bed to herself.
"So do you. You know, David, you are the best of brothers."
"I know."
OoOoO
From: Izzy Díaz
To: Jorge Díaz
Subject: You'll love this…
Hey J!
I shall come and visit soon -this is terribly boring. I mastered moving around both campus and city in just two weeks. There are maps, it's NOT that hard. But I guess I'll still have entertaining stories about being stranded/lost/late. C keeps getting lost and texting me to come and help him find his classes. It would be highly annoying, were he anyone else, but since he IS Charlie and he is my friend, it's actually endearing. Not to mention I have great fun at his expense.
Speaking of Charlie. If he did write to you yesterday you'll already know. If not, stay seated: he is head over heels in love AGAIN. As always, love at first sight, very pretty girl, makes fool of himself when speaking to her. I think she is too gentle to laugh at him in his face. OR she feels sorry since we are new in the city and is being friendly. OR she really hasn't noticed and is just being friendly. Anyway, I give him two weeks.
He met her at some History of Art class and got invited to tag along yesterday night. You should have seen him, he was totally overexcited by the time he arrived home and told us. So Caroline helped him choose what to wear and I said I would go too. I mean, you know I don't like making friends, but I'll be here for four months at least and I better make a couple of them. And I thought maybe they were interesting...
They weren't. You know how I hate loud people. Well, they were loud, boisterous, and spoke of stupid things. And about sex, a lot. One of them explained her whole sexual life to me before I was rescued by Caroline. We retreated to a corner and then I had to listen to her criticise every item of clothing in the room. I pleaded headache in the end and dragged Charlie away.
Still. Julia (C's new love) was alright; very sweet, somewhat shy. Caroline liked her and says she hasn't realised C couldn't take his eyes off her. But I think her brother knows, so she can't be oblivious for long.
And now you can laugh at me and at my friends-making:
Caro was getting on my nerves, so I went to the (dirty) restroom. It was a small room with a sink, a mirror and two stalls, one for guys and one for ladies. I put on lipstick, for want of something interesting to do. And in comes Charlie, all flushed and happy, and goes:
C: Hey Izzy! Having fun?
I: No. And they're loud.
C: Aww. They are just... very out-going. And friendly. I'm sure there's a couple guys that would be too happy to entertain you. Buy you drinks. Talk about poetry or something. Want me to introduce you to the blond guy? Or Julia's brother. He's cool. He-
I: Looks nerdy. And should have his hair cut.
C: Oh. I thought you'd like him.
I: No way. There's no-one out there that might interest me for even five minutes. Except Julia, I guess. Go and talk to her, I'll be fine with...
And then, the men stall door opened and out came Julia's brother. As we stared through the mirror, he washed his hands, made a show of pushing his hair away from his eyes and smiled at Charlie.
We had been speaking in English, not Spanish, but I had the feeling he had understood every word. And then, after the smile, he just turned around and left us there. Didn't look at me. Shame. I was so red, he would have had a kick out of it.
Done laughing? Well, I am not ashamed anymore. I was just saying what I thought. I meant no offence, even if he IS offended. I really don't think he would interest me. I just hope he still likes C, though, and won't speak badly of him to his sister. I liked that she didn't say anything stupid when Caro spoke to her.
I'm reconsidering. I give Charlie one week, poor lad.
And this is all. I'll check the flights and come by before easter, what do you think?
A big hug,
Your fav sis Isabel.
OoOoO
"So how did it go!" Carla said first, shutting her NDS down without saving. That is how excited she was, she even forgot about Resetti in Animal Crossing.
Julia and I entered her room and sat down by her feet. Julia was still all happy from the night before. And I was still not very happy. I mean, I had thought she was hot. It hurts all the more to be looked down by a total stranger you wanted to meet.
"How are you?" I asked first, pinching her calf.
"Threw up at five in the morning and your mom made a fuss. Sooo, OK, the bathroom was a mess, and I woke her up, but I hadn't done it un purpose. Anyway, she seems to feel bad about it now and keeps fretting about me. And bringing me soup."
This might be getting a bit confusing for you. Let me explain:
Julia and I live at home while studying, which unfortunately is what everyone does in Spain (unless you live in a small town or your local university doesn't have a Physics department, etc). There are nice exchange programs, though, so you can go somewhere else for a semester or a year. Which is what Charlie was doing, an Erasmus exchange. My bestfriend Xavi Jardiner too, he was currently in Dublin. The idea is to send you to another country in the UE. It's like this big adventure for most people. And I personally really enjoy having Polish and French ladies in my lessons. Each semester my friends and I make a poll on-
Sorry. We live at home, OK, only my mom owns both flats in the same floor. Apparently, when she married my dad, my grandpa just presented them with the appartment next door, so they could live close by. No wonder their marriage flunked and my dad lives now in Granada (868 km away). He has remarried and has another kid, too. His name's Antonio. Drools a lot, but he's such a smart toddler. I used to-
Sorry, sorry. My grandparents died four years ago, so my mom converted their flat to rent it to students. And then realised she could ask me to live with the guys so I could keep an eye on them and she could rent my big room to a couple of girls. I thought it was a great idea at the time, but now I live with both roomates and a mom. It's not the best arrangement in the world, really. There's Mario, a metalhead who won't wash his hair/log off internet, and Cristian and Dídac. Dídac is the epithome of party-goers and never does his chores. I suspect Cristian of being in love with him, as he always does whatever Dídac wants (chores included).
Mom and Julia live with Carla and, til recently, a girl from Majorca who studied Journalism. She had just graduated and left. Just on time, since we had started not getting along so well after a failed attempt at dating. Mainly, though, we missed her. We are one big not-so happy family, more or less, since my mom feels free both to yell and fret about all of us. Specially Carla. She can get really irritating, so Julia and I looked accordingly compassionate. Julia patted her knee.
"The soup is nice, at least," she said.
"Yes. But tell me about the Erasmus. Juicy bits included."
Julia colored and was about to protest, so I quipped in: "He's really into her, I think. Spoke with her for an hour at the very least."
Before Julia could protest, Carla propped herself up and went "What's he like?"
"Very nice," said Julia.
"A bit taller than me, light brown hair, blue eyes, eager to please. That girl who only talks about sex said he looked, and I quote, 'yummy enough to spread on toast'."
Julia giggled at that. "We did talk, but he was very nice with everyone. You spoke with him too, David."
"He stammered when talking to her. I swear he just said whatever crossed his mind first," I confided. Carla was smiling her feline smile, and Julia just went on as if I hadn't said a thing.
"His sister was very nice, too. And that shy girl. I told you they were pretty, David. You should have talked to them."
It must have shown in my face, because their expressions changed to mild curiosity and they just stopped talking. They know I can't resist that kind of silence, all "We know you know something so why don't you just spill". So I told them, if only to hear someone say I do not look nerdy at all.
"The fashionable blonde isn't my type. And his friend from Madrid was… OK, she was pretty, but –"
"No buts. She was tall and had perfect skin and incredibly shiny straight hair down to her waist –" said Julia, all admiringly.
"She wasn't tall. She just seemed tall because she looked down on everyone" I cut. It was part of her hotness in the beginning, in a very femme fatale fashion. The chestnut shine of her hair and the intimidating way she looked at you, as if daring you to prove your manly worth before you spoke to her. "And she refused to be introduced to me on the grouds that I looked nerdy."
This got their attention. And sure enough, by the time I had finished, they were suitably outraged on my behalf.
"You do NOT look nerdy," exclaimed Julia. Aaah, thank you.
"Yo do seem too smart for your own good sometimes," conceded Carla. "But I love your hair."
"Oh Carla, your friends aren't loud at all," said Julia, all worriedly. True, Carla was also an injured party. But she quickly shrugged it off, apparently pleased at the distraction I had offered. She's got the sharpest tongue.
"Nah, they are, but who is she to say so? They aren't her friends. Not one of them would want to be friends with such a… bitter bitch anyway."
"Bitter bitch. It has a nice ring." I'm very appreciative of Carla's insults. She has a way of putting in two blunt words what I would explain in a whole paragraph. "She didn't make any friends, don't worry."
"Must have been very bored all evening," said Julia. She always wants to see the best in everyone. It's lovely, but not a great help when you feel like playing the offended party.
"Most deservedly" scoffed Carla.
I had to reconsider the facts, though, since she did look bored:
"Had she said she didn't fit in, it would be alright. I'm sure she's all that and can find better people to hang out with. Quiet people. Whatever. I could forgive her pride, had she not wounded mine."
"Sweet," Carla said, pinching my cheek. "I have already decided I don't like her, long hair or not."
We didn't need to ask Julia. She was clearly upset at a stranger's dissing of me, but gaining her disapproval is really hard. She probably thought that Charlie's friend, 'that shy girl', had had a bad day, was PMSing or had thought I was someone else. Hah.
Carla and I were more of the Bitter Bitch persuasion.
"So. What did you and Dreamboy talk about?" asked Carla, and that was my queue to go away and avoid hering my sister talk about cute butts and such. Or walk into my mother and have her tell me about Carla being ill last night with all the gory details.
OoOoO
From: Izzy Díaz
To: Jorge Díaz
Subject: re: re: You'll love this…
I'm glad you find my life so amusing. It actually got worse: I discovered yesterday Julia's brother is in my Spanish Renaissance Poetry class. The one I had to skip last week because I was queuing to get my student ID.
His name is David Benet. And he's the teacher's pet. They keep discussing things between them as if no-one else could make a sensible remark. Which of course they can't, as far as I've seen.
Well, I can. But I hate speaking up. So I didn't. But I'm going to be top of the class anyway, David Benet or not.
He did say interesting things in class, in fact, which made things less annoying. Also, he acted as if he hadn't seen me, but only after looking at me kind of surprised and then staring at my boots. I think they are pretty boots. This is also less annoying than him acting offended.
You asked for a Julia description. Here it goes: tall, slender, angelic face, blondish wavy hair (not dyed I think), big hazel eyes, easy smile. Pretty. Caro is all envious of her legs, she says they are very long. They're not. Caro is short-legged, that is all.
Her brother: indisputably so, since they share smile, somewhat thick eyebrows and straight nose. Tallish, wavy dark hair badly in need of a cut, brown eyes. Caro says he's kind of cute. I say he's kind of nerdy.
From the constant Caro references you may have deduced: she won't stop talking. She is amusing, especially when she doesn't mean to be, but I find myself avoiding our place and complaining about sore feet so she won't ask me to go shopping with her. I hope she will soon grow bored and leave for Paris, a spa or a ski trip.
I have to go. Promised C I'd go to the Picasso museum with him. Then we'll hit a tapas bar. He is incredibly fond of deep-fried squid. Also, he didn't get further than "hi" with Julia today and wants to discuss a plan to have breakfast with her on Thursday.
Also, he really wants to go out again this weekend. With her. I'm being included as a very necessary third wheel, and so is Caro. We told him we are not joining her friend's friends again, and so we have to think of something else to do, hopefully with her alone. He says sight-seeing. Caro says shopping. I'd rather go to the cinema or something like that.
I wish he would just ask her out American-style, as in a date, but he feels a Spanish approach might be best. I have to agree. So he's not showing his cards just yet (even if his intentions must be clear to her not-stupid brother) and we'll just, um, be friends for now. I hope this will give him a chance to win her over. At least she doesn't actually seem the sort of girl who'd use him.
Okay, NOW I have to go. Charlie says he hopes you are well "but please Izzy let's go."
Un abrazo muy fuerte! OOOOO
Isabel
PS. I did call him! Only we don't talk much, and so our phone conversations have the shortest life span. If he asks, tell him I'm doing fine. Scold him if he's smoking again.
