So I have gotten an alright-ish response to my first one shot, but I think this idea may be a bit too foreign for some people…not only am I doing an inter-circle relationship, I am also doing it in modern day times. But still, I would really like at least one review! Please?? *puppy dog eyes*
So here is my second installment of 'Bubbly'…hope you like!!
And please, *gets down on hands and knees* review!!
-Prom-
Briar looked up from the pile of leaves and weeds he was working on when he heard the porch door slam open. Grinning, he leaned against the rake he had in his hand and watched casually as Sandry walked up to him, her white sundress and sun-streaked brown hair blowing in the wind. She gripped the edge of her dress, preventing it from flying up. Seeing his eyes on her, Sandry smiled at Briar, her blue eyes lighting up and Briar could feel his insides warming.
Briar spent a surprising amount of time with Sandry, which was odd. She was so unlike all the others in her group, usually retreating from the little political parties her uncle held to come into the garden and just talk with him. Soon they became friends, and every time Briar was outside working, Sandry would always come outside to talk or read a book, simply enjoying their shared camaraderie. Briar had to wonder if she felt anything more than friendship towards him, because he certainly did.
She was soon followed by a man around her age, his red hair shining in the sun. Briar suppressed a sigh; of all of Sandry's prissy friends, he thought Fin was the worst.
"Sandry, this is a mistake!" The red head shouted after her, quickening his pace to match hers. Lowering his voice, he continued, "Your uncle would never approve."
Sandry ignored Fin, walking in a determined manner to her uncle's best -and most handsome- gardener. Her face broke out into a smile when she saw he was waiting for her, nonchalantly leaning against his rake with a smile that did wonders to her heart rate. Fin followed warily, ready to stop her if he thought she was getting into something socially despicable.
"Sandry, what brings you out here on such a hot day?" Briar's voice had a slight drawl, and his grey-green eyes held a bit too much warmth towards Sandry for Fin's liking. He scowled at the older boy, but Briar ignored him, keeping all his attention on the blue-eyed beauty in front of him.
Not known for her tact, Sandry stared at him boldly, fixing his eyes with her own. Briar could physically feel the pull her eyes had on him, and he found himself taking a step forward so that they were closer together. Sandry tilted her head a little so that they could maintain eye contact before asking her question. "Would you go prom with me?"
"Sandry!" Protested Fin, and Briar wanted to punch him for interrupting. Fin grabbed Sandry's arm roughly, and Briar's hands tightened on the handle of the rake, but he did nothing. In the world of pearls, diamonds and old money-the world to which both Sandry and Fin belonged- a simple punch in the face would mean that he, the lowly gardener, could never work again. Fin never loosened his grip on Sandry's forearm as he dragged her out of the garden and onto the porch, far enough that Briar couldn't hear them talking any more. However, his eyes never wandered from the scene unfolding in front of him.
Sandry yanked her arm from Fin's grip and fixed him in an icy blue stare. "What the hell Fin?" She demanded, flicking a stray hair behind her ear and crossing her arms across her chest.
"When you said you were going to ask that gardener to go with you to prom, I didn't believe you could do it. So now that you have had your little bout of rebelliousness, could you please stop this foolishness and go with someone...else?"
Sandry scowled at him. "No."
"Sandry!"
"I want to take him to prom, and no one else. Deal with it." She replied stubbornly.
Fin groaned in exasperation. "Could you go with someone more acceptable?"
"What the heck do you mean?"
"Like Jak! He's head over heels for you, he'll gladly go with you. Plus Berenene approves."
"Of course my cousin approves; he's her ex and he still drools over her. But it doesn't matter, because he doesn't like me." She added smugly. Fin pulled a face.
"I don't understand what he sees in Tris. She's such a bitch, and I swear she never shows any emotion at all. She always has her head in a book- such a bore!" Sandry's small hands curled into fists, but Fin didn't notice her rising anger.
"And do you see what she wears? Good God, it looks like she picks out the cheapest things from a bargain rack! And it's a wonder she even finds anything to fit her! She's so big, but she barely eats!" Fin's rant was interrupted by a fist hitting him solidly on his face. He felt his skin open up from where Sandry's ring grazed against his cheek, and he stared at her in shock.
"Get out." Her voice was cold, but they didn't show the same amount of venom her eyes did. Fin nodded numbly; how could he have forgotten that Tris was one of Sandry's best friends?
Sandry's eyes were trained on Fin's retreating back, boring holes into his neat blue polo. He paused before opening the porch door and looked at her, his eyes solemn.
"You could have asked me." His eyes betrayed the feeling behind those five words, but Sandry could care less.
"I thought about it, you know. But I didn't want to take such a selfish prick to prom with me. It's bad enough that I have to deal with you out of respect for my cousin without you insulting me and my friends. Get out of my house, and don't ever speak to me again." Fin nodded, and slid the porch door open silently.
Sandry took a shuddering breath and released it with a laugh. She had wanted to do that for so long, and only now at the end of senior year was she able to call Fin on his bull. It felt so...liberating. She glanced over at Briar, and was pleased to notice his grey-green eyes were trained on her. His face was inscrutable, and Sandry sent him a smile. She made her way over to him sheepishly, worried at what he may think of her unladylike actions. She had no doubt in her mind that he had just seen everything.
"So, hey." She said lamely, and she wanted to slap herself on the forehead.
"Hey. Nice right hook." He replied nonchalantly. She blushed, flattered.
"Thanks. So, um, what's your answer?"
His eyes betrayed his confusion, but they cleared after he realized she was talking about prom. He looked at her gravely. "Answer me truthfully, and then I'll give you my answer."
She nodded in assent.
"Are you just asking me to get a rise out of your uncle, or because you feel like being rebellious?"
Sandry scoffed. "If I wanted to be rebellious, I'll dye my hair blue or something. Uncle approves of you- he can't stop singing his praises of you. He says you're the best gardener from Rosethorn's company." Briar flushed at the praise; it was hard to please Sandry's uncle.
"So why are you asking me?"
Sandry cocked her head to the side and twirled a strand of her long hair with her finger. Briar wanted to grin; she looked so dang cute when she did that, but he stopped himself just in time. It was a serious question, and by grinning Sandry might think he was brushing it off as a trivial matter.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Briar gave her a confused look, but realization dawned on him as slowly as it takes flowers to bloom after winter. But he wanted her to say it.
She sighed in exasperation, and took a step toward him so that they were almost flush against each other. She tilted her face to his, and he leaned his head down so her breath mingled with his. Before allowing their lips to touch, however, Briar repeated the question quietly. "Why me?"
"Because you drive me crazy." She answered, before crushing his lips with hers. Briar rested his hands on her waist and pulled her closer, and she wrapped her hands behind his head. Her hands trailed through his hair, and Briar growled into her mouth.
"Boy!"
Briar flinched and pulled away from Sandry's warm lips regretfully. Sandry's face was flushed pink, and her lips were slightly swollen. Briar grinned at her before turning to the owner of the voice. Adopting an innocent expression, Briar raised his eyes to the two people on the porch. "Yes Rosethorn?"
"You don't come here to flirt with the employer's niece! You're here to work!"
Snapping a mock salute, Briar gave the shorter woman a grin and a bow to the bemused man next to her.
Sandry gripped Briar's elbow as she went onto her tip toes to give him a small kiss on the cheek. She then turned to the man and greeted him. "Hi uncle." Her voice was strong and steady- not at all as if she just got caught in a make out session in broad daylight.
Sandry's uncle didn't look angry or even surprised that his niece was just shamelessly throwing herself at the hired help, and Briar had to wonder if the older man knew that this was going to happen eventually.
"Good afternoon Sandry." His gaze shifted from his niece to Briar, and Briar almost gulped. Still addressing Sandry, he continued, "I expect you to formally introduce your prom date to me tonight, at dinner." It was not a request but an order, one that neither Sandry nor Briar wanted to refuse. Seeing he was understood, he nodded and walked into the mansion. How did he know, though? Briar shook his head in amazement- Sandry's uncle knew everything that happened in his household. Briar noticed Rosethorn was still scowling at him, and he winced. He knew he was in major trouble, but looking at Sandry, he knew it was worth it.
She felt his gaze on her, and her blue eyes met his grey-green ones. She interlaced their fingers, and Briar pulled her hand up to his face. His eyes never left hers as he placed a chaste kiss on each bruised knuckle from punching Fin.
"Boy!" Roared Rosethorn, and Briar grimaced.
"Gotta work." Sandry nodded, and looked at Rosethorn fearfully.
"She scares me." She confided.
Briar chuckled. "Me too." He whispered. He gave her a kiss on her cheek, and mumbled, "I'll see you later tonight then."
Sandry nodded, and skipped back to the house. She couldn't wait.
Remember- these are one-shots. Unless I say so, they are totally independent of each other. And I don't like Fin, so any Fin-fans out there, you were warned!
Any thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? Like it? Hate it? Love it?
r.e.v.i.e.w.
please??
;]
