LATER THAT DAY
"Hey Eric?"
"Yeah?"
"You wanna come on over after shift?"
"Yeah, sure. Actually I was uh… I was kinda hoping that you could…" he coughed, "you could give me the… the 'low-down' on the… the people that'll be there, so I don'tseemclueless," he rushed the last bit. Oddly enough, he always seemed a little… nervous? If that's the right word to use.
"Really?" I asked in a slight amount of shock.
He nodded, as though he didn't trust his words.
"Uh yeah sure. I mean, absolutely. Em- rather Emily Douglas (the bride-to-be) is sending me a list of the guests now."
"Great, so I'll see you then," he said with a huge "Delko-smile" on his face.
"Yeah." I was quite surprised on how responsible was acting, most guys wouln't give nealy half the effort Eric was putting in.
Calleigh's House (after shift)
I had rushed home, showered, and quickly skimmed over the emails that I hadn't read.
DING! DONG!
'9:05, wow! He even knows how to be fashionably late,' I thought as I answered the door. "Hey Eric! Come on in."
"I brought pizza! You still like chicken, onions, green and red pepers, and easy on the pinaples; on it, right?" he asked, with a smug little grin on his face.
"You nailed it to a "tee". I'm impressed though, not even my pop remembers," I said sauntering over to the couch where my notebook was set up.
"Well, what can I say…" he said jokingly, as he went into the kitchen to get whatever.
"So," started settling in on the couch, "I just recived the guest list; and luckinly, I do know most of them."
"Great!"
"You mind if we eat first?"
"Not at all. In fact, I'm starving!"
Dinner went by in a comfortable, casual coversation.
"So," he said after we had finished the dishes, "who's first?"
"Bride and Groom."
"Ah… of course."
"So this is the bride," I said bringing up the picture of her, " her name is Emily Douglas. She's my bestfrind-"
"And what am I? Chopped liver?" he asked in a mocked-hurt tone.
"If you let me finish," I said I a mock-annoyed tone… this was our usual banter. And I loved it– and still do; anyway… "She's my best friend from back home."
"Ah."
"We've known eachother since we were… 3 I think. Anyway, next is the groom-"
"Your brother."
"You really have to stop finishing my sentences, it wont look good infront of my mom. ANYWAYS, his full name is Benjamin Kenwal Duquesne (he's the younger one out of my two brothers). He's sorta like me; against excessive drinking, except at bachelor (or bachelorette parties, in my case) and big birthdays, stuff like that."
"Cool."
"Next up; the parents of the happy couple. There's dad (who you know), and my mama. She's… eccentric? I guess… but she used to drink a lot (like my dad); don't know 'bout now though… Anyway, word of caution; do not talk 'bout their marriage. Never."
"Okay."
"Then there's Em's parent. The nicest people in the world – seriously Marie is Em's mom, hardcore Catholic, so is Joseph – her dad. Don't make "Marie, Joseph jokes; it's overdone."
"Figures," he said laughing out loud.
"Yeah, I know. But it's nice to see two people who are still so in love after so many years, who truly love each other.
"It's hard to find that now a days. A person that completes you… but once you find them, you gotta hold in to them," he said, but it was like he was talking to himself – but not.
"He became Catholic for her."
"Woah."
"Tell me about it, everyone was shocked – they joked that everyone thought it was a hoax"
"I bet. It's like my cousin that became Muslim; at first all the parents were a little unsure, but the two religions aren't that different. One God, prayer, just the practice is different."
"And now?"
"Happily married, two kids, one on the way."
"Cool. Anyway here's the bride's maids and the best men list," I held the two lists that I had printed out between the two of us. 'Best men: Bobby, Derek – ugh! Michael, and Sam. Not bad, except Derek. Bride's maids: Me, Shona, Monica, and Lillian… wait LILLIAN!?"
I guess Eric saw me tense up, "What's wroge Cal?"
"Lillian.. Lillian Douglas."
"Is she Emil –"
"Sister. Evil, devil-like, Bitch - number – one, Lilly."
"Uh…"
"Sorry," I said calming myself down.
"It's okay. We all have our enemies,"
"I highly doubt you react like that."
"Well mine's – actually we gotta focus; who's is she?"
"Emily's sister. Ever since we were kids Lilly had to 'out do us'. Which – by the way – always failed miserably? We called her Lilith behind her back," I said laughing to myself. "Anyway, she is one year younger than us. A real skank, be warned, she will hit on anything and everything."
"Uh quick question Cal. Am I there as your date, or your best – Miami – friend, oryourboyfriend?" he said the last part fairly quickly.
"Uhh…" 'SHIT!! I wanna say yes, but… ugh!'
"I don't mean pressure you or anything, you can let me know closer to the date or something…"
"Boyfriend," I said abruptly without thinking. "I mean except certain people if you don't mind."
"Yeah, sure."
"Next up," I said returning our attention to the task at hand, "Shona Ravensburg. Em's God sent cousin. She keeps us sane around Lilith. But she hates her too. Lillian is too scared to mess with her though."
"Mhm…"
"Finally Monica Cho, she was the quiet one; her, Shona, Em, and I were pretty much inseparable."
"Like the four musketeers."
"Yeah, except everyone called the 'four dolls'."
"Oooh… I gotta ask; who was Barbie?"
"I was," I said gruffly, "and if you tell anyone I will shoot you."
"like I havn't heard that one before."
"I will."
He laughed and said, "Your eyes are green though."
"That's what I said, but nooo! I was Barbie. Anyway."
The whole time he had been trying to contain his laughter but at that point he just exploded, "I'm sorry. I really am," he said between laughs. "I just… I… You were BARBIE!" I howled wiping a tear.
"It ain't that funny," I said solemnly.
"Oh? You just can't see it. It's really funny."
"Shut up. To the best men… Bobby Saunders, Benny's long time best friend they do everything together: hunting, clubbing, even losing their virginities together."
"Oh my God. Do I want to know?"
"Not to each other. Same hotel room though; and to twins. I cried."
"Wow. Calleigh –"
"Next is Michael," she said effectively cutting me off. "He's Shona's boyfriend (for over ten years). "
"That's a long time."
"I know, we're all waiting for him to prepose."
"That's so romantic."
"I know. Him and Ben are really close; when mom and dad got divorced he really helped Ben out. His parents were already divorced. Then there's Sam. It's really ironic. He's had this major crush on Monica since day one. He's kinda like Ryan…"
"How?"
"The sweater vests, but he's really shy. Not cocky."
"Interesting."
"And then there's Derek Douglas."
"Another one?" I nodded. "Another devil?
"How'd you know?"
"Just a hunch."
"Yup, this one hits on anything too, even grandmas, I've seen it."
"Yuck."
"Tell me 'bout it."
"So he must it on you a lot then, huh?" he asked his jaw tightening up.
"Yeah. But that's what you're for," I said smugly.
"So you're using me huh? I always knew you had ulterior motives."
"Well if it makes you feel better, I'm second on that list of his."
"To who?"
"You'd never guess, unless you saw it for yourself… Lillian."
"What?!"
"Yup. Those two are like peanut butter and jelly. It doesn't make sense but it works. There were rumours of incest. But there wasn't any proof."
"Eww… please, I'm Catholic," he said in disgust.
I laughed, glancing at the clock, "Wow."
"Whoa, no kidding. I better get going."
"Um, you could just spend the night?"
"Nah. I gotta head home and take care of some stuff." By now he had already made it to the door.
"Oh, okay."
"Well good night Cal," he said smiling at me as he slipped on his shoes. "And thanks."
"For what?"
"The info…"
"Eric I should be the one thankin' you.'
"Well in that case, anytime," he said opening the door. "G'night Cal," he said gently kissing my cheek.
"Night Eric," I said in pure awe. 'He kissed me!!"
I shut the door behind him, and sighed, "Oh Lord!" I felt like a school girl, all over again. Eric was the only man in the world that had this effect on me. 'What did I get myself into?"
