Chapter Two: Stand In Brother
Eli's Point of View
"You must be the famous Elijah. Man I am getting you so fucked up tonight!" one of the guys Eddie introduced me to said full of excitement. I assumed this was Jay. Just from what Eddie had said about him and the fact that he had said this right in front of Cece and Bullfrog-my parents. I mean their names are Cece and Bullfrog and my dad was most likely stoned but still common sense Jay, common sense. The guy who I assumed to be Jay was a little bit taller than me and Eddie, about three inches and had small dark blue eyes. They were mysterious-like they had seen a lot of things in their time. But he couldn't have seen as much as I had. Like me, he had dark straight hair but unlike mine, his was covered up by a navy blue hat that matched his mechanics uniform that he wore. The look suited him in a odd way. He didn't look out of place in this kitchen even though he was dressed remarkably differently than the rest of us, he looked...him. He was comfortable with himself and it was surprisingly refreshing. He was not what I expected. He was smiling. Not the typical school bully that Eddie had described him as.
"Jay." the other guy warned in almost a whisper. "parents." This guy must be Spin. As comfortable as Jay was, Spin was formal. He was jumping out of his skin at the prospect of meeting my parents who were merely overgrown children. It was funny actually. Spin was exactly as I had imagined him to be-laid back yet jumpy. He had his serious parent meeting face on at the moment but behind that look I could see the mischief in his eyes almost as clear as I could see it in Jay's. Spinner was good looking (not that I was judging) but in a different way entirely from Jay. He was taller and more muscular and lighter. He had sandy blond hair that was cut short to his head- like he had just got out of the service. That was what he reminded me of- a police officer or a army officer or something to that degree. He had these squinty eyes and I could not exactly tell what color they were-dark blue like Jay's or brown like his wife standing next to him. He was respectful in a way that Jay could never pull off and that separated the two- Not only for me I learned but in the past as well.
Just then Jay spoke, interrupting my thoughts about the two, "I remember the night I met your brother, the jackass. My aunt had called me and asked if I wanted company. I suppose she wanted to get the little shit out of their hair. I was in a good mood that night so I decided to pick him up out of the goodness of my heart," he paused and clutched his heart dramatically and I saw Eddie roll his eyes at Jay's dramatics then Jay continued with his story, "so then I decided, what the hell the little shit's fifteen, he's old enough to drink and get laid and shit. So I took him to our place- the ravine. And who would have thought-this jackass actually landed himself a lady. Got into miss prude Hazel's pants now didn't you?" he finished, smirking at Eddie.
Eddie then laughed and said to the room in general (including my parents to my mothers horror), "Well, she wasn't that much of a prude that night, now was she?"
Laughter exploded throughout the room. Cece gave Eddie the death glare. He is gonna get a phone call about this one. I can just feel my mothers anger. She didn't tell us to not do drugs or to not have sex or to not go to parties and do all those things in that order but she did, however, feel strongly about us taking advantage of girls or anything to that effect. So I knew-I could feel-even at 19, going on 20, he was in some deep shit whether he lived with her or not.
"So, Elijah." I flinched as Jay said my full name. I generally hated when people said my full name. This included Jay. I didn't exactly know how to feel about him calling me that. I wanted him to call me Eli like everybody else did. Elijah is too formal. I feel like he is about to murder me every time he says my name. And he looks like he is capable of murder too.
"Yes, Jayson." I shot back and smirked at him. I finally got him. That should show him. He should only call me Eli from now on.
"Ooo. Are we on full name basis now? Well I was going to ask...Can you party as hard as your brother?" he asked, looking at me hopefully. I knew automatically what this was about. Jay was in his mid twenties and all his friends were gone, his finance was living her dream life in Hollywood, Eddie was a solid twenty minutes away, Spinner was settling down with his new wife-he needed a new drinking buddy that wouldn't leave for another ten years. And honestly, the answer was going to be absolutely no. I don't like to drink, I was only going tonight because of Eddie. My parents and Eddie both ruined that for me- the whole alcohol and weed and partying my ass off part of being sixteen. Somebody in the family had to be the adult, right? Right.
"I go out like once, twice a year tops. Somebody has to be the adult in the family." I said regrettably. Sometimes I wish I got to live the role my parents did as the irresponsible child and they could be the ones waiting up for me at night to get home from shows and parties. No wonder I had a nervous breakdown at sixteen.
"But you're coming tonight?"Jay asked and then he added, " and I'll see what damage we can do to this town!" then he smirked. Oh no. Now I'm slightly alarmed. Oh well. No time like the present to live, right?
My mom laid down her few laws before me and Eddie left the house, "Just don't get arrested or get anyone pregnant or catch anything." She leaned down and kissed our foreheads before allowing us to leave. " I love you two." she added last minute. We just looked at my dad and he nodded and allowed us to leave with Spin and Jay. Only our parents would allow that-sit through that and have that kind of response.
Me and Eddie walked out of the house where I would be spending at least the next two years of my life-if I made it that long. Because with parents like Cece and Bullfrog-you never know, the house could blow up at any moment without warning or something else supernatural could happen when your least expecting it. We made our way to Spin's beaten up old car and to my shock there were not just the four of us in the car. In the front seat sat one of the most beautiful girls I had ever laid eyes on. There had to be a catch. Jay's fiance perhaps?
"Thank you oh so much for bringing me in and introducing me to Eddie's brother, Jay. That's so fucking thoughtful of you. Almost like the time you slipped my almost sex tape to my drama teacher instead of my demo." she spat at Jay, who was driving. This could not be good for Jay. I wanted to help Jay. I liked Jay but this was entertaining and I really couldn't help him at this point. He could only help himself.
"It would have been rude to invite somebody into the Goldsworthy's house, Manny." Jay said calmly keeping his eyes on the road, Manny pouted. She was some type of Western Asian. Maybe Filiphino? She had the cutest dimples on both her cheeks and huges brown eyes and she was a short petite little girl. I'm sure my parents wouldn't have cared if she came into the house, but I wouldn't say this outloud. This would only hurt Jay's case.
"Hey. I'm Eli. Nice to meet you.. um, Manny is it?" I held out my hand to the passenger seat. Jay glared at me from the rear view mirror. Opps. She gave him this smug look.
"Yes, it's Manny. Nice to meet you too. You must be Eddie's little brother. You two are identical, other than his unruly mess of hair. You go to Degrassi then?" She asked me, suddenly interested in me.
"Not yet. I mean I'm a Junior and I will. But I haven't exactly started yet. My parents need to find the paper work first and stuff." I mumbled to her. I was embarrassed. I wasn't quite sure if I was a Junior or a sophomore but I was going to say Junior until the day they stripped me of that title.
"Watch your back when you get there." she advised and I nodded. That was the end of the conversation. I did not even want to know the rest.
"Well drop me off with Emma since you all insist on hitting the ravine tonight. And take care of Eli. You guys are all used to being screw ups and that doesn't mean he is." she said meanly as she exited the car.
The next morning I woke up on someones couch. I'm assuming it was Jay's couch considering Manny and Emma had stayed at Spinner's house the night before and it was not my house. If it was not his house, it was a complete strangers house, so I'm hoping it is Jay's house. Last night-what I could remember anyway was actually fun. When you need to forget about things- this was a good solution. I guess this is why Eddie did it. But I can't follow in his footsteps. I went probably eighteen hours without feeling bad about what happened or feeling guilty about Julia-I had forgot about her death completely. Was this moving on or was this merely being drunk? I sat up on the couch I was lying on and saw Spin, Eddie and Jay sitting at the kitchen table in the next room. They were all laughing and having a good time and I felt like I had gotten intimate with a mack truck last night. This was lovely.
I walked in and sat down. All three of the older guys looked at me with pity. Tell me I'm the only one hungover?
"Hungover, bro?" Eddie asked, grinning. I automatically want to smack that grin off his smug face then I realize that he's my brother and I shouldn't do that, but I so want to. It would feel good and make me feel a hell of a lot better, I'm convinced.
I sigh," Did I do anything last night that I should regret in the case that it might be taped and I may be blackmailed with it at a later date?" I asked groaning, trying to remember details.
Jay smiles a devilish grin. I hate that grin, "You smacked some girls ass." I can't tell if he's kidding or not and he won't budge. Never will I drink with him again.
Spin looked at me seriously and said with concern on his face, (here we go), "You said some things about being guilty for killing somebody and you were sorry to somebody named Julia and you then tried to run into traffic."
Eddie then looked at me in the eye, "then you drank vodka straight man. Are you feeling alright? You need to talk about anything?"
"Eddie, I've done worse, remember?" I say glaring at him remembering the last time we went out. I was a mess that time. Me and Rusty ended up sitting on the couch having a very serious conversation. Not what you would expect from a drug dealer but...whatever. Rusty wasn't your typical drug dealer I guess.
"Dude, I get it. Bummer times. I bullied a kid with Jay here, blamed the whole thing on my best friend who got shot, he's now paralyzed. He didn't talk to me for two years. My dad died from lung cancer when I was fifteen, that blew, I kinda started thinking I was a badass after that-pushing people around because I was broke and I had to take care of shit. I had ball cancer my senior year-my last senior year, mind you. The girl I thought I was in love with cheated on me with some pretty boy. Both his parents were multi-millionaires. I get the feeling of feeling guilty and feeling bad too." Spin finished finally. Wow.
"Yeah man." Am I really going to hear the secrets behind Jay's mask? "Not to make this a competition or anything. But my mom died when I was a kid. My dad never really liked me. When he got remarried I caused a scene at the wedding and I haven't scene him since. I have always been broke. And always been the bully and the bad guy at school. I left home really young. I caused a shooting. The kid lost his life. And Jimmy can't walk. My first love is a lesbian. And forever I am going to be known as Jay, the guy who caused the gonerea outbreak. Your turn to bear your soul, Eddie." Jay said then looked at my brother.
Next chapter: find out if Eddie and Eli tell them what happened with Julia and what other dark secrets Eli is hiding.
Sorry about the late post. Computer issues.