Chapter Three
Some time later, Brendan re-entered the club, his expression stony and frightening. A young man sitting at the bar dared to make eye contact at him and Brendan bared his teeth at him threateningly. The man walked away quickly, his eyes bulging. Brendan positively cackled.
"What's funny, love?" Cheryl asked, looking at him with some concern.
"Just life, Sis!" Brendan grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a glass and poured himself a drink. So much for only having the one.
Brendan remained sitting behind the bar for most of the evening, always nursing a drink in his hand. His eyes bored into the group of four men in the corner; three of them completely oblivious to his observation, one of them glancing at him nervously now and again.
Brendan didn't even notice that Cheryl was watching him very closely. She was getting more and more concerned about her older brother. He was drinking far too much and his mood was getting increasingly irritable every day. It didn't escape her notice that he kept looking at Ste; had they had an argument? She was too scared to ask. Brendan's interest in the boy had always touched Cheryl; Brendan always did like to play father. Something felt different though. He was never this attentive, even with Macca.
Cheryl sometimes noticed how Brendan would be really quiet in the club, drinking as usual, an unreadable expression on his face. Sometimes when Ste entered, Cheryl could have sworn she saw his expression lighten, just a touch. The sparkle returned to his eyes, his swagger resumed. It wasn't like when Warren entered the room, when Brendan's macho exterior needed refinement; it was much more subtle with Ste. There was something particularly special about the boy to Brendan, and Cheryl couldn't quite work out what it was…
As the night progressed the club got more and more crowded. They were quite short staffed as well, Cheryl almost regretted Brendan letting Ste have the night off. Jacqui and Rhys were doing their best but Ste had always been a diligent worker. Again Cheryl had to admit Brendan took more of an interest when Ste was working. He was still sitting at the end of the bar, whiskey in hand. How many had he had?
Cheryl cautiously walked towards him.
"Bren, love? Are you okay?"
Brendan looked up at her, his mouth set in a firm line. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You just seem a bit…distracted. Has Ste upset you?"
Brendan's expression darkened. "What's that boy got to do with me, eh?"
Cheryl took a step back, somewhat frightened by Brendan's expression.
"Have you two had an argument?"
"No" Brendan replied bluntly, taking another sip of his whiskey.
Cheryl sighed and decided to drop the issue but she wasn't going to leave Brendan alone for a while. She motioned to Jacqui that she was taking five and sat next to Brendan, putting an arm around him. Brendan didn't say anything or move from her embrace and Cheryl was silently pleased. She relaxed a little, gave Brendan's shoulder a squeeze. It was as though there was an unspoken bond between them; Cheryl knew something was wrong, Brendan wasn't ready to tell and Cheryl was content to wait until he was.
A few moments later, Cheryl felt Brendan's attention shift. Ste and his mates were moving towards the dance floor. Cheryl couldn't help noticing how uncomfortable Ste looked at this; that new guy from the gym was guiding him with encouragement, his hand on his arm. Cheryl felt Brendan stiffen. He downed the remainder of his whiskey in one gulp.
"Take it slow, Brendan" Cheryl said quietly. Brendan merely grunted in reply.
Cheryl watched the group of four men dance, she wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was because Brendan was doing the same. She noticed the policeman, Ethan. He was very cute; Cheryl wouldn't have minded him putting her in handcuffs. She blushed and scolded herself at the thought; she was with Warren. That Noah guy was getting a bit rowdy, Cheryl noticed. He must have been drinking a lot. Cheryl didn't like to be a killjoy but she also didn't appreciate any roughhousing in her club, even if it was only for a laugh.
Brendan appeared to be thinking the same thing. His eyes were completely fixated on Noah, unblinking. His upper lip was twitching; Cheryl could have sworn she heard a growl in his throat. He hid it well though; on a normal night Cheryl didn't think she'd have noticed Brendan's strange behaviour but without Warren here to distract her, she paid attention for once. There had been a few doubts in the back of her mind lately but only now were they starting to come to the surface.
Cheryl noticed Noah grabbing Ste by the waist, prompting him to dance. Ste was shaking his head but smiling all the same. That was a bit odd. Cheryl frowned and glanced at Brendan; his expression shocked her. His eyes were practically bulging; his whole body was tensed up as though ready for a fight. Cheryl drew her attention back to the men and her jaw dropped comically. Noah had grabbed Ste again and pretty much stuck his tongue down his throat. Cheryl didn't have time to react; Brendan was doing that already for her. He straightened up swiftly, walking around the side of the bar with purposefulness to his step which alarmed Cheryl. She hastily followed behind him.
By the time she reached the group Brendan had his hand on Noah's arm in a tight grip. His face was very close to his, his teeth bared. He looked livid. Cheryl seemed to have missed part of the conversation.
"What's your problem, mate? Don't like looking at two blokes snogging, is that it?" Noah asked, looking defiant.
"You're drawing too much attention. I'm not going to ask ye again, leave. Right now" Brendan's voice was low and dangerous.
Ste put his hand on Brendan's arm. "Bren…" he whispered urgently, he looked a little scared. Brendan ignored him but didn't shake off Ste's hand, which surprised Cheryl.
"I'm not going anywhere, mate. It's a free country, I can do what I want, snog who I want" Noah made a grab for Ste again but Brendan grabbed his other arm and pulled him so their faces were inches apart.
"I'm not going to say it again. Get out, right now!" Brendan was shouting directly into his face, his spit flying everywhere.
"Brendan!" Cheryl said, shocked. Brendan didn't let go however.
"Alright, mate. Jeez I was only having a laugh!"
Brendan released him. "I don't want any drunks in my sister's club, causing unnecessary scenes. Ye can come back here when I say ye can, alright?"
"Yeah alright" Noah replied, looking irritated. "Come on, Ste"
Ste seemed to hesitate for a moment. Cheryl saw Brendan's expression soften for a minute as he looked at him; Ste stared back, he looked a little tearful.
"See you tomorrow" he mumbled and followed Noah out of the club. Ethan and Riley came back from the toilets looking confused. Cheryl kindly told them that Noah and Ste had left and they'd best hurry if they wanted to catch up with them. She was relieved that Ethan hadn't been present for Brendan's outburst; it might not have ended so amicably.
Brendan walked in the direction of the office and Cheryl followed.
"I need some time to myself, Sis. Sorry" Brendan's voice was hard. He closed the office door after himself in Cheryl's face.
"What was all that about?" Jacqui asked from beside her, looking warily at the office door.
Cheryl planted a fake smile on her face. "Oh nothing, love. Just some punters getting a bit rowdy". Jacqui nodded and didn't ask anymore questions. When she returned to the bar, Cheryl's smile faded. Some need had come inside of her for her to protect Brendan's actions from other people, she couldn't explain why.
Something didn't quite add up. Something hadn't been adding up for months now, Cheryl realised. There was definitely something going on between Brendan and Ste. She'd never seen Brendan look as desolate as he had done when Ste had walked away with Noah. He'd tried to hide it but Cheryl could tell, he was her brother after all.
The events of the past few months came crashing around Cheryl. Macca's strange behaviour, Rae telling her Brendan was gay, Rae and Ste breaking up and having that big bust up at the club with Brendan only steps behind them. Most recently Brendan's behaviour tonight, his fixation on Noah and Ste. Cheryl knew that Noah was openly gay, she didn't know that Ste was that way inclined. She certainly didn't know that her brother was either…
Cheryl continued working, one eye always on the office door. Brendan remained in there until closing time. Cheryl was starting to get really worried now. She sent Jacqui and Rhys home, telling them she'd clean up. They seemed happy at that. When they were gone Cheryl walked towards the office door and knocked gently.
"Brendan?" She called softly. No reply. "Bren, its Cheryl. Everyone's gone home now. Are you gonna come out?"
Eventually Cheryl heard movement from behind the door. Brendan opened it, his eyes looking a little bleary. He'd definitely been drinking. "Let's get home then, yeah?" He said casually, brushing past Cheryl towards the stairs. Cheryl followed, feeling very confused. She decided it would be best not to push the issue when Brendan was in this state but come tomorrow morning she was going to demand answers, whether Brendan was willing to tell her the truth or not…
