OMG its been a while since I updated. Been suffering some serious writers block but I'm back now. Yaya
Disclaimer: I do not own Firebreather
" I call shot gun," Kenny yelled as he jumped into Alex's Mustang F100 2012 edition, commonly known as the " Bumblebee," from Transformers. Which he seemed humbly embarrassed about when Kenny noted such, running around the car as if it were a transformer.
" That movie is like a year old," Alex noted rubbing the back of his head.
" Yes, but the car is still a noted classic," Kenny said touching the yellow paint job. Isabel tried not to look fazed. She raised an eyebrow and examined the car with crossed arms.
" Not stuck up huh?" She said giving him her famous look and smiling.
" No, never," he said.
She ended up getting the front seat after all. After Alex struck Kenny with the " ladies first" line and promised to let him have front seat on the way back.
The car roared as he cranked it up and the sound of Gorillaz's " Kids with Guns," blared through the speaks. Isabel turned to Alex an eyebrow raised.
" You don't like Gorillaz?"
Kenny singing in the back paused and replied, " Don't let Isabel fool you, she loves this band just as much as I do. Tell him Izzi."
" I love his band just as much as Kenny does," Isabel replied sarcastally. Alex smiled.
" Well in that case, lets cut the shatter and turn the speakers up."
They arrived at Alex's house just as the last song of the album was ending. His home like his car was extravagant. Three stories, two stone pillows held the balcony on the top floor in place, while a path of white cement led curved into the driveway. His house reminded Isabel of the ones she frequently saw on MTV held only by the biggest celebrities.
Approaching the gate Alex pressed a button, a voice arose from the intercom.
" Howdy who!" The intercom said. " How do you do?"
" Its me Dad," Alex replied his face flushing with embarrassment.
" That's not the pass code."
" Dad not now?" Alex replied glancing back at Isabel, she pressed her hand to her mouth.
" No password, no entry, I'm the sentry."
" Kazam," Alex mumbled.
" What can't hear you!"
" Kazam," he said louder.
The gate opened then.
Kenny laughed. " Dude what was that about?"
" That's Dad," Alex said, " He's kinda wacky…so don't let him weird you out."
" That's all our parents," Isabel blurted out.
Alex grinned. "Well at least I'm not alone on that one."
His father greeted them when they finally pulled into the garage. He helped Isabel from the car first, nudging Alex in the ribs playfully when she stepped out, a gesture Isabel knew Alex hoped she didn't see, but she did. He grinned when he finally saw Kenny step out as excited a two year old in a candy factory.
" It's not often Alex has guest," his Dad rambled leading them into the house. " You can call me Eddy. Never Mr. Brisk, Mr. Brisk was my father. Got it."
" Got it," Isabel and Kenny replied at the same time. He led them through the house, giving them a quick tour of the living room where they were to watch movies, complete with an in wall TV, couch for five, a popcorn and drink maker, and hook game. Then the bathroom which was a room all its own, the white room which was a room composed entirely of white which they were forbidden to enter under any circumstances, and finally Alex's room.
" He can show you guys that on his own." Eddy said. " I'm going to finish cooking the snacks."
" Snacks?" Kenny exclaimed.
" Yes because we can't have wrestling and movies without sugar coated food stuffs."
" Your Dad is awesome," Kenny replied once Eddy had disappeared down the hall.
Alex opened his mouth, only to have his father yell, " I know!" before he could say anything.
Shaking his head and smiling he opened his room door and led Kenny and Isabel inside.
" My humble abode," he said turning on the lights.
His room was in comparison to the rest of the house fairly small. Big enough for a full sized bed, a love seat couch on the far right wall, a desk and book shelf stacked to its hedges with books. Posters lined the painted blue walls, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Megan Fox, Lord of the Rings, and an assortment of magazine, internet and book cut outs of Kaiju sightings and research. Against his desk was a shatter of papers and maps, and sketches. Although unlike Duncan's room, it was actually clean.
" Told Dad I wanted the smallest room, less to clean," he said before she could ask.
" These?" Isabel asked touching the Kaiju pictures and articles on the wall. They reminded her of her own walls. She touched another article on the wall, a newspaper this time, the headline reading, Couple Spots Water Kaiju in Private Lake."
" I get them every so often," he said touching the wall next to her hand. A moment of silence past between them then, in which Isabel continued to examine his walls, trying not to think about how close he was standing, or how much he smelled like sea salt and Axe.
" So," he said, " What's up with you and that Duncan guy?" Alex asked shyly. " Are you two best friends or what?"
" Just friends," Isabel said quickly drawing into herself. " I wouldn't say best friends." Isabel admitted.
" Oh," Alex mumbled, " Well you two seem really close. When I first met him I thought you two were dating."
" Haven't you heard," Isabel said turning and leaning against his desk, " Duncan's dating the hottest girl in school. Jenna." She was surprised by how bitter she sounded about the whole situation, when she meant to sound sarcastic and witty. She hoped Alex didn't notice.
" She is pretty hot," Alex replied. Isabel glared at him. He grinned, then looked down rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. " I meant, sure she's pretty but there are other pretty girls. You make it sound like she's the only one."
The only one as far as Duncan is concerned…Isabel thought.
"So you like him? Duncan I mean?" Alex asked curiously.
" What?" Isabel snapped.
" Sorry. Was that to personal?" He asked rubbing the back of his head. "I need to stop doing that."
Isabel lowered her head, until her bangs fell in her face. " That obvious?"
" So you do?" Alex asked his voice dropping slightly until it sounded almost to Isabel's ears like disappointment.
She nodded, find no real reason to lie, when the unsettling truth stuck upon her skin like glue. Even if she could lie, she found that in the face of Alex the boy she'd just met, barely knew, she could not. He made her want to tell him everything, her secrets, her inner feelings, her hidden intentions. It made her feel uneasy.
" Oh," he said suddenly surprised.
" Is that all you know how to say?" Isabel snapped her head still down, eyes focused on her shoes. She wanted to in all honestly cry. Even though she knew crying over something so small would be stupid. Besides she had no intention of crying in front of Alex, no matter how much she wanted too.
You're pretty," he said suddenly. She glanced up then, surprised. He was looking straight at her, grinning like he'd just won a prize at the fair. " I mean to tell you that earlier, before I made you upset."
" What is up with you?" Isabel asked softly, glaring at him through her lashes. Her hearted pounded in her chest, hard and heavy, threatening to burst out of her chest and spill onto to the ground in a bloody mess.
" His loss," Alex continued as if not hearing her. Isabel started to ask him what he meant, but he folded his arms behind his head and walked to the door, "Are you hungry? Cause I'm hungry." Then without looking back walked down the hall, leaving her in his room alone.
She followed minutes later, composing herself before walking into the living room where the guys were already seated, popcorn in their laps, breaded hotdogs on one side, buffalo wings and pizza on the other, along with an assortment of sodas, candy and favored kool-aids.
" Alex said you were busy with girl stuff," Eddy said lifting an coke in the air.
" Come on Isabel, sit already, we can't dig in until you do," Kenny said tapping the space between himself and Alex. Isabel eyed he space warily, determining in that quick second the amount of space she would actually have for herself. True being stuck in between two guys on movie night was the usual procedure, and she normally did not have a problem with it, but her heart was still pounding from her exchange with Alex.
Alex on the other hand, seemed to her, to not have been effected at all. He glanced over at her and smiled, before beckoning her to hurry up and sit so he could finally eat.
She sat reluctantly in-between Alex and Kenny, and they all cheered, before sitting the bucket on her lap for easy access and turning on the TV.
" Hell yeah," Kenny yelled as the fighters began their testosterone and steroid filled fight to the death. Isabel rolled her eyes and sighed through the entire showing, finding no real enjoyment in watching men roll around on a mat with each other. If anything it was a bit disturbing. But Kenny was enjoying himself, and for once wasn't more concerned with whether she was having fun, than he was with having fun himself.
He needed this, Isabel realized as he watched him sloppily eat popcorn. He had been the one taking the most of her heat, when all he was trying to do was keep the peace and keep her happy at the same time. Honestly, she should have forgotten about Duncan and grabbed what was sitting in front of her a long time ago, but she found she couldn't. While Kenny was an awesome loyal best friend, she couldn't see him as anything more. He knew it as well, that they could or probably never would be together as anything more than friends.
She glanced over at Alex, a small glance, barely noticeable. He'd made it quite evident that he was very observant. He too was deeply engrossed in the fighting, almost zombie like as the lights of the screen flashed across his pale face.
He'd in the time between their talking, removed his ponytail, so that his hair lay neatly on his shoulders, like a waterfall of black. She looked away quickly; suddenly afraid he would notice and say something.
" Sick dude," Kenny cheered as they both clapped hands above Isabel's head. " Last quarter."
" More dogs boys?" Eddy asked standing, then smiling he cleared his throat, "Excuse me, boys and girl."
" I'm good Dad."
" Same here Mr. Eddy," Kenny said. " Isabel?"
" Fine," she said. " Thanks."
She'd hadn't eaten much to begin with, to busy thinking about what was said, and more importantly what wasn't. She'd never been so confused in her life, and she'd been confused a lot lately. What she was confused about, also confused her, adding to the already huge ball of confusion she was currently facing. Her father, would chuckle and call it the prongs of being a teenager, dealing with ups and downs, make up and break ups, but somehow her teenage life seemed so much more difficult.
The matches ended just past ten, and Isabel found herself cleaning up before anyone else could, not out of need to get out of the Alex's house, but the need to not be left alone with him again. He was one of major reasons she was confused.
No more words, she realized, needed to be said that didn't begin with good and bye.
" Happy Helper," Alex's dad cheered as Isabel began to pile plate, upon plate on top of each other in her own arms. She staggered.
" Hey don't hurt yourself," Alex said reaching over to help her. He grabbed her arm. His flesh was cold and moist, smooth like a snake, similar, Isabel realized to Duncan's only not as rough. He grabbed the plates in one move, before she could say anything then trailed to the kitchen.
She followed behind, her skin burning where his hand had laid, much like dry ice to flesh. She glanced down to where his hand once was, there was an imprint of his hand, like a tattoo upon her flesh, marking her.
A burning tattoo…
" Izzy," Kenny said, breaking her concentration. She glanced down at him.
" What Kenny?" She said a little to sharply.
" Time to go, Alex is taking us home."
She pushed her hair back with one hand, " Yes, sure."
He'd snuck out to see Jenna, had every intention of seeing Jenna, hitting her window with a couple of rocks before she opened it. He needed to hear her voice, needed to settle the growing doubt.
So why was he standing outside of Isabel's house?
He had no real reasonable excuse. Maybe he wanted to make sure she was ok? That everything between the two of them was ok before he went to speak to Jenna? He didn't really know. Couldn't really say? Only that some force had brought him to Isabel's house. Instinct perhaps?
He posted himself in the tree beside her house, reasoning with himself his reasons for sitting in front of Isabel's house instead of Jenna's.
She was still out with Alex and Kenny that fact was appropriate by her darkened window, and the lamp of the living room which her mom left on for Isabel.
You can't have both…
I don't want both, he thought rubbing the back of his head. I want Jenna…Jenna…
A car pulled into Isabel's driveway just as Duncan was about to push himself from the tree. It was Alex returning Isabel home, without Kenny. Isabel stepped from the car before Alex could open the door. He followed after her, beckoning her to slow down.
"I'm starting to get the feeling that you didn't have fun," Alex said.
" What gave you that idea?" Isabel asked.
" You were silent the whole ride here, and you didn't seem the least bit interested during the match."
"Kenny had fun that's all that matters." Isabel replied walking forward. He grabbed her arm and she spun as if burned, looking from him to her arm then back at him. She looked as if she wanted to slap him.
" It's not," he said. " All that matters. You should enjoy what you do to."
" Yes, well I don't," she snapped pulling her arm away.
" Let me fix that," Alex replied smiling shyly. Isabel raised one eyebrow at him, then turned away placing her hand on her door knob.
" Goodnight Alex," she said.
" See you tomorrow Isabel," he said, it was a statement not a question, as if he was completely sure he would see Isabel. She paused then turned to him, her eyes searching his.
" We'll see," she said finally turning back around and walking into her home. Duncan watched from his perch as Alex slightly cheered balling his hands into fist and throwing them into the air, before placing them causually in his pocket and heading back to his car, pausing before opening the door completely.
" How long do you plan to sit up there?" He asked out loud.
Duncan stirred, suddenly surprised.
" I know you're up there Duncan," Alex said turning to face the tree, his hands still in his pockets. Duncan dropped then, landing squarely on his feet, hands in his pockets as well he stepped into the dim light of the street.
" Yo," he said trying to hide the surprise in his voice. The scent was in the air again, the scent of a challenge.
" Midnight stroll?" Alex asked.
" Something like that," Duncan replied.
" You should have come tonight," Alex said.
" Not my scene," Duncan said aloofly refusing to take his eyes off Alex.
Alex shrugged. " Your loss bro. So you and Isabel, what's the deal?"
" What do you mean?" Duncan asked.
" I mean, do you like her or what? She claims you don't, but I don't know man it kinda seems like you do."
" I don't," Duncan growled. " I'm with Jenna. Isabel's just a good friend."
Alex grinned, as if hearing that was the best news he'd gotten in a long time. Duncan could not say why but seeing him grin made the impulse to punch him just as strong.
" Protective I get it man," Alex said. Duncan shook his head. No he did not get it. " Like a big brother."
" Ah yeah," Duncan found himself saying.
Alex held up both hands in mock surrender, " Don't worry bro, I just want to get to know her better. I've never met another girl like her."
There it was again, Duncan realized that scent that feeling of being challenged, overwhelmed. This time he stepped forward pushing his own scent, his own intentions. Alex didn't seem fazed.
" So its ok right?" Alex asked rubbing the back of his neck nervously. " That I get to know her better?"
" Why are you asking me?"
" Bro code," Alex said.
I'm not your bro, Duncan thought.
" Got to make sure,' Alex continued. " Meant to ask Kenny to, but I never got the chance."
" Yeah, whatever," Duncan said trying his best to sound as nonchalant about the matter as possible.
" I can promise you I won't go throwing her into any pools," Alex said laughing, then held out his hand.
" Deal."
Duncan eyed his hand wearily, debating whether or not he wanted to shake Alex's hand. Honestly he had no real reason not to, Isabel wasn't his girlfriend, he had no real right to protect her as anything more than just a friend. Still…shaking his hand felt as if he was giving away something important, something he could never get back.
He hesitantly shook Alex's hand, feeling a shock run through his arm the moment he did. Alex's skin was as cold as his own and soft to the touch like the skin of a snake. He stared at their joined hands for a long moment, comparing the skins. While his was orange, and bright, Alex's was pale almost white, like the skin of an albino.
Alex pulled back first. " Your hands are cold bro," he said.
" Yeah," Duncan said pulling his jacket tighter around himself, " Kinda cold out."
" Well I got to get home," Alex said. " You need a ride."
" Actually I think I'll just walk," Duncan said. " My house is not far from here."
" Suit yourself," Alex said shrugging. " See you later man."
" Yeah," said Duncan shaking the feeling of pins and needles running up his arm. He started to walk away and unknown feeling boiling in his gut, before once again turning to glance back at Alex, only to realize Alex had turned as well. The shared at each other for a long moment, faces unreadable, threats filling the air between them, pushing like imaginary walls against one another. Yet neither said a word. Then as if on cue they both turned, and walked in their opposite directions, two objects of equal force unable to move the other.
Another Chapter done. Can't wait to move further into the drama between Alex, Isabel and Duncan, oh and we can't forget Jenna and Kenny. Jams about to go down!
Feedback appreciated!