Disclaimer: I don't own Four Brothers, but the plot and original characters are mine.
Chapter 25:
As I slipped into the foyer of the bathroom, my only thought was that I was going to see Anna. Anna banana, my best friend and secret lover… oh boy, my mother must have slipped something into my food. Shit, what if she really did and it's not me trying to cover up for my wandering thoughts with another crazy thought? That would for sure ruin the plan. But knowing Liam, he has a back up plan, just in case I was drugged. But I mean, if she did drug me then I would act all loopy and all my mother's friends would think I really am crazy and she'd have a lot to answer for. Yes, she's sadistic enough to do it, but smart enough to rethink it. I think I get that from her. I mean, I don't think it's a bad thing if you use it for something good, right?
Enough! Anna, in the bathroom and please, brain, try not to cause the vocal chords to squeal. Squealing would be bad. Squealing would attract attention. Oh man, I'm so gonna squeal. So much so that I'm practically squealing right now. No, really, I have to stop. It's enough. I have to relax. Act natural. I can't attract attention or all of this will go to hell, and I can't let that happen, I can? I'd be getting all excited to go back to my room and, to be frank with myself, that's pretty lame.
All right, the bathroom. There it is. Take a deep breath. Okay, did that. Now go inside. Legs are walking, door is opening, squeal is on my lips and there she is. It's Anna. I open my lips to let out my burst of excitement but Anna slaps her hand on my mouth to shut me up.
"Meg, I know you're gonna squeal, but don't," Anna hissed, voicing the reason she covered my mouth. Man, she really is my best friend. All I could do at the moment was nod my head. Well, I was thinking about licking her hand, but honestly, I find that inappropriate and not very debutante of me. When I'm in character, I'm in character. Maybe I'll move to Hollywood with Jack when we're married. He does want to be in a band and I suppose that's a good place for him to start. The truth is, we could do that in New York, but we can't really live here. As much as I love it, I can't be near my mother and she's not leaving the City any time soon. Shoot, focus. I have to focus. The plan. Find out what the plan is a go back to the table.
Slowly, Anna took her hand off my mouth. Luckily, my squealing moment was over otherwise there would be trouble. "Anna, hey, I would go through all the dramatics, but I really don't have time," I said quickly.
"Oh thank God your brain has returned," Anna said softly. "Anyway, here's the deal. Matty's in the boy's bathroom and I'm here. Sander, Liam and Fox are scattered around the room serving things while Jack is pretending to be an escort. Seth is outside in the getaway car. All you have to do is wait for Jack to come around and pick you up. He's disguised pretty well if I do say so myself, so don't be surprised if he looks weird. He's devised some sort of secret phrase so that you'll know it's him. He said you would understand.
"After he gives you the signal, you walk over to your mother and father and tell them you're leaving. We've prepped your father already so he knows exactly what to do. You're mother won't be able to contest and then Jack will sweep you away before your mother can get out of the chair. All your stuff is packed and in the car," Anna said as quietly as she could manage.
"Okay, but once my mother realizes what's going on, she'll jump up and stop me with her oversized goons who are blocking the doors," I said nervously. I hope Anna's got a good plan for that one.
"Yes, well, Matty is going to change into a waiter's outfit. Him, Fox, Sander and Liam are going to block your mother's goons. They have them marked and they're ready. I'm also going to change and distract your mother. Once you, Jack and Seth are out of here, we'll follow, no problem," Anan said rapidly.
"But what if you guys don't make it out?" I asked, my voice cracking with nerves. I won't have my friends in danger. Especially since I know they'll be in danger because my mother's a psychopath.
"Oh, we will. We called in a little muscle. Aside from that, we have an attorney," Anna said smugly.
"What? Dear God, you lot thought this through well, didn't you," I said, feeling very proud of my friends at the moment. "But wait, who's your attorney and what muscle?" I asked curiously. I didn't have any more friends in Detroit who could be apart of this getaway scheme.
"Simple," Anna chimed smugly. "Evelyn, Bobby, Jeremiah and Angel Mercer. Evelyn's your attorney and well, you do know how much muscle is on your brothers, don't you?" she asked innocently.
"Anna, you're a genius," I gushed.
"Well, I really can't take the credit," Anna said flippantly. "It was Liam. He's the master planner, you know that," she said fondly. They were so dating. I'd have to grill her on that once I was free.
"Yes, I do know that," I said as my mind began to wander to all the wonderful times we had gotten bored and had Liam plan us some insanely fun escapades. Oh crap. Stop it brain, I need to focus. Just for a little while. Yes, focus. I need to go out there, explain the plan for Gryff and make it happen. I wonder how different Jack's going to look. I know Anna's make up talents are really, really good, but could she really make my Jackie unrecognizable to me?
"Excellent. Now get. I have to go change," Anna commanded.
"I'm going," I said as I turned to leave. "Oh and Anna," I said softly as I paused, just as my hands reached out to open the bathroom door.
"Hm?" Anna asked as she began to slide off her shoes so she could change.
"Thanks a lot. For all this," I said before biting my lower lip.
"What are sisters for?" Anna asked.
"You know what? I love my extended, surrogate family," I said, allowing a bright smile to appear on my face as I looked over my shoulder to show Anna how happy I was.
"So do I, darling," Anna said, smiling back. "Now shoo!" she exclaimed, which caused me to scurry out of the room. I have such a big family. The Mercers, Seth, Anna, Fox, Matt, Sander, Liam… And I have the best boyfriend. I know the past few months have sucked, but what I get at the end of the road, well, it's so worth it.
"And that's it?" Gryff asked me as he glided across the dance floor with me in tow.
"And that's it," I echoed as I tried to enjoy this last dance with Gryff.
"It seems pretty simple to me," Gryff said uncertainly.
"Yes, but the simplest plans are usually the ones that go off without a hitch. We know that much from experience," I said softly as Gryff pulled me close to him after a rather dizzying twirl.
"Yes, but the best laid plans of mice and men…" Gryff trailed off.
"I know about the best laid plans of mice and men, but there was a female involved in all the planning, and nothing's been said of plans with female supervision, now has there?" I asked smugly.
"I suppose you're right," Gryff said with a sigh. "So what do you want me to do?" he asked, changing the subject ever so tactfully.
"I want you to not stand around and wait for my mother to rain down on you. The minute you see Jack pulling me away, I want you to take the back exit out. Slip out and go home. When you get home go straight to your mother. Tell her some of my old friends from Detroit came and took me away. Embellish on how distraught you are. Maybe even add some fake tears or something. Make it look like you had absolutely no idea. If you don't have a clue, not that you did, my mother can't chase after you. You just have to get to your mother first," I said quickly.
"Does living in Detroit do this to you?" Gryff asked after a moment of silent dancing.
"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"I dunno. This all seems pretty intense. It seems like your stay away from home has made you more… cunning, I suppose," Gryff stated.
"No, I guess we all have our own special talents and when we got together, we shared our talents and now, collectively, we all think in a similar fashion. I get any and all of my scheming skills from Liam and I get my charm from Anna. I get my fast-talking from Evelyn and my quick temper from Bobby. I get my passion from Jack and I get my technological knowledge from Seth. It's really one big circle. We all help each other in some manner or another," I said thoughtfully.
"I wish I had that," Gryff mumbled.
"I was blessed with that, but it's not too late for you to have it also, you know," I replied. "I mean, when high school ends, I know you'll go off and do great things and have amazing friends. You'll forget all about me and about all of this and you'll have your own little think tank group of friends," I said kindly.
"Where do you get that?" Gryff asked suddenly.
"Get what?" I asked, my nose scrunching up with wonder. I wish he would stop talking in riddles like this. It's getting so confusing.
"You're ability to convince people that it will all be okay. This overwhelming sense of 'just relax and let it wash over you because it's going to happen whether you want it to or not. And when it does happen, you pick up the piece and go off to make those pieces into something better,'" Gryff said.
"Well, I don't know if I got that from anyone. I think I forced myself into that frame of mind when my mother locked me," I replied softly.
"Either way, I like it," Gryff said with a shrug. "But just so you know, I'll never forget you, or tonight. I don't think I could if I tried," he added.
"Stop flirting. I already found the love of my life," I teased. He knew I was joking. That's why I like Gryff. He might have been uptight and less friendly only a few months ago, before I went back to Detroit to take care of Jack, but he's loosened up since then. I think he knows how I'm feeling to a certain extent and because of that, he can be happy for me, even if he doesn't fully understand.
"Right, well, I hope I have the same kind of good fortune that you had with finding Jack," Gryff replied.
"Hear, hear!" I exclaimed, causing Gryff to laugh. His laugher only stopped when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me," the brown haired boy said politely. "May I cut in?" he asked. Gryff threw me a cautious look but I just nodded. Yeah, he was on the road to big things.
"Love you Gryff. Good luck," I said softly as I squeezed his shoulder. If I hugged him it would be too conspicuous.
"The same and more to you," Gryff said with a kind smile as he handed me over to Mr. Mystery.
"Hello, my name is Johnny," the brunette said.
"It's nice to meet you Johnny. I'm Megan Steel. What's you're family name?" I asked politely, yet absently, just as I'd been taught to do. Manners were everything to my mother. But then again, so were a lot of things.
"Castle," the boy replied shortly. My eyes widened in shock as I looked up into my partner's eyes. Could it be?
"Johnny Castle?" I asked, my voice shaky as I licked my lower lip anxiously.
"That's right," he replied as he pulled me as close as he could without drawing too much attention.
"So, Johnny, is there something you want to tell me?" I questioned. I knew it was Jack. It had to be. At first I didn't see it but now that he's given me that name, everything's fallen into place. I could just see his stormy eyes through the fringe of his hair and feel the familiar scars on his palms.
"Mmhm," he hummed into my ear, his deep, melodious voice soothing my frazzled, excited insides. "Nobody puts baby in the corner. Especially not my baby."
A/N: That's right.
Love and Luck,
Gaby