Thanks for the reviews guys! Much appreciated. :)
(Oh, and one more note, I'm actually posting this story somewhere else under the name of Storm, so if anyone sees it, don't worry, I'm not plagarising. lol)
Jeff looked at his watch again as he approached the small café Rhiannon worked in. One thirty exactly, he grinned to himself, amazed that for the first time in his life he was on time for something. Matt would be proud...well he would be, if they were actually speaking to one another. His smile faltered as he remembered the real reason he was here.
Coming to a halt in front of the cafe, he saw Rhiannon taking a seat by the window. He passed his eyes over her again, considering that she was quite pretty when her expression was unguarded. Dark mahogany hair contrasted with her creamy skin, pointed features made her look delicate, almost pixie- like, but it was her large, emerald green eyes that had gotten to him. They were full of such haunted sadness and yearning, so different from Imogen's sparking hazel eyes that made him feel like he didn't have a care in the world. He saw Rhiannon take a sip of coffee and their eyes met, snapping Jeff back to reality and to his surprise, a wry smile passed over her face. He returned the smile shyly and came through the door. "You made it. Truly, wonders never cease." She feigned amazement and Jeff had to laugh as she checked her watch.
"Truly." He mimicked the tiny girl's Irish accent pitifully. She rolled her eyes and motioned for him to take a seat.
"C'mon boy. Let's just get this thing over with, shall we?" Jeff noticed that Rhiannon was looking around discreetly for something.
"What's wrong?" He asked, slightly concerned that she didn't want to be seen with him. She looked startled for a moment, then shook her head.
"Nothing. I just don't want my manager, Megan, eavesdropping. She has a thing about sticking her nose in other people's business."
"Which is why I'm here." Kylie told them with a grin as she approached the table and Rhiannon gave a small laugh.
"My hero." She stated wryly and Kylie rolled her eyes, before serving Jeff a quick wink.
"You should be careful with this one, hun. Her sense of humour often leaves something to be desired." She ignored the sharp look Rhiannon served her and kept her concentration on Jeff, who was trying not to laugh. "So, what can I get for you?"
After Kylie left them, Rhiannon sipped her water and looked back up at her new companion, who seemed a bit nervous. With a sigh, she decided to put him out of his misery and find out exactly what he wanted.
"You know, Jeff. I really thought that once my sister spread her wings and went her own way, I'd stop getting these admirers of hers coming to see me for advice on how to get her to go out with them." She said mildly and Jeff's head snapped up to view Rhiannon incredulously.
"What? That's not what I'm here for." He spluttered defensively and Rhiannon looked him over, hiding her amusement.
"Oh? Sorry, my mistake. Well then, what are you here for?" She asked in the same mild tone of voice and Jeff took a few moments to decide how to answer.
"Imogen is dating my brother Matt. I'm worried about him...well, I'm worried about both of them, to be honest. They're just not right for each other."
"And?" Rhiannon wasn't surprised, Imogen rarely dated anyone reliable.
"And? What do you mean 'And'? They're complete opposites, Rhiannon. They just don't...fit." He finished lamely with a shrug and Rhiannon took another long sip of water, as she considered her next question.
"Let me get this right Jeff. My sister, the ultimate party girl, is seeing someone who is settled, responsible and has a good work ethic? Because, honestly, that would be her opposite." She looked deeply into Jeff's eyes as he thought about what she'd said. He eventually conceded that she was right with a small nod and Rhiannon's heart leapt with relief.
"Hallelujah! There is a God after all." She laughed, raising her arms triumphantly into the air. Jeff gave her an injured look and Rhiannon sighed. "Look, I'm sorry Jeff, but Imogen is thirty years old. She also has a twelve, nearly thirteen-year-old daughter to think about. It's about time she started doing the responsible thing instead of acting first and thinking later."
"She and Matt just aren't right for each other, I'm telling you, you have to see them together to understand. He's changed since they've gotten together." He replied, crossing his arms stubbornly and Rhiannon became slightly concerned.
"Changed? How do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know, he's just not himself. I never see him anymore for one thing, and Dad hasn't heard from him for a couple of weeks, which is just not normal. And whenever I do see him, things are strained, he doesn't trust me around Imogen. He knew, before he asked her out, that I had feelings for her. After they got together I backed off and I told Matt that I would. But now he holds my feelings against me." Jeff sighed, unable to look at Rhiannon for fear of her reaction. When she didn't speak for a few moments, his anxiety got the better of him and he glanced up to see that her expression had gone blank.
"Ahem." Kylie placed Jeff's order in front of him and faced her friend. "I think you're scaring the poor boy here a bit." Rhiannon looked up at Kylie and the mask slipped off her face as she smiled, somewhat forcefully and Jeff rested his chin on his hand so as to observe Rhiannon more intently as she looked back to him.
"I'm sorry Jeff. I was just thinking about...well, you know." Kylie gave Rhian a quizzical look, before moving off to continue her work. "Jeff, the only thing I can really think to tell you would be to give them both some time and space...and maybe get yourself a girlfriend to put your brother's mind to rest."
"Is that it?" He asked, exasperated with her advice, and she raised an eyebrow at his tone. "Can't you at least speak to Imogen for me..."
"And tell her what, exactly?" Rhiannon snapped and Jeff threw up his hands in frustration.
"I don't know, you could find out why, whenever Matt's not around, she throws herself at me? Or maybe if you meet Matt, you could ask him why he hates me so much all of a sudden." Rhiannon's heart went out to Jeff as he slumped in his seat and stared despondently into his coffee.
"Believe me when I tell you that I would love to help you, Jeff, but I'm the last person Imogen would listen to. Although, maybe you could listen to me and take my advice. I have seen her do shit like this before, so many times, and it tears me to pieces. God, do you have any idea how many of her ex-boyfriends have come to me for counseling after their relationship has fallen through? Too many to count!" Rhiannon took a deep breath to calm down as Jeff was looking quite stricken at this point.
"If saving your relationship with Matt is your top priority, you need to do yourself a favour and stay the hell away from Imogen. She'll bring you both nothing but trouble and heartache. Please, don't let yourself be hurt like all the others." She stood, picking up her bag abruptly and Jeff raised his eyes to see Rhiannon looking like she was about to cry.
"I'm really sorry Rhiannon. I didn't realise." He sighed and she shook her head, attempting to smile.
"No, I know. And I'm sorry too. But maybe you can take comfort in the fact that I don't think she realises that she manipulates people so much. Everything's always come so easy to Imogen, she expects to always get what she wants. Besides, she needs people to like her and that's probably why she seems to come on so strong to you, when in fact she thinks she's only being friendly, if that makes sense. Just don't take her affection the wrong way, keep your distance and I'm sure everything will come good." She told him supportively and he nodded in understanding, looking out the window contemplatively as Rhiannon got back to work.