Huxley (part 9)
Riley felt like he had to do something. Ever since Dawn got raped she was scared to walk around in Sunnydale. She needed a break. His parents invitation came at exactly the right moment. They were curious to meet Dawn and he wanted them to meet her very much.
They were in her house, she didn't get out much these days. They were okay, eventhough they hadn't made love anymore after that time. But she felt safe in his arms. He was sitting on the bench, holding her, while they were watching a movie.
'Dawn?'
It was obvious in his voice that he wanted to ask her something serious, so she took the remote control and stopped the video. After that she turned over so she could see his eyes.
'Yeah?'
'I got a call from my parents today...they would love to meet you...so I was thinking...maybe we could both take a break and go to Huxley'
Her reaction made him smile. She loved the idea, and for the first time in a very long time her eyes became all sparkly again. This was exactly what she needed.
Holding hands they walked out of the airport. Outside his parents were waiting. His father, his mother and his younger brother. They all hugged Dawn and made her feel instantly welcome. He couldn't love his parents more than he did at that exact moment. The only thing that spoiled his happiness a bit was the look his younger brother had when he saw Dawn. It was lust. Obviously.
He thought it would fade, but after a couple of hours he still saw his brother looking at her that way. It made him furious, as well as insecure. He knew Dawn loved him, but Marc looked a lot like him, only he was nineteen. More Dawns age, he reluctantly admitted. Suddenly he felt old and not good enough. And when he saw Dawn acting nice to him he went all jealous, trying to find some clue that she liked Marc better than she liked him.
Dawn was outside, talking to Marc. He was nice to her, and she liked him, because he was Rileys brother. They were sitting on a bench and he told her stuff about Huxley and the farm. She giggled when she tried to picture Riley milking the cows and riding horses. She didn't notice the looks Marc was giving her.
'So...wanna ride horses with me tomorrowmorning?'
She hesitated. Maybe Riley would want to show her the environment, but Marc interrupted her thoughts.
'Riley will have to work all day tomorrow, helping on the farm. So you will be on your own all day, unless you want me to hang out with you'
She didn't see any harm in it, so when Riley asked her what she was going to do the next morning she said she would spend the day with Marc. She didn't notice the sudden harshness of his face, the cold way he commented on her plans.
That night, when she went to sleep, she walked over to his bedroom, for they always slept together. He stood in the doorway and told her to go to her own room. She didn't understand why, but when she asked him, he avoided her question. She thought maybe it had something to do with his parents. She knew they were religious, and probably they didn't approve of pre-marital sex. So she went up to the guestroom and fell asleep there.
Next morning he was already gone when she woke up. When she went downstairs to get breakfast she found only Marc sitting there.
'Am I late?'
Suddenly she felt uncomfortable. Why hadn't they woken her up? Marc smiled.
'My parents have been up since six o'clock, but it's okay. My mom wanted you to have a good nights rest'
She sat down at the kitchentable and took a sandwich from a plate. It was nine o'clock, so she overslept three hours. Why didn't Riley say something? He knew she hated the thought that she wouldn't fit in, and she had thought he would have filled her in on the rules around here.
'Where's Riley?'
Marc shrugged.
'Dunno'
He said, while pouring her a big glass of juice
'he was gone before mom and dad were even downstairs'
Marc smiled while they walked over to the horses. He knew his big brother was jealous of the attention Dawn was paying him, and it felt good. He never had any fights with his brother, but he had decided it was definitely worth to fight over this girl. From the moment he had laid his eyes on her he had known he wanted to have this girl. And he wasn't going to give up before he had her. There was something special about her, and when he thought of his brother who was able to kiss her, he got blinded with jealousy. Dawn had to be his. Even if that meant playing a dirty game.
They rode over beautiful hills and he showed her the whole farm, while telling her funny stories about what had happened here and there. Her laughter drove him insane, and as he casted a glance into the barn Riley had heard it too. They exchanged a quick look, and Marc knew Riley was insane with jealousy.
