A/N: Thank you to those who commented on the prologue, I appreciate you letting me know your thoughts.
Chapter ONE:
Jeff heaved another sigh. Reaching for the briefcase on the seat beside him, he pulled his collar up against the elements and opened the car door, trudgnig his way across the driveway to the back door.
The wind whistled and his long wool coat billowed behind him. He was tired, and barely registered the flashing of the car lights; signifying the automatic lock had been activated behind him.
He reached the door with a shiver and then stepped into the warmth of the well lit porch. Placing his briefcase on the floor, he savoured the smell of food that dominated the warm, fragrant air. He couldn't help but notice his stomach was growling.
"Home," he acknowledged, glancing at his watch. "Just in time for supper."
Before he reached the kitchen, he could hear the familiar sounds of his two youngest sons bickering; 'typical' he thought with a rueful sparkle in his eye. Despite the sadness he knew this weekend held in store for him, an infectious smile tickled at his lips. He stepped inside and the chorus of greetings that followed just widened his smile, causing him to shake his head. Gordon and Alan immediately skidded to a halt in front of him, leaving Scott to finish setting the dinner table himself.
"Dad, you're home!" Alan smiled excitedly, as Jeff responded by reaching forward to ruffle his hair.
"Yes son, I'm home." He grinned at the expectation in the young blonde boy's eyes as he turned his attention to ruffling Gordon's hair too. "Scott," he nodded, acknowledging his eldest son's presence. "Don't let me interrupt you boys," he signalled to the table, encouraging them to go back to their task.
Leaving his sons to set the table, he headed over to where his mother was juggling pots and pans in order to cook supper. She seemed flustered enough and, not wanting to disturb her, he waited until she'd finished stirring the saucepan in front of her.
"Mother," he greeted, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek.
"You're late Son," she commented, sympathy held in her eyes. "It looks mighty cold out there. This'll warm you up…" she gestured to the pan on the stove and Jeff inhaled the source of the scents that filled the room.
"Hmm, it smells gorgeous Mom," he grinned as he leant back against one of the work surfaces. "How have things been?" he kept a watchful eye on Alan and Gordon's arguing as he spoke.
"Fine Jeff, fine," she smiled with that sparkle in her eyes that she always seemed to have. "You worry too much when you're away; it's only been three days! Scott's been looking at options for when he finishes college already. He's been talking about the Air Force again; I think he has a short list that he wants you to look at with him. Virgil's hardly been here all week," she raised her eyebrows pointedly, her eyes reiterating the disapproval in her tone. "He's spent most evening's round at Sofia's, coming in at all hours!" she exclaimed. Jeff frowned as he began munching on a piece of bread off the counter. She reached a hand out and slapped him lightly on the wrist. "You'll ruin your appetite," she removed the bread basket, holding it out to her eldest grandson. "Scott, put this on the table will you," she requested as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"Sure Grandma," the older boy replied, taking the basket from her and turning back to pacifying his squabbling brothers.
"He's been a good boy this week," she said fondly. Jeff's smile widened with pride as his mother went on.
"Running all his brothers around so as I didn't have to drive in this horrible weather," she joined Jeff and leant back against the counter. "I don't know what I would have done without him. Thank goodness he's on vacation, especially with Virgil hardly being here and John not being well."
"John's not well?" Jeff frowned at her, "You never said when I called." He didn't bother trying to explain to his mother that this week was hardly a 'vacation' for Scott and that he should have been studying.
"Yes well, I didn't want you to worry. He's fine Jeff, he's justcoming down with a cold."
When it became apparent that her words hadn't done much in the way of satisfying her son's concern, she went on. "Gordon's already had it, you know that. Well, I knew as soon as he started with the headache that it'd be the same thing," she shook her head in exasperation. "It'll be Alan next, just wait and see."
"Is Alan okay?" Jeff's frown only deepened.
"Oh yes, he's fine for now. Though I'll warn you, a couple of his friends are going mini-karting next weekend and he'll want to go Jeff. You know what he's like."
Jeff nodded, "Yes I do, I'll talk to him about it later." Spotting a bubbling pan, he turned back to his mother "Erm, Mom, should that pan be doing that?" he pointed at the object.
"Hmm?" she casually looked across to the stove as the pan began to boil over. "Oh my!" she exclaimed as she tended to it.
Feeling redundant, Jeff turned back to where Scott had managed to get Gordon and Alan to compromise, "Where are Virgil and John?"
Scott looked up to his father, ""Upstairs, John's in his room, he was working on an assignment but he had a headache, so I told him to give it a rest. Virgil's up in his room too, he was on his computer earlier. He's practically been glued to the screen since he got in." Scott glared at his father under raised eyebrows. "He's talking to Sofia," he finished with a snarl.
It seemed Scott wasn't that impressed with his brother, which surprised Jeff. The relationship between his two eldest sons was so close.
"You don't like her much do you?" Jeff observed, ironically noting the understatement in his own words.
"She's using him but he can't see it," Scott shook his head in frustration and continued. "She's not a very nice person Dad; you'd see that if you met her. She's only interested in the money."
"Virgil's a sensible boy Scott, I'm sure he wouldn't be spending so much time with her if she wasn't a nice person," Jeff trusted his second eldest son's judgement; Virgil was usually a good judge of character.A more likely thought struck him. "I suppose Virgil's been spending a lot of time with this Sofia, huh?"
Scott, as always, saw straight through him, "I'm not jealous!" he denied quickly. "Dad, I'm not!" he scowled. "I just don't want to see him get hurt that's all."
"I'm sure Virgil can look after himself son," Jeff assured him. "Have you spoken to him about your … concerns?" Scott glared up at his father once more, eliciting a grin. "I thought so. And I don't suppose he took it too well."
Scott shrugged, playing with the edge of the table cloth. "He thinks I'm interfering."
Jeff nodded, he was about to reply when his mother called, "Jeff dear, will you go and fetch John and Virgil for me?" She turned to Scott, "Where have Alan and Gordon gone now? They just can't sit still for more than two minutes!"
"They've just gone to wash their hands Grandma," Scott smiled at her.
"Well I suggest you do the same young man," she nodded at Scott before turning back to her stove.
Jeff and Scott exchanged glances before the older man swiped a piece of bread off the table and headed upstairs. He shook his head at Scott's concern; it was an unfortunate fact that as his sons got older they would gain their own individual lifestyles. He reached John's door; his boys were growing up and sad as that fact was, he had to accept it.
"John, how are you feeling son?" he said as he perched on the bed alongside his blonde son. John looked up from where he was laying on his front, reading a book, only for his father to remove it and place it on the bedside table.
"Dad!" he sat up smiling. "When did you get back?" he asked, suddenly energetic.
"Oh about …" Jeff glanced at this watch. "About half an hour ago. Grandma says you're not feeling too well, what's up?" he reached a hand up to John's brow and frowned. "You feel a bit hot."
"I'm okay," John shrugged before he sniffled. "I think I'm getting that flu thing Gordon had just before his birthday."
"Well, supper's going to be ready in a minute," Jeff reached out to the book his blonde son had been reading. "After you've eaten, I think maybe you should have an early night. Get plenty of rest." When John nodded in agreement, he studied the book, "The solar system, huh?"
John nodded, "Yeah, I'm reading it for a science project about the planets."
"Really?" Jeff raised his eyebrows. "Well, as interesting as I can see that is. I think you'd better leave it for tonight. If you're not feeling too good, just get a good nights rest."
John nodded obediently.
"Good," Jeff nodded. "Now why don't you wash your hands and go down for supper. I'm going to get Virgil and then I'll be right down."
"Sure Dad," John replied as Jeff got to his feet and made his way across the hall to Virgil's room.
Jeff could hear the laughing and soft giggling from through the door and hesitated for a few minutes wondering whether he'd be interrupting. He pushed open the door and poked his head round, hoping Virgil would be pleased to see him after his trip. "Hi son," he greeted as he walked in.
"Oh, hi Dad." Virgil barely registered his father's presence. "No, it's just my Dad." Virgil turned back to the screen and Jeff raised his eyebrows at the use of the word 'just' as he perched on Virgil's bed. "Sure, I told you I'll be there. I know, and I know how important it is to you."
"Virgil," Jeff waited patiently for his son's full attention.
"Listen, I've got to go. I'll talk to you online again later," he finished quickly, becoming aware that his father's patience was running out. Jeff couldn't hear Sofia's reply on the screen of the laptop computer, judging by the way Virgil coloured though; he assumed that was a good thing. "Yeah, you too Honey, Virgil was replying. "No, you disconnect," he said coyly. "No, you."
Jeff heard his mother shout that supper was ready again in the background. "I'll disconnect in a minute," he growled to himself as Virgil turned to him.
"I don't appreciate being ignored," he said sternly, watching Virgil hide from his gaze.
"I'm sorry Dad, I was just…" Virgil tried to explain.
"I know exactly what you were just doing." Jeff interrupted him, the insinuation that he'd heard the entire conversation caused Virgil to colour again and he looked away embarrassed. "Don't do it again."
"Yes Sir," came the respectful reply.
"Supper's ready. Now, let's go and get some before your brothers eat it all," Virgil nodded and they both got to their feet. As he walked past the computer, Jeff spied something that caused him to sigh in aggravation, "Virgil, what have I told you about having drinks around this computer?"
The second eldest of his sons was a gifted musician, but was not well known for his elegance.
"Do you have any idea how much that computer cost?" Jeff continued.
"I know Dad," Virgil protested as they made their way down the stairs. "I'm real careful when I have it there, but I'll move it away when I come back up."
"You make sure you do," Jeff directed as they took their seats at the table.
The bustle of supper time was in full flow as the family sat down together for the first time in three days. Conversation was centred on the boys' activities and how they'd been behaving in his absence. Jeff smiled contentedly as they all battled to gain those few extra seconds to tell him about their achievements.
John was noticeably quiet as he picked at his food and Virgil didn't say much either, though it was rather obvious his thoughts were somewhere entirely different.
"You okay over there John?" Jeff enquired, the young blonde boy's head shot up at the mention of his name.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah Dad. I'm just not very hungry that's all," he shrugged, pushing his plate away. "It's really nice Grandma, it's just I'm not feeling too good."
"Try and eat a little more Sweetie," Grandma encouraged, reaching out to ruffle his blonde locks. "You need to keep your strength up."
"Your Grandmother's right John," Jeff looked across at him with nothing but concern.
"I'll eat it, if Johnny doesn't want it!" Gordon piped up with a huge grin. When Scott looked at him with disapproval, Gordon frowned. "What?" he exclaimed, staring at his big brother. "Grandma always says we shouldn't waste food and that people starve in other countries."
"Yeah Scott. Didn't you know that?" Alan was jumping to his partner in crime's defence. "Grandma says we should appreciate what we have," the young blonde smiled smugly before he thought the theory through. He turned to his copper haired brother, leaning forward to get Gordon's attention. Scott had solved their dispute by having them sit on either side of their father and now he was the only obstruction between them. "Gordy, I think I'd better eat it. You might get too heavy and sink," Alan said thoughtfully.
"That's so stupid!" Gordon replied. "You don't sink because you're too heavy."
"Yes you do. Heavy things sink," Alan frowned petulantly at his brother. "You're the one that's stupid!" he pouted.
"Now boys, don't argue," Jeff Tracy's stern voice cut the argument straight down the middle. "And don't call each other names."
Scott sighed and turned his attention to Virgil, who seemed to be in a world of his own. Scott stared at him waiting for him to look up but Virgil was too deep in thought to notice his brother. Scott had a good idea just what was on his brother's mind too. Getting tired of waiting, Scott kicked him under the table. "Don't jump to my aid or anything Virg," he muttered sarcastically.
"Hmm?" Virgil turned to face him, ignoring the comment and looking up at their father, "Dad, I'm going to leave in about half an hour to pick Sofia up. Where are your car keys?" Scott rolled his eyes, but luckily no-one noticed.
Jeff opened his mouth to reply but Gordon beat him to it. "His car keys," he frowned. "What do you want his car keys for?"
Virgil looked down on his brother and said in the most condescending manner, "Oh gee, I don't know… Maybe because I'm taking his car tonight."
"Virgil, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," Grandma tutted and shook her head.
"Yeah Grandma," Virgil got to his feet, pecking her on the cheek as he took his plate across to the sink. "But it's the funniest," he leant against one of the work surfaces and grinned.
"Cheek like that young man and you'll be doing the washing up tonight, before you go anywhere!" She waggled a finger at him, a gentle smirk loitering beneath the surface, "Funniest indeed!"
"Grandma, it's John's turn to do the washing up tonight," Alan protested; worried the task would be laid at his feet. "Me and Gordy did it last night."
"Gordon and I, Alan," Grandma corrected as she began clearing the table. She piled plates on top of each other, only briefly stopping to raise her hand to John's brow. "I think you'd better get off to bed young man," she frowned down at him. "I'm sure I can manage tonight."
"I'll help you Grandma," Scott smiled at her. Virgil rolled his eyes at his older brother. The unusual sense of unease between the eldest two, subtle as it was, didn't go unnoticed by Jeff.
"Thank you Scott," the elderly lady replied. "But don't think I don't know what you're up to either! I hate to disappoint you son but…" she lowered her tone to a near whisper, "there isn't any apple pie left tonight." Virgil grinned and raised a pointed eyebrow at Scott's scowl.
"Virgil can't take your car, Dad." Gordon was turning to his father, a troubled expression on his face, "You said you'd take me swimming."
"He said I could have the car to take Sofia out, first!" Virgil exclaimed, suddenly not so relaxed in his stance against the work surface.
"No, he said he'd take me swimming first!" Gordon replied, crossly. "Daddy you promised," he whined. "Besides, it was my birthday," he fluttered his eyelashes.
"Yeah it was your birthday," Virgil replied, the emphasis on the past tense. "It's not your birthday today Gordon. Stop being such an idiot!"
"Virgil!" Jeff interrupted. "Don't call your brother names, now apologise."
"I'm sorry," Virgil stated without meaning. "But Dad," he continued to whine in the same way Gordon had. "You promised me first!" Virgil's eyes widened at the thought of not being able to take his father's prestigious Bugatti. Jeff let his head drop into his hands as his second eldest and second youngest sons began to argue. "Sofia thinks she's going to get a ride in a Bugatti, I promised her Father!"
"I bet you did," Scott muttered under his breath. Unfortunately, Virgil turned angry eyes in his brother's direction and Scott realised that perhaps the comment had been a little louder than he'd intended.
"Boys, boys!" Jeff held his hands up in surrender. "Stop!" He closed his eyes, "I did promise Gordon on his birthday that I'd take him to his swimming practice tonight. I'm sorry Virgil, I forgot."
"Told you so," Gordon muttered, folded his arms smugly.
"Aw but Dad…" Virgil's eyes grew wide with disappointment. "Sofia's expecting me to pick her up in something nice, we're …" he trailed off. "I promised her Dad! I need that car tonight," his tone of voice demonstrated his desperation to impress.
Jeff glanced across at Scott's expression before replying. The eldest of his sons raised his eyebrows as if Virgil had just confirmed what he'd said earlier.
"Son," Jeff began patiently. "I'm sure Sofia's spending time with you, not the car. She'll understand," one look at Scott's raised eyebrows, suggested he doubted that but nonetheless he went on. "Material things like the car aren't important as long as you're together."
"But Dad, she deserves it. She deserves the best, and only the best," that was a line he'd had drilled into him and Scott couldn't keep his scoff silent at the comment. He disguised as best as he could, by feigning a sudden fit of coughing.
"Well, I'm sure she sees that she's got the best already. In having you for her boyfriend Son," Jeff emphasised . He'd ignored Gordon's smug grin to begin with, but now he turned a disapproving glance on his second youngest that wiped the expression away.
"Well the way that storms coming in," Grandma was complaining from the sink. "None of you should be going anywhere," she shook her head and continued to wash up. "Scott, use that dish cloth," she directed; Scott dutifully got to his feet and began drying the dishes.
"Dad you don't understand. I promised her and you always said we shouldn't go back on our promises," Virgil was whining again. "If I can't take that car tonight Father, I might as well not go at all."
"Now, come on Virgil," Jeff was bartering. "There's no need to be like that. I'll drop you off wherever you need to go when I take Gordon. You just call your friend and tell her you'll be a little late. I'll pick you up later."
Virgil sighed mournfully, before shaking his head. "No," he ground out. "It's okay Dad. I'll go and cancel."
"I'm sorry Son, I completely forgot that I'd promised Gordon," Jeff watched Virgil's mood turn sour with regret and couldn't help feeling a little guilty himself. "I could still take you," he added again.
"No, it's fine. Thanks Dad, but I'd better go and break the bad news," Virgil traipsed out of the room leaving Gordon grinning satisfactorily but a sad, guilty atmosphere in his wake.
"I'm going to bed," John announced as he followed his brother upstairs.
"I'll get my stuff ready Dad," a gleeful Gordon announced before he pushed himself away from the table and ran after his two elder brothers.
With a heavy sigh, Jeff got to his feet. "Y'know I'm not the only one with a car in this household," he said as he passed a few glasses to his mother to wash up.
Scott turned to his father, aghast at the insinuation. "Oh come on Dad, you know no one drives that car but me," he shrugged as he reached to put crockery in a cupboard. "Besides, I doubt my old Porsche is in the same class as your Bugatti. Something tells me Sofia is expecting something with a bit more of a price tag."
"Come on Scott, I wouldn't ask normally but you saw how disappointed he was," Jeff took the dried plates off his son and began putting them away. "It'd mean a lot to him, and it'd mean a lot to me too. I feel terrible that I let him down. It's my fault."
"Then why don't I take Gordon to practice and then Virg can still have your car?" Scott raised an eyebrow expectant of a reply from his father. Instead, it came from Alan who still sat at the table.
"Scott, Gordon's going to a state team practice. He doesn't want to be seen in that old rust bucket at the best of times but in front of his team mates …" he trailed off with a shake of the head.
Scott narrowed his eyes and turned to face his youngest brother. "What did you just say…" he threatened. Alan merely laughed and waved an unflustered hand at his brother before walking away.
"Scott," Jeff placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'd appreciate it and I know Virgil would."
"Aw but Dad…"
"Don't whine Scott, I get enough of that from your brothers," Jeff nearly snapped. "If you can't do it for Virgil, do it for me."
Scott looked at his father indecisively, "Oh okay, but I swear I know where every single mark on that car is. If it comes back with so much as an extra scratch on the paintwork, so help me I'll…."
"Okay Scott," Jeff smiled at him approvingly. "I get the picture, now why don't you go and tell him the good news."
"Sure," Scott nodded, as he headed upstairs to his brother's room.
"Have you seen the weather?" Jeff turned to his mother at her loud tut of disapproval. "Jeff, I don't thing you should be driving in those conditions, let alone Virgil. Why, he hasn't had his licence that long."
"Mother you worry too much," Jeff told her as he peered out the window at the lashings of rain that hit the window, and the howling wind. "I'm a good driver and Virgil's more than competent. Besides, he needs to be able to drive in all conditions; you can't shy away from doing things just because you don't like it."
"Hmm, well I don't think anyone should be going anywhere tonight! He's certainly devoted to be going all that way in this weather!" She bristled as she scrubbed at her pans in the sink. "What that boy sees in that girl, is beyond me."
"You know what Mom, I'm beginning to think I agree with you and I haven't even met her yet." Jeff growled out.
XxxxX
"I meant what I said you know," Scott heard her say through the door. The female voice had caused him to hesitate; it wasn't something you heard much in the Tracy household anymore. "I'm really looking forward to tonight; it's going to be the best night ever. I can't wait to put our plans into action," she giggled excitedly.
"I know. Me neither," Scott heard his brother reply. "But there's been a bit of a set back."
"A set back?" Scott frowned at Sofia's incredulous screech in reply. So different to the eager, energised tones he had heard a few minutes ago. "What kind of set back? You've got the car haven't you?"
He practically heard his brother wince before replying, "Kind of." Scott frowned; Virgil was avoiding telling her the truth, for fear of her reply he assumed.
"Kind of? How can you 'kind of' have it? You either have or you haven't," she snapped back. "Look, Virgil," she said slyly, her voice taking on a new, softer approach. "If you've changed your mind about me …"
"No!" Virgil denied. Scott shook his head at how desperate his younger brother was coming across. "No that's not it! I…I haven't, I just… Well, I'm going to be a bit late that's all."
"How late?" Sofia's reply came callously. "You'd better not get here too late, or else I might find someone else," she teased. "Though I guess turning up in style will make up for it," her tone changed to an impulsive one as the conversation moved back to the car again. Through the door, Scott was just shaking his head; he had to inch closer as her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's not like you're going to let me down, Virgin."
"Sofia, I told you not to call me that." Scott was amazed at the sudden anger in his brother's tone. Virgil was well known for being tolerant; he was particularly hard for the younger two to antagonise and rarely lost his temper.
"Why? You going to prove me wrong?" her sultry reply had Scott's eyebrows rise and his head nearly hit the door.
"That thing you did the other night…" Virgil's reply was low too, soft and filled with aspiration. Scott listened more out of an inability to stop, than any great need to hear. However, he suddenly saw where Virgil's big attraction in Sofia stemmed from.
"You want me to do it again?" she asked, seductively. "Imagine that in your Dad's car, it'd be like…" Scott had heard enough and walked in without so much as a knock.
"Scott!" Virgil exclaimed as he stood up in a fluster. As he did, his arm knocked against the glass of water on his desk. It toppled drunkenly from side to side and water sloshed onto the desk.
As if it was all happening in slow motion, the glass lurched away from the computer and then back again, coming down on the keypad of the compact device and expelling the remains of its contents. "Damnit!" Virgil cursed as he reached for the glass and quickly righted it.
"If that's Scott, I'll talk to you late…" was the computers distorted response as the screen went black and the fan that had been whirring in the background stopped with a whine.
"Damnit Scott!" Virgil shouted angrily at his brother, as he tipped the computer forward. "Now, look what you made me do!"
"I'm sorry," Scott said in the face of his brother's fury. "But you know you shouldn't have drinks round it for this very reason!" He rushed to help Virgil as he attempted to drain the water out of the main console.
"Yeah, and you should have knocked! That was a private conversation!" Virgil returned as he placed the computer back down on the desk. Having shaken it on its side, he presumed that no more water could come out of it and was frantically pressing the start up key.
His prayers that the computer would spring back to life were not answered.
"Is it working?" Scott peered over his shoulder. Relations with his brother weren't exactly at an all time high. He feared Virgil's new interest in girls was replacing the time they had once spent together. He had spent many a night wondering if the same thing had happened when he was Virgil's age; not quite old enough to be an adult yet not young enough to be classed as a teenager anymore.
"Does it look like it's working?" Virgil growled. He was gesturing at the blank screen, whilst Scott grabbed a nearby box of tissues and began mopping up the mess on the desk. After several failed attempts at starting it up, Virgil sat on his bed. Dropping his head to his hands and weaving his fingers through his mass of chestnut curls. "Oh God," he sighed in despair. "What am I going to do? Dad's going to kill me!"
"Calm down," Scott sat beside him, he secretly sympathised with his brother. In typical Tracy style, when one thing went wrong, everything else followed. "We'll leave it to dry out and try again in the morning. Maybe there's some water inside it, it might need time to evaporate," Scott suggested. "We'll get John to take a look at it."
Virgil nervously glanced at his watch. "How long do you think it's been since I did it, maybe it'll start now," he reached forward to the desk, but Scott grabbed his shoulder.
"Just leave it, okay? Forget about it," Scott shrugged. "Put it over there near the heater, not too close. We'll try it again in the morning," he felt Virgil slump beside him miserably. "If the worst happens and it's broken; we'll get you another one."
"Dad's going to hit the roof," Virgil growled out, mournfully. "He told me to move that glass earlier and I didn't," he ran a hand over his head. "And Sofia'll think I disconnected on her!"
Scott scowled at the name; he forced himself to be civil where she was concerned. She had already been the cause of one discussion too many between him and his closest brother. His opinion of her wasn't going to change, despite Virgil's attempts at convincing him. "What did you say to her, about the car?" he played dumb.
"I didn't really get round to telling her that I can't go, Scott she really wants me to take her out in that car," the younger boy groaned. "If I don't turn up in with the Bugatti tonight, I'm finished."
"Virg, you're young and naïve. Don't you think she's a bit…" Scott searched for the right word cautiously. "Money orientated. If she really cared about you, it wouldn't matter how you got to the party so long as you were there."
"I'm not naïve! She does care about me!" Virgil frowned at him, jumping to his girlfriends defence. "She just deserves the better things in life. She loves me," Scott raised his eyebrows and Virgil added quickly, "She does, she said so."
"She might have said it, but did she mean it?" Scott suggested as gently as he felt he could. It was painfully obvious to him that the relationship Sofia and Virgil had wasn't based on love. However deep down inside, he knew he'd had to learn the hard way and so would Virgil. He just wished his brother had picked a better person to learn with. He often wondered how, if he'd been around to advise his brother, maybe things would be different.
"Of course she did!" Virgil exclaimed in reply. "She wouldn't say it if she didn't. Don't start with me Scott; I'm not in the mood. You're just jealous because I'm dating an older woman and you haven't got anyone!"
"Woman!" Scott scoffed. "She's not even my age!"
"She's a woman Scott, trust me," Scott raised his eyes at that comment, not needing to wonder just what his brother meant.
Before Sofia had come along, they had never been anything other than open with one another. Virgil knew everything about him and he trusted him implicitly, with details of every aspect of his life. Scott had always assumed his brother felt the same. He hoped that at such a crucial time in Virgil's journey into adulthood, he wouldn't hesitate to confide in him. However, of late, Virgil had been increasingly secretive and the knowledge that Scott didn't approve of his relationship with Sofia had built a brick wall between them that, try as they might, they just couldn't ignore.
"What do you mean by that?" Scott frowned, not so much surprised by the comment but the secrecy it was laced with.
"Nothing," Virgil shrugged. "Just that she's a lady, she knows how to behave and she wouldn't lie to me."
"Virgil," Scott began. He fully understood what his brother had really meant, and refused to accept the lame excuse he'd just been given. "You know, you're just a kid. You're blinded by what you think is love, it's not; its just lust. Don't go doing anything you're going to regret."
"Don't patronise me, I'm not a kid, Scott!" Virgil argued back. "And I know what I'm doing."
The way Virgil said that, Scott had to wonder just what his brother had been getting up to this last week. Spending all those evenings round at Sofia's. "Have you slept with her?" he asked bluntly.
"Scott!" Scott was surprised when Virgil blushed, embarrassed by the question. The younger boy turned angry eyes on his brother. "That's none of your damned business!" he shook his head. "What happens between me and Sofia, stays between me and Sofia."
The very idea that Scott expected him to reveal all, made Virgil angry. After Scott had left for college, Virgil had been truly alone. He'd lost his best friend and despite Scott's regular 'phone calls, he still felt there was a huge gap in his life. Sofia had filled the void; she'd occupied him and she'd been someone to talk to. Now, as far as Virgil saw it, Scott thought he could just waltz back home and everything would go back to the way it was before.
Some of the things Scott had said about her were true; he had to admit to that, there was no denying it.
She could be selfish and she could be demanding, but she made up for that by treating him like an adult.
To begin with, maybe she'd been a distraction from life at home without Scott. However, he'd soon slipped into relying on her; needing her to make him feel complete. She was a breath of fresh air to him; the complete opposite of his father's moral preaching's and everything he wasn't supposed to look for in a girlfriend. Yet, a part of him enjoyed the attention she brought him and the fact the she was a little errant, made her even more alluring.
Scott was frankly surprised at the ferocity of the reply that came. A couple of months ago, he'd have got a very different answer and Virgil certainly wouldn't have felt embarrassed.
"Virgil, just …" Scott sighed. "Just use your head, not your…." he trailed off, leaving Virgil to complete that sentence himself. Honestly, he was a little upset that Virgil wasn't going to confide in him, but he still felt it was his place to provide a warning. "Be careful."
"What did you come up here for anyway?" Virgil didn't want to discuss the matter with his older brother.
"I was going to say, if it'd help you out with Sofia…" he swallowed. "You could borrow my car tonight."
Virgil's head snapped up in surprise. "Really?" he asked incredulously.
The reason Scott Tracy didn't have a steady girlfriend right now, was simply because he was in love already….
With his car.
Hell would freeze over whilst simultaneously becoming infested with flying pigs before Scott would hand over the keys to his pride and joy.
"Yeah," Scott nodded, smiling at the surprise and relief in Virgil's voice. "But on one condition; you bring it back with so much as a scratch Virgil and I'll make your life a living hell," he threatened, deadly serious.
Virgil hesitated for a second, thinking this offer through. Part of him knew how much Scott meant that threat and another part was wondering if an old Porsche would be good enough for Sofia. Eventually he smirked; it would have to do and besides, it wasn't like Porsche's were two a penny.
He refrained from voicing his concerns, knowing that the smallest insinuation that Scott's car wasn't good enough, would cause him to revoke the offer. He knew how much the car meant to Scott and the hours of hard work they'd both put in on it, was testament to Scott's devotion. It might've been the oldest car in their street, but it was in better condition than the majority of more prestigious cars that lined the other driveways. And there wasn't the smallest nick in the paintwork.
"Thanks Scott!" Virgil bounced with energy, he leant forward and placed an over emphasised, sloppy kiss on his brother's face. "You're the best! I'll be really careful with it, I promise."
"Yuck!" Scott wiped a hand across his face, "You'd better! Otherwise, I might be taking your car for a spin when you finally get it!" He warned as he got to his feet, "Over a nice high cliff!"
The subject of Virgil's car was an ongoing joke in the household. Though their father had told them they would all get the same contribution towards their first cars. Virgil had decided that a car wasn't enough. Never into anything small, he'd set his sights on a big, four wheeled drive truck. Scott had been horrified at the thought of the monstrosity sat on the driveway alongside his precious Porsche, and had entered into a debate with his father about where it was to be housed.
Luckily, despite the fact it was supposed to be ready by Christmas, the vehicle still hadn't arrived. So despite gaining his licence, Virgil remained transport-less and still had to rely on others to go where he wanted. Much to his aggravation.
Virgil was too relieved to be listening to his brother's threats. Instead, he was rummaging through his wardrobe, fishing out clothes. He'd already stripped his top off by the time Scott reached the door.
"I'll be downstairs when you're ready." Scott smiled.
At least he was leaving a happier Virgil behind, he thought to himself. He only hoped it stayed that way.