Everything: A Mini-Series of Drabbles
Eavesdrop
Andrew rapped his knuckles on the counter over and over again, his other elbow on the counter with his chin propped up on his hand, deep in thought, eyes narrowed. He'd been that way for at least the past five minutes and it was finally getting on Darien's nerves.
"Drew! Enough!"
Andrew stopped tapping on the counter, the far off look still on his face.
"Are you planning on saying anything today, or should I just come back when you've decided to come out of your stupor?"
Andrew's eyes narrowed aggressively, fixing the angry expression on his best friend sitting across from him at the counter.
"This isn't a silly question you've asked me, Darien. I need to give it a lot of consideration from both sides before I give you my endorsement," Andrew sighed, as if it was perfectly obvious that he'd need time to think and Darien's behavior was exhaustingly childish.
Darien rolled his eyes, exasperated. "It's not that difficult, Drew. It's a yes or no question."
Andrew frowned. "Yes, because you coming here today to ask me whether or not it's time to propose to Serena is a very simple matter, really." He rolled his eyes just the same, and both men seemed increasingly annoyed and weary of one another's behavior.
Just then, their conversation was interrupted by a cacophony of laughter and chatter as the woman in question and her best friends slid through the sliding glass doors together, just like they'd always done over the last five years. Serena came over to plant a kiss on Darien's cheek and give Andrew a hug, then walked over to rejoin her friends at the booth they would usually sit at.
Andrew set to work on the usual for the girls, striking the conversation up with Darien once again in a hushed tone so only they would hear. "She's still in college, but she's not a teenager anymore, and you guys have been together for four years. I don't know if it's the best time, Dar, but it's definitely not a bad one, either. I think she's old enough at twenty, you've got five years on her, and after so many years together I'm sure she's good and ready for the idea of forever. The real question is, are you?"
Darien let the question sink in as he began to mill it over. In the silence, he could easily pick up Serena's voice as she chatted with the girls at the booth. He began to listen in, eavesdropping unintentionally as he heard her sigh.
"I don't know, Lita. Relationships definitely aren't easy, and finding the right person takes time. But when you find him, you'll know. There won't be a doubt in your mind," she explained. Darien could imagine her looking at his back lovingly at that very moment, feeling her gaze on him.
"I love everything about her, Drew. The way she talks, she makes me feel alive. Everything she does just turns me on. I can't imagine any possibility of my life without her in it."
Andrew looked up from the counter he'd begun to wipe down as per usual. He gave Darien a sobering look as he stopped the circular motion, standing up straight and tossing aside the dishrag.
"Well, Dar," he said, "I think you have your answer."