Chapter 9
Calm Before the Storm
Kate
Johnny set the chair he'd been dragging down in the hall outside of the library—on the side of the doorway where it was obscured when the door was open. He pointed to the chair. "You sit there," he commanded, particularly struck by his clever ingenuity.
I protested. "Absolutely not! It's so wrong," I said quietly, but with adequate force.
"Kate," Johnny was equally hushed, but at the same time almost stern for Johnny. "It's very important that you hear this conversation."
I shook my head. Johnny narrowed his eyes. "I blame your ridiculous moral stipulations on Adrien. However, temptation will overcome," Johnny concluded. With that, he marched into the library where Rachel Harrington was sitting, alone and unsuspecting.
I made a move to vacate the premises. But temptation, it turned out, was something I wasn't adequately equipped to deal with at the moment. And I fell, as instructed, into Johnny's chair. I grabbed a magazine from the table beside me and set it open in my lap, in case anyone else decided to wander through this part of the house.
Inside, Johnny began abruptly: "What's your game?"
And Rachel floundered briefly: "My—I mean—what?"
But from there the conversation had a fascinating flow, and was possibly the most open interchange in this whole sordid history. See for yourself.
"Your game. Adrien," Johnny clarified.
"I think that would be rather obvious," Rachel replied, thoroughly recovered now. Her tone wasn't at all dismissive.
"Yes. Well, obviously you want a rich husband."
"There's nothing inherently wrong with that."
"Oh no, absolutely," Johnny agreed. "Though I doubt Adrien himself shares those sentiments."
"Oh, he doesn't." She was bordering on flippant now. Johnny must have given her a look, because she added, "Don't get me wrong, John Mansfield. I do want to like my husband."
"You mean that you like Adrien. I don't see what the two of you could possibly have in common."
"Nothing," Rachel said. "But you know it as well as I do—you can't help but like Adrien. He deserves it so much. Or maybe appreciate is a better word. You can't help but appreciate him."
"I'll allow it," Johnny said. "But since we're on the subject, what about Adrien? What kind of a deal is he getting out of this?"
"He gets to think he's in love with me, and vice versa." Again, a significant look must have been exchanged, because Rachel felt a need to further defend her position. "Look Johnny, I've been wonderful to him. And I have every intention to keep on being wonderful to him, at one extent or another, after we're married. He'll be happy."
"More or less," Johnny said, with obvious skepticism.
At this point, I was startled away from eavesdropping by the sound of footsteps tapping down the hallway. I quickly looked down at the article in my lap as the person approached. It was Scott Harrington.
For Johnny and Manda and even for Adrien, Scott has become something of a joke. They don't remember him; they only remember a caricature of what he was. But for me he's still vivid—flesh and blood and in all his glory that summer. No matter how deliriously happy I am with the way thing are now—and I am deliriously happy—I am never without regret, and that is Scott's fault. I know it couldn't have worked out with both Adrien and Scott. That would have been impossible. But it's like that Robert Front poem, you know, the two-roads-diverged-in-a-yellow-wood poem. The back of my mind will always wonder what my other road would have been like. I think I could have saved Scott.
"What are you reading?" Scott asked. Up till now we'd had a few paltry exchanges, but nothing substantial. I like to think that this episode in the hall was the first time that Scott and I really actually met.
"Um," I stuttered, flipping to the front of the magazine to see what I was reading. "Consumer Reports," I finished limply.
Scott gave me a strange look and opened his mouth to reply. He didn't get to though. Rachel's voice carried from the library.
"Well of course not. You're too Team Kate to be rooting for me."
And Johnny replied, "Kate? It has nothing to do with Kate. I've actually recently take up position on team Adrien."
I bit my lip as realization slowly dawned across Scott's face. "You're double-teaming my sister," he said, with a strange sort of awe.
"I'm reading Consumer Reports," I said nervously, realizing how weak of a defense that was.
Scott let out a sound somewhere in between a cough and a laugh. It seemed to express a mixture of surprise and amusement. There obviously wasn't a point in pressing the Consumer Reports thing.
"We have questions about her intentions," I told him.
Scott had overcome his shock by now, and he was grinning. I took that as a good sign. "Legitimate question, I'm sure," he said.
"Adrien takes care of us, you know. The least we can do is return the favor," I continued bravely.
Scott nodded with mock solemnity. "I'll leave you to it then," he said, and continued down the hall. I thought I knew where he was going.
A moment later, Johnny was strolling out of the library. Upon seeing me, he laughed, pulled me to my feet, and began pushing me down the hallway in front of him. "I knew you'd be there," he said matter-of-factly. "Temptation is a very powerful thing.
I made a noncommittal grunt and allowed him to continue, because I wanted to hear his analysis of his conversation with Rachel. "So she's not entirely heartless. I mean, she certainly doesn't love him or anything. But she likes him well enough, and that's something."
"And they'll be happy," I added hopefully.
"Well they can hardly be happy for ever with an arrangement like that, but I'm sure they'll both learn to live with the underlying level of discontent." I frowned and Johnny added, "You know, sitting back and watching Rachel do her thing is hardly going to win you your man, Kate Pierson. You have to fight back."
I knew that. But I told him I didn't know how to fight back. Johnny promised to coach me. Then he laughed maniacally and informed me that he'd just managed to finally trick me into admitting to actually want Adrien. I glowered, but didn't deny it. It was getting to the point, at that point, where denial would've been ridiculous.
We wandered down to the basement and settled onto the couch. Johnny turned on Fox News, merely for the purpose of offering me a hilariously snide running commentary about the foolishness of Bush and conservatives in general. I stretched out and laid my legs across his lap, and that's where we were when Adrien found us.
"I need to talk to you," Adrien said.
I looked at Adrien, and then at Johnny, and then at Adrien again. "Me or him?" I asked, point to his brother.
Adrien appeared to consider, and then he shrugged. "Whatever. Both." He paused to make a circling gesturing with his hands that encompassed both Johnny and I. "The packaged deal," he finished. I gingerly removed my legs from Johnny's lap and pulled them under me Indian-style, while Adrien sat down on a chair across from us.
He spoke primarily to me, despite the packaged deal remark. "Jess and Scott," he said.
I suddenly got that anxious feeling in my stomach that you get when you're nervous, or when you feel like something terrible is about to happen. I'd been figuring I would eventually have to hint at the Jess and Scott thing to Adrien. But not being sure how to approach the subject, I'd been avoiding it. However, it looked like Adrien had finally figured some things out for himself.
"How long has that been going on?" he asked incredulously. He seemed more struck by his staggering blindness than by the indiscretion itself. Johnny, instead of politely acting like he wasn't there, let out a sharp laugh while he continued to fix his eyes on the TV screen. Adrien's face fell momentarily and he glanced towards his brother. But then he turned back to me and waited for the answer to his question.
"Pretty much since the Harringtons showed up," I admitted, knowing that the next question would be why hadn't I told him? I didn't have a good answer for that.
But Adrien only nodded, gallantly refraining from steering his frustration towards me. He sat back in the chair and crossed his arms, appearing to be thinking things over. He finally concluded his thought process with this regretful pronouncement. "I am such an asshole," he sighed.
While it didn't seem so bad to call yourself an asshole, Johnny and I were both marginally surprised that Adrien would call anyone an asshole at all. I looked at Johnny, who looked at me then baited, "Somebody's a bad influence on you, little brother. And I don't think it's been Beautiful here."
Adrien's eyebrows rose in an expression that seemed to ask, "Why did I willingly agree to let you be a part of this conversation?" But he wisely refrained from voicing the question, thus saving himself from further sarcasm. He turned back to me
"I suppose I'll have to address this," he stated. He wasn't complaining. He was just making sure that I agreed. I nodded. It did seem like something needed to be addressed. Jess hadn't shown any signs, after all, of intending to break things off with Matthew Wright.
Johnny also offered his two cents. Putting on a foe accent, he chided, "That's right, old chap. Defend our sister's delicate honor. Unfortunately, I broke you dueling sword the last time this happened, so if will have to be the pistols. Tomorrow. At noon. Kate here will inform Scott of the time and place. If you're lucky, she'll even take a bullet for you.
Adrien blinked and Johnny laughed and then Adrien laughed too. And for the briefest moment, I caught a glimpse of what an amazing thing it would be if the three of us could ever be united, friends, all on the same side. It made me suddenly very sad, because it didn't seem possible that that would ever happen.
But the moment of camaraderie was lost when Jess bounded into the room and said, "Oh, you're all down here. How unlikely." She wrinkled her nose, then continued to Johnny, "Anyway, your boy Yates is here. He's talking to Manda, so you'd better go rescue him from that."
She left the room again and Johnny, grinning mischievously at Adrien and I, followed her out. Johnny had refused to disclose the actual date of his party to anyone, including me. But with Yates here, Adrien and I were both aware that the party was imminent, even at the door.
Contrary to popular belief, Johnny had gone to college, even graduated with a BS in Business Administration, which he subsequently decided not to do anything with. Anyway, during those years of relative usefulness, he'd met and later roomed with Don Yates.
They were still friends—and being that Yates was as vaguely productive as Johnny, Adrien had his suspicions that we were funding his flagrant lifestyle too. But Adrien never mentioned it to anyone but me, especially not to Mr. Mansfield who would've certainly put an end to it. It was if Adrien felt that having somehow failed Johnny as a brother, it was the least he could do to support the pseudo brother Johnny had replaced him with.
I wasn't sure who had failed who.
Adrien rose to his feet, but instead of trailing after his siblings, he crossed over and sat down beside me on the couch. Grabbing the remote, he began flipping through the channels. "And then there were two," he observed.
I bit my lip, suppressing a chuckle behind an only-almost-suppressed smile. "What?" Adrien asked, when he glanced over at me.
"You're funny," I answered.
Adrien laughed. "Not exactly what I was going for. But I'll take it." After another moment he added, "So it looks like the Johnny debacle is happening tonight."
"Looks like it," I agreed.
"Well then." Adrien gave up on the television and turned it off. He looked at me. "Let's get out of here."
Despite how much I liked the sound of that, I still eyed him skeptically. "You sure that's the wisest thing to do? Leaving the house to Johnny's devices? With no supervision at all?"
"He's twenty-four. He shouldn't need supervision," Adrien answered. "Besides, I don't really care right now. We never get a moments peace. I've barely talked to you for weeks. We need some Kate time."
And that was an offer I could hardly refuse.
But Rachel Harrington had different ideas.
- - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Disclaimer: Johnny's political views are not necessarily the political views of the author. I don't own "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.
That said: I'm sorry if this chapter seemed filler-ish to ya'll. It wasn't one I had planed. It just came to me. And at any rate, I think some marginally important progress was made: Rachel was further developed. Kate and Scott had there first official moment. And Adrien finally realized that Jess and Scott have been getting it on (Go Adrien!). Also, the chapter prolonged the time that Johnny Mansfield is with us, and you should all thank me for that (I've given up even trying to make you all like Adrien better. But I would like to point out that Johnny DOES have some serious character flaws: irresponsibility chief among them, and also he is way too hard on Adrien. I realize that you will all continue to love him despite this). The party will be next chapter however, and everyone will be in attendance. But I have NO idea who I want to write it: Adrien, Kate, or Scott. So any suggestions or even simply requests are welcome! In fact, I'm asking for them. Request! Suggestions! Review! Yay!
Huntress of the Stars: Lol. Well, at least since it's a Jane Austen book you know it ends happily (well, for some of the characters).
schokolade I love you for feeling sympathy for Adrien. I'm not evoking much of that. Also, I love you for reading the Shakespeare fic. I know it wasn't my greatest work. I actually started writing it way before I even posted it, and I got to the point where I just wanted to finish the damn thing, which is why the chapters kept getting shorter. Heh.
lee tea: It was Jill's idea for Johnny to call Kate beautiful, so you have her to thank for that :o) Kate and Adrien will be teaming back up soon, and it will get Rachel very worried….
fyre-anjel: Lol. Everyone has it in for Adrien. I think I might even have it in for him a little. There's just something so fun about making him suffer. But it's okay, cuz it'll all work out for him in the end.
slam a revolving door: Oh well. Secretly, I like Johnny better too. But don't tell anyone. Cuz I'm trying to get you all to root for Team Adrien!
Rhapsody's Song: Sometimes, I don't have the slightest idea what's going to happen next either. Like this chapter for instance. And the next one. I know that's encouraging :o)
NotraDamegirlie: Don't worry, I love you. I know, I know. Rachel has been way underdeveloped. But I really intend to work on her in the next few chapters, even starting her a little with her conversation with Johnny. It's hard because everyone's view of Rachel is so different: Kate's and Scott's and Adrien's. Actually, I wasn't sure Yates was going to make an appearance (he is so barely there even in the book). But since you mentioned him, here he is!
BreezyGirl: Yay! Somebody was feeling Adrien! I'm glad you liked the toenails line. I was particularly fond of that myself.
Ubi gaius: Yes, Adrien has feelings after all. Johnny surely does affect everyone, doesn't he? Love the boy.
BeyondtheSea: Thank you, I feel comforted. Lol. Yeah, maybe I should just keep reiterated that Adrien is hot.
Jill: Rachel and I are gradually coming to terms. Now I know her and Johnny's conversation laid the foundation for possible future intimacy, but don't get you hopes up just yet missy! I've been really thinking about this and I just don't see how it can work between them. First of all Johnny is too Team Kate (as Rachel so kindly pointed out for us) to concerned himself at all with Rachel. I really think he just sees himself as above all of it, because if he does want Rachel he really ought to just claim his territory right now and make this whole story never happen. Also, if Rachel really liked Johnny she could hardly make her infamous well-if-Johnny-kicks-off-at-least-you-get-his-inheritance quote to Adrien, which is precisely what rockets Adrien into his I-can't-believe-your-such-a-bitch rant and subsequent realization of his true amorous feeling for Kate. Actually, I've discovered I have a real problem, and that is that I really don't think that this story should end happily. For anyone. I think that no one should get anyone. But that can't happen because Jane Austen would have a fit. Also reviewers would have a fit. I think I'm just having a bitter moment. I'll get over it. Hey, so Adrien finally got a clue. What did you think of that? You've been mentioning his denseness. And hey, if there's an Adrien-Scott confrontation, who's perspective do you think would be better? Oh, and back to romantic writing abilities, I'll have you know that some people were all "it could've been more romantic" when Becka and Christian finally got their hook up. So you know, obviously I do struggle. And I forgot to talk about your wonderfully hilarious Fight Fair review when I was reviewing On Thin Ice, but I'll tackle that one when I get the next FF chapter done (which is entitled "All Bets Off" and that's as far as I've gotten as of now). For now just know that it was wonderful. And speaking of On Thin Ice, write more now! I need my Caleb fix!