"It is because of that I worry about you being close to him. What's to say that you won't tell him to kill the president and have him leave clues all over that we had something related to the scene?" Callahan urged, cupping his face. Brittany fell silent, her eyes narrowing as if realizing something.
"I…understand father. It would seem that I have been overstepping and overindulgent with my games." Her tone dropping which lightly unnerved Callahan. "However that doesn't mean I'll stop meeting him regardless of your words. You know that we need him." The air turned taut between the two, Callahan at a loss for words while Brittany with her soft smile seemed to relish her small victory.
"It would seem that you understand it however don't make me repeat myself." Callahan got a nod from Brittany before he left her room. 'Sometimes her erratic actions can surprise even me from time to time.' He sighed, locking the door behind him. Brittany watched the image of her father disappear before shifting her focus to her phone.
[{Brittany: Could we meet?}]
[{Andrew: Where and when?}]
Andrew replied almost immediately as if anticipating her message.
[{Brittany: I'll be coming over to your place. I want to meet your family.After all you have yet to introduce me to them and yet we're dating.}]
Ending the call, she threw her phone to the side, recalling her father's words. 'I guess I have been getting a bit too careless as of late. With Andrew, he seems to have this certainty in his eyes, as if everything is fixed and he is waiting for it to happen.'
She made her way to the head to toe mirror in her closet which had her clothes piling on the cusp of spilling out. 'Looks like I too have to change with how I handle such an enigma like him.' She mused, holding her hair up as she looked into her eyes.
. . .
"Why does Brittany have to come over? We're still trying to process what happened to Lara and yet here you are, inviting women who have no idea what's going on in. Sometimes I wonder what truly goes on in your head." Kevin berated Andrew, his figure slumped in the sofa while Clara, though busy with lunch had an air of grief clinging to her.
"Come on Kevin, we have to look on the positives here. You should be happy for Andrew able to interact with others and even managed to catch a girl for himself." Clara said as she brought the meal to the dining table.
*Ding*
Andrew moved to the door, his motions collected before his return was with the subject of Kevin's passive anger. "Hello Miss Clara, Kevin." Brittany flashed an ear to ear smile, Clara reciprocated while Kevin drudged his body to the table, a frown on his face.
"It's nice that you were able to come over Brittany. You know I was always curious on who Andrew had managed to attract given his peculiar past." Clara didn't have to look too long at Brittany to tell that she was from a well off family. She had already heard Brittany's car parked in the driveway and a quick peek was more than enough to tell it wasn't something that came off as regular.
"There's something about Andrew that I'm sure yourself you can't name that just pulls me to him is all." Brittany said as Andrew began to serve them. His movements as if rehearsed for countless times. Clara gave a nod after Andrew had served her, Brittany donning her smile Kevin looked at the meal presented to him with a neutral line.
"I don't get the appeal with Andrew? Is this a girl thing because I don't get what you would find attractive in Andrew. His silence doesn't help his case." Kevin shot up, his gaze locking with Brittany who was about to dine. "It's because of that that intrigued me about him. And after I got to know him, there was a treasure trove of things that clicked between the two of us. Not that you could relate."
Her last statement deepening Kevin's frown. "Quite the talker. Women.' Clara instantly felt the tight tension between Brittany and Kevin while Andrew ate as if it didn't concern him. "So Brittany, I hope you don't mind me asking but how did the two of you meet?" Clara's question followed with a nervous chuckle.
"Funny thing about that, it was Andrew who took the initiative with that. It was after a game tennis that we met. He gave me some pointers which turned out to be a massive help and from there we kept on talking before getting where we are at the moment." Clara furrowed a brow, unsure of whether she heard Andrew being the one who took the initiative. 'I mean she is pretty and has a good background. Besides she's rather gentle as well.'
Clara's glance drifted to Kevin, unsure of why he was being so difficult for no reason. 'Don't tell me this is about his jealousy of Andrew. I thought we resolved this but…' The sounds of cutlery scraping plates filled the air before Andrew spoke up. "Kevin, wouldn't it be better for you to be more accommodating to Brittany?"
Kevin's jaw tightened, his fist balling. 'Because you're definitely the most friendly person on this planet.' He mused as he cleaned his plate. "By the way, what ever happened to Adrian? I heard that he was involved in that illicit race and later found battered. You were his girlfriend back then so why didn't you look into that but rather cling to Andrew? What's to say that you won't leave him and go for another guy that crosses your vision?"
Brittany's smile faltered before a chuckle escaped her lips. "I was no longer in a relationship with Adrian by the time the race happened. As for his affairs, it made no sense for me to be so nosy and bother him in such a difficult time." Her hands placing down her fork as Andrew was now taking away the dishes.
'It looks like Kevin has it out for Andrew in particular. I knew that he was working with Connor from Maya but now I see why he would want to see Andrew locked up. His state of pathetic state of jealousy is nothing short of disgusting.' Brittany on her face still wore her smile as she took a bird's sip of her water. Kevin on the other hand didn't have a nice picture of Brittany either. 'Just some entitled brat who's treating Andrew as nothing more than a trick till she grows bored. How hasn't he found it odd for a person like Brittany to be dating him?'
The air turned silent, Clara the only one who seemed out of her place with her repetitive tapping. "How about we talk about something else? Brittany, I heard that you managed to win in the school tournament. How was it like?" Clara shot up. "Oh yeah, as much as I would like to give myself credit for my hard work, had it not been for Andrew's tips, I'm not sure if I would have managed to secure the victory."
Brittany turned to face Kevin, her smile poisonously sweet. "Kevin, I wonder what club you're in to be in the festival tournament. You should know how difficult it is to get good in such sports." Kevin let out a sigh. 'She wants to take it there, huh? Well game on bitch!' Kevin let out a short laugh, his hands placed on the table. "Although I do have to confess that I'm not in any club given my course, it would seem that your dearest wasn't in one either. It's fine for him to be lacking in certain aspects. He can't be perfect like we all want him to be."
Despite the laughs and smiles worn at the table, the atmosphere was anything but light and Clara felt it in full force. 'These two still have the nerve to be acting like this. Sure from Kevin but I didn't think that Brittany would be this easy to trigger.' Clara looked at Andrew who had yet to contribute to the back and forth. "I don't need him to be perfect, I just need him to be what I want him to be."
Her words serving as fuel for Kevin who let out a deep chuckle. "Now I'm starting to see why you would be interested in Andrew. I understand his submissive side could be a hard temptation to ignore but I do have to tell you that what you two have isn't love. It isn't a master and servant dynamic." A smug resting on Kevin's face. "Oh, since when did you become the master of giving relationship tips. Because when Andrew talks about you, he does't say much about you. Other than being a slob and lounging with no aim in life."
Kevin stole a glance at Andrew, his gaze hostile before looking back at Brittany. "I'm unsure of why you would bother yourself with a boy from humble beginnings. I'm certain that people like Adrian would be more of your taste." Brittany watched Kevin rant away, in her mind her response forming. 'Looks like he's getting a bit too cocky for his own good, unsure of who he's facing.'
Brittany tilted her head, her teeth flashing. "Is this why Lara left? I heard on the news that she refused to come back here is because of a dysfunctional relationship and now I'm seeing it. With a selfish brother, I would rather live in the streets than be with you. All you speak of Kevin stems from jealousy and it shows."
Her words making Clara shoot up, her face stern. "It would seem that it's best to end the conversation there, Brittany, it's been nice to have you over but could I ask you to leave?" Her tone unnervingly calm which creeped Kevin out. "I'm so sorry for overstepping Miss Clara." Brittany turned her head to face Andrew. "You wouldn't mind showing me the way out dear?" Andrew rose helping Brittany to the door.
"You didn't bother butting in? What kind of image are you presenting to Clara? A boyfriend who doesn't bother saving her girlfriend is what!" The two now outside and standing away from her car which would attract glances from passers-by. "I knew you would be fine. After all it seemed you knew which buttons to press albeit a bit too late."
His words felt like an analysis of her performance which stretched her smile. "Andrew, you don't mind going for a drive, right? I want to pick your minds, see why you are the way you are." Her figure leaning close to his, enough for their breathes to mix. Andrew gestured at the car, Brittany letting a small laugh leave her lips as she kissed him.
The car sprang to life and it wasn't before the two left the premise. Inside the house however wasn't as light.
. . .
"I can't believe I'm saying it but she's right. You're letting your jealousy of Andrew cloud your vision! What were you thinking by provoking her? What were you trying to achieve Kevin?" Clara asked, her voice now raised with her hands slammed on the table. The sounds of the car leaving the driveway background noise to her.
"Mom! I was just trying to-" Clara cut her off with a deep sigh. "When Andrew gets back, I'm expecting the two of you to get to the bottom of this as grown adults. You were never like this back then, the two of you got along just fine but as of late, the tension between you two is suffocating." Kevin rose to his feet, holding his ground. "Maybe back then he was still human. He laughed with me, cried with me and we would spend quality time with each other as friends but that's not what I feel from Andrew, if that even is him. NO! That's not him but rather an impostor of him, don't you find it odd how there are no faults with him?!"