Accidents Happen

Mom and I had delved into conversation while Asher sat on the other side of the table, sipping his chocolate milk. The waiter had peered over his notebook dubiously while writing it down, as if he was making sure he heard right.

“Gideon?” Followed by the sound of a chair scraping against wooden floors stopped our talking.

“Asher?” Gideon replied, sounding confused. I looked between the pair.

“How do you know each other?” I asked.

“Oh, you know. School.” Asher replied, sounding like even he, himself, wasn’t convinced. I wasn’t either, but I didn’t want to ruin our dinner by making everyone angry at each other for one reason or another.

“What a small world.” A slightly familiar voice remarked, amused.

Behind Gideon was a man whose striking features caught the light, making the angles look even sharper. His emerald eyes sent chills down my spine. I couldn’t decide if they were kind like Gavin’s, or cold and hard like Gideon’s. Funny how two boys, very different in their own rights, came from the same two people. And there was no doubt either had; they resembled their parents intensely.

In all of my thinking, I hadn’t realized who the man was. Of course I knew he was the father to the boy who did unspeakable things to me and the boy who offered an oddly comforting friendship to me. But there was something in his bright orbs that was familiar. I stared into them, studying, as he and his wife sat. I barely took in the noise of Gavin plopping next to me and the warmth he radiated. Suddenly, it hit me, like shit hits the fan.

“A small world indeed, Mr. Reid.” I replied, stopping the conversation at the table. “You remember me?” There was a flat silence, squishing me where I sat, nice shirt and clean jeans. His warm smile fended the crushing weight off, crooked and very handsome on his refined face.

“You were singing that song about scars. I gave you a dollar!” He exclaimed, bringing his fist down lightly on the table.

Everyone began to look between us as we had done Gideon and Asher, eyes sparkling in curiosity.

“It’s a small world.” I chuckled, sinking into my chair. I picked up a menu, burying my nose in it. “Oh, that looks good.”

***

While the parental units were talking off the meal, getting their drink on, Gavin and I snuck off to the patio. Asher and Gideon mysteriously both disappeared to the bathroom, claiming that they both had to pee.

It was freezing outside and yet somehow Gavin was still like a furnace. He gave me his zip-up and that thing felt like an electric blanket. I felt myself shivering from the temperature change, but in a good way this time.

“So I got the guys rallied up.” Gavin stated weakly. Small talk apparently wasn’t his strong suit either.

“I’ve got the girls.” I replied, sitting on the bench next to the door. Gavin joined me, resting his head back against the wall, gazing intently into the star littered sky.

“Fiona, I--,” he began. My stomach began to churn, causing to jump up and upchuck into the nearest bush. “Are you okay?” He panicked, rushing over to my crouched body.

So many things ran through my mind, the most prominent being: must’ve been the food. I noted the name of the slightly fancy restaurant, resolving never to eat here again. I pushed my hair back from my face with one hand, fanning myself with the other. I felt a warm hand on my back, causing me to jump, turning my head around quickly to face the offender. I chuckled when I realized it was only Gavin, despite my newfound dizziness.

Gavin’s POV:

I made Fiona come back inside and sit down for a glass of water. She insisted she was fine, but the gray tinge to her face said otherwise. I plopped down next to her, watching her. She picked up the glass up shakily, pulling the straw into her mouth, clear liquid flowing in. Her hair was messed up somehow in the process and her cheeks went pink, contrasting the grayish color around it. Hey baby blues wandered the room, finally landing on me, a few inches above her. I looked away quickly, pretending to take interest in the crumpled napkin before me while the Chagrin Brush painted all over my face.

Gideon and Asher came back, laughing like old pals, slugging one another as if on some cheesy sitcom.

"Asher, you've got a button undone in the middle there." Mrs. Malone informed, pointing to the little gap in his shirt. Now it was his turn to get pink.

"I got it." Gideon offered, long fingers doing the button up while Asher averted his gaze. I would have too; that's definitely not normal guy behavior.

"Fiona, are you okay?" Asher asked, probably trying to take the attention off himself. I resolved to keep my eye on him and my brother.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She rasped, shaking it off. A smile spread across her face as she tried to convince him she was telling the truth. He ruffled her hair, making it even messier and she just rolled her eyes.

I couldn't help but notice the little spark in my stomach that made me want to pull her into me and smooth the hair down. For a moment I imagined what her locks would feel like: silky smooth as they glided through my fingers. Then what she would smell like: vanilla, obviously. And the look she would give me as I held her: blue-grey eyes full of curiosity, half covered by her eyelids.

A waitress a few tables down accidentally dropped her tray, clattering and shocking me out pf my reverie. I settled for slinging my arm casually around the back of her chair. Baby steps, Gavin, I told myself. Baby steps.