Onlyforme

A Fine Mess
Chapter 3 Part 13

                 Leading me back to the living room I stop in to look at the pictures of Vincent and Riley as babies. Vincent is all green eyes and baby fat. He has the chubbiest little cheeks and his fat hands are reaching out to the camera, to which I’m guessing was his mother behind it, a toothless smile on his face.
               The next picture is a black and white one of him and Riley. Riley is asleep in his arms on the couch peacefully unaware of the world around her. Vincent holds her like a porcelain doll. A soft smile on his face and eyes half shut lovingly gazing down at the baby girl. The picture makes me choke up and I can’t move away. Just the look of adoration and proctiveness shakes me. Like nothing will hurt this baby girl if he has anything to say about it.
               A tug on my hand breaks me back to reality. I look over expecting to see Vincent only having to look down to see Riley.
              “Come on Dylan! We’re all set up. We’re sitting on the ground.”
               She drags me into the living room where Vincent is sitting legs in front of him on the floor looking somewhere into the distance.  Riley sits a bouncing ball of energy and I go to sit next to Vincent.
              Right as I sit down he pulls me onto my lap wrapping his arms around my waist. He whispers into my hair “Can’t have you to far away now.”  Before kissing my shoulder.
              I relax into his chest and Riley gives me my piece.
             “Dylan, you’re the top hat. Vincent you get to be the thimble. I’m the dog.” She says putting all our pieces on the board as she begins.
              The game goes fast, as promised; Riley mops the floor with us. 
             “Alright. There is no way you could win again. You are stealing money aren’t you? I am so being banker next time.” Vincent says ruffling her hair.
             “DID NOT CHEAT!” she squeals. “You both are just awful at this game. I’m going to go to sleep now.” She runs over to me and kisses my cheek and sticks her tongue out at Vincent before running back upstairs.
              I giggle leaning back into Vincent’s chest putting his hands on mine that are still resting on my stomach.  “She really is something.”
               “That she is. She loves you, you know that? You’re all she talks about. Be prepared you might have a shrine built in your honor. All we hear now is ‘Dylan this’, or ‘Dylan that’ or ‘Dylan wouldn’t wear that!’ She wants to be just like you.”
               “That is the cutest thing in the entire world.” I say interlacing our fingers.
                “You think so now. Wait until she lights candles and chants in your honor, then lets see how cute you think it is.” He brings our hands up to kiss my finger softly before tilting my head up to kiss my lips. Nothing is more natural in the entire world. For moments only the both of us exist. I can’t help but think what did I do to deserve this? If I hadn’t come to terms with my parent’s deaths I would think it was karma trying to re-pay me. Maybe it was, but for now all that matters is his lips on mine and the electrical current that seems to ignite us both whenever we touch.
            The lock on the door jiggles and Jenny’s voice fills the house.
            “VINCENT! There are no fire trucks so I’m assuming everything went okay?”
            Her voice trails off when she enters the living room and sees us both.
            “Oh Dylan! Hello darling. How are you?”
“Good Mrs. Kansen, and yourself? How was your dinner?”
            “Jenny, sweetie. If you are going to be in my living room leaning on my son holding his hand you have to call me by my first name.”
            Blushing I start to unlace our fingers, embarrassed, but Vincent’s just tightens the hold smiling up at his mom.
            “I was just about to take Dylan home, mom.  Ri is up in her room sleeping.”
            We both stand hands still together as I lean in to kiss Jenny’s cheek and waving to Charlie who had just walked in the room.
            Charlie smiles but waves me over. I look up at Vincent before walking over to Charlie.
            “Hello Mr. Kansen. How was your dinner?”
            “Great Dylan, now I just wanted to let you know, that I know you don’t have a real father figure, and now you’re dating my son, but even though he’s my son and I like to think I brought him up to be a gentleman, I’ve always got your back. Don’t let him hurt you baby.” He says southern accent stronger than the first time I met him. His sincerity shines through in his eyes.
            I choke up for the second time that night. “Thank you Charlie. Really.”
            He opens his arms for a hug and I fold into them instantly before he pushes me to Vincent smiling.
            “What was that all about?” Vincent says when I’m back at his side.
            I only smile and shake my head as we walk next door.

A Fine Mess
Chapter 3 Part 12

            Once we were on the road again I fire off my next question. “ Celebrity crush. And if you say anyone like Kim Kardashian I will throw my phone at you.”
            Vincent chuckles and is silent for a moment, thinking. “You’re going to laugh. Vivian Blaine.”
            My jaw just drops and I stare at him. There is no way he has seen Guys and Dolls. No freaking way.
            He looks to me smiling. “What. Surprised I like old movies? Guys and Dolls is life.”
            I’m still speechless. “You. You Watched. Wait. You watched Guys. You’ve Seen Guys and Dolls?!” I stutter through my statement.
            “Only of course. My grandpa used to make us all sit and watch them. Something about ‘cultural awareness’ or something equally as cookie. She was 5-year-old Vincent’s first crush. I take it you’ve seen it?”
            “Seen it?! Its my favorite ever. Really. Ever. Frank Sinatra was and forever will be life.”
            “Really. Good to know. Alright, my turn. Favorite Disney movie? And none of that new stuff. I’m talking like snow white old.”
            “Easy. Beauty and Beast. I love all the movies but she’s the only one I can stand. Same question to you.”
            “Aladdin. I’m not sure why. Just is.”
            “Did anyone ever tell you, you are the cutest thing ever?”
            “You mean anyone under 75? No.”
            “Well you are the cutest thing ever.” I say leaning over to kiss his cheek and feel his skin bunch in a smile. Right as his phone vibrates in the compartment between us.
            “Can you just open that for me? Might be mom.”
            Going out on a late dinner with your father. Riley is home alone. Hurry home. Don’t catch anything on fire. Remember, to make oatmeal you need WATER. Love you.
            I read the text out loud giggling at the oatmeal part. “Are you telling me that you tried to make oatmeal WITHOUT water?”
            “It was an accident. The fire put out itself. Just text her back with an okay. Do you mind if we head back to my place? I mean I could drop you off at home if you’re uncomfortable.” He takes one hand off the wheel to rub the back of his neck, eyes not meeting mine.
            My heart hammers in my chest. “Sure. No problem. I’ll just text Aunt Kylie.”                        Vincent’s smile lit up the car but I had only moments to cherish it before we were at Vincent’s. I shoot a quick text to Aunt Kylie so she knows where I am.
            As usual my gentleman opens my door and takes my hand. Riley comes barreling out of the house jumping on me before I can mutter a hello.
            “DYLAN! I knew you would come! How was your date? Is Vincent an awful kisser? I bet he is. He’s icky. But that’s okay. You can have Luke.”
            I turn to Vincent, asking who Luke is by cocking my head to the side.
            He moves to whisper in my ear. “Luke is her Vivian Blaine. Except Luke is her age and gives her ring pops.”
            I giggle and turn my attention back to Riley who is still smiling. “Well thank you Riley. I don’t know what I would do without you. But between you and I-“ I kneel down so I’m face to face with her.”-Your brother might get jealous.” I wink and she laughs pulling my other hand in through the door.
            “Wanna play monopoly? I win ever time.” She says already pulling the game out.
            “We’ll be right over Ri. I’m going to go into the kitchen with Dylan and get something to drink, chocolate milk?” he asks her taking my hand again and leading me into the kitchen.
            Once out of Riley’s view Vincent kisses me, holding my hips in a soft but firm grasp. I respond instantly wrapping my arms around his neck.
            A pillow being thrown at us breaks us apart and Riley walks into the kitchen eyebrows raised. “You were taking to long with my drink. Come on.”
            “I said I would be there in a minute.” Vincent says, exasperation clear in his voice.
            “Hurry up.” She says before walking out of the room.
            “Well looks like we have a diva on our hands.” I say giggling pecking his lips softly once before he lets me go. Almost instantly I miss the warmth.
            “Iced tea?” He asks digging through the fridge.
            "Yep. Thanks." I say taking the glass he offers after filling his own and making Riley's milk. 

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A Fine Mess
Chapter 3 Part 11

            I’m dragged along to a spot on the beach where Max had set up towels for us to sit on to watch the show. Two for himself and Shane and two just a bit over for Vincent and I. Shane settled down, half leaning on Max talking to a girl on the towel in front of them. “Nicole, are you on your phone AGAIN?!” he asks rolling his eyes. “I swear to god if it’s twitter I’m going to kill you.”
            Nicole only smirks and responds by pulling her hair to one side “Tumblr darling.”
            Before Shane can refute his argument Max kisses him softly. Blushing I turn to see Vincent heading over hands in his pockets. My heart speeds up just seeing him again and I pat the spot next to me. He smiles and sits down, legs straight ahead of him most of his weight on his hands stretched out behind him. He uses one arm to pull me closer to him so I am in between his legs leaning my back onto his chest. He rests his face in my hair too quiet for comfort.
            I twist my neck so I can see him. “Vincent don’t feel bad. I’m not mad. I'm only thankful you came when you did.” I lean in resting my forehead against his never letting my eyes stray from his intense gaze.
            “Okay, but still if he comes anywhere close to you I am going to have to do worse.” He leans in to kiss me and if in a cheesy teen romance movie the fireworks start.
            Shane bursts into ohhs and awws and I just laugh at the insanity of it all.
            The fireworks were fantastic, just enough to keep you entertained and in awe. Just as the grand finale was ending I feel something being put around my neck, not as thick or scary as a rope, but dainty and precious. I touch it and find a thin chain with one jewel on the base of my neck.
            I turn to Vincent surprise etched on my face. He only smiles shrugging. “I saw it a store and decided it was a good night to give it to you.” He kisses the back of my neck and lets my hair fall down it again.
           Shane and Max are already packing their things, bidding us goodnight. I stand up to brush the sand off myself, Vincent following suit. 

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            Amber has her hand laced around Vincent’s bicep and Scarlet is running her manicured nail down his chest. Vincent is standing red-faced and stunned. He smiles nervously at the girl’s head turning side to side as if silently asking for help.

            The girls continue their assault and Vincent looks more and more uncomfortable. Trish catches what I’m looking at and scoffs. “I can’t believe those two. I mean they have their moments but obviously he is not interested and is uncomfortable. They are boarding sexual assault.”

            I'm just standing there stunned. My face is rivaling anything a fish can do. I shake my head and start over in their direction, and faintly I hear Trish yelling out for me in the background. “ Don’t pull any hair love. Get your man!”

            I ignore her and continue my trek over to the pool. Vincent spots me and his shoulders relax and a easy smile graces his lips. Scarlet and Amber mistake his relaxing as something they have done and Scarlet moves up to whisper in his ear before Amber taps her arm nodding her head in my direction.

            Scarlet smiles at me as if she is saying ‘I have claimed him don’t come anywhere close, but you know what, I take that back, come closer so I can rub it in.’

            I get close smiling at the girls ignoring Vincent. Scarlet speaks first. “Oh Dylan darling, This is Vincent, he’s new here and I’m just showing him the ropes.” As if to make her point clear she runs another nail down his arm looking up through her lashes TRYING to look cute.

            I only smile up at Vincent and he shakes them off moving in and leaning down so our lips can meet. Even though it was a short light kiss my entire body felt as though I had stuck a finger in an electric socket. He moves closer wrapping his arms around my waist and standing next to me.

            I sport a smug smile looking at Scarlet and Amber who seem to have been taking lessons from my fish face earlier. Both jaws hang open, Scarlet’s for only a moment. The look of surprise is quickly exchanged for one of rage. Vincent speaks timidly, as if trying not to prod the already angry beast. “I have met Dylan in fact. She’s my neighbor and my girlfriend.” He kisses the top of my head and I just blush biting my lip.

            Amber seems to break out of shock (or in Scarlet’s case rage) first and speaks, her high voice already getting on my nerves. “Oh isn’t that nice. But Dylan I don’t know what you are going to do with such a cute boy-“ she pauses to run her hand along his cheek. “- one day he will tire of you and will come to one of us for what you can never do.” 

            My heart drops into my stomach. Uncertainty running through my head and my eyes drop to the pool patio as though it is the most interesting thing around. Scarlet moves as if she is going to add on to what Amber had already said when suddenly Shane and Max appear out of what seems like thin air.

            “Red one, Red two zip it. Go inflate your boobs or something.” Shane stands in front of me. Amber only stares at him in shock and Scarlet still enraged. They both turn at the same moment and stalk away.

            I look at Shane when he turns around and I feel my face getting hot and I'm only holding back the floodgates. Shane turns to Vincent for a moment before taking my arm. “Sorry Vin, let me take her for a moment. Its not your fault. Just one moment.”

            He drags me up to the deck and sits me down and only moment before my butt makes contact with the seat I find myself in tears. 

            We start making our way over to the deck but suddenly I find myself on the grass of Trish’s lawn two squealing girls on top of me.

            “DYLAN!” one of them yells. Opening my eyes I am faced with a head of brown bouncy curls obstructing my view. I know these curls and that voice.

            “Allie?” I say trying to brush the curls out of my eyes.

            “The one and only. And sorry bout the hair. You know it has a mind of it’s own.” She sits up on me and I notice that there is still one girl clinging to me. Her chestnut hair surrounds her like a halo.

            “No way. Is that Lauren?!”

            “Of course it is! Who else could it be?” Both girls giggle and lift themselves off of me. Allie tries to smooth down hair that will never lie flat no matter how hard she tries. Lauren just stands smiling with one hand on her hip. They extend one hand each to pull me off the ground.

            Before I’m even stable Allie has already turned her attention to Vincent. “Heya.” She says smiling at him. “I’m Allie” was all she said before pulling him into a hug.”

            To give Vincent credit he only looks slightly stunned from the whole experience. Lauren turns to him next and introduces herself. Vincent handles it with the grace and politeness I would envy any day.

            Suddenly both girls attention is back on me. “Alright. We came to attack you saying hi and to warn you. The whores-“ Allie starts and Lauren picks up mid sentence “-are over by the pool. Be on alert.”

            I nod knowing they mean Scarlett and her posse. I assume Amber is with her, and yes, I am aware of the irony of their two names.

            “I think if Scarlet’s bikini moves a centimeter it would be indecent exposure I swear to god.” Allie says shaking her head.

            “And Amber is, well, just Amber. She’s still decent but poor girl is following Scarlet like a lost puppy. Some things don’t change.” Lauren adds.

            “Well on that note we best be off. Many people to catch up with. We will meet up with you later with Trish” The girls link arms and literally skip off, Allie saying something about Lauren needing to speak sheep. Those girls will always be a mystery.

            I turn to Vincent to find his head cocked to the side like a confused puppy.

            I answer his unasked question. “Those were girls who lived here for a few years after I moved here. They moved away 2 years ago. They were like really close to Max and I. Heck they even ran in the same circle with Scarlet Amber and I. They were here when the whole thing kind of exploded but left soon after.” Vincent nods taking my hand before we start walking again.

            We find Trish and she starts talking a mile a minute again.

            “Okay so Vincent I know you know where the drinks are, and Dyl I'm sure he has u covered, but if you both want food, catering is over there by the pool. Its Italian and reaaally good if I say so myself. I see Lauren and Allie got at you two.” She says giggling after the last sentence.

            “Yep. I didn’t know those two were coming! I’m so glad to be able to see them again. And we saw all the cousins.”

            “Oh lordy. I hope Leo didn’t scare you too much Vincent.”

            Vincent chuckles and shakes his head. “Oh he is very serious that one. Hope I didn’t offend. I’ll be right back. I’m going to go grab another drink and some food. You need anything hun?” He says sliding his arm around my waist pulling me close.

            “I’m good thanks. I’ll be right here.” I watch him walk away before a shove in the side brings me back into reality.

            “Okay. Now spill. When did Mr. cute-tush walk into your life?”  
            I take a deep breath getting ready to tell the story looking over to look for Vincent when my breath catches in my throat. 

 

            “Hey Jimmy, Leo, Chapel. How’ve ya been?”

            Jimmy is the first to respond.” ‘Is this Dylan. THE Dylan that would help Max torture me”

            Blushing I hide duck my head. “Maybeeee”

            “Well good to see ya. You’ve grown up a lot. Any boyfriend I need to worry about?”

            And as if on clockwork Vincent walks through the opening and hands me my drink. “Did I hear something about her boyfriend?” He lets laughs and moves to shake Jimmy’s hand. “Vincent. Nice to meet you.”

            “Jimmy, and you too. This is Leo-“he says pointing next to him”-and that is Chapel.” He says nodding in her direction.

            Vincent smiles and I know they all have been charmed. Vincent lifts me up for a moment sitting in my chair and placing me on his lap, as I giggle the entire time. He kisses my cheek and I hear Chapel ‘aww’. I only blush harder and look to them trying to move past the fact I'm on my gorgeous perfect boyfriend’s lap. Okay. It’s official. Calling him my boyfriend, even in my head, makes my heart do flips.

            “So Vincent you starting senior year with us?” Jimmy asks.

            “Yep. Starting in the fall.” He pauses to take a drink of his soda as Leo looks him up and down sizing him up.

            “Where did you move from?” Leo asks.

            Vincent gulps feeling Leos scrutinizing gaze. I guess you can say Leo has been a big brother to me. Pushing Vincent will be all the fun he needs today. “California. Del Mar to be specific.”

            “Oh I have an aunt there! Other side of the family than these sillies over here. ” Chapel pipes up smile splitting her face in two.

            “Interesting.” Leo says, still almost glaring at Vincent. I take this moment to try and save him from Leo.
            "Hey Vin come with me to see Trish?"

            As a gentleman he opens my doors for me once again and I lift out of his car, his hand in mine.

            I take a shaky breath before closing the door and looking to him. A relaxed smile rests on his face and he squeezes my hand in his.

            “You ready to go Sunny?” he asks, his eyes searching my face before leaning down to kiss my nose softly.

            I only nod my head in a yes, a light blush rising to my cheeks. Vincent and I walk along the path that leads to the beach, hands linked together.

            A moment walking on the path the grass on either side is replaced with sand and music and voices are more apparent than on the driveway. As soon as the path ended Trish came bouncing over to us and just about knocks me over with a hug.

            “DYLAN!” she yells. “Oh sweetie. You looks so darling. Max was telling me just about everything for the 20 minutes he’s been here. Shane is simply adorable. He has to go out with us shopping. I’m sure he’s already gotten a hold of you but, like, he has to go with us.”  She takes a deep breath to replace what she has used speaking so quickly. I wonder if she had been around Shane too long.

            “Isn’t he? And totally. There’s a lot we have to do together. I haven’t seen you in too long. Well speaking of new people, this is um, well, this is my boyfriend Vincent.” I raise our intertwined hands as though it was kind of an explanation, already blushing fiercely.

            Vincent only smiles and releases my hand only to shake Trish’s who smiles and looks up and down taking him all in before a smile lights up her face.

            “Well this is the Vincent Shane was squealing about being with you. Well its great to meet you and we all have to sit down and catch up. Um… Oh food is on the back porch and drinks in coolers scattered around the beach and well you know Dylan. I’ll be bouncing around so just look for me if you need me or ask one of the staff. I will see you in a bit Dyl, and Vincent, we will sit down and speak” She giggles and winks playfully before scampering away to greet more guests.

            “Are you sure she’s related to Max and not Shane?” Vincent asks.            

            “Positive. But she’s always been this high energy. Let’s go find Max and Shane.”

            Vincent only nods in response “I’ll grab you a drink and meet you over there.”

            “Alright thanks.” I turn to see the boys out on the dock gazebo talking to some of Max’s other cousins. I make my way over trying to remember everyone’s names..I think the blonde one is Jimmy, the older one Leo, and the third is a girl, small and blonde, and I'm pretty sure her name is Chapel. I’m only a few steps until I'm at the gazebo before Shane spots me and yells my name.

            “DYLAN!” He says bouncing around in his chair.

            I smile and step into the gazebo taking the empty chair on the other side of him and looking to the 3 others.