CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JULIUS
“Where the parties at tonight?”
I throw a look to the opposite side of the room. “Shut up, bro, we’re not going to a party.”
My brother cuts me an unimpressed look, which is in stark contrast to the smile always on his face.
After him enjoying the few times he came to visit me last year, I wasn’t surprised when he let me know he wanted to do the same again this year.
He’s happy with his choice to not go university because we both know it was the best thing for him, but I can see why he would still want to experience a bit of it.
“Who doesn’t take their guest to a party?” he asks.
“You’re a child.”
“I’m eighteen years old! I’m literally an adult.”
“Yeah, you really sound like one right now.”
He huffs. “Why am I even here then?”
“Maybe you just wanted to visit your big brother.”
The laugh he responds with is instant and dramatic like him. “Yeah, that’s funny. Stop playing with me.”
“You already know I don’t party like that.”
If anything, I was even worse last year which I noticed in the constant disapproval on the guys on the team’s faces whenever I would reject their invitation for whatever party they were throwing.
I can admit now, I wasn’t a team player off the ice last year, which is why I’m trying to switch things up this year. But I don’t plan on winning any awards for being the most sociable person and that’s fine, no one would want me faking that shit because it would make everyone uncomfortable.
“Yeah, but this is Uni,” Demetrius says plainly.
“Stop trying to live vicariously through me.”
“I’m never going Uni, I don’t have a choice.”
My eyes glaze over my bag in the corner. “You wanna come play Hockey with me, then?”
With a huff, he says, “You already know I hate everything to do with Hockey apart from you.” He’s remained consistent with this hatred for years, but I can’t even fault him for it.
Everyone has their way of dealing with shit.
Ours just happen to be the complete opposite.
Demetrius shakes his head and I’m not surprised when he adds, “Watch when I tell Mum and Dad about this.”
It doesn’t matter how many times I tell him to stop mentioning our dad to me, he’ll do it anyway.
“My brother, the adult.”
He knows to change the subject now.
He laughs, and as usual, he’s not taking offence to anything I say because the tone is enough for him to not even hold it in serious regard. “Fine, I won’t. Can we go get food, though?”
“Right now?”
“Yeah. There are restaurants here, right?”
“No, this is a big city for no reason. There are no restaurants or anywhere to get food.”
“I keep telling you to stop trying to be funny, bro. Even me as your brother can’t fake laugh at it.”
“Get out of my house.”
I dodge in time to miss the pillow he throws at me.
We end up at a Mexican place, it’s not too busy yet but it’s still afternoon so it could be getting there.
I give the Waiter an extra thanks the moment our food arrives because it gives my brother a chance to be quiet for a moment, which means I get the chance to be quiet for a moment.
This guy always tries to get me talking.
I’m finishing up the first bite of my burrito when I spot her.
She’s wearing tracksuit bottoms, yet I’m still able to recognise those legs the minute I see their shape.
It’s so fucking weird.
Kaylah’s at the host area, confusion settling in as I think about where the familiarity I have towards the girl next to her comes from. It’s only a few minutes until I remember I was having a conversation with her and her friend at our party the other night.
I’m not focusing on her, though, not when the brief moment of Kaylah’s gaze locking into mine sends my large appetite right out of the door she just came through.
What the fuck is that about?
I try to quickly look away and keep it that way, hoping she does the same but part of me is also wondering what good that causes. A lot of people around here who keep up with Hockey know that we’re co-captain, and the one thing we should be exhibiting is a united front.
If it looks like we’re vehemently avoiding each other, word could get back to Coach.
Practice has been a lot better lately than it was at the start.
This has translated to our games as well, both home based and away.
It’s easy for both of us to focus on what we need to when we’re on the ice.
I feel stupid for losing sight of that at first, because it’s one thing I definitely respect about her.
It’s when we’re off the ice that things get awkward.
Well, first, they get steamy. Because ever since we got locked in that closet together at our party, we haven’t been able to stop going. It makes it even easier that we live in the same house and stay just a few rooms away from each other whenever we’re in a hotel in another city.
But after, she acts like she wants nothing to do with me and I act like I’m fine with that, when I spend most of my time wondering why the fuck she wants nothing to do with me.
I don’t like her.
But I don’t like that she doesn’t like me.
I don’t like that this seems to be affecting me more than it’s affecting her.
The only good thing is that Coach has been witnessing the…cohesion we now have. He’s happy.
He just doesn’t know why or how we got here.
“You need to stop letting me talk to myself, man,” I hear and finally get out of my thoughts.
The words come from Demetrius, and I don’t even bother pretending I heard a word he’s been saying.
“Sorry, I got distracted,” I admit.
“By that girl?”
“What?” I say in my typical nonchalant voice.
“You were looking at her.”
“I look at everyone.”
“You were looking at her for a while.”
“It might seem like that, but it’s because I was thinking about something else.”
He eyes me suspiciously, but I know my expression gives nothing away. Then he says, “Wow, she is…”
“Don’t finish that sentence.”
Yeah, that was real nonchalant of me.
Suddenly, she’s already in this direction.
“Captain,” she says, as she walks past our table. I was expecting no emotion in her voice, and she matched my expectations perfectly. I don’t even think she has to try as hard as I do.
But I still respond with, “Captain,” anyway.
Demetrius does a double take. “Oh, shit, you’re the co-captain? She’s the co-captain? Kaylah, right?”
“Don’t mind him, sorry,” I say.
He sounds too excited right now, and I hate that I know exactly why that is.
He’s here to visit me, not find the woman who haunts my every thought, beautiful.
But to my surprise, Kaylah looks like she’s trying to fight the amusement she feels.
“Sorry, just saw videos of you at Practice,” he says. “I don’t fuck with Hockey but you’re good.”
“Thanks…sorry, I don’t know your name.”
He wastes no time sticking out his hand. “Demetrius, the better version of Julius.”
“Fuck off, bro,” I say as Kaylah shakes his hand.
I watch as she looks between us for a moment. “Oh, are you…you’re brothers?”
“Yeah,” he responds.
I get it. I do. But he needs to keep his eyes off her.
“Oh, interesting.”
The next second is filled with his laughter, and he concludes it with, “You’re exactly like him.”
“Um…”
Kaylah’s friend steps in our direction, her palm forming into a wave as she says, “Hi, I’m Jalissa. Just thought I’d introduce myself because I’m kind of just here right now.”
“Sorry. Jalissa is my new friend.” That explains it. It’s good that she’s made a friend though. I’ve noticed it’s still kind of awkward for her on the team. But yeah, we’ll leave you guys to it,” she finishes.
“Do you guys wanna join us?” I turn slowly to my brother at his question, expecting him to be dodging my gaze which is exactly what he’s doing right now.
“Dee, what the fuck are you doing?”
“What? It would be rude not to ask. And I feel like it makes sense to have lunch with your co-captain.”
“Dee.” No further words come to me, so I take the moment to glance at Kaylah.
There’s a hint of fascination in her eyes, and she’s not hiding her gaze fluttering between Dee and me.
I’ve never wanted to get into someone’s mind as do with her. Do I ever make an appearance?
Jalissa steps in to answer with, “That sounds like a great idea, Demetrius!” She turns to the Waiter who has been watching this whole exchange. “Is it okay if we sit here?”
“Yes, not a problem,” the Waiter says and then spends the next few seconds merging the table beside us with ours, ensuring there are enough chairs for the women before they take a seat.
I know Kaylah isn’t afraid to give her opinion, so the fact she hasn’t at any moment since my brother’s silly offer, and that she’s now sliding into the chair beside him is enough to confuse me.
“Thanks guys, this is kind of you,” Jalissa says.
“Thanks for the offer, Demetrius,” Kaylah adds. I guess her problems are with me, not my brother.
“You girls are beautiful, by the way,” he says.
I give my typical reaction of, “Dee.”
“All this guy can say is my name,” he says, causing Jalissa to laugh. “Jalissa, was it?” he asks her.
“Yeah.”
“Do you date eighteen years olds?”
I don’t even know why I’m still bothering, but I let out another, “Dee.”
“Widen your vocabulary, man. I’ve literally played a tree and even the tree had more to say than you.”
“Are you a Stage Performer?” Kaylah asks.
“Musical Theatre. I’m not dramatic for no reason.”
“Wow, that’s…really cool.” An impressed expression crosses her features as she finishes with a nod.
“That sounded sarcastic as fuck,” Dee laughs, and I shoot him a warning glare.
“No, I think it’s really cool. I’m actually…a fan of Musical Theatre.” There’s strength in her words when she starts her sentence, but her last few syllables and coated in shyness.
“I can’t tell whether you’re being serious or not,” Dee continues.
I know she’s being serious, and it’s times like these it hits me just how misunderstood she is.
When someone doesn’t overact the delivery of their words, it must mean something other than what they’ve said.
And when someone’s facial expression remains the same for varied scenarios, they either must not feel anything or they’re angry all the time.
I’m sure it’s part of the reason why the team struggled to take Kaylah in, especially with her being reserved as well.
But maybe people should finally start understanding that just because a person isn’t like them, it doesn’t mean they don’t belong.
If only they would take the time to study her as thoroughly as I have, they would know that when she scratches her temple, like she’s doing now, that means she’s nervous. Or when her voice dips at some point in her sentence, it’s because she’s feeling very exposed.
I could write a book on what I’ve uncovered about this woman, and that is very concerning.
“Do you actually like Musical Theatre?” Jalissa’s questions pull me out of my thoughts.
“I know it’s unexpected, but I genuinely do. All the ones I’ve watched have been so interesting.”
Her words are met with an unconvinced look between my brother and Jalissa, and the disappointment resting on Kaylah’s face sets off my quick rebuttal.
“I don’t know if you guys are intending to, but you’re being rude. Kaylah’s not a robot, she’s gonna have interests in life like everyone else, even me. If she says she likes something, she likes it. Done.”
Jalissa immediately faces her new friend. “Kaylah, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
I watch Dee who purposely ignores the harsh eye I have aimed at him as he says, “Damn, now I feel bad, I genuinely wasn’t trying to be rude. I just know Musical Theatre can be
“You don’t need to feel bad guys, it’s fine. I think Julius just wanted to bring up the theory that I’m a robot so we could spend less time thinking that he’s the one who’s a robot.”
“And he said you weren’t funny.”
“Dee, I’m gonna fuck you up.”
“Oh, shit. He never said that! He never said that! If you guys need me, I’m just gonna be a tree over here. But one that doesn’t talk this time.”
“Finally.”
I wonder whether I should say something else to get back at him with my next response, but my thoughts trail away as I notice the woman who just walked in staring in our direction.
When she starts walking towards us, Jalissa spots her and says, “Oh, that’s Sierra, my housemate.
You guys would know her though, she’s on your team.
But anyway, she forgot her keys and I told her we were here so she can get mine.
” Her words coincide with the new arrival at the table, and she addresses her with a cheerful, “Si Si!” Everyone I meet just seems to be so damn cheerful.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” Sierra says. I immediately notice how frazzled she looks. Her vibe has been like that for a while now, so I make a mental note to check on her one of these days.
“You’re not interrupting. There you go,” Jalissa says as she hands her a set of keys.
“You’re a lifesaver, thank you so much.”
“Of course. Are you going straight home now?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Oh, okay, ‘cause you could join us if you want,” Jalissa turns to me and my brother, an apologetic look crossing her face. “Wait, sorry I can’t just be inviting people to your table.”
I think that ship has sailed.
I already know my brother has something to say in response and this time I don’t try to stop him.
“Nah, the more the merrier,” Demetrius says.
“I thought you were being a tree,” Kaylah says.
“I considered the prospects of what would happen if I didn’t speak and it didn’t look good for the table.”
He has a point.
Sierra seems to perk up Jalissa’s invitation. “Really?” Cause I think a lot of the Hockey team is around here somewhere, but just spread out. Could they join too when they’re done with their stuff?”
“Tell them come to with some information about parties at least,” my brother responds.
“Oh, you wanna go to a party?” Sierra says.
I don’t have much to say anymore, but I don’t hesitate to throw out, “He’s not going to a party.”
For the sheer look of embarrassment on his face.
“Sorry, who are you, by the way?” Sierra asks him. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“My brother,” I answer for him.
That hand of his is out again. “Demetrius.”
Her reaction of looking between us is typical and expected at this point. So are her words of, “Like…blood brother?” Not the first time we’ve been asked and it won’t be the last. “Dumb question, actually.”
“We’re nothing alike so I get it,” I explain.
“Yeah, you just have different energies.” That’s putting it mildly, but my brother and I both know this so there’s nothing else to say. “But you can’t expect siblings to be the same, anyway,” Sierra finishes.
“Exactly, and if you guys wanna see more of me, just let me know. ‘Cause I’m around.”
I sigh, resting my head against the back of the chair, a palm over my face. “I’m done with this guy.”
But at least he broke the ice.