What Becomes of a Tragedy?, chapter 9
"So, do I have any nieces or nephews I don't know about?" It was the next morning and I was talking over breakfast with my sister and brother - Tre had left before they woke up.
"Don't try to change the subject. Did he really ask you to marry him last night? And yes, you have one niece and one nephew."
"Yes, he did. What are their names? How old are they? When are their birthdays?"
"Well, what did you say? Timothy is 10, born on April 14. Nicole is 8, born on October 23."
"He said I didn't have to give him an answer until I was ready. What are they in to? Do they play sports? Music? Do you want to have anymore kids?"
"Okay, this isn't getting us anywhere. All I am going to say, because I can tell you don't want to talk about this right now is . . . from what I can tell . . . he loves you, you love him. He's a good man and is willing to do anything for you. And Timmy loves baseball and playing the piano and his guitar. Nicole is a dancer and is taking singing lessons. And yes, I would like to have at least one more."
"Would you like to have another boy or another girl?"
"Another boy, girls are too damn difficult."
I turn to my brother who, up until now has watched Becca and I go back and forth. "What do you like to do?"
"Ummm ... well ... I used to play sports, but I didn't care for them."
"Really? What did you play?"
"I played baseball when I was younger, track in middle school, and played one year of football, but I didn't really care for them."
"So, what do you do to occupy your time?"
"Well, I am actually very smart. I'm attending a school for exceptional kids, only high school juniors and seniors. I am a senior. I went there last year and this is my last one."
"That's awesome." The three of us continued to talk about any and everything, catching up and getting to know each other. I asked them about their lives and what I missed, while they asked me the same things. It more like a game of 20 questions. One of us would ask a question and then we would all answer the question. My sister and I would ask questions about our lives, but my brother thought that was good enough, because he kept asking me questions about the guys. But his one question caught me by surprise (because it had nothing to do with the guys). "When I graduate, can I come live with you?"
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"
"I don't want to go to school in Minnesota anymore, I don't like living there. I told them I wanted to go to college in California and they said no. I turn 18 in November. When graduate, can I come live with you? I've looked into schools out here anyways."
"Well, you finish school, keep in touch, and I'll think about it. Okay?"
"Yeah. Sounds good."
Becca decided to jump back in, "Where are the guys, by the way?"
"They are going to Vegas, New York and Orlando to promote the CD. They'll be back Saturday."
"But we leave on Sunday and we were all going to hang out one day this week."
"Yeah, I know. But when they say they'll be back on Saturday, that means they get home Friday night and Saturday is their official "day" they get home. I've known them too long to think twice about it."
"That's cool. What do they like to do for fun?"
"Honestly, they like to sit at home with everybody over to one of the houses, have a cook out, swim in the pool and just relax. That's how they stay normal - or so they say."
"So, whose house is it at this time?"
"Umm . . . I don't know." Just then the phone rang. "Hang on one second." I go and grab the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Holly. I have a question." It was Adie, and I knew what she had to ask me, but I wanted to hear her ask it.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Did Tre really propose to you last night?"
"Does Billie tell you everything?"
"Yes, he does."
"Yeah, I know, just kidding. Oh, by the way, where is the party this Saturday?"
"Mike had said something about having it at his, but his plumbing got jacked up right before they left."
"Oh, I see. Well, call Billie and tell him that we can have it here. I'll be party central. We haven't been here in a while."
"Okay, but you didn't answer my question."
"Yes, he did, no I didn't answer, but I'll have an answer on Saturday, but please don't tell Billie I'll have an answer."
"Promise, talk to you later. Wait, one more thing. You guys want to come over for lunch, the boys are at school, and I'm bored."
"Yeah, noon."
"Yeah, sounds good. See you then. Later."
"Bye, love ya."
"Love to ya girl." We hang up the phone and I turn to my brother and sister. Becca was confused about what happened.
"Who was that? You're really going to have an answer on Saturday? And you're really having the party here?" But, for some reason, my brother knew those answers.
"It was Adie. She's going to say 'yes'. And she's having the party, because she knows Tre will drink after her answer and she doesn't want to have to worry about him." Becca and I look at him in utter amazement.
"How the hell did you do that?" Becca was - once again - confused.
"Luke, are you still in school?" He looked scared. "Answer me, please."
He took a deep breath, "No, I graduated last year." My sister and I exchange looks.
"You have heard stories about me haven't you?" He simply nods to my question. "You wanted the attention too, didn't you?" He, again, nods. "Why? Do you want to know how I've felt the past seventeen years because of how I acted all those years ago?" He shakes his head. "Well, then, all I have to say is don't try to be like me. It wasn't worth it, trust me." He looks up.
"I'm sorry. They never payed attention to me and they would say things like 'You're going to be exactly like your sister.'" He smiles. "But little do they know, that you have a college degree, a fricking awesome job, great friends and a love that no one can touch." He smiles again. "So, maybe I want to be exactly like you." From that second on, I had a new respect for my brother.
So, the rest of the week was we hanging out, visiting Adie, shopping, me showing them they club where I met the guys. On Friday, Adie came over and we started to set up for our little "party" we were going to have. My cheesy idea to give an answer to Tre took the longest. Adie and I went and bought cake pans in the shape of letters. We only needed a few letters, but we had to buy all twenty-six letters. We made cakes in the letters "Y" "E" "S". All four of us laughed the whole day, I was so glad Becca and Luke were getting along with Adie.
Later that night, we were all at Billie and Adie's house. We were all deciding who was going to bring what to the party. As we were getting up to go home, Tre caught me on my way back from the bathroom. "Hey, you." He gives me a kiss.
"Hey, how was your trip?"
"Fine, would have been better if you were there, but fine. How were things here?"
I smile, "Fine, would have been better if you were here, but fine." I pause. "Look, Tre, I know you want to talk. But we'll talk tomorrow, I promise, okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I love you."
"I love you, too." He kisses me again and I walk away, trying not to notice how hurt he looked, but he'll be better tomorrow. Becca, Luke, and I head back to my place.
Billie and Adie's House
"Dude, what's wrong?" Mike had noticed how upset Tre was looking.
"She wouldn't even talk to me. She said we'd talk tomorrow." He paused. "You know the last time she said she wanted to talk to me?"
"Tre, don't think about that. She wouldn't do that again, I know she wouldn't. Think positive, man." Mike slapped him on the back.
Meanwhile, Billie and Adie are in the kitchen - "You four did what?" Adie had told Billie about the cakes. "You can't say anything to him, tell Mike, but don't let Tre know. She did that just now, so he's more surprised tomorrow. It's her plan."
The next day at the "party"
We're all sitting outside, by the pool, relaxing, having a few drinks and just having fun. But Tre is a little more reserved than normal. Billie had cooked steaks on the grill for everybody and a little while after we finished eating, I jumped up.
"Who's ready for dessert?" Everybody is waiting for what's coming.
"Adie, can you help me? But you guys have to close your eyes. It's a surprise."
Adie and I go and grab the cakes. We walk back out, Mike and Billie are standing and Tre is sitting at the table. We set them right in front of Tre and I sit across the table. Adie taps Mike and Billie to let them know it's okay to open their eyes.
I take a deep breath, "Okay, open your eyes."
Tre opens his eyes and looks at me, I look down at the table, his eyes follow mine...
"Don't try to change the subject. Did he really ask you to marry him last night? And yes, you have one niece and one nephew."
"Yes, he did. What are their names? How old are they? When are their birthdays?"
"Well, what did you say? Timothy is 10, born on April 14. Nicole is 8, born on October 23."
"He said I didn't have to give him an answer until I was ready. What are they in to? Do they play sports? Music? Do you want to have anymore kids?"
"Okay, this isn't getting us anywhere. All I am going to say, because I can tell you don't want to talk about this right now is . . . from what I can tell . . . he loves you, you love him. He's a good man and is willing to do anything for you. And Timmy loves baseball and playing the piano and his guitar. Nicole is a dancer and is taking singing lessons. And yes, I would like to have at least one more."
"Would you like to have another boy or another girl?"
"Another boy, girls are too damn difficult."
I turn to my brother who, up until now has watched Becca and I go back and forth. "What do you like to do?"
"Ummm ... well ... I used to play sports, but I didn't care for them."
"Really? What did you play?"
"I played baseball when I was younger, track in middle school, and played one year of football, but I didn't really care for them."
"So, what do you do to occupy your time?"
"Well, I am actually very smart. I'm attending a school for exceptional kids, only high school juniors and seniors. I am a senior. I went there last year and this is my last one."
"That's awesome." The three of us continued to talk about any and everything, catching up and getting to know each other. I asked them about their lives and what I missed, while they asked me the same things. It more like a game of 20 questions. One of us would ask a question and then we would all answer the question. My sister and I would ask questions about our lives, but my brother thought that was good enough, because he kept asking me questions about the guys. But his one question caught me by surprise (because it had nothing to do with the guys). "When I graduate, can I come live with you?"
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"
"I don't want to go to school in Minnesota anymore, I don't like living there. I told them I wanted to go to college in California and they said no. I turn 18 in November. When graduate, can I come live with you? I've looked into schools out here anyways."
"Well, you finish school, keep in touch, and I'll think about it. Okay?"
"Yeah. Sounds good."
Becca decided to jump back in, "Where are the guys, by the way?"
"They are going to Vegas, New York and Orlando to promote the CD. They'll be back Saturday."
"But we leave on Sunday and we were all going to hang out one day this week."
"Yeah, I know. But when they say they'll be back on Saturday, that means they get home Friday night and Saturday is their official "day" they get home. I've known them too long to think twice about it."
"That's cool. What do they like to do for fun?"
"Honestly, they like to sit at home with everybody over to one of the houses, have a cook out, swim in the pool and just relax. That's how they stay normal - or so they say."
"So, whose house is it at this time?"
"Umm . . . I don't know." Just then the phone rang. "Hang on one second." I go and grab the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Holly. I have a question." It was Adie, and I knew what she had to ask me, but I wanted to hear her ask it.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Did Tre really propose to you last night?"
"Does Billie tell you everything?"
"Yes, he does."
"Yeah, I know, just kidding. Oh, by the way, where is the party this Saturday?"
"Mike had said something about having it at his, but his plumbing got jacked up right before they left."
"Oh, I see. Well, call Billie and tell him that we can have it here. I'll be party central. We haven't been here in a while."
"Okay, but you didn't answer my question."
"Yes, he did, no I didn't answer, but I'll have an answer on Saturday, but please don't tell Billie I'll have an answer."
"Promise, talk to you later. Wait, one more thing. You guys want to come over for lunch, the boys are at school, and I'm bored."
"Yeah, noon."
"Yeah, sounds good. See you then. Later."
"Bye, love ya."
"Love to ya girl." We hang up the phone and I turn to my brother and sister. Becca was confused about what happened.
"Who was that? You're really going to have an answer on Saturday? And you're really having the party here?" But, for some reason, my brother knew those answers.
"It was Adie. She's going to say 'yes'. And she's having the party, because she knows Tre will drink after her answer and she doesn't want to have to worry about him." Becca and I look at him in utter amazement.
"How the hell did you do that?" Becca was - once again - confused.
"Luke, are you still in school?" He looked scared. "Answer me, please."
He took a deep breath, "No, I graduated last year." My sister and I exchange looks.
"You have heard stories about me haven't you?" He simply nods to my question. "You wanted the attention too, didn't you?" He, again, nods. "Why? Do you want to know how I've felt the past seventeen years because of how I acted all those years ago?" He shakes his head. "Well, then, all I have to say is don't try to be like me. It wasn't worth it, trust me." He looks up.
"I'm sorry. They never payed attention to me and they would say things like 'You're going to be exactly like your sister.'" He smiles. "But little do they know, that you have a college degree, a fricking awesome job, great friends and a love that no one can touch." He smiles again. "So, maybe I want to be exactly like you." From that second on, I had a new respect for my brother.
So, the rest of the week was we hanging out, visiting Adie, shopping, me showing them they club where I met the guys. On Friday, Adie came over and we started to set up for our little "party" we were going to have. My cheesy idea to give an answer to Tre took the longest. Adie and I went and bought cake pans in the shape of letters. We only needed a few letters, but we had to buy all twenty-six letters. We made cakes in the letters "Y" "E" "S". All four of us laughed the whole day, I was so glad Becca and Luke were getting along with Adie.
Later that night, we were all at Billie and Adie's house. We were all deciding who was going to bring what to the party. As we were getting up to go home, Tre caught me on my way back from the bathroom. "Hey, you." He gives me a kiss.
"Hey, how was your trip?"
"Fine, would have been better if you were there, but fine. How were things here?"
I smile, "Fine, would have been better if you were here, but fine." I pause. "Look, Tre, I know you want to talk. But we'll talk tomorrow, I promise, okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I love you."
"I love you, too." He kisses me again and I walk away, trying not to notice how hurt he looked, but he'll be better tomorrow. Becca, Luke, and I head back to my place.
Billie and Adie's House
"Dude, what's wrong?" Mike had noticed how upset Tre was looking.
"She wouldn't even talk to me. She said we'd talk tomorrow." He paused. "You know the last time she said she wanted to talk to me?"
"Tre, don't think about that. She wouldn't do that again, I know she wouldn't. Think positive, man." Mike slapped him on the back.
Meanwhile, Billie and Adie are in the kitchen - "You four did what?" Adie had told Billie about the cakes. "You can't say anything to him, tell Mike, but don't let Tre know. She did that just now, so he's more surprised tomorrow. It's her plan."
The next day at the "party"
We're all sitting outside, by the pool, relaxing, having a few drinks and just having fun. But Tre is a little more reserved than normal. Billie had cooked steaks on the grill for everybody and a little while after we finished eating, I jumped up.
"Who's ready for dessert?" Everybody is waiting for what's coming.
"Adie, can you help me? But you guys have to close your eyes. It's a surprise."
Adie and I go and grab the cakes. We walk back out, Mike and Billie are standing and Tre is sitting at the table. We set them right in front of Tre and I sit across the table. Adie taps Mike and Billie to let them know it's okay to open their eyes.
I take a deep breath, "Okay, open your eyes."
Tre opens his eyes and looks at me, I look down at the table, his eyes follow mine...
