Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Wednesday Briefs: In Pieces #46 (11.5)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Brandon is not making a great first impression on Ryan, the more he sees of him. It's obvious that Aiden and Ben are less than impressed themselves. Ryan wonders what Abby sees in the guy. See what's happening in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Emjoy!

In Pieces #46 (11.5)

Before Ben had a chance to reply, Aiden arrived at the table, carefully balancing three frosty mugs of beer.  Ryan started to reach for one, thinking to relieve Aiden of some of his burden, but Aiden managed to set all three on the table without spilling a drop before he turned toward Brandon.

“Where’s Abby?” he asked, almost belligerently.

“In the little girls’ room,” Brandon replied.  “Powdering her nose, or whatever females do in such situations.” He grinned at Aiden, a smile which Ryan found rather predatory. Aiden didn’t return the smile. He made no move to take a seat, either. Ryan got the distinct impression he was willing Brandon to leave, or if he didn’t go, he intended to take his beer and put some distance between himself and Abby’s boyfriend.

An awkward silence encompassed the four men, one Ryan didn’t feel entitled to break, as the newcomer to the group. He wondered if Brandon created this kind of tension wherever he went, or was it just with the members of Salvation? Brandon  was drumming his fingers across the tabletop, as if he hadn’t a care in the world, Aiden was glancing around the club, as if searching for his missing twin, while Ben openly glared at Brandon. Not quite how Ryan had envisioned spending the break between sets with Ben.  The Guinness sat, untouched, on the table.

The seconds ticked by, the noises from the other people in the club a mere background noise around them. Just when Ryan thought he couldn’t stand it any longer, he heard a sharp ding. Brandon pulled out his phone and glanced at it. “Ah, there’s my lady love now,” he said. He quickly typed a reply and replaced the phone in his pocket. He unfolded himself from his seat with no sign of any immediate urgency.  “Sorry to leave such riveting company, but she requests my presence outside. What else can I do but obey? Catch you all later.” He winked, then began to amble in the direction of the back of the club but turned at the last moment, as if a sudden thought had struck him.

“By the way, Aid, don’t wait up for Abby tonight. I’ve got a motel room here in town, we’ll be spending the night there.” He didn’t wait for a reply, but spun on his heel and slouched away.

“Motherfucker,” Aiden mumbled.

“Yeah,” Ben agreed. All three men reached for their beer at once and took a good, long drink.
Aiden replaced his mug then pulled out his phone and began to furiously text. Ryan could just imagine who he was texting. He received a reply moments later and scowled at the screen before putting up the phone.

“Something wrong?” Ryan inquired.

“She told me to behave. He’s the one she should be telling that to.” He glanced in the direction in which Brandon had disappeared into the crowd. Ryan could just feel his inner debate—should he go out there or not, try to talk some sense into Abby. Apparently he decided against it, probably realizing he’d see her again when they started the next set. Confrontation postponed.

Ryan reached for Ben’s hand and squeezed it.  “Don’t let him get to you, he’s not worth it.” He felt Ben release a long sigh, before he returned Ryan’s squeeze.

“I know you’re right, but I see how he is. I mean, he was hitting on you, with Abby right there and everything.  She deserves better than that.”

“I totally agree,” Aiden spoke up. “She deserves some happiness in her life, not to be chased after by sleazes like him and Cameron.”

“Aiden, I promise you this,” Ben said solemnly. “When we no longer need his support, we’re done with him. And with anyone else like him. Then maybe Abby will tell Brandon to go fuck himself, she doesn’t have to take his shit.”

“I think she would dump him now but she lacks self-confidence in herself. As a person, and as a woman.” He shrugged. “Having your twin brother tell you how great you are doesn’t make quite the same impact, I get that.”

“Yeah, but you’re not going to quit telling her that, are you?” Ben said.

“Hell no. She’s my sister. I’d do anything for her.”

“So would I,” Ben said, and Ryan echoed his sentiments.

 Aiden smiled at them both.  “You guys are great. I appreciate your support, more than I can ever tell you.”

“Support? What kind of support?”

At the sound of a familiar voice, Ryan looked up to find Deacon and Keanu standing beside them. They held almost empty glasses in their hands, and they seemed to be in high spirits, faces flushed. Ryan could almost imagine what they might have been up to. Not that he blamed them. Given the choice with Ben, he’d have gone for it too. There was always later.

“Hey, do I need to knock somebody out? Somebody causing trouble?” Keanu raised a clenched fist, as if to demonstrate his willingness to leap into the fray for his friends’ sake.

Laughter broke the pent-up tension rather effectively.

“Not tonight, slugger,” Aiden said. “But I’ll keep you posted.”

“And on that note, I think we should get ready for the next set,” Ben said. “Want to text Abby to come in?”

“Yeah, sure.” Aiden pulled out his phone, as they all stood.

“You going to take more pics?” Ben asked Ryan. He shook his head.

“I think I have more than enough,” he said.

 Ben smiled. “Good. Stand by the stage, where I can see you?”

“You got it,” Ryan said. He raised three fingers and swiped them across his chest. “On my honor.” It felt silly to say scout’s honor, as he’d never been a Boy Scout, considering their stance on homosexuals. He’d never felt the loss.

“Then let’s do this.” Ben pulled him close for a last lingering kiss before they headed toward the stage once more.

to be continued

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