Just a kiss

[Lovely]

April 8, 2009
4:45pm
Veinna Estate

The same note rang out over and over under his finger. She hated them. He was convinced she'd think they were stupid and she probably never wanted to hear from him again. Drake decided he was the poster child to the hopeless part of hopeless romantic, but it seemed like a good idea at the time, especially after the time they'd spent together so far. What if she told someone who the flowers were from?! Oh god. His head sank against the music rail on the piano and his hands pressed an angry mix of keys at once. At least his foot was anxiously tapping at the pedals, softening the tones that woke the room. He heaved a sigh and pulled himself up, correcting the melody if not his mood, trapsing a slightly lighter-hearted drama over the keys in contrast to the one in his head.

Charlie felt awkward and energized at once, he had two surprises for his cousin and he really wasn't sure which one would be the most fun to deliver. He'd brought the flowers to the girl and had a message to return from her. He didn't feel right getting the message if he didn't pass it on. As he wandered the house the sound of notes brought him toward where Drake sat at the keys.. big surprise.

He held the chuckle and wiped his lips, last thing he wanted was for this to be wet and sloppy. "hey.." Was all he said quietly as he slid up beside Drake, keeping the smile in check as he leaned in and laid a kiss on him. A real kiss, probably a good one, complete with the tongue Angel had given him for Drake.

The music fell back into an angry mash of keys as he was caught off guard by Charlie. Was it not bad enough that Angel probably hated him now but his own cousin, and not even the cute one, was trying to lick his tonsils? It was self defense, or that's what he'd claim, as the fist came flying and Drake came up for air. "Dude! f*ck's the matter with you?!" He wasn't sure what he hit and didn't care.

Charlie almost fell off the bench, his head turned with the punch and his lip stinging with the small cut but he was laughing. Laughing his fool head off for a minute, then he calmed himself down a little and gave Drake a serious look. "Come on.. it wasn't that bad. I'm a good kisser, not as good as Angel maybe but.. I even chewed gum on the way home.."

It was going to be more than a punch in a moment, measuring up for a crashing of bull horns, forehead to forehead if Charlie didn't explain pretty damn quick. Drake's hands were already reaching for fists full of t-shirt and wolf hair under it. "Whaddya mean not as good as Angel? You were supposed to just give her the flowers. What happened, huh? Next time try peppermint. Wint-o-green tastes like crappy pepto shit," he said, tempted to spit back at Charlie to get the taste out, but rubbed his mouth on his shoulder.

"What do you mean, what do I mean? You think I kissed you cause I like tonguing you? Come on.. I love you man but I not like that.." He wiped at his own lips, still laughing a little. "DUDE... that was from Angel.. apparently she liked the flowers. She jumped me.. laid that baby on me and said it was for you.. I wouldn't have felt right keeping it for myself.."

Drake's eyes narrowed a little at his cousin as he let go and Charlie might notice he was shaking a little with worry. "Did it maaaaaybe occur to you at any point in time while you were busy snogging the girl of my dreams that you coulda possibly suggested she deliver the message like... in person herself?" He wiped his mouth and grimaced again.

"It might have but that would have meant I didn't get to kiss you myself.. and since I reeeaaally wanted to see your face after and since I endured the torture of being kissed by a totally cute little blonde, I figured it only fair to deliver your message as it was entrusted to me." Charlie winked at Drake offered him a mint from the tin in his pocket. "I did suggest it.. she's waiting outside by the car. The keys are in it if you want to take her out.. I have to go get myself ready for my date tonight.. you maybe want to practice some more kissing? I don't want to screw that part up."

[Lovely]

"Shaddap..," his hand came up in the threat briefly, but it fell back against the piano, sliding the cover clumsily closed. She was outside, she didn't hate him... and she was waiting for him! "I hate you," he grumbled though he laughed. "Punk... did I mention I hate you? In case I didn't, hate you... hate... absolutely." He shook his head. "No... absof*ckin'lutely, don't even think about ever doing that again," he pointed to Charlie, putting distance between him and his kissin' cousin.

Charlie puckered a few kisses to the air in Drake's general direction and laughed again. "You liked it.. you know you did, you're just not ready to admit it. So.. just so we're clear.. I can't kiss you, but I can kiss Angel.. right?" He was teasing, getting Drake riled up.. since he was all riled up himself and full of excited energy for his date.

"Hell no. I don't want her covered in dog germs and having your paws all over her, man!" Drake wasn't really laughing so much now as getting nervous.

"Screw you man.." Charlie laughed. "Dude she's a stripper, she takes off her clothes and shakes her ass for dollar bills from strange men.. and you're worried about me? At least you know where I've been.. no telling what else is getting all up in her kool aide, you know?"

"You sonuva..," he couldn't even see but he was sure he bruised something as he launched himself over the piano bench at Charlie, swinging and grabbing to take him down. "You wanna know what's up in her koolaide? Huh? Me, asshole. You don't say shit about her, about me or anything else, you got that?! Huh?!"

Charlie was stunned as Drake tackled him and sent him slamming to the floor.. damn the floor was hard, as he went backward off the bench. "What the f*ck..?" He gasped, seeing dots and feeling Darke getting in at least a few good hits on him. It only took him a minute to start swinging back, though he didn't understand how what he'd said had come off sounding like. "Shit.. geez.. okay.. damn.."

"Okay? No, it's not okay. You think she likes what she does?" He was furious, he hurt for her, and he felt so helpless. He threw another wild punch, not caring if he even hit himself at that point. "She hates it. I hate it too. And I can't do shit about it, Charlie. Why can't I just help her without it all getting f*cked up?"

"f*ck.. shit man.. okay.." He punched Drake again anyway even though he felt like an asshole now. "Damn it.. stop hitting me!" He shoved, though he was pretty much letting Drake pummel him now. "You want to help her.. we'll help her.. shit man.. I'll help you.. we'll figure something out.. stop fricking hitting me.."

Drake didn't even seem aware of what he was doing. He sat back, looking at the mess he'd made of Charlie and himself. "You alright?" The swinging stopped and the hand was held out to help him up. "You will, huh? You'll help? I mean... her family f*ckin' hates us, you know that."

Charlie licked at his lip, sucking a bit of blood into his mouth as he nodded and slowly reached his hand out to let Drake help him up. "Of course I'll help. It's obvious you're nuts about this girl.. and I do stress nuts.." He chuckled though despite his cousin pounding his face. "Like you said her family hates us.. so what will helping her do.. make them hate us more? Ooo.. yeah.. color me afraid, not! You tell her she's never working at that place again, okay? Don't worry about it.. just make sure she never goes back, alright?"

[Lovely]

"Charlie... she's not a quitter. She already told me how scared she is as it is and doesn't want me involved. What, I tell her... what -do- I tell her that doesn't come off all jealous boyfriend and makes it look like I really wanna get her out, man? Don't look at me like that... you know what I mean," he clarified. Jealous or not, Angel had already told him she didn't want him to help.

"Pretty much what you just told me.. tell her how you feel about her.. I mean for you to pound my face like that, it's not just some passing fancy or fling or light.. that was intense." He began, wiping his mouth off and swallowing so he didn't spit blood out on the floor. "Tell her you're not taking no for an answer, tell her you're going to take care of it, take care of her.. f*cking be a stubborn Veinna, damn it. Tell her how it makes you crazy and how it hurts you that she's in this situation and that she's scared and hurting. Wrap your arms around her and hold tight and tell her not to be afraid anymore cause it's going to be alright. Think you can do that?"

A grin curled from the thanks and a little bit of a parting shot. "Man... I dunno. Think I can practice on your date first?" He put his hands up, making peace. They were a mess and he felt the drip on his own chin. "I'm joking! Don't hit me! Crap... Angel's still out there and your date... I'm sorry," he said, wiping off his own lip. "She's gonna freak."

"Maybe it's good if she freaks.. get her to think outside her own world.. which she probably feels trapped in. Drake.. whatever we need to do, money, a place to stay, me as her personal body guard.. whatever it takes.. alright?" He reached over slowly, to gently wipe some blood from his chin. "eh you're still ugly.. I owe you for messing up my face when I got a date tonight.. "

"Punk... still hate you. Could talk to dad, maybe cash in for some chores or shet," Drake suggested, holding the break on his lip closed a moment. Richie could get them both golden in no time, but what if he asked?

"Well we best make it quick.. your girl is waiting and mine will be if I spend too long trying to make you all pretty." Charlie shrugged and reached up to touch his cheek which was swelling a little. "Hate you too.." He said in a slight tease.

"Get off your ass, cuz you're coming with me. I'm not telling him the whole story and neither are you. I'm keeping you honest. Hiding the truth ain't the same as lying, right? He'd skin me alive... and you... if he found out I was at the club."

"So leave that part out.. " Charlie shrugged and got up, shifting to nudge Drake lightly. "What will you tell him if he asks.. about the rest though?"

"Not a damned thing. Just that you said some stupid shet and I got stupid back. I just thank god he's not the mind driller in the family... but you know, sometimes I wonder. Dad's are creepy that way."

"Yeah well.. come on.. said girl is waiting.." He tugged Drake gently toward the door to go find Richie. "You know you'll have to tell him something.. eventually.. I mean if you're for real about this girl.. you know?"

"Yeah? Well I am for real. And I can tell him much later, like maybe when I'm thirty... if I f*ckin' live that long. Shit. You hit me harder'n I hit you, man. You suck." Drake looked at his smeared hands again. Dad wasn't going to like this, but he'd come up with something.. maybe. He followed Charlie out of the parlor. "Which way, bloodhound?"

"Aww this way pansy.." Charlie tapped his arm lightly and nodded his head over to the kitchen. "Smells like he's making a sandwich.. mmm I'm kinda hungry too.. two birds, one stone?" He was chuckling again as he started toward the scent of his uncle.