“Don’t even think about getting up,” I warn Dane with a sinister glare as he shifts in his seat and then moves back down. Knowing better than to rile me today. I’m still sore at him for what he did last night, and soon as I get him alone, we will be talking about the damn racing. I barely slept from nightmares about him crashing his stupid bike.
“My head is killing me.” He implores my sweet side with a pathetic pout, but today's mood is vile. Suffering from lack of sleep due to emotional fragility, exasperated by my mom getting up at five am and informing me she was heading off for a weekend spa and Bryan taking off on some business trip. So obviously, they aren’t talking and taking time apart. We have been left alone with our housekeeper.
I blame Dane for all of it and how hellish I feel today.
“Whose fault is that?” I snort, picking up the notebook from the table between the four of us. I start jotting down notes as Elisa picks out key points from an article she is reading with her pointer finger on the laptop beside me.
“Weren’t you supposed to be at the shelter… why are we doing this? I could be upstairs vegetating with a movie.” Dane moans, slides sideways, and attempts to put his head on the armrest of the chair he's slumped on. Sunglasses are sliding down his face even though we are sitting in the shade, and he looks annoyingly sporty in a white tee over white shorts. Hardly the picture of a suffering guy.
He fell out of bed at noon and found us sitting here waiting for him after I summoned them both to get this started. Tyler isn't any better, but at least he has the foresight not to make a fuss and is sitting sipping water. Looking green, like he's about to throw up, although Elisa seems less petrified of his presence for once. I think having the distraction of work to do helps her relax.
Her head is on work, so she’s sat up, staring at the screen and engrossed in finding us good info on how to write this topic essay. She loves problem-solving challenges and is oblivious that she sits upright proudly with a bright expression and her hair back out of the way when she works. I have caught Tyler appraising her anytime she brushes her hair to one side in a sweeping bang to see the screen, and I can tell he’s a little surprised at how pretty my friend is.
With her delicate features, flawless pale skin, and spatter of faint freckles that always seemed fairy-like to me or some magical enchantress. Elisa has beautiful, ethereal features when she forgets about hiding and relaxes. Her glasses make her seem mature, but her braces add an adorable cuteness. I adore everything about her.
“They called and told me not to come in. Most of the staff have come down with some virus and don’t want volunteers to spread it further. As for this….. you said you would try.” I add pointedly, locking a gaze on him with meaning, and I catch him falter, a frown evident over his shades, and he flickers away.
There’s been a weirdness between us since he showed face, and I am uber-aware that he keeps avoiding my direct gaze. He also sat opposite me instead of anywhere close enough to prod and annoy me for once.
“Whatever….. so what’s the plan? Wanna ditch this shit, and the four of us get down and dirty and fake date for a week. Maybe we can write it like an experience diary.” He smirks, and I can tell without seeing that he winked too, simultaneously earning a kick in the shin from Tyler and me. Elisa’s face turns crimson, and she lowers her chin and engrosses herself in typing. Tyler frowns his way and mouths the words ‘cut it out’ silently at him, sensing how uneasy Elisa is.
“Be serious,” Tyler warns, unusually grumpy today, lacking his normal bro humor since he sat down. I don’t know if it’s hangover-related or connected to how much he keeps staring at Elisa, and he seems to be toning down his behavior. He’s picked up on how easy she is to scare in a short time, and I noticed he’s been painfully polite and almost soft when talking to her about the project. Like most people who start to spend time with her, I guess he sees that she’s a precious gem and should be treated as such. Elisa is a rare being who brings out the fierce protective side to most who know her. It’s her gentle, feeble nature like you are trying to coax a baby rabbit.
Or maybe he’s just hungover.
“We should interview couples who seem happy… ask them for tips.” Tyler shrugs, yawning, pulling the topic back to intelligence. Balling a fist in his mouth, he rests his head back at a breakneck angle and sighs heavily. He looks fit to go to bed and sleep the rest of the day.
“That’s a good idea.” Elisa takes my pen and notebook without lifting her eyes from the screen, adding it to the list, and Tyler instantly seems smug about that.
“I can’t believe we are writing an essay on fucking dating… what’s wrong with the professor? What has this got to do with English?” Dane huffs, swiping his glass of water, and takes a drink. I feel his gaze land on me, and I glance up to catch him averting it again, tightening his jaw, and clearing his throat. I know he senses I’m pissed at him, but I'm not sure if he cares about it. I don’t know how much of last night he remembers, as it’s not like we have been able to bring it up.
“Here… here, my loves…. move your computer.” Monique's sing-song tone butts into our circle as she appears inside the open patio doors with a tray laden with sandwiches and tropical juice. She slides it into the middle as Elisa makes space bustling between us in the cuddly, brazen way she has about her. It’s not the biggest table in our house, but as it’s shaded and by the pool in the quietest part of the yard, it's perfect for a study group. It’s a cooler day, not too sunny, and a gentle breeze is out here.
“Thank you. This looks amazing.” I beam at her and start helping offload the plates so she can take the tray. Hungry now, I see this gourmet feast she has prepared us. I am determined to be productive today to fill the hours I should have worked.
“Thanks.” The other three answer in unison.
“So good to see my little babies playing together, so nice. Be good and eat it all up.” Monique strokes the hair on top of Dane’s head and gets no rejection before patting me on the shoulder, turning her curvy ass our way, and shuffling off. Our mama bear housekeeper is just a walking stereotype of a food-loving Latino momma.
Monique was the original housekeeper for Dane’s mom, so she has been around him since birth as the one constant in our lives, even though she lurks in the background. I adore her, and Dane does, even if he won’t admit it. She’s the first person he went to see when he permanently moved here.
Tyler and Dane stare at the food as though it’s the most disgusting thing ever to be laid before them, and Tyler visibly gags. It’s not even cooked food or smelly, but both push away their plates in sync and pick up water to stop the dry wretch. Tutting, I shake my head, pick up my sandwich, and bite before leaning back over to Elisa, who is back on notetaking.
It's their own fault. They deserve to suffer.
“If we do some research on basic love sites about implementing behaviors into relationships and pair that with real anecdotal advice from people we know in long-term happy relationships, I feel we could write a great thesis.” Elisa smiles to herself before sitting back to admire her list and pushes it back to me. I scan the page with my food in one hand and relax into my chair.
There are many resource websites and tips on the demographic of couple's ages, genders, and who we might include in our interviews.
I love that our brains are also alike in this kind of thing. She has even outlined the structure of how we should write the essay and provided bullet points on topic sections.
“Do we know anyone that fits those criteria?” Dane shrugs at me, a veiled, sarcastic comment that makes me glare at him. Watching me eat with mild unease and seemingly trying to get involved without actually being helpful.