.97 Ask

Genre: Drama
Characters: Cian, Renee, Eric, Ramone, Wilson, Giana
Prompt: .97 Writer's Choice- Ask
Word Count: 2,512(+)
Rating: PG 13
Type: series
Summary: Questions being asked
Warnings: language
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“Did you really think they were going to let you take her?” Giana began as Wilson exited his house. Her back against the warm brick wall, a playful smirk curling her lips, “Something tells me you didn’t!” She continued, singing in a child-like voice.

“You’ve come to gather company for your misery, G?” Wilson forced a smile. She hated that. Not being able to make him lose his composure. Fall out of that cool, laid back armor he always wore.




“Not at all big brother! I love to see you happy! Even more. I love to see you making Bianca happy!” She placed her hand on her chest in a dramatic motion to accompany her sarcasm. “What is about her anyway? You come to her rescue like a knight on a white horse determined to save the princess from the fire breathing dragon. In this case, three. I don’t ever remember you doing that for me!” She followed him to his car, leaning against it to keep him from driving off.
“Is that what this is about, G? You think I didn’t look out for you?”
“I don’t think! I know!” She pushed off of the car, wailing with anger, “They always gave you freedom and instead of pulling me along with you, you let me fade into the background! Get stuck filling the shoes designed for you but you never even tried on!”

“You always pushed me away, Giana! When I’d play with Cian and Renee, you knew you could have joined us but you sat inside playing the piano and watching that educational bullshit they shoved at us!” He managed to keep a straight face while matching her tone.
“I did those things because you didn’t! I had to do them! Even now, if I stray away…” She broke off with a tear falling from her eye, “They will cut me off!”
“No they won’t!” He said in disbelief.
“The only reason Daddy didn’t cut you off is because you’re his only son! He wanted so badly for you to follow his footsteps but you chose to create your own tracks in the sand and I’m suffering for it!” Her sobs grew inconsolable.
“Look at everything you’ve accomplished! You’re known for being one of the best piano players in this state! Your voice…”
“So what! I can be replaced! Why do you think they are trying so hard to hang on to Bianca?” She is their,” She paused to do air quotes, “just in case child. If I stray away, she is there to replace me.”

Wilson grew quiet. As cruel as it sounded, it wasn't beyond his parents to do that. The guilt he now felt was unbearable. He’d left Giana to pick up where he left off and never knew it. Playing this perfect child. A prisoner to their parent’s goals and expectations. “I’ll help you G-"




“I don’t want your help! I want you to stop fucking things up! You left! Decided you wanted nothing to do with us so keep it that way! Leave us alone! Let us the be the fucked up family you worked so hard to get away from! That includes Bianca!” She stormed off, slamming the car door loud enough to wake the neighbors. Had her plan been to mess with his head, make him feel like he was ruining their perfect little family, she succeeded, giving him another reason to end the night with a drink, or two…or three.

------




“Renee!” Cian whined, tugging at the bottom of her dress as she was pulled toward the sound of loud music by her fingers.
“Stop being a wet blanket and come on!” She stopped to face Cian, fixing her clothes and inspecting her to ensure there wasn’t a hair out of place. “You are going to celebrate your new found freedom and that’s that!” She stepped back to get a full view of her friend.
“I did lose my job today, Renee!” Cian titled her head, slouching as she was being viewed like a prize pig.
“But you’re free and that’s all that matters! Girl, the look on Phaedra’s face was priceless! If only I had my camera!”
“Yeah well I hope you’re still this happy when I have to move upstairs with you because I can’t pay my rent!”
“You’re not going to have to move in with me because starting tomorrow we’re finding you a job that involves painting.”
“Renee-“
“Are you two going to be done with this…girl moment anytime soon? I’d like to go inside sometime tonight!” Eric interrupted their conversation with crossed arms and an aggravated tone. “The party started at 9 and it’s,” He pulled his phone from his pocket then slide it back in, “11:23!”
“Don’t blame me, Babe! I had to dress Cian, literally!”




Eric shook his head slowly, continuing up the stairs and through the door. The music pumped loudly through the door in waves as the base vibrated the shiny wooden floorboards beneath them. “Whose party is this, again?” Cian plugged her ear closest to the direction of the music.
“My boy Ramone.” He shouted over the music. “Oh, and watch out cause he is a…”
“Casanova?” She frowned taking notice of the artwork on the walls.
“Yeah! If he sets his sights on you, he won’t stop til he has you!”
“Great…” Cian rolled her eyes, “another Marcus!”
Renee giggled, wrapping her arm around Cian, “Just try to have fun, okay?”
“Sure,” Cian nodded reluctantly. “I’m wearing a thin piece of cotton with a draft going up my ass while everyone else has on jeans! What fun!!”
“Cian!”
“Alright, whatever!” She waved it off, digesting the sounds around her.

Hey let’s get away
And get a room on the other side of town
Hey shawty I was feen’in’ for you

Hey let’s get a room
Shawty we can freak somethin’ if ya down
Hey daddy I was feen’in for you

“I’d love to get away right now!” Cian replied to the lyrics of the song, placing her hand on her hip.
“Well, maybe I can help you with that!” A mellow toned voice purred in her ear. She turned toward the voice to see a dark haired man, tanned and attractive, a skin tone she’d never seen before and, a hypnotizing smile with dimples.



“Ramone…” He grabbed her hand, placing a gentle kiss upon it.
“This is Cian!” Eric laughed when Cian didn’t speak. “And you remember my Renee.” He wrapped his arm around Renee’s waist.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” He released Cian’s hand, seductively trailing his eyes down her body before kissing Renee’s hand.
“Yeah, alright! Don’t make me give you a birthday ass whopping’!” Eric pulled Renee’s hand away.
Ramone laughed, returning his gaze back to Cian. The tight white dress Renee had forced her into clung to every curve of her body, revealing a shape that was attention grabbing. More attention than she liked. “Ladies, may I get you something to drink? Wine maybe?” His eyes finally reached Cian’s face.
“We want some of that Mexican Rum Abuelito sends up here!” Eric cut in with a joking tone.
Ramone laughed holding up one finger, “That reminds me,” He walked behind the bar returning with a big bottle clothed in a colorful label, “He sent you your own bottle!”
Eric playfully wiped tears from his eyes.
“You’re such a joke!” Renee shook her head at his horrible acting.
“Just for that, you can’t have any!”
“I don’t want it anyway! That stuff makes you hallucinate!” Renee turned her nose up.
“Si! The first time he had it, he said some little men were trying to climb up his leg to steal his car keys!”
“They were! They were green with white face paint and had little daggers!”
Ramone keeled over in laughter, “Tell them how you got them to go away, Amigo!”
Eric covered his eyes with his hand, “I gave them my pants.”
Ramone’s laughter grew louder, “He walked all the way back to the hotel, sin pantalones! The women were whistling at him and throwing dineros!”
Cian muffled her giggles, “Did you at least pick up the money, Eric?”
He shook his head with a smile, “Who am I to turn down hard earned money being thrown at my feet?!”
Renee palmed her face, shaking her head in shame.

“Oh, that wine!” Ramone turned to grab two glasses, making sure he touched Cian’s hand as he handed her a glass. “I almost forgot about my other guests scattered throughout the house! It was nice meeting you Cian,” He nodded, “I will be back to tell you more about this clown here,” He jabbed at Eric, “and the time my mother got him to eat a huge bowl of 3 alarm chili with no water! Feel free to check out the rest of the house. There’s a pool out back and a beautiful view of the city from the deck upstairs.”




“Just in case you leave before I come back, Su belleza siempre estará conmigo.” He leaned in to kiss Cian’s cheek, “Enjoy the rest of the party!” She watched him walk away, casually greeting a group of people standing by the bar with the same charm he’d laid on her.

“Someone, please tell me what he said!” Fanned herself, exhaling deeply.
“He said… Your beauty will forever be with him.” Eric laughed. “Told you! He has a way with the ladies.”
“You weren’t lying!” Renee used her hand to fan Cian. “He almost made me melt!”
Eric’s smile disappeared, “Remind me to punch him in the mouth later.” Cian and Renee laughed, causing Eric to smile.

“I think I’m going to check out the rest of the house.” Cian looked around, as the room filled with more people.
“Go ahead,” Eric grabbed Renee’s hand. “She owes me a dance for that last comment she made.” He pulled her close to him taking her hand into his.

Upstairs, the music was faint. Every other word could be heard in between laughter and the hum of conversations. She admired his modern touches throughout the house. A true bachelor pad with no sign of a woman. She wasn’t searching for it. A reason to list him with all the other men she’d encountered. Men who collected women rather than cherishing them. He could be one of those. In her book it didn’t matter. Though a piece of her wanted to enjoy his company a little more, she suppressed it. Caged it like what she’d felt for Wilson when she saw him. Painting him had released her. Allowed her to let go of the what if’s and day dreams that flooded her mind all morning. It was simple, what she had to do. Forget him. The friendship was lost anyway. Diminished long ago. They were two different people now. No longer the gullible lady lover or the rough around the edges tomboy. They were adults living in a completely different world.

“Stop!” She told herself, frowning at the thoughts of him. How her mind went from Ramone’s taste in furniture to Wilson. Sadness filled her, decreasing the relaxed feeling she’d once had in Ramone’s presence. “Maybe he’ll be the next Wilson.” She whispered. A smile curling her lips as she thought of a friendship like what she’d had before. Pushing through the glass door at the end of the hall, she blinked frantically, surprised by a haunting pair of eyes.




------



“Hey…” He whispered, unable to pull his eyes off of hers.
“Hey.” She repeated, mirroring the same look. They stood with an awkward silence between them, fully examining each other as they had the night before. Cian smiled, breaking the trace, lowering her eyes just as she had before, “It’s good to see you, Will.” She brought her eyes back up to his, searching for the mutual pleasure she was reeling in by just being in his presence. “It’s good to see you too, Cian Reese-Pieces.” He smiled that same sexy smile that gave her goose bumps at the club.
She laughed, feeling a little less nervous as the old Will reappeared. “That always made me laugh! It’s even funnier hearing you say it with that deep voice.” She idly walked to the railing, taking a sip from the now warm wine to hide her excitement. He followed her, resting his back against the pillar a few feet away from her, “Not as funny as what you called me…”




“Chicken burp.” They said in unison, laughing together. “I hated that! And when Renee would call me Wilson De Loco!” Cian joined in the laughter, “You two were like cats and dogs! Remember how she always had to be the mommy when we played house?” She glanced over her shoulder with a huge smile.
“Yeah,” He chuckled, “we were always her kids! She was so bossy! Forced us into countless tea parties !”
“And she’d get mad when we told her it was fruit punch and not tea!” Cian added.
“Then she tricked us into kissing!”
“Don’t act like you didn’t like it!” Cian smirked, changing it to a smile.
“I loved it!” He continued to laugh until she turned around. Her smile slowly faded as she silently counted the wooden planks that covered the deck, “I really missed you, Will.” She spoke softly almost as if she was fighting back tears.
“I can’t tell.” He tried to alter the path of the conversation. He’d in fact missed her too. More than he could express through words but this moment with her, with them, had brightened his day and he didn’t want to spoil it with sad thoughts of their separation. “You’re stand all the way over there like I’m a leper!” He unfolded his arms, pushing off of the pillar.
“I’m standing all the way over here because I don’t want your boy cooties on me!” She turned, throwing her hand on her hip.
Shooting Cian an evil grin, he snatched her by the arm pulling her close enough to be tickled. “You don’t want my what on you?” He asked, remembering her weak spots.
“Stop! I have on a dress! You're going to make me spill this wine!” She shouted through giggles.
“So! You don’t want what on you?” He asked again.
“Will…please!”
“Say sorry!” He demanded while he held her close just in case she refused to apologize.
“I’m sorry Will!” She mumbled.
“Louder!”
“I’M SORRY WILL!” She laughed.
"That's what I thought! He helped her straighten her clothes as he released his death grip on her arm. “Some things will never change!” She giggled, brushing off invisible wrinkles in her dress.



She looked up, meeting his eyes and that smile. It dissolved. They were close. Too close to avoid the desire behind their eyes. Too close to try.

The clicking of high heels drawing closer startled them. Causing them to jump back like kids up to no good. “Cian?” She heard her name being called from inside of the house. “That doesn’t sound good! Give me your phone.” She held her hand out.
Entering all 10 digits, she pressed the enter key, dialing the number to her absent phone. “You have my number now, so there is no reason why we should lose contact this time!” She handed it back to him after ending the call.
He watched her turn, switch away so effortlessly. “Can I see you tomorrow?” He asked quickly before she disappeared into the house. “Around 6. Kennison Park.... if you're not busy?”
Cian turned slightly, enough to see him as she gripped the door handle firmly. She looked up smiling sweetly, “I’ll be there.” Closing the door behind her.


**This prompt gave me hell! So much that I've had more than my fair share of Advil just to get through it. From gadwin screwing me over to losing shots I needed. Like this unusable shot of Ramone. Shots of Eric were also unusable but there will be more of him later. SMH! Anyway.. much thanks to every who reads this and those who came to my rescue! enjoy.