78. Weeks

Genre: Drama, Romance
Characters:  Cian, Bianca, Wilson
Prompt: 78. Weeks
Word Count: 1,376
Rating: PG-13
Type: series
Summary: Cian after two weeks without Will
Warnings:  language, mushiness
** Lame shots, game was giving me hell!
long + tired= might not make sense. sorry

In the two weeks that’d passed Cian found herself constantly in Ramone’s company. He refused to give her the space she needed to heal, refused to allow her to sulk as he claimed. Several “not a date” occasions seemed to occur almost ever night with a different group of friends that Ramone was more than happy to parade her in front of. He had not pushed intimacy, which she was thankful for. The thought of kissing him always seemed to stir up memories of Will and the differences between them. Will was passionate, kissed her with so much patience that she wished would never end. The one kiss she and Ramone shared was urgent, and oddly unmoving. Wilson stood behind her, supported her love for art and made silly comments about it that would spark a play fight, Ramone convinced her to return her job as a waitress, despite how much she hated it. He’d become her father’s pet, the son he always wanted, and she, the daughter he was proud of for bring home such a man. How Ramone managed to ease his way into her head and controlled her every move like a puppet had escaped her, boggled her mind as she zoned out during one of his many parties. She thought of the last one, the one that’d reunited her with her best friend after 15 years, sporadically looking at the door, secretly hoping he’d walk through it. 

He wasn’t coming and according to Ramone, he hadn’t even called. The beating in her chest had slowed drastically since that day, died down with each day that passed without him. While her mind showed her endless images of her good memories with Will, painful ones burned behind her eyes, images her heart had a hard time accepting.

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“Hi, my name is Cian and I’ll be your waitress today. What can I start you off with?” She forced the enthusiasm in her voice.

“I’ll um, just have water.” The young girl blinked slowly, trying to talk over her growling stomach.

“Just water?” Suspicion automatically creased her brows. The girl nodded quickly, turning her eyes away from Cian to avoid further questioning. “Coming up.” She reluctantly headed for the kitchen and returned a few short minutes later with an ice cold glass of water.

“Thank you.” The girl smiled, making eye contact with her once again. She looked familiar but unfamiliar at the same time. Something about her eyes and skintone pulled at her, triggered thoughts of Will. As she took down each order from the other tables and booths, she watched the girl take small sips from her glass, obviously trying to prolong her stay. The sun had set hours ago and it was just 30 minutes away from closing time and the girl was still there, taking tiny sips from the glass.

“Let’s make a deal,” Cian approached her from the other side of the counter, “If you tell me your name and why you’re trying so hard not to go home, you can have anything off the menu on me.”

The girl hesitated, looked down at her glass before deciding to go along with the deal, “Bianca.” She said lightly, dropping the glass down on the counter, “I’m tried of being a prisoner to my responsibilities.”

“Responsibilities?” Cian stifled a giggle, “How old are you?”

“15. My parents expect me to be like my little miss perfect piano playing older sister. They stuck me in a private girl’s school, I can’t date, they choose my friends, and I’m sick of it.”

“Sounds like my dad!” Cian held herself over the counter on her elbows as she watched Bianca scan the menu. “I have bad news for you,” she rested her cheek against her fists, “it never stops! I’m 25 years old and my father still tries to tell me who I can and can’t see.”

“Are you serious? And you listen to him?” Her eyes widened.

“No!” Cian laughed. “What do you want?” She held her hand out for the menu after Bianca closed it, “The Chinese chicken and broccoli.” She smiled widely with her order.

“A Chinese food lover, huh?” Cian frowned.
“You don’t like Chinese food? What’s wrong with you?” Bianca giggled.

“I wouldn’t say that. I had it once and it was delicious but I’m not a big fan.” She turned, placing the order slip on the rack.

“You haven’t had good Chinese food until you had my brother’s!” Bianca boasted.

Cian’s smile fell as the familiarity of those very words set in, “Wilson is your brother.” It was more of a conclusion than a question.

“Oh God, do we look that much alike?” Bianca playfully pulled at her cheeks and the corners of her eyes. 

“Yes, you do!” Cian’s smile returned, “That’s not a bad thing you know!”

“Ewww, are you saying you think my brother is cute?” Bianca held her hand over her mouth playfully pretending to gag.

“Cute? Girl, he is so hot he could melt an iceberg!” She teased and keeled over in laughter while Bianca choked.

“Please, PLEASE don’t ever say that again!” She huffed, holding one hand across her forehead, fanning herself with the other.

Cian snorted, “Only if you promise to let me take you to your house.”

“Take me to Will’s and it’s a deal!”

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Cian reluctantly followed Bianca to the door. She wanted to make sure she was going inside and wouldn’t run off the second her car disappeared down the street.

“God, do you ever wear clothes?” Bianca blurted the second he opened the door. He shot her a half smile before looking over at Cian. “Inside.” He nodded, pinching her arm as she passed, causing her to wince and swat at him. 

“I just wanted to make sure she made it home safely.” She finally looked up from the ground, turning on her heels before he could reply.

He stepped out onto the cold pavement to catch her arm, stopping her before she could bend the corner.

“What you thought you saw, Cian, didn’t happen! Please, just let me explain-”

“You don’t need to explain anything to me, Wilson.” She interrupted in a soft, calm voice. “That was two weeks ago, it’s over with.”

“But you’re still mad at me!”

“I’m not.” She retorted.

“Yes you are! That’s why you’re in such a hurry to leave.”

“I’m in a hurry to get away from the shit I saw on the other side of this door!” She belted, yanking her arm out of his grasp. “You know what, I am mad at you! I’m mad that you carried this attitude toward me, told me you loved me, and then turned around and had that bitch's legs wrapped around you!” Her voice grew louder with each word, shocking them both. 

Will searched her eyes, the light was almost gone, replaced by a dark spot that’d no doubt come from the bullshit with Ramone and Angel. He pulled her close, kept his eyes on hers until he saw the light flicker, showing signs of life, “I meant that Cian! I do love you! With every fiber of my being I love you! I’d never do anything to purposely make you cry and I need you to understand that! See that I’m here for you and just want to make you happy!” He pulled her closer, slipped his hand around her waist. 

“I’ll prove it to you! Just tell me what to do! Tell me what you want me to do!”  His eyes glossed over as a single tear crept out of her left eye. Her quivering lower lip called to him, reached for his but pulled back before making contact. Without a word, she slipped out of his arms and walked away. He’d said it again, those three words, this time repeating it with emotion. He meant it. Each word, each time he said it. Her heart jumped, began to beat again for the first time in two weeks but her brain was speaking louder. Ramone reconnected her with her father, who was now proud of her and showing her the love he’d always given to Phaedra. Though she wanted Will, and needed him desperately, the risk was just too great.