Victory Formation

I don’t know what made me think this was a good idea. Thinking back, I know it wasn’t but it was the desperation in my brother’s voice that made me agree to drive all the way across the damn country to spend the summer with him. It’s the same reason I’m still in this car hoping against all hope that it’s not that much further.

My brother and I are actually pretty close, have been since we were kids. It helps that we are only nineteen months apart. We have a younger sister who’s only two years younger than we are. Yep, our parents just couldn’t keep their hands off each other. So all through school we were known as the Barrington triplets. It doesn’t help we each look just alike. There’s no way with dad’s light brown hair with auburn highlights and sharp green eyes that you could miss that we were related. Mom always said dad had some strong genetics to have three children that look just like him.

Kendrick and I graduated high school and ended up going to the same college at the University of Alabama. Kendrick was the quarterback of the football team and I was one of the cheerleaders. We always had a family that surrounded themselves in sports. When our younger sister, Devyn, got old enough she played tennis and swam competitively. When Kendrick was able, he entered the draft. He was drafted first round, leaving me behind to follow his dreams to play professional football. After that, I transferred to NYU.

I finished college, graduating with my Master's in English Literature and Communications. I wanted to take a small break after college, ya know... a breather. Now Kendrick wants me to spend the summer with him out in California before I start looking heavily for something in the profession I love. Thinking a drive across country would be great, I set on my journey. Yeah, someone should have hit me in the back of the head and told me to fly. I’m thinking about just leaving my car and flying back. Just the thought of driving back makes me shutter. As I drive through Los Angeles, I pull up to the address my brother gave me. It’s a huge house with a circular drive. At the gate there’s a man who steps out and stops me.

“Name, love.”

“Umm… Whitley Barrington.”

“Yes, Mr. Kendrick wants you to park in the garage when you arrive. There will be someone to direct you.”

Good Lord… as I drive up the long drive, I notice a ton of cars parked everywhere. Looks like my dear brother is having a party, as usual. I look up to see another man in a black suit escorting me towards the garage. I wait till the doors open and drive in.

“Ms. Barrington I assume?”

“Yes.”

“You can enter the home from the side door. I can take your bags inside for you.”

“Thank you, they are in the trunk.”

He just nods and hits the button to open the hatch. I on the other hand, start heading towards the side door. I hear music already blaring through the thick walls. When I open the door, it comes into what I assume to be a mud room. First thing that pops in my mind is why do you really need a mud room for in LA? Are they afraid of sand?

Moving forward, I enter what is an enormous kitchen and when I say enormous… this kitchen is bigger than my whole damn apartment back in New York. I am absolutely in love with the white and blue stone island that could seat what looks like our whole extended family. The refrigerator is stainless steel along with all the appliances and bigger than I’ve ever seen one before. Like how do you fill something that damn big with food? The whole back wall is nothing but glass. There’s sliding doors that open the wall up to what looks like the patio and the pool outside.

“You look lost.”

“Excuse me?”

Standing before me is Barbie herself. Platinum blonde, stick thin and wearing what I call a tube top and workout shorts. Pretty laughable to say the least. She’s looking at me like I’m scum in my cut off shorts, that I must say are pretty short and tank top. My hair is in a messy bun on top my head. I mean come on! This is day three of my journey. I just drove all freaking day! Give me a break!

“If you’re looking for the honky tonk bar, there’s one about three miles down the road. This is Kendrick Barrington’s home. You certainly don’t belong here. I’m wondering how you even got in here with his security.”

“You don’t happen to know where this Kendrick person you’re talking about is do you? I’m new in town.”

Her eyes light up light up like she no longer sees me as a threat and I’ll be gone soon, just as soon as Kendrick finds someone who doesn’t belong. Again… laughable.

“He’s by the beer pong table. Over there.”

“Thank you…...”

“Brittany. I’m Kendrick’s girl.”

“Of... course you are. Excuse me… umm... Brittany.”

I hate the name Brittany. Nothing against all Brittany’s in the world. It’s just that I’ve had bad experiences with any and all I’ve come into contact with. I see Kendrick at the table with the ball in his hand and he looks up. He then smiles wide and drops the ping pong ball. I have “Brittany" standing right behind me with a smug look on her face, waiting for him to throw me out. Instead he hollers,

“Hells bells! She finally made it!”

Then he cups his mouth with his hands and hollers loud over the music.

“Gabriel! It’s time for the smash and bash!”

Oh no… I forgot. Gabriel Underwood, Kendrick’s best friend was traded and now they are on the same team. I always had a crush on him but they tormented me since middle school. He never seen me as anything but his best friend’s sister. Such a shame too. I bet we could have been good together, in and out of the sheets. I hear what sounds like thunder coming down a set of stairs behind me and a huge stomp at the bottom. Then he hollers,

“Make room folks! I’m coming in!”

I look at Malibu Barbie and say,

“Oh shit. You might have been right barbs; I don’t belong here.”

“My name is Brittany and I'm starting to think you know Kendrick but I'm his girl. Don't even try sleeping with him."

“Aw come on! How much do you actually bleach that head? Just move! I gotta get out of here!”

Too late. As I turn to run my brother grabs my back and Gabriel grabs my front for a “smash and bash”. My brother says,

“About time you made it. I’m so glad you’re here Whit, I missed my little sis.”

“Kendrick, I… can’t… breathe.”

“Too bad. We haven’t gotten to the smash part yet.”

By now someone has turned the music down and everyone is watching. I feel Gabriel pick me up by my legs and smash me to the floor. He always does this. He hovers above me because he never lets me fall too hard. This time though, I get chill bumps as Gabriel looks me up and down and leans forward. He whispers in my ear,

“Damn Whit, you get any more beautiful I’m going to have to take you for myself.”

What the hell? He helps me up and Kendrick takes me in his arms.

“Everyone! I like for you to meet my sister, Whitley Barrington! Anyone touches her and their dead!”

I elbow Kendrick in the stomach and he holds up his hand.

“Okay! If anyone touches her without my permission, their dead!”

For some reason I look over and Gabriel is staring hard. He has a look in his eyes I can’t quite understand. It’s a determined look with a mixture of something else. Something in my gut is telling me this is going to be one interesting summer.