The Chosen: Beginning

I trace a droplet of condensation as it drips down the cold glass of Coke with my fingertip. I briefly contemplate the few fries left on my plate before turning away.

I glance over at my friends Daniel Stevens and Megan Roberts as they talk, but quickly look away. Recently all they’ve been talking about is College, and I'm not going so I have nothing to contribute to the conversation.

I lean back in my chair and stare at the few cars driving by. I wish we’d gotten seats inside instead of out on the patio. The sun is beating down so intensely, and the lack of breeze is making it nearly unbearable to feel comfortable. If it wasn’t for the small umbrella over the table, I’d have argued with Megan about sitting out here and getting baked in the sun. Thinking about it now, I probably should have argued with her about it anyway. There’s barely anybody else out here. Most of the other people eating at Blu’s were smart enough to choose to stay inside with the air conditioning.

I don’t usually mind the heat, but this summer has been particularly unforgiving. Even wearing jean shorts and a peach crop top hasn’t lessened the sweat sticking me to my chair right now, but at least I’m getting a tan.

There aren’t that many people out walking the streets. Avorie’s one of Delaware’s smaller cities, but we’re usually a pretty lively bunch. I'm sure all the movie theatres, restaurants, bowling alleys, or really anywhere with AC are more than likely packed right now.

“Sere, you there?” Daniel waves his hand in my face, and instinctively I shake my head and move back. “Okay good, not heatstroke then.”

Daniel smirks, and I gently slap his shoulder with a grin. He’s pretending that he’s not hot, but I can see the sweat stains growing on the armpit of his navy-blue button up t-shirt. I don’t even wanna think about what’s going on with his white shorts in that chair.

I turn to Megan, who for some strange reason enjoys the heat; she’s watching me through narrowed eyes. My grin slowly slips. When Megan notices me looking, she turns to Daniel and twirls one of her finger on the end of her high black ponytail.

I open my mouth to ask her if she’s okay, she’s felt a little distant this summer, but the waiter comes over with our bills and complimentary mints before I can. He hands each bill out to us individually with a smile.

“Thanks Shaun.” Daniel says before doing some kind of hand slap with our waiter. “Good luck with school.”

“You too man.” Shaun turns from Daniel and looks at me. “You finished Serena?” I look down at my plate and then up at the friendly smile looking down at me. I remember him from high school, but I never really spoke to him. We never shared any classes, or hung out in the same social groups. But he’s cute, average height with short blond hair and bright cerulean eyes.

“Thanks.” I say as I hand him my plate. He brushes my hand as he takes it from me, and I watch him with a knowing smirk. He winks at me. I know I'm flirting, but I don't know if I'm actually interested in Shaun, or just going through the motions.

Before I can make up my mind Daniel puts his arm around the back of my chair. When I turn to him in question, he’s staring at Shaun, and Shaun is staring right back at him. I don’t understand what’s happening, but I notice Megan cross her arms and roll her eyes.

Eventually Shaun forces a tight smile. “All the best you guys. Enjoy the rest of your summer.” I wave at him, and he gives me one last look before walking off.

“Seriously Dan?” Daniel removes his hand from the back of my chair and turns to Megan. “Why don’t you just piss on her. Really mark your territory while you’re away at school.”

“Excuse me! What the hell Meg?” What the hell is she talking about? Megan looks back at me angrily, and I have no idea why. What did I do? I turn to Daniel, but he just looks away sheepishly when we make eye contact. I look between the both of them, but now they’re staring each other down.

Megan finally turns to me. “Fine, I’ll do it if you’re too scared. I’m so tired of the pathetic pinning-”

“God Meg, just shut up. It’s none of your business.” My eyes widen when Daniel stands and towers over Megan. The two stare each other down.

“Whatever.” After a few seconds Megan shakes her head and stands so abruptly that her multicolored summer dress spins around her even without a breeze. She angrily rummages in her purse, and tosses a couple twenties on the table. She now towers over a now guilty looking Daniel, who can barely look at her. She glances over at me before storming away from the table.

“Meg, wait!” She doesn’t turn around, just continues walking down the sidewalk until I can’t see her anymore. The only other people sitting on the patio on a day like today, an obviously crazy couple, stare at me with wide eyes, and I awkwardly sit back in my seat.

I turn to Daniel angrily. “Wanna tell me what the hell that was about?”

Daniel falls back into his seat with his head down. “I shouldn’t have acted like that.” His eyes briefly lift to check the sidewalk Megan walked down, but he swiftly looks away.

Yes, I’ve been friends with Daniel longer than Megan, and I wanna believe that he wasn’t just being an asshole to her for no reason, but from the guilty expression on his face I doubt that’s the case.

“No shit Danny! What’s going on? Is there something going on with you and Meg-”

“No!” I flinch back at the vehemence behind the one word. Daniel soon calms, and gently takes my hand when he sees my reaction. “Sere, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Daniel takes a long breath before lifting his eyes to mine. I can actually see the determination in his dark brown orbs as they meet my own chestnut ones, and it makes me nervous. “Something I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you about for a while, but have been too chicken shit to say.”

He squeezes my hand, and even as anxious as I’m feeling I squeeze back. Daniel’s been my best friend for years now, and I know regardless of how I feel he needs to do this.

“We’ve been best friends for a really long time. Like a really long time. I still remember when you looked and acted like one of the boys. First one up for a game of tag, soccer, catch, whatever.” Daniel grins at the memory of me back then.

As a kid I was really skinny, and I kept my hair short like my older brothers’. I unconsciously look down at my body, mainly my chest. I’m not flat chested anymore, but I definitely haven’t grown all that large in that area. I’m still pretty slim, but more on the athletic side because of my many years of playing sports.

“Danny, I don’t understand. I know we’ve been friends forever. What does this have to do with what happened with Meg?” He looks down and sighs.

He lets go of my hand, and nervously runs his fingers through his short brown hair before getting to his feet. He picks up both of our bills, but shakes his head when he looks at mine. “Can’t blame the guy for trying.” He mumbles as he crumples up the bill and tosses it back to the table.

I’m about to reach for my bill, but Daniel pulls out way too many twenties from the wallet in his pocket for just his bill, and drops them on the table before again reaching for my hand.

“What?” Daniel leads her from the patio, so they’re in front of Blu’s main entrance. "Danny I could have paid for myself, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I know Sere.” Daniel lets go of my hand and starts pacing in front of me. “I wanted to. I like taking care of you.”

As sweet as that is, his continuous pacing is starting to weird me out. I grab a hold of his shoulders, and force him to stay stationary. “Danny, just tell me what’s going on. You know you can talk to me about anything.”

He takes a deep breath and looks me directly in my eye. “I like you. I’ve had a crush on you since middle school when you hit Tim Mitchell for pushing me into a locker.” My eyes widen comically. “Would you go out with me tonight? Like, a date.”

Daniel watches me hopefully, but it’s like my brain has stopped working. He likes me romantically? I’ve never thought of him like THAT. My eyes trail the length of his body. Average height, lean, with big brown eyes and hair. Danny’s always been attractive. I’ve had to tell a few girls that were interested in him that we weren’t dating because we’ve always been so close.

Daniel’s eyes dim, and he takes a step back. “It’s okay if you don’t want to. I’m still gonna be your best friend no matter what.” He won’t even look me in the eye. His body is now turned away from me, and his hands are stuffed in his pockets. I reach for his arm not sure what I’m gonna say, but just wanting to lessen the distance between us. I don’t want to hurt him, and I know my silence is unintentionally doing that.

“Don’t mean to interrupt, whatever the hell this is sis, but we’ve been watching this little telenovela unfold from the car waiting for you to realize we’re here.” Jason crosses his hands behind his head with a playful grin, flaunting his bulging tanned biceps to the few people daring enough to walk the streets in this heatwave “Or at least check your phone.” He says as he lifts the shades off his face and winks at a couple of women passing by ogling him. I cross my arms and turn to him with an eye roll.

Jason Brooks makes sure to make an impression when you see him. He’s dressed in a tight white undershirt and short khaki shorts. My brother seriously loves attention. He’s an openly gay man, but he’s handsome and loves to flirt with anything that moves. During high school he started working out religiously, and has become even more unbearable in the years since. He’s a big guy, tall and muscular, who usually dwarfs most of the people he meets. He’s definitely intimidating to look at, and probably the reason I’ve never had an actual boyfriend, but he’s really just a big teddy bear.

My eyes instantly wander to the figure walking out from behind my brother. Storm tickles one of Jason's armpits with a wide grin. Jason instantly lowers his arms and swiftly steps away Storm. Storm, my brother’s best friend, and the man I’ve probably been in love with since I was five years old.

Storm’s wearing a loose fitted army green t-shirt that perfectly emphasizes his arms, with black quarter length fitted sweats. He’s shorter and less muscular than my brother, but that’s just cause Jason’s abnormally large in most ways. Storm’s lean, but still fairly muscular. Jason forces him to exercise with him most days out of the week. I know this cause Storm’s complained to me about it on numerous occasions.

Storm’s smile is wide as he turns to me, and his bewitching hazel eyes fluster me so much I can’t stop the blush from reaching my cheeks. Watching him never stops making my heart feel like it’s running a marathon in my chest.

Storm lifts his hands and signs ‘That should keep him quiet for a few seconds.’ I immediately sign back, ‘I don’t know why you’re friends with him, but you’re doing the community a great service taking responsibility of him.’

I drop my hands back to my sides. Storm raises his hands to sign back when I fell a hand entwining with mine. I flinch at the sudden touch, but calm once I remember Daniel is standing beside me. I feel so bad for forgetting he was still here that I don’t question the action.

Storm’s eyes briefly flicker down to mine and Daniel’s entwined hands, but the smile doesn’t leave his face. If anything, it widens further when Storm’s eyes meet Daniel’s challenging ones.

Jason walks right up to Daniel and I with a hand under his chin as he contemplates our joined hands. “So, anything you wanna tell me Sere, or do I need to break your friend’s hand?” Jason looks back to Storm, but I don’t catch the look he gives him, just the smirk on Storm’s face as he watches the three of us.

This is usually how things go. Storm’s deaf, and has been since I met him, but he’s also just naturally a reserved guy. It makes his friendship with my brother pretty perfect. Jason gets to talk and stand out, while Storm gets to stay quiet and hide in the shadows.

The blush on my cheeks deepens at the idea of having this conversation in front of not only my brother, but Storm too. Even if he doesn’t see me as anything other than his best friend’s little sister, it doesn’t change the fact that I have feelings for him. But the truth remains the same. Storm’s never gonna see me as anything more than Jason's little sister.

“God Jay, no you don’t have to break his hand. You’re supposed to be 24, not 14.” I sign while I talk. I’m used to doing both because of Storm anyway. I wanna make him feel a part of the conversation, especially in situations with people, like Daniel, that don’t know sign language.

I can feel Storm’s eyes on me, and it takes everything in me not to look at him and keep my eyes locked on my brother. If I’m seriously gonna give Daniel a chance I need to start pushing away the feelings I have for Storm.

“Daniel and I are, dating.” I turn to Daniel with a smile. “Well, that’s if he still wants to go on a date with me?”

Daniel’s grip on my hand tightens, and he presses a soft kiss to my cheek with a grin. My eyes unconsciously find Storm’s, but his face is impassive. Jason on the other hand has his eyes narrowed on Daniel.

“Dating? Hm.” Jason, like me signs as he talks, but this time his hands remain at his sides and his eyes are fixed on Daniel. I can feel Daniel nervously shuffling beside me under Jason’s stare.

I’m about to walk over to Jason to try and nullify the tension, but Jason’s faster than me. His arm wraps around Daniel’s shoulder so quickly I don’t even have time to try and help Daniel before he’s being dragged away. Daniel looks back at me with wide terrified eyes that I can’t help but find comical. I know Jason isn’t actually going to hurt him. Well, I don’t think he would.

“Come on Jay, don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic? You’ve known Daniel for years. You know he’s a good guy.”

“Sure he is. I’m just giving him a little reminder on why he needs to stay that way.” I move to follow them, but Jason signs to Storm. ‘Keep her occupied.’

“You know I know what you said right?” Jason grins back at me, but otherwise ignores me as he and Daniel continue walking until they’re a good thirty feet from Storm and I.

I’m about to go over and try to save Daniel, but Storm gently takes my arm and turns me so that I’m facing him. I wish I could say I didn’t practically melt at his touch, but I didn’t even glance back at Daniel and my brother once I was facing Storm. I shiver when he removes his hand from my heated skin.

‘So quick to get away from me. You wound me Baby Brooks.’ I roll my eyes after he’s finished signing. If only he knew how little I actually wanted to be away from him.

‘I thought you said you’d stop calling me Baby Brooks. I’m not a kid anymore Storm.’ Of course, right after I sign the words to him, I cross my arms and pout like a child.

He smiles and shakes his head before looking back at me. ‘No, I guess you’re not.’ I barely catch the words he signs to me because my eyes are so lost in his.

Storm looks behind me for a second, probably towards Jason and Daniel, before catching my eye again. ‘So... you and Stevens. Guess it was only a matter of time. He’s been into you for a while now.’ Storm chuckles and bites at his lip. ‘Have to admit I didn’t think he’d ever have the balls to actually ask you out.’ I not so gently hit Storm in the arm, but he evades me with a childish grin.

Even Storm knew about Daniel’s feelings for me. Has everyone but me been aware of Daniel's feelings all these years?

‘Yeah.’ Storm absently signs. I watch him curiously, and he hesitates for a second before continuing. ‘You guys were pretty inevitable. Childhood friends who realize their feelings for each other years later. A bit of a cliché actually.’

His eyes avoid mine, and I stare at him with a frown. He says Daniel and I were inevitable, but I’m still not sure if a romantic relationship would even work between us. I’ve never really thought of him like that before. He’s always been my best friend who I complained to about boys I was interested in, sometimes even about my unrequited feelings for Storm... Oh god, Daniel knows I’m into Storm! How is this even gonna work? I can’t just not ever see or talk to Storm. He’s basically attached to my brother’s hip. He’s always over at my house, and even comes over for holidays. Storm’s always gonna be a part of my life, but can Daniel handle that? It’s not like Storm will ever feel that way about me, so it’s not like he has anything to worry about.

Storm gently nudges me in the side with his elbow. I turn to him, but he doesn’t say anything. He moves closer to me. His eyes locked with mine, and I freeze. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it’s trying to leave my chest. My breathing is growing heavier, and my eyes drift shut when his thumb caresses one of my now flushed cheeks. I open my eyes to his soft smile and blindingly beautiful hazel orbs looking back at me. My eyes glance down to his plump pink lips, but Storm steps away from me.

He’s still wearing that soft smile, but I study him in confusion. What the hell was that? Did we just almost kiss? No way. Storm doesn’t think about me like that. Right?

‘Damn, it’s really fucking hot.’ Storm wipes a droplet of sweat falling down the side of his face, and my cheeks redden even further as I watch him wipe it away. I must look like a tomato by this point.

Storm tries to wipe his sweaty hands on me, but I slap his hand away. ‘Ew, Storm’ He keeps trying to wipe it on me to the point that I’m physically holding his hand back. With his other hand Storm tickles me, and I immediately lose the grip on the hand with his sweat, as I keel over in laughter. “Storm stop.”

“You two look like you’re having fun.” I look up and see Jason and Daniel close behind us. Jason looks amused, but Daniel looks far from it.

Storm wipes the hand with his sweat on my arm while I’m distracted, and even winks at me when I hit him. I try to look angry, but the smile won’t leave my face. Yet, when I notice the hurt look Daniel gives me it quickly fades.

Storm’s eyes dart to Daniel for a second before stilling on Jason. ‘Everything good?’ Jason nods and pushes Daniel towards me.

I glare at Jason as he walks over to Storm and puts his sunglasses back on. “Obviously everything was fine. There was no point in you going into overprotective big brother mode. You’ve known Danny for years.” Once I’m finished talking and signing I rest my hands on my hips.

“Yeah, as your friend Sere. Dating changes things, and so we just had a little conversation to make sure he’s clear on what I expect from him in that new role.” Jason’s eyes flit to Daniel quickly before resting on me again. “And overprotective big brother mode is ingrained in my DNA. Better get used to it sis.”

Jason and Storm make their way over to Storm’s car. Jason usually tends to drive it. Storm’s not big on driving because of the accident he was in when he was a kid.

Jason and Storm are drawing stares from a few passersby, and Jason being Jason, actually winks and grins at a group of attractive men and women watching he and Storm walk to the car. The group actually stops by the driver’s side of Storm’s car, and starts chatting with Jason. Storm crosses to the passenger side and ignores the blatant stares of interest coming from both the men and women of the group.

“Jason said he’d give me a ride home.” I force myself to turn to Daniel. He lifts his open hand to me. “You sure you still wanna do this?” I look down at his hand and entwine our fingers with a small smile. He grins back and wraps his arms around me in a hug. “Dress fancy tonight. I’m taking you somewhere overpriced and boogie.”

“Please don’t” I say with a chuckle.

My eyes peek over to Storm. He's leaning back on the car, and staring right at me. He nods his head over to Jason, animatedly talking about something to a relatively captivated audience, rolls his eyes and smiles at me. I hold onto Daniel tighter and do my best to ignore the flutters in my chest as I beam back at Storm.

God, I’m in so much trouble.