first line Prompt #258 - First Line

[comicfan]

"So you decide to tell me that now!"

[Sasha Distan]

Perfect Timing

 

“So you decide to tell me that now?”

 

There was a stunned sort of silence.

 

“Seriously?” Angelina looked mad and wild eyed, staring at her brother, “You are telling me that, right fucking now? At this moment? REALLY?”

 

“Angie!” Angelo threw up his hands in the sort if supplicating gesture that had never worked on his twin sister, “Calm down. Everyone in the ceremony room will hear you.”

 

“I don’t fucking care if they hear me!” But she hissed instead of shouting, not that it made her any less scary. Angelina had her teeth clenched, her perfect red lips distorted by her rage. A few minutes ago she had looked beautiful and demure, the perfect bride, waiting with her white orchids and soft gardenia flowers, to be given away by their father.

 

“Sis… please…” Angelo knew that begging wouldn’t help. His sister was ten minutes younger than him, but that didn’t mean she played the younger helpless girl to his six feet four frame. She might have only be five-ten, but Angelina could hold her own against any man.

 

“Don’t you ‘sis’ me mister!” Angelina always sounded like their mother when she was mad, and Angelo gripped his forehead and wondered why on earth he’d told her. It wasn’t like her intended was out to hurt her. It had been a one-time sort of dare and big mistake. He should never have told her, especially not right now. Not right before the wedding.

 

“Angie. He’s still the guy you fell in love with. He’s the same Danny he was last week.” Angelo knew that his argument was sort of helpless. Green eyes just like his own showed that she had already made up her mind, “Sis! You can’t leave the guy at the alter without any explanation. How is that going to look to everyone?”

 

“How is that going to look to everyone?” Angelina echoed his words back at him. She was still angry, but now her anger was tinted with a combination of sadness and hate. One perfectly manicured hand reached out and ripped the orchid buttonhole from his jacket, “Why the fuck should I care how it looks?”

 

“Have you any idea how much Dad spent on his wedding?” Angelo knew he sounded desperate.

 

“So I should marry the cheating bastard because it costs MONEY?” Angelina threw the ruined orchid at him. Angelo jumped back as though the impact of the flower had hurt. “This is your fault Angelo!”

 

“Really?” Now Angelo was mad too. There was no way that this situation was entirely his fault, “Last time I checked you were the one who prized truth above all else!” Angelo stepped back from his sister, “Did I misremember something or did you not hit me when you found out I’d lied about Justin?”

 

“We’re twins!” They were both shouting now, “We’re supposed to tell each other everything!”

 

Angelo snorted in derision.

 

“I didn’t tell you when I lost my virginity and you gave me a black eye!” Oddly enough, a stupidly defensive and possessive twin sister had lost Angelo his first boyfriend, “How was I ever going to keep this a secret from you?”

 

Angelina folded her arms, half crushing her previously flawless and expensive white bouquet.

 

“Then why wait until just now? So I wouldn’t have a choice?”

 

“Sis, if you haven’t noticed, this is the first time we’ve been anything close to alone since before the stag do! You’ve been so busy making up the perfect white wedding.”

 

“And what was the point?” Tears were welling up in Angelina’s perfectly made up eyes, and even as Angelo tried to locate his handkerchief, their mother had insisted they all carried ones, he realised that her make up artist had not used waterproof mascara. Black tracks made their way down his sister’s cheeks, “Why did I bother? The cake…all the champagne. The f-f-flowers!”

 

Angelo clamped his teeth together and kneaded his fingers into his forehead. He should have just kept his mouth shut. Screw that, he shouldn’t have drunk more than half a bottle of Jack Daniels and allowed it to happen in the first place. Yeah, allowed it… It wasn’t like he’d had any control over the situation by that point.

 

“Tell me one thing?” The music was swelling, their father would be there at any moment. Angelo gulped, he knew what she was going to ask. “Who was… on top?” She winced when she said it. It was easy to tell that even though she didn’t want to know, Angelina couldn’t help but know anyway.

 

Angelo had a flash that he could lie and get away with it, take the blame even though he’d only known what was happening when it was already too late. That he could save his sister’s relationship with the guy who was a decent and upstanding dude – when he didn’t have more shot’s in him than a failed Mexican drug runner. But it was only a flash, his twin always knew when he was lying. Angelo hung his head in shame.

 

“He was.”

 

Angelina snarled. She burst through the door to the ceremony room, stamped very unceremoniously up the aisle and to the inhaled shock and surprise of all the well-dressed guests, slapped her fiancé hard across the face.

 

“Angie?” Danny seemed confused, his voice desperate.

 

“You fucked my brother!” She screamed.

 

Everyone turned from the scene to look at Angelo, still standing at the back of the room, looking wild and desperate, but he was looking at the man who he now realised, was very quickly going to be his ex-boyfriend.

 

Angelo put his head in his hands as the screaming started again, wondering why he always had such awful timing.

[comicfan]

Wow. The groom and the brother of the bride. You pull no punches. Ouchie.

[Kitt]

Jeez - I might not have posted mine if i knew others were also thinking wedding!  Oh well - mine is at

 

https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/story/kitt/toquietthelittlevoice/8

[Red_A]

I have never been interested in my twin sister's boyfriends/husbands, she does not have good taste.

 

PS I believe it is still customary to give offical birth times at 15 minutes intervals.

[Sasha Distan]

PS I believe it is still customary to give offical birth times at 15 minutes intervals.

 

what does that have to do with anything? Also, i was born at 3.08am, so at least in england, not true

[Kitt]

Exact times are also used here for both birth and death certificates.

[Never Surrender]

only just got bullied into posting this one. I write for me, not for praise, so please excuse the errors and my lack of skills

 

Prompt 258

 

“So you decide to tell me that now!”

 

I levelled him a glare which would have made even the strictest of Army Generals squirm in discomfort. Seething mad wouldn’t even cover my mood at this point – I was so angry, I was surprised that I wasn’t seeing red. I guess that was another saying that couldn’t be taken literally.

 

“I… it just never came up in conversation” he mumbled, his cheeks blushing furiously and his eyes pointed steadfastly at the floor. “I knew you wouldn’t stay with me if you knew”

 

I stared at him, gobsmacked. Words had failed me, and I knew that if I didn’t pull myself together soon I would erupt in a way that would have made Mount Vesuvius proud.

 

“Of course I wouldn’t have stayed with you! You didn’t think to tell me that for the last 6 months, you’ve been engaged? To a woman of all people?  I just don’t understand, Mark. Why did you stay with me if you had no intention of continuing our relationship? You must have known how I felt for you. We’d been together for 2 years!”

 

As I finished talking, a wave of exhaustion and despair overwhelmed me. Feeling numb, I allowed myself to collapse into the armchair that seemed so strategically placed for this moment. Elbows on knees, my head fell into my hands and I could feel my chest tightening as if my lungs were made of lead. After taking a deep breath, I raised my head and looked over at him, taking in the frozen form that I had once found so attractive. He was still refusing to meet my eyes or make any move towards me, and I knew that questioning him would be futile. Even though I knew this, I just couldn’t bring myself to stop. I wanted, no, I needed, answers.

 

“What about all those times we were in bed, snuggled together. All those times you surprised me with gifts, took me on dates, the small affections we shared, and the times you told me you loved me. Was that all a lie? What am I to you, Mark? Or should I say, what WAS I?”

 

Mark finally looked up and met my eyes, his blue to my brown. They were swimming with tears, and he looked so sincere and distressed that my heart almost went out to him. Almost.

 

“James…” he pleaded, reaching out a hand as if to take mine. “Jamie. Jam. It was all real, I promise it was. I felt that way, I really did love you. I really DO love you. It’s just… You know that my family can never know I’m gay, I’d get disowned. I would lose everything. I needed to have the normal life, and marrying Jessica just seemed like it would work so well. I had hoped that you would understand and that we could still make time for each other or something…”

 

At this point, I couldn’t bring myself to listen to any more. He wanted me to become his dirty little secret? I deserved better than that. I stood, raising myself to my full height so I could look him squarely in the eye.

 

“First of all, Mark. My name is James. Those cute pet names you gave me? Not happening anymore. If you were trying to sway me emotionally, you’ve done the opposite. You need to get your shit together and get out of my house. Now. I don’t understand how you thought this was going to work, but you were wrong. You have 2 hours, Mark. 2 hours to collect your belongings and then you get out of my life.”

 

His mouth dropped open in shock. A look of disbelief was stuck on his face, but instead of feeling pity it just made me angry. I turned and strode away, feeling as if I had won a major victory. When Mark had found me, I would have let him get away with this. I would have given him the world 10 times over and more if I could have. He made me feel stable emotionally, made me feel loved and cared for. This was just too much, though. I wasn’t about to take this. He hadn’t just stuck his foot in it; he had stuck his foot straight through the bottom of it. Just as I reached the door I heard wails of anguish commence behind me, and they brought me to a halt. I knew he was upset, but this bombshell he had dropped had made me question everything Mark had ever done for me. Where I would previously have fallen over myself to go back and comfort him, his emotions now just seemed so fake and insincere.

 

“Mark.” I ground out through my teeth, refusing to turn around and look at him. “I meant what I said. 2 hours. Anything not out by then is going to get burnt. While you’re at it, shut your mouth and turn off that god awful noise. Pull yourself together. You made your bed, now here’s your chance to lie in it. After all, I know you like variation.”

 

On that note, I strode out the room and slammed the door loudly after me. It may have been a juvenile move, but damn it felt good.

 

----

 

Just over two hours later, I surveyed the empty apartment. He had done what I had asked him to do, and all of his possessions were gone. He had even gone so far as to take the pictures of the two of us together. Now I had gotten over my anger, I was starting to feel pain. The dull, aching hurt which is crippling yet invisible to anyone except for the sufferer. I couldn’t turn to my friends for help; I didn’t want to burden them with this sorry mess. I knew that realistically, there was only one thing to do.

 

After finding my Michael Buble collection, I cranked up the surround sound stereo and cracked out my last bottle of vodka. This was one vice I has allowed myself to keep. Mark had always tried to convince me to drink Brandy; apparently that was a suitable gentleman’s drink.

 

An hour later, I found myself draped over the couch in the most ungainly fashion.

 

“He can just fuck off” I giggled to nobody in particular, taking another mouthful from the bottle. Whoever said that vodka couldn’t be slugged like beer clearly had no idea. “I am a strong, independent woman and I don’t need no man!”

 

This statement raised more giggles when I realised that I had referred to myself as a woman, but then promptly stopped. Much to my drunken bewilderment, I had run out of alcohol. After checking the bottom of the bottle to make sure it hadn’t ‘escaped’, I formulated a plan. With a determination often only witnessed when coming from the drunk, I decided it was time I went to buy more alcohol. I grabbed my wallet off the table, and headed for the door (sans shoes and coat, but still clutching the empty bottle). After falling out of my front door, I found myself flat on my back on the sidewalk with a pair of concerned brown eyes peering into mine.

 

“You’re upside down!” I sniggered. I knew i would look back when sober and cringe as I watched my IQ points take various hits.

 

“Yes I am” a deep baritone voice said, calm and patient but laced with amusement. “How about we get you back onto your feet and then work out where you need to be?”

 

I nodded my agreement, and then promptly wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me to my feet.

 

“I’m James. You’re very attractive. Are you gay? If not, feel free to take a walk on the wild side with me” I announced confidently, before starting to giggle hysterically.

 

I was staring into the chocolate brown eyes with the thick eyelashes, before I noticed the hat. Then the vest. Then the boots. Oh hell, it was time to let go and step back.

 

“You’re a policeman, aren’t you” I asked in a voice so quiet I was surprised he heard it.

 

“Yes, I am” He replied, and he almost sounded apologetic. “I just got off duty. How about we get you back to bed”

 

“Ok” I replied meekly.

 

 At this point, I have no idea what happened. I gazed deeply into his eyes, tightened my arms around his neck, then leaned in and kissed him. Hard. His lips were frozen for what seemed like hours before he wrenched his head back from mine, breaking the contact. The rejection of it burnt me. First Mark, and now the un-named policeman. I pulled away from him and stumbled back to my front door, desperately hoping to be out of the public eye before I broke down and started crying like a girl.

 

Before I could lock myself away, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. He gently pulled me to a stop, then took my hand in his and led me inside.

[CassieQ]

I like this Never!  Especially the end with the sweet cop    Are you planning to continue?

[Sasha Distan]

awwwww! NS! super cute in a sticky honey kinda way. we enjoy

[Never Surrender]

Haha thanks guys. Leaving it alone, at least for now I think. Not sure its cute haha still not.decided if they live HEA or if the cop is going to kick his ass then arrest him thank you both for the positive encouragement!

[joann414]

I'm such a romance buff.  Loved it. Great writing, and made my evening

[Former Member]

I TOLD you you had nothing to worry about!