December 22, 2010 2:30 p.m.
If Xander is startled to see Wolfram and I walk side by side into the foyer with matching smiles on our faces, he is too polite to acknowledge it. His eyes flick to mine in question when Wolf slings his arm casually over my shoulder.
"Everyone ready?" Wolfram asks.
I want to throttle him. It's so not fair that he can keep his voice steady like that when inside, I feel like all the butterflies have escaped and are engaging in a close-combat melee in my chest.
Levi's eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. Just a little while ago I had assured him there was nothing going on between me and his brother. He tries to catch my eye but I determinedly avoid his gaze. Like Levi, Diana is also staring openly, her pretty face twisted into an unpleasant grimace.
"Hope everyone is bundled up!" Graeme chirps, clapping her hands together. "There's a lot of shopping I want to do, so don't expect to get back before dinner time."
"You're buying tourist tat?" Diana smiles. "How quaint, Graeme. I would have gotten your Christmas present from the airport instead of Rue Mouffetard if I'd known you were economizing."
Graeme's face flushes. Even though she's been less than gracious to me, I feel a burning rush of anger on her behalf, mingling with the sympathy. My parents always taught me that you have to be the friend that you want to have. It doesn't matter that Graeme has unsheathed her claws to me time after time. It doesn't matter that if I was in her place, she wouldn't say a word in my defense.
Maybe it's the adrenaline still rushing in my veins, scalding me with the need to be bold, to be brave. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. Either way, I open my mouth. "I'd love to do some shopping too, Graeme. Would you mind if I join you? I'm sure you could help me pick out some gifts. You have great taste."
Wolf looks at me, surprise evident in his gaze. But there's something else there, too. Grudging respect, I realize, when he gives me the barest, approving smile. It's almost worth the bad taste in my mouth after kissing Graeme's ass.
"I'll go with you guys, too," Xander says quickly.
Graeme looks taken aback too, but recovers quickly, smiling broadly. For once it doesn't seem fake. "Of course," she exclaims. "I do so hate it when people splash their money about like they have something to prove, don't you?"
Now it's Diana's turn to look thwarted. As Wolf leads our procession out the front door, she bumps my shoulder hard, overtaking me in her haste to be at Wolf's side. Xander and Graeme take off together, their heads close together, whispering. I admit I'm slightly curious as to what could be so secret, but Levi steals my attention away by sidling up next to me as we pass through the front door.
"What's going on between you and my brother?" he whispers.
I get the giddiest sensation; just a little while ago, wasn't Wolf trying to gauge the same thing between me and Levi? "Nothing," I say, shaking my head. Considering the fact that Levi slept with Diana, I don't want to betray Wolf's confidence and reveal that I'm only doing this so Wolf can save face.
"Did you lie before?" The question has no heat behind it. His eyes are beseeching, trying to coax an answer out of me that I don't want to give.
"No," I reluctantly mumble. "He just wants to get Diana off his back."
"Ah." Levi's shoulders relax. "I thought it was something like that."
Our boots crunch over the driveway. "You're not mad?"
Levi grimaces, giving me a what-are-you-kidding? look. His indifference is puzzling; if he doesn't like Diana, then why would he sleep with her? I don't have time to question him because we've caught up with the others, who are waiting for us.
Diana's at the passenger door of Wolf's car, giving me a jaunty smile as we approach. Her hand is proprietarily placed on the door handle even though Wolf hasn't unlocked his car yet. Given that she looks ready to bite anyone who dared think they can take the coveted spot from her, I begin to move towards the back door.
"Diana, budge over," Graeme says irritably. "Let Charlotte ride in front."
Okay, that I was not expecting. I start to defer, but Wolfram backs his sister up. "Come on, Lottie," he says with an irrepressible grin.
It takes me a moment to realize he's talking to me. Unsure, I stand there, feeling awkward. I'm not the girl who plays this kind of game of hearts. Like a fish out of water, I struggle to find my footing. I've always been that way; even in high school, when other girls flirted shamelessly in order to make a guy jealous, I always wondered why they resorted to battles of wills rather than simply going after who they wanted.
Diana's eyes flash to me. For once her face doesn't look poised and aristocratic. She looks like a girl who wants nothing more than to claw her way back to the boy she wants to be with. I don't want to be playing this game anymore. Diana is a bitch, but in all of this, somehow I think I'll be the one who gets hurt.
This is not my game, it's Wolf's, and I am merely a pawn he's moving on his chessboard so he can win the game. And the thing about pawns? They're expendable.
"It's no big deal. Go ahead, Diana," I say finally.
"Besides," Levi interjects, "there's only five seats and there's six of us. Charlotte and I can go in my car."
"What?" Graeme and Diana say at the same time.
I dare to look at Wolf. I expect him to be scowling at me, but instead his face is closed-off. The vulnerability in his eyes is the only sign that I've disappointed him.
"Do what you want." He unlocks the doors and seats himself without sparing me another glance.
Xander looks torn, like he doesn't know which car to go in. Levi's already pulling keys out of his pocket and starting to walk to the six car garage adjoining the property (how did I not notice that monstrosity before?!).
My best friend glances at Graeme uncertainly, who is already settling herself in the backseat. I make the decision for him, taking pity on his torn expression. I get the feeling that he's into Graeme, even if he hasn't told her yet. "I'll see you there, Xand," I say brightly, hoping to assuage him.
The words have the desired effect and he nods, but I know I'm not off the hook. He won't say anything in front of the others, but I know he's confused about what just went down.
I follow Levi to the garage and join him at the overhead door on the side of the garage farthest from the house. His finger pushes a button on the fob of his keys and the door recoils upwards silently. Inside, a cherry-red Aston Martin gleams. "Incredible,"Â I manage to say, running my finger over the sleek hood of the car. This is the kind of car anyone would look good driving, but especially a boy with a devil-may-care glint in his eye and curly, wind-swept hair.
"Yeah," he says with nonchalance.
I clamber in, sinking into the soft leather seat. He starts the car with practiced ease, reversing until we hear the soft crunches of gravel beneath us. Wolfram's car is already at the end of the long driveway. He takes the turn sharply, then vanishes from sight.
"You want to tell me what's going on?" Levi questions. He pushes the button again and the door comes down. Turning and reversing at the same time, he straightens the car until it's aligned with the drive. We crawl forward at a snail's pace as he steers with his knees, giving me an expectant look. "How did you get roped into this shenanigans?" His nose scrunches.
"Honestly?" I raise an eyebrow. "He told me about you and Diana. It doesn't paint you in the best light." It's hard keeping the judgment from my tone; I only hope he doesn't pick up on it.
"My brother rarely paints me in any light at all," Levi scoffs. "I'm surprised I even got a mention."
"You slept with his girlfriend. I'm pretty sure that makes you the villain of the piece. You were the starring role of his story."
"Ex-girlfriend," he corrects. He speeds up, but only slightly. "And they weren't even together at the time."
I can't help but be disappointed. I kind of wanted Wolf's story to be an exaggeration of the facts, but as it turns out, Levi seems to be just as entitled and spoiled as his siblings. I lean my head against the headrest.
"Charlotte?"
I don't respond.
"Charlotte," he tries again, this time putting his hand on my knee.
At this, my eyes fly open and I turn my head to look at him. His hand is warm and he makes no move to remove it from my person. My thigh feels ridiculously tingly and tightens in response.
"I was a dumb kid. I acted out to get some attention from him. It's not easy, being the bastard son."
The words come out of his mouth so matter-of-fact that I almost gloss over the last two words but then it sinks in. "Wait," I start to say, confusion seeping into the words.
"Let the cat out of the bag, didn't I?" Levi looks sheepish. "Well, I guess it's not a secret, but I figured Xander would have told you."
"Why would Xander know?" I ask, confused.
Levi rolls his eyes. Guess it's a family trait. "Since Wolfram and Xander started working together at the New York office, they've been inseparable."
"So Rhona isn't your...?" I try to phrase my words delicately, but Levi doesn't seem to care.
"Nope." He pushes down on the gas pedal and we start to move at a normal speed. His eyes are on the road as he answers. "Marcus had an affair with my mom years ago and he didn't know about me until I was twenty-one - that was a year ago."
I remain silent. I sort of want to say something horribly insensitive like oh my god!!! but I get the feeling that his story isn't over yet.
"She didn't want to tell him because she knew he was married and he was expecting a baby - Graeme. He wasn't the greatest dad to his own kids, you know? She didn't want him to think he had a voice in how she raised me, so she didn't accept anything from him."
"Your mom sounds like a pretty tough woman," I say quietly, digesting everything he's said. No wonder Wolf hates him.
"She is." He grins at me, proud. "When she told me I was his son, I went to the New York office and hounded his secretary until she agreed to slip my resume into the pile he was considering for the Graphic Design department interns."
"He chose you?"
"Yup." Levi nods in the affirmative. "After I made it past the probation period and the team leader made me a permanent offer of employment, I told him."
"How'd that go over?"
"Surprisingly well."
"Well enough to invite you for Christmas?" I can't help but be skeptic. I think of Rhona's grace, wondering now what other indignities Marcus has made her suffer over the years. Behind that warm smile, what injuries have been done to her heart?
Levi sees some of my sympathy on my face and he shakes his head quickly. "Rhona and I are all right. I'm never going to be one of her kids, but she's kind to me."
"That's why you and Wolf don't get along." I hold tight to the armrest, forgetting to breathe as Levi zig-zags through narrow lanes, often narrowly missing a passing automobile by a hair's breadth. "Makes sense," I say breathlessly as the open, wooded landscape suddenly shows more signs of life.
We're entering the town now. The little shops look inviting, their doorway arches wreathed in holly and ivy. Unlike the stores in America, the frosted storefront windows are intricately designed with miniature Christmas trees and assorted items for sale. A bakery has a half-dozen cake stands topped with fruitcakes, cinnamon-apple crumbles, and mincemeat pies. The Christmas tree next to it is drooping with tinsel and green ornaments. The store next door has a family of mannequins wearing chunky red sweaters; the mother, the father, and two child-sized figures.
Levi parks in front of a narrow brown building. A few cars next to us is Wolfram's black automobile. Wolf is leaning against the driver's-side door, looking decidedly pouty. He catches my eye as Levi turns off the engine. As if the car door will protect me, I want to stay sequestered inside the warmth of the car, but Levi opens the door and a gust of cold wind blows in. I jump out, doing a little jitterbug dance as the cold hits my legs. Even though my jeans, I feel the bite of the air.
"Ready to be judged, witch?" Levi winks.
It wouldn't matter even if I wasn't. "As I'll ever be," I reply, giving a half-hearted shrug. Going to a Witches' Weighhouse hardly seems like the merriest way to be spending the holiday.
Wolfram uncrosses his arms as he pushes away from the car and strides towards us. He stops in front of Levi, his face hard and unforgiving. "What are you doing?" he all but hisses. He doesn't even look at me as he speaks. "She isn't Diana. What do you think you're doing?" Wolf enunciates each word carefully.
"I know she's not Diana. She's your fake girlfriend." Levi gives him a belligerent look.
I stand between them, wondering if my presence is required for this brotherly pissing contest. Across the parking lot, I can see a crowd of people gathered around festive, colorful stalls. Money changes hands and bright packages with elaborately-curled bows are stuffed into shopping bags. Xander and Graeme are huddled over a counter of wares, with Diana standing disdainfully ten feet away, checking her phone.
"Are you going to say anything to her?" Wolfram demands, flicking his eyes to the blond beauty who's engrossed in her phone. "About Charlotte and me?"
"No." Levi shoves his hands into his pockets, looking his brother squarely in the face. "I don't care about her, Wolf. I never did."
"You don't care about anyone other than yourself," Wolfram retorts, bristling. "Can I have a moment with you, Charlotte?" He eyes Levi meaningfully. "Alone."
Author's Note: And now we know the big secret about Levi. Is he redeemable? Do we like him? :)
Is the slow burn between C x W getting you guys stoked to jump on their ship?
I'd love to know your thoughts about the plot and characters. Like I've mentioned before, writing something this romantic is pretty new to me and I would be so so so appreciative of any feedback you guys can give me!
And hey, if you like the story, please vote. You'll win some good karma :)
P.S. I'd like to rename my chapter titles something a little shorter and more creative. But I'm totally drawing a blank! Some of the amazing chapter formats some writers have on here absolutely slay me. Does anyone have any suggestions? I want to stay away from Latin words (which I've noticed is a trend). And I would also like the titles to somehow reflect the story. Lol that's probably quite a tall order but if anyone can help me out, it's you amazing readers!!