Dating the Parkers

“I have to admit,” Alex said, “I was a little worried when she said she was going to ask you out today, Parker. But I see everything was in good order. Take care of my little girl now, you hear?”

Silence…is virtue.

Two things happened- Dante immediately removed his hand and Edmund yelled, “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

Mother would be disappointed at his choice of words.

TWO.

Years before I was born- more likely when the Parkers were only a pair of inseperatable three year olds- there used to be an arcade/family hang out place. I forget the name, only remembering it spontaneously from time to time, but it was like our town’s version of a Chuckie Cheese rip off. Instead of old Chuckie, of course, my brother Alex used to tell me horror stories about the forty year old virgin in the beaver outfit. Mom of course, slapped him.

But anyways, speaking of mother- who, at this time I was taking residence in the swelling stomach- so of course I would miss the dispute that happened at this Chuckie Cheese wannabe. Apparently, two three year old boys were arguing over this girl-next-door type. You see, the five year old girl was playing a “dino” game where you sat in front of a screen with the plastic gun in your hand. The game was only two players so the two boys argues over who was going to be the girl’s partner.

Of course, the girl being two years older than the boys and thinking already she was too cool for them decided they were being immature and she didn’t care which of them spent their beloved tokens on them first.

“She’s my friend!” Yelled one boy, he had his golden bowl cut hair and striped red shirt on.

An equal version of the boy, only this one had blue striped instead of red argued, “No! She likes me better!”

I don’t know who threw their fist first, and really, how could I? At the time I was having a near death experience with the umbilical cord. But one led to another and even after the older girl had walked away, seeing her mommy bought her pizza, the two were still at it until they were pulled away by an embarrassed mother.

The story definitely didn’t end there for the two, I can tell you that much.

“What the hell did you say?” Edmund asked again.

Now, at the moment, my brother had me in a confused stare as he glanced between the three of us. Emily, Thane, and Alexi looked uneasy. Thane was antsy, jumping side to side with his feet. Emily was passive, but the furrow of her eye brows mentioned otherwise. Even Alexi, the guy was usually too stoned to care, was beginning to focus his eyes on the situation.

Whoopie.

“Alex,” I hissed, “Whatever are you talking about?”

If siblings had a psychic connection, mine was definitely broken because Alex just cocked his head at me and said,

“Didn’t you come here to ask Dante out?”

Oh no, I thought. Oh freaking no. Why did you ask that brother? Why ever did you have to ask that? The sun was sweltering now. I felt the heat seep through the soles of my converses before looking up uneasily.

“This is a joke right?”

And suddenly everything was cold.

Dante heaved off the table. He shook his long bangs out of his eyes, causing the ringlets on his face to jingle. So beautifully, he stood with his fingers tangling in his pockets. His long, lean legs were spaced out a little, giving him this balanced cat like nature.

But even his beauty didn’t hide the chill factor in his voice. His light, frosty eyes darted coolly between Alex and me.

It wasn’t until Alex coughed that I stopped gawking and was jerked back into the situation. Emily, Thane, and Alexi were boring their eyes into me.

“No,” I said before thinking. The boy in my Japanese class kept replaying in my mind. His laugh, his dry humor… Before I could even compose myself I continued, “I want to- to date you, Dante.”

Moment of truth- I felt the world slide into darkness where only Dante’s frost eyes were sunlight. He stood there, and suddenly a stroke of amusement passed in his eyes before he shook his head.

Edmund’s third taser of the day brought me out of the darkness and on my knees.

I clutched at my sides and turned.

“Edmund you stu-“

But I was caught short.

Edmund had crossed his arms over his Nirvana tee and his legs, much like Dante’s, were parted. I noticed how… more muscular he was compared to his twin. His legs were more muscular, which was more noticeable because of his skinny jeans. But that wasn’t that stopped me.

Although the stop half of his face was shadowed by his headband, and from my downward angle, the strings of his golden hair draped across his shoulders like curtains- I could clearly see the frosty eyes that matched his twin and the playful smirk that went with it.

His smirk widened to a grin like a child who found his plaything. I think that’s what scared me the most at the time.

“Alright, Edwards,” He said finally. I noticed his voice was lighter than Dante’s. And as he spoke, it was as if he was holding in an inside joke, “I’ll go out with you.”

“Oh no!” I screamed.

Alex laughed then, making me feel easier. Edmund placed a hand to his heart, as if insulted. But other than that, everyone else remained as serious and tense. To the side, Emily lit a cigarette.

“You’re joking right?” Alex laughed.

Edmund tilted his head, making his blond hair lay perfectly across his face, “Oh?” He said to Alex, “Why do you say that?”

Alex shifted his legs, “She asked Dante out, not you. Jesus, don’t confuse the situation.”

“Confuse, indeed,” Emily spat. She gracefully walked across the clearing and with both lean arms tugged at Dante’s limp and Edmund’s muscular arms. Both fell towards her without much resistance but unlike Dante, who looked down at his feet, Edmund kept his gaze at me. He was amused. I felt laughter bubble behind those frosty eyes.

About a yard or two, Dante and Edmund started walking on their own, neither taking a look back at me. But Thane and Alexi, both looking as dark and mysterious than normal, didn’t break their gaze on my until Dante’s hand clasped on Alexi’s shoulder.

They walked away, that group. And seeing Dante’s hand on Alexi’s shoulder made me raise my own to mine.

THE NEXT DAY.

I would love to say the next day was any better. I really would. When I got home after confessing, in an awkward car ride where for the first time Alex and I had nothing to say to each other, not even a shower was able to help me wash away the humiliation.

I was so, so embarrassed. The only thing that ran through my mind was the unheard rejection.

Now in my first period, sitting with a poorly typed script in my hands, all I could think about was how stupid it must’ve have been for my brother last night as he walked in on my crying in my room.

“What’s wrong, squirt?” He asked me.

“It’s your entire fault,” I remember saying, “I’m sad with embarrassment.”

Full of drama, it was.

No cute dress today. I was in my regular long sleeved shirt and jeans. Strangely I felt more comfortable in this outfit then I was in that white dress. I even wore my glasses today, I thought happily. It was time just to get back into my normal life, right?

“Hey, is that the script?”

I looked up at Edmund and immediately flushed. He was wearing another band shirt but no bandana today. Instead, he had let his hair freely across and down his shoulders. He snatched the script from my hands and I noticed two familiar rings on his boney fingers.

“Those are…” I acknowledged.

Edmund looked at me with a curious glance before looking at fingers. He flipped his hand, and extended his fingers.

“Yeah, they’re Dantes’.” Edmund said and he grinned, “You would know, wouldn’t you?”

I flushed again, “About yesterday…”

Edmund waved at me, “Don’t worry about it.”

“What?”

At this he leaned his body across the desk and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. The desks in the class were moved around now, so it was only mine and his in a little corner as everyone else piled theirs in other parts of the classroom.

We were secluded.

“I like you,” Edmund said finally, “I mean, I could learn to.”

I shifted uneasily in my seat, “Okaaaaaay?”

He laughed then, the actually smoothness of his voice gliding across my skin.

Then Edmund did something I didn’t expect him to. He slipped one of the rings off his fingers, a child looking thing- there were plain stick figures carved into it that looked like they were linking hand-to-hand all across the circumference. He lifted my hand and slipped the ring on my middle finger.

“A gift from the Parker himself…” Edmund murmured. He ran his finger across the ring, looking as if absorbed.

I was wearing one of Dante’s rings, I admitted to myself. And Dante gave this ring to me so that means Dante accepted me, right?

As if reading my thoughts, Edmund carelessly answered, “Such a pain, you two are. But you have my approval. Pick you up at seven on Friday then?”

I cocked my head.

“A date?”

Edmund grinned at me then. A toothy grinned that told the world he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Anything for Juliet.”

JAPANESE CLASS.

I was tackled before I could even enter the class. Dante moved up right behind me before gliding his lean arms across my waist and giving a quick kiss on my shoulder. My body heated and for a brief moment I felt his long earrings brush against my face as he swiftly side stepped me and sat in his seat.

He… kissed me.

Well it wasn’t really a true, first kiss, but it sure was bold for someone to consider the relationship as a joke, right? I fingered the rings. First Edmund being a complete gentleman and now the boy I have been crushing on is kissing me on the shoulder.

“Edwards san.”

Thirty pairs of eyes were looked on me. Everyone else was seated and the teacher looked at me curiously.

“Edwards san,” The Kanada sensei said again, “Please take your seat.”

And as I flushed, not used to so many eyes on me (unless my brother was sitting next to me) I took my seat next to Dante.

The teacher then was drawing Katakanas on the board. I brought out my notebook and tried to scribble down the lines and dashes when I felt Dante’s hand enclose mine.

“You’re writing is so neat,” He whispered in my hair. The breath of his voice caressing me ear made me tingle. His fingers were tangling mine, also fingering the ring he gave me. With an amused chuckle he whispered, but I couldn’t make odd or evens of it. Instead, his low voice gliding on my neck made me moan.

Not loudly of course.

But hey, that didn’t stop the teacher putting down the chalk and the class looking back on me with a woe-be-gone face. I couldn’t fathom how red my face was then and even Dante was chuckling in my hair, his hands now gripping mine tightly.

“Edwards san, Parker San,” Kanada sensei said sternly, “I will not have that in my class.”

“Gomen,” Dante apologized, using the Japanese term, of course and then he grinned, “She’s just so kawaii, you know?”

This made the entire class chuckle while I looked at Dante clueless at the unfamiliar Japanese term. I only remember Kanada sensei shaking her head before going back to the board and Dante grinning as he clutched my hand.

Later that night, I would randomly remember this scene and look in my Japanese dictionary. Just going down the “K” section I quickly found the word “Kawaii” and blushed at the meaning.

Kawaii- cute.

If I had known that when Dante answered Kanada sensei that moment I think I would have fainted.

“Hey,” Dante had called after class, “Edmund and I are looking forward to this Friday.”

“Why?” I asked, “Is Edmund happy to have the entire house to himself?”

Dante only smiled, those frosty eyes were giving me chills again.

“Oh, he’s the one driving us both, love.”

“So he’s driving us around then?”

Dante then laughed and ruffled my hair affectionately.

“You’re so funny, love. “

Funny, I didn’t get the joke.

LATER.

“Why are we here?”

“I want some more info on those… dillholes taking you out this Friday.”

“I’ll be fine Alex. Did we really have to come here?”

“I’m doing this for your own good ungrateful brat. Peyton here knows everyone so it’s best to run by him whenever you’re going out with someone.”

“Oh please. You’re just brooding over the fact I actually got the guy I want.”

“Shush it, dofus.”

“Ego king.”

“Dorky freshman.”

“Poophead.”

“Weanie.”

Peyton looked between us before slamming his drink on the table.

“I need to teach you guys how to cuss like a man,” He said finally and then he shook his head, “Fucking noobs…”

So where are we now you wonder?

“Alright,” Alex sighed, “This isn’t what we came here for…”

We’re in the back of an ice cream shop.

Peyton remained emotionless as he pushed up his thick glasses. Behind the counter, as I looked up at the colorful menu and Alex, looking dead serious with Chocolate Chunk in his hand, Peyton was adjusting his apron.

“As much as I always enjoy our talks,” Peyton flatly intervened, “I have customers waiting, cousin.”

“That’s exactly it!” Alex said, “We’re cousins. That means we back each other up, right?”

This caused Peyton to raise a perfectly arched eyebrow, “Oh? And what trouble have you gotten yourself in this time, cousin? Broke ASB code? Not preppy enough? Oh wait, I got it. You’re screwing Sandy, aren’t you?”

That last part was quietly spoken. I gulped. Now I don’t usually get into my brother’s love life (even though he forces himself into mine) but I knew Sandy pretty well enough to know that the matter was a very touchy subject.

But my brother, my fair skinned, hazel haired brother only shrugged. Responsibility, of course, we ignored Peyton’s comment and instead coolly replied,

“Do the names Edmund and Dante Parker ring a bell?”

Peyton did an “O” with his mouth, but his onyx eyes still remained emotionless. Unlike my brother, who had inherited the oak brown eyes from my mother, Peyton, Oliver, and I were one of the few in the families who had the “onyx eyes” gene. Peyton of course, got it from my uncle where as Oliver and I got it from my dad.

I remember whenever Oliver was serious he would have an emotionless chill to his onyx eyes, much like Peyton did now. This one time for example I got into a fight. I don’t remember the exact moments, but I remember seeing Oliver and Alex coming to my rescue. Alex was furious, but Oliver… Oliver was cool as a pickle, but his eyes were emotionless and so deep.

I was scared that night.

So having Peyton stare at us in the same fashion Oliver did that night got my jolted. Apparently I wasn’t the only one because Alex stiffened next to me.

“Dante… and Edmund…” Peyton closed his eyes and adjusted his glasses again, “Oh cousins, you both have better a good excuse for getting tangled with the Parkers.”

“So what?” Alex spat, “Are they some cliché famous bad boys?”

Peyton set the scooper down on the cold metal. He raised his eyes to meet us, “Just what exactly did you do?”

I froze and Alex casted a down look.

“Fuck me,” Peyton whispered.

I bit my lip.

As quick as lightning, Peyton was suddenly over the counter, grabbing Alex by his collar. I gasped, speechless as Peyton’s face was only millimeters from my brothers’.

“What did you do to Emily?” Peyton hissed.

“What?!” Alex yelled, “Get off me!!! Who the heck is Emily?!”

My mind flashed to that classic blonde beauty. Her cigarette poised neatly between her two fingers.

“No,” I gasped, “It’s not Alex’s fault!!!”

Peyton did look at me then.

“No, if it has nothing to do with Alex… And you can’t possibly do anything to Emily…” Peyton slowly eased Alex back, “Then what could possibly be the problem if it’s you and the Parker broth…”

His voice trailed off slowly. I think my face must’ve told him everything because pretty soon he was back on his side on the counter, an unreadable motion flashed on his face.

“Laura,” He said, “Did you by any chance as one of the Parker twins out?”

“Just Dante,” I squeaked.

Peyton shook his head. Taking off his glasses, he rubbed his forehead in a very annoyed manner.

“Oh Lorrie, what have you gotten yourself into?” He moaned.

“That’s what I’m asking!” Alex yelled, “Look, I want no trouble, Peyton. I know the Parkers. We’ve seen each other at parties every once in a while. Just tell me they’re good kids and give the “okay” for Laura to date them.”

“Of course,” Peyton said and he rolled his eyes, “Because dating the Parkers will being you joy and happiness indeed.”

“Wait,” Alex said. He held his hand out as if to help him get the situation, “You said that weird.”

“I like you,” Edmund said finally, “I mean, I could learn to.”

“How so?” Peyton asked. Dark humor was in his eyes.

“Hey,” Dante had called after class, “Edmund and I are looking forward to this Friday.”

Alex gasped and I swear I was able to see the gears turning in his head. Suddenly his face turned pale and his mouth was agape.

“A gift from the Parker himself…” Edmund murmured. He ran his finger across the ring, looking as if absorbed.

“Why didn’t you say “One of the Parkers?””

Peyton leaned against the counter and in that dark night with the moon shining through the windows of the ice cream parlor and the Chocolate Chunk dripping down Alex’s hand, I wavered and then almost fainted as Peyton’s ghostly answer filled the air.

I cocked my head.

“A date?”

“Date one Parker you got to date the other. It’s been that way since middle school. Don’t you remember cousin?”

“You’re so funny, love. “

I paused, frozen in my spot.

Edmund grinned at me then. A toothy grinned that told the world he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Anything for Juliet.”

Ha-freaking-ha.

DISCUSSING THE PARKERS.

Saturday, March 31 12:54 AM.