Chapter 23: Meet the Brothers

Eric's POV

"She doesn't want to have sex with me!"

I rolled my eyes as Vance held his head, while Ace and Landon laughed hysterically.

We had just finished polishing Princess Princess. A week from now, the video would be released. Everyone is stressed as hell about it. Will the fans like it? Will the critics like it? Will the album become a success? Will they treat us seriously now? Will we reclaim our status as the best rock band ever?

And on a more personal note...

Everyone will know about the existence of Elise Aldridge.

April 1 is D-day for us, especially for Vance. It's the day Pandora's Box will be opened. Things WILL get complicated.

None of us wanted to bring that up, least of all discuss the possible consequences. One week is still a long way to go and our plates are already full as of the moment.

Last night, Sandra had bolted out on me, with Tommy in tow. I didn't cheat on her but those paparazzis really got a "good" angle of me being on top of some slut who later reported having hundreds of lewd text messages from me.

Landon is depressed over Kelly. Frankly, I wanted to call it karma but I'm not that much of a douche. Especially not after seeing Landon's fresh wrist scars. Gotta talk to the kid right after this.

And Ace...

Ace doesn't really talk about it but the rest of us know he's close to biting his nails off just to resist the temptation of drugs. The kid never was any good with stress. He's a born escapist.

So...yeah. Let's just go back to Vance and his "troublesome" (no) sex life.

"You're Vance Smith. You're used to having girls serving themselves on a silver platter. You never had to work 'the moves'. That's why you're having some difficulties", Ace said with a smirk, as if saying "Ha! Serves you right, you cocky bastard!".

Vance scowled. "I already tried asking her what she's wearing over the phone. She replied by asking me if I'm turning gay. I tried teasing her using touch. She just giggles and says, "Hihi! Vance! It tickles! Stop it!"

We burst out laughing at Vance's poor imitation of Elise.

"It's not funny! I even tried those aromatherapy candles! I ordered oysters. I had strawberries with a chocolate dip thing. I took her to those secluded cliffs overlooking the city and she went on discusing about the physics of wavering lights or something! Nothing works!"

"Have you tried sexting her?" Landon asked.

Vance instantly turned red and raised a finger. "Don't fucking remind me. That Xander bastard placed an undeletable program on her cellphone and laptop that automatically deletes 'offensive' messages."

"Ah... Don't be so depressed Vance. At least she loves you", I said with a rueful smile.

They stared at me.

Oh. Shit.

Awkwaaaaard...

I shook my head and turned to my bass guitar. For a few minutes, we tinkered with our instruments in complete and awkward silence. After packing up, we silently filed out of the studio.

"Why don't you marry her, then?" Ace asked out of nowhere.

Vance sounded like he was choking on his own spit. Leave it to Ace to wreck the awkwardness. Gotta love this guy.

"No. She's just seventeen, Holt! She's got a lot of things going for her. She's a genius and she loves working in a laboratory. She ma--"

"Ok, fine. So how about...asking her permission to have sex with anoth--"

Groans erupted from among us. Ace, you ass.

"--er girl? You have needs, man! If she doesn't want--"

"Enough, okay? Not an option", I told Ace with an air of finality. Geez.

Ace shrugged. "I'm just suggesting! It's good manners to always ask for permission!"

"Nope. Doesn't work that way, Ace. Sorry", Landon said with mock disappointment.

"I'm just sayin'. Asking permission is the way to go.I may sleep around a lot but I don't condone cheating. That ain't right, man. And I'd rearrange Vance's face if he ever did something funny behind Elise's back!"

Landon sniggered. "Yeah. Like that time in the studio!" He then proceeded in imitating Ace when he was punching the hell out of Vance. "Don't touch Elise, you stupid freak!", Landon was yelling in a fake southern accent while pretending to punch Vance's face repeatedly. We all laughed when Vance winced at the memory.

"Hey, Eric. This isn't a case of me losing my touch is it?"

I stared incredulously at Vance and I chuckled. Man, he's got it bad. Very bad. I've never seen him worry over something else other than his guitars.

"With ten women fainting on us during last night's gig just because you took off your jacket? I don't think so."

He sighed. "I knew it. She doesn't want it. We'd end up like those couples who love each other but have unsatisfying sex lives. I'll go on with my life without sex. Oh God!"

Ace looked horrified. Landon chuckled. "You could always take matters in your own hands."

"H-How could you suggest such a thing!" Vance sputtered, his eyes popping out.

"Yeah!" Acechimed in. "That's just low, man!That's not how we roll! Especially Vance!"

Landon sniggered. "Oh, really? 'Coz I could swear I heard Vance's voice last night. VIP restroom, last stall? I thought I heard y--"

Vance yelled, "Aaaaagh!" and attempted to tackle Landon. Landon ran behind me while laughing hysterically. He then squatted and began fake-fapping while yelling, "Oh God! That's it, Elise! Yeah...There! Oh! Damn, you're good!", in between heavily dramatized gasps and pants.

Ace looked at Vance with a mixture of disbelief, disgust and disapproval.

We immediately stopped laughing upon seeing two men in suits lounging on the receiving hall couches while sipping red wine.

I eyed the two men carefully. Both had the same platinum-blonde hair and the same glowing caramel brown eyes. They looked like they were twins but they carried themselves differently. Different spins on the meaning of "confidence". The one with the red tie and slicked back hair exuded maturity and stiffness and had a cold, smug smile on his face. The one with the blue tie looked more relaxed and cat-like. He was smirking. The effect was the same, though. I felt like two lions were about to pounce on me.

There was also something oddly familiar about them but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Nevertheless, I panicked. It was as if ice shot through my veins. I thought Sandra only needed "some space". How could she send divorce lawyers already?! Shit!

I took a step forward to vomit some formalities, as well as to shield my band mates from my predicament. To my surprise, Vance pressed me back and slid in front of me. I sighed.

"Vance", I started to say, but the chill voice of one of the men interrupted me.

"It has been a while", the grim-looking one said with a cold smile.

Vance flinched and tensed. He opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out. He cursed inwardly and contented himself by nodding in reply to the man's greeting.

"Nice place you have here. It's a shame you won't be staying here for a bit once you release the new album. I figure some three months of touring is going to be out of the question after April 1st."

Eric narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me. I don't think you're authorized to--"

Eric immediately shut up upon seeing Vance's purple eyes sending panicked messages to him. Eric was puzzled but he figured that questions would be answered later. It was the first time that he saw Vance looking scared shitless. The two men however, immediately sprang up from the couches and buttoned their suits.

"We forgot our manners. We apologize."

The duo strutted in a power walk towards Semantic Sin. They held out their hands for Ace, Eric and Landon to shake. Vance remained motionless and looked straight at the wall far ahead of him.

"My name is Nicholas Aldridge. This is my younger brother Xavier."

"Aldridge", Landon whispered.

"So that's why you two look sort of familiar! You're Elise's brothers!" Ace exclaimed and enthusiastically shook hands with them. The one in the blue tie, Xavier, chuckled.

"You are quite sharp. Not everyone would remark that since our hair and eye color are different from hers", Nicholas said with a smile.

"Naw! It's the shape of the eyes and lips and a bit of the nose", Ace proudly said.

"I could lead you to Elise's room", Vance suddenly said. Nobody missed the jerky, jumpy quality in his words.

Nicholas lost the smile. Xavier spoke up. "Oh, don't worry your pretty little head, Vincent. Our sister is two blocks away getting pistachio ice cream. Besides it's not really her that we intended to talk to today."

Nicholas' brown eyes darkened as a slow smirk slid on his face. "Yes. We'll get straight to the point. We want to talk to you."

A few seconds of pregnant silence ensued.

"Hey. I think they're showing replays of that Lakers game", Eric piped up.

"Naw, I don't think so", Ace said as his eyes flipped back and forth between Vance and Nicholas. He then yelped after Landon slapped the back of his head. Eric sighed and cocked his head to the side. Landon got the message and dragged Ace along with them towards his unit.

Nicholas and Xavier looked amused.

Xavier burst out laughing while Nicholas covered his mouth when they heard Ace cry, "But I want to see how they put down Vance!"

Vance spoke only after he heard Eric's door bang shut. "You wanted to speak with me."

Nicholas' eyes slightly narrowed, shedding the slight friendliness he had put on for show. Vance willed himself to retain his composure.

"Tell me, Vincent. Have you slept with our baby sister?"

With any other person he would have been cocky about the question and answered "yes". If the question were taken literally, he wouldn't be lying. But then...

"No. Elise and I haven't engaged in se--"

"That's good", Nicholas cut him off. He didn't want to hear his sister's name and the word sex (or any other word of similar meaning) used in the same sentence. "That's really good", he said slowly.

"Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" Xavier said. Vance bit his tongue. He wanted to retort that the first question actually would be a perfect example of "cut to the chase".

"We do not approve of your relationship with our sister."

Vance twitched. "Well, we love each other. I don't think your disapproval would merit anything."

Nicholas and Vance stared down at each other for a couple of seconds. Then Xavier laughed. It was a mirthless and cruel-sounding laugh that made Vance clench his fists. "Oh come on, Vincent. I know our sister is quite gorgeous but she's really not your type."

"I don't have a type."

Nicholas scoffed. "I manage a media conglomerate. I know everything about you, Vance Smith."

"And I've met some of your classier picks too. You do have a type. Tan, thin, leggy, D-cup sized and extremely manipulative and catty", Xavier said with a smile.

"We want you to break up with her."

Vance frowned. "Well I don't want to."

Xavier raised his brows and smirked. "You're not the first man to mistake the maddening desire to conquer a challenge as true love, Vincent."

"I do not see her as some challenge to conquer", Vancce steely replied.

"Spare us that lie. We all know you'd be out of her life as soon as you bedded her. We're not going to stand by while you hurt our sister."

Vance fumed at the implication of those words. "Unlike other men you must know, I do not create illusions of love. And if you know me well enough as you have said earlier, you should know that I never led a woman on."

Xavier scoffed. "Illusions of love, eh? How gay of you, Vance. I never knew you had it in you."

Nicholas sighed. "You must understand. Elise is young. Immature. Unwise. Terribly naïve. We love her so and we have sworn to protect her. W cannot bear having our sister hurt, Vincent. We won't just stand by while you had your way with her for a bit of fun--"

"A bit of fun?!" Vance exclaimed in disbelief. "I am not with--"

"No matter what you say, your past speaks for itself."

"My past."

"Yes."

Vance breathed deeply, forcing out the pressure in his chest.

"I've loved her since the night I met her", Vance said, his voice shaking. "My past--"

"Don't make us laugh", Nicholas coldly said. "You think we do not know of the things you did to her?!"

Vance clamped up. Nicholas' voice rang in his ears. Then he tried again. "I know I was not the best person--"

"Stop."

"--back then but I am and will forev--"

"Stop. I said stop! Stop, God damn it!"

Xavier stared at his brother's red face and rolled his eyes. "I thought we were going with cool, calm and collected", he mumbled as he went back to the center table and poured a glass of wine.

"You say one more of your outrageous lies--"

"I'd marry her right this instant if I could", Vance yelled.

Nicholas' jaw dropped. Xavier choked on his wine.

"That's how much I love her. But I'm not selfish. She's only 17. I know there's a lot in store for her. I don't want to keep her chained to me. Well I sort of do but I won't. She deserves more--"

"Damn fucking right, she deserves more!" Xavier yelled angrily.

"You best stop about those thoughts of marriage with my sister if you do not wish to have a bullet right between your eyes", Nicholas harshly whispered.

"Are you threatening me?" Vance shot back in a coarse, harsh voice. Angry sparks flew between them as they proceeded to do battle in their minds.

Nicholas' stepped back and curled his lips in distaste. "Well if we can't make you stop, then we'll just have to make Elise change her mind."

Vance scoffed. "I'd like to see you try your best at that."

Nicholas sneered. "Would you, now?"

As if on cue, the elevator dinged and opened.

Laughter flowed out of the elevator and a girl with black hair came into view.

Elise—with her arms around a certain blonde-haired, green-eyed male.

"The chicken was exquisite, my love", Nicholas gushed as he patted Elise's head.

"Well I was the one who taught her the basics of cooking", Xavier boasted while wriggling his eyebrows. Elise smiled and nodded happily. But almost at once, her face turned to worry.

"Vance, are you okay? Did you not like the food?"

Vance snapped out of his reverie and smiled faintly. "Huh?"

Elise's brothers scowled at him.

"You don't look so well", Elise fussed. "You look a bit pale and," she felt his head, "a bit cold."

Vance caught her hand and held it against his cheek. Elise blushed and she stared at him in surprise as he closed his eyes.

Xavier coughed. Elise jumped and stared at her brothers with horror. She quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp.

"I think it's time for dessert. Mark, would you like to help Elise serve the fascinating souffle she prepared for us? Vance looks too ill to help. Maybe some tea would help, eh, Elise?"

Mark Hayes smiled and gave a slight nod. "Of course", they both replied in unison. Mark then grabbed Elise's wrist and led her off to the kitchen. For a few minutes, Nicholas and Xavier pressed murderous stares on Vance.

"You're using Mark Hayes against me?"

"I gave you a chance to give up, Vance. To walk away with honor."

Vance burst out laughing.

Before Nicholas could make a witty retort that would shut Vance up, Elise reemerged from the kitchen. She looked jumpy, perhaps reacting to the high tension atmosphere between her brothers and Vance. As she served tea and dessert, Xavier spoke up.

"What is your course again, Mark?"

"Business Economics", Mark replied with undisguised smugness and pride.

"Why not in Stanford? Or Harvard?"

Mark seemed thrown off by the question. Vance pretended to miss that and pressed on, "I heard your father was an alumni at Stanford."

Mark narrowed his eyes at him. "For personal reasons."

Vance pursed his lips. "Well I guess failing to make the grade is a personal reason", he mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Well, we really can't expect Vance to understand that. I mean, I heard he hasn't even finished high school", Nicholas said with a chuckle.

Elise's eyes went large in surprise. "You haven't finished high school?" She then covered her mouth, ashamed at how insensitive and judgemental her tone was. Xavier smirked.

"You don't need to finish high school to get an understanding of the world", Vance coolly replied. He flicked a glance at Elise's face. "Right, Elise?"

Elise swallowed. "I...I suppose so. I mean, some of the greatest minds of our era were college drop-outs. Like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, the creators of Google..."

"Of course, of course", Nicholas agreed while waving his hand. "But they didn't fail Elementary Algebra three times." He was smirking at a red-faced Vance now.

"Who the fuck could fail Elementary Algebra three times?" Xavier said with a laugh. "Seriously, Nicky. Your example is simply outrageous."

"I must say it is quite possible but the IQ of the person must be quite below 50", Mark added.

"Well not all people are...are..." Elise struggled to find the right word. She was about to say "adapted to numbers" but Mark beat her to it.

"Stupid?", Mark supplied. Elise's brothers burst into laughter.

"Completing each other's sentences now, are you?" Nicholas teased.

Mark casually slung an arm over Elise's shoulders. Vance started but stopped upon seeing Elise's fearful eyes. Her cheeks were red and her hands were fisted against her lap. She quickly looked down in shame.

"I'd say we have a good match right here, Xavier."

"That we do. Elise, remember that time when Alexander asked you what qualities you wanted in your dream boyfriend?"

Elise's large as plates eyes screamed "panic!". "No, Nicky. Don't--"

"Preferably blonde. Extremely intelligent in math. Has never had a girlfriend...wait. Mark, how many girlfriends have you had?"

"Three", Mark said with a joking wince.

"Ah, well. Zero girlfriends at your age would be quite unrealistic."

"I told her that, too", Xavier supplied. "But you never cheated nor have you handled multiple girlfriends at a time?"

"Nope and nope. Seriously, Xander. You know me. I'm not that kind of apalling person."

Xavier shrugged. "It's not for my benefit."

Mark looked at Elise and blushed a bit.

"Well thank God you're not that kind of person. I would have had to off you if you were, considering that you're courting my sister."

Vance choked and coughed. Elise bit her lip.

"Goodness, Vincent. You drink tea. Not breathe it!" Xavier said and then added under his breath, "Idiot."

"H-He cant (cough!)...He can't court her!" Vance coughed again.

Mark looked puzzled. "What?"

"Yes, Vincent. What the hell are you talking about?" Nicholas asked in an amused tone. His eyes were smiling as he took a sip of tea.

Elise shot out of her seat, throwing Mark's arm off of her. She rushed to Vance's side. "You're not well, Vance. I think you should get ba--"

Vance looked at her. "You didn't tell them."

Elise winced.

"Tell us what?" Xavier asked, pretending to be curious.

Vance glared at him, then at Elise.

"Vance...", Elise said, begging.

Vance stood up and smiled. It was a cold smile. A smile that a psychopath would have on his face right after a satisfying murder. Elise shivered and made a step back.

"I think I am indeed not feeling well. Excuse me."

He bowed his head slightly and walked out of the room. Elise started to chase after him.

"Elise", Nicholas firmly called her.

Elise froze. She gulped and willed herself not to cry as she watched Vance try to keep his composure while walking out of her unit.

Vance emerged amidst the clouds of fog created by the hot shower. He had spent a full hour under the hot water and he was quite dizzy already. And before the shower, he had submerged himself in his tub for a God knows how many minutes. His fingers have gone wrinkly and his mind is murkier than when he first stepped in.

Vance was not one to mope but Elise had the surprising ability to make him do things that nobody would ever conceive he would do.

It was worse than a rejection.

Worse than when she slapped him during his confession.

She was ashamed of him.

He pummeled his face with a roll of towel and growled into it.

Of course the brothers knew about their relationship. They were a tricky bunch, Nicholas and Xavier.

But they pretended not to know. They pulled off quite a play in front of Mark Hayes, their chosen pawn. They urged him to court Elise pretending to think that their sister was still single.

They pretended not to know his real identity.

They also barred any segue into the music industry, shielding the topic of Semantic Sin from Elise. A puzzling thing, but it made Vance sigh with relief.

He marched into his bedroom and cursed. He had left his acoustic guitar in the living room. With the events that had happened today, he was sure that sleep would not come easily. Music should help. He was oblivious to the sudden cold and thus wrapped a towel only around his lower half before walking towards the living room.

Big mistake.

The door swung open, making Vance grab the acoustic guitar and handle it like a bat.

"Elise!"

Elise was in her usual sleeping attire, a long, billowing nightgown. As usual when she runs to his room in the middle of the night, she was barefoot. She did not carry a stuffed toy this time, though. Elise ignored him as she worked the multiple, never-been-used locks on Vance's door. Vance noticed that she was shaking.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Vance coldly asked.

He watched her take a deep breath before turning to face him.

Vance clenched his teeth upon seeing tears filling up her eyes. He refused to be swayed.

"Vance", she squeaked.

"I don't think I want to talk about stuff right now, Elise", he sighed and ran a hand through his wet, black hair.

"I think we need to fix it up ASAP."

"I'm not going to hide that I'm seething at you right now."

"I don't want you to hide that."

Vance stared at her. She looked scared, but not because of him. Her eyes stared softly at him, silently begging him to listen. Vance wanted to but pride prevented him.

"You obviously think Mark Hayes would be a better match for you. The...what do you call that...genetic compatibility or something? He's smart--"

"No", Elise yelled.

Vance stopped. He regarded her again. Elise flinched, seeing not anger but pain in Vance's eyes.

"I have to be honest. I was shocked that you...you didn't", she paused and took a deep breath, "didn't finish high school. Daddy said you had wished to be independent. I thought they only sent you to a school abroad so you could live on your own. I didn't..."

"I skipped school. Didn't think it was useful."

Elise winced. Pain surged in Vance's chest when Elise suddenly turned away from him and walked off. He stared up at the ceiling, to prevent the forming tears from spilling. Elise never kept it a secret that education was important. She was that type of girl. Raised in that type of environment. Well, he was raised in that type of environment too. The difference was that she soaked it all up while he didn't.

"I think we are going to have quite a long chat. You are goin to have pneumonia with only that get-up", Elise quietly said. Vance blinked. She was handing a very thick bathrobe to him.

"I don't know which of your clothes are clean", she explained with a blush.

Vance sighed and pulled her close instead. He felt the hot heat emanating from her cheeks as she pressed herself on his chest.

"Don't walk off like that", he quietly scolded her.

"I didn't want you to get your own clothes. You might lock yourself in the bedroom."

Vance had to smile. She had read him well.

She pulled him towards the couch and gave a light kiss on his forehead. Vance scowled at such small display of affection. He grabbed the back of her head and swooped down to kiss her lips. Before their lips made contact, Elise spoke hurriedly, "My brothers are out to get you."

Vance started.

"I'm surprised that you are not as oblivious as you seem."

Elise's stare hardened. "Oh, please. I felt like a headless chicken during dinner. If I shielded you from their thinly veiled insults I would've angered them some more. And if I didn't shield you..."

They both sighed.

"But you still didn't tell them. About us. Mark Hayes is even courting you."

"I didn't want them to know. Not while they're here and so close to you. I was scared."

"They hate me that much."

Elise winced. "My own fault. I used to tell them all about your...", she broke off and sighed.

Vance stared. "Now I can't get mad at them. I totally deserve this kind of treatment."

Elise smiled a bit. "Yeah, it was kind of long overdue, don't you think?" She giggled a bit.

Vance smiled and kissed her, catching her lips in mid-giggle. Elise gently pushed him away and shook her head. She was still giggling. "Not while you are naked, Vance."

"I'm not naked."

She shot him an "oh, shut up, you" look.

"So let's talk about Mark Hayes."

She frowned. "What about him?"

"I want you to stay away from him."

"No."

Vance raised an eyebrow.

"He's my friend."

"He burned your hair."

"It was an accident."

"He bullied you--"

"So did you."

Vance sighed. "Do you like him?"

"Hes my friend."

"No, Elise. I meant, does he have a chance? You know, against me? Because he fits your dream guy profile very well."

Elise looked puzzled. "I was describing you when I gave that profile."

Vance's eyes lighted up for a second. "B-but the exceptionally smart part..."

"I know you failed algebra because you were bored. Mr. Ginns was terribly frustrated with your waste of 'mental ability'. You skipped too many classes that you entirely missed the exams themselves. He had no choice but to fail you then. And I know you failed phys ed too but that was because you thought 'playing with dumbasses is a waste of time'."

"Well, aren't you a little stalker."

She shrugged and blushed. "My dream guy profile did say I wanted a smart guy. I had to make sure..."

"Well now you know I didn't finish high school. Now what? Will you dump me now?"

"I'll just content myself by thinking that Aryabattha, Euclid, Archimedes and so many other geniuses didn't need formal education to achieve what they had achieved. I think you should trouble yourself more about the girlfriend part. That wasn't based on you."

"Yeah, that was based on fantasy."

Elise frowned and scoffed.

Vance laughed softly. "You are the only girl I've ever loved, Elise."

Vance expected her to swoon, or melt, or be taken by uncontrollable passion and start kissing him. That was why he was puzzled when Elise stiffened and gulped.

"Were you able to open it?"

Xavier smirked. "Of course. I was the one who introduced her to cryptology, after all."

He handed Nicholas a purple book. Its lock hung limply on one side.

"Were you able to find anything interesting?"

"A lot. I already know what I'm getting her for her birthday", Xavier smirked.

Nicholas sighed. "Focus, Xavier. Anything else that is interesting?"

Xavier smiled but did not try to test his brother's extremely short patience anymore. He pulled the satin ribbon to flip the notebook to a specific page.

"I think we can use this."