Friends

Empty stomach and heavy mind, Julian was still reluctant to go to his brother's house. Dafne had suggested it, hoping a brother-to-brother talk could somehow help the heartbroken boy. While Julian knew Antoine would probably have some sage advice, he didn't look forward to being called a pansy. Still, Dafne was adamant and even offered to make him dinner once they got there. It was hard to pass up a free meal.



Dafne looked over at Julian, his silence indicating he was still torn up about the situation at hand. She felt for the boy. Here he was, desperately fighting for the affection of a man he's known for quite a while but being unable to move past the 'just friends' phase, and now the very man he loved was in danger of having his heart broken. Dafne wondered what she'd do in that situation. Sighing as she pulled up into the drive way, she only hoped her beloved had some plan.



The two entered the large estate, the white noise of a billowing air conditioning welcoming them. Julian always felt so strange in his brother's house. It was so prim, so elegant. His brother always had a chic taste, it seemed. Dafne looked around a bit before calling out, "Ant? You home? Sweetie?" There was no answer but Julian thought it was only because the house was so big. Antoine was probably in a room where her soft voice couldn't reach. Dafne put her hands on her hips, her head tilting from side to side. "Hum...maybe he's in the entertainment room...." Julian shrugged, simply following her lead.



Her thought was right for just as they walked through the archway seperating one of the kitchens and the entertainment room, Julian spotted his brother lounging on the couch. The dark-haired man lazily looked up as the two entered his field of vision. "Finally home, I see..." He spoke in that low voice that always made Julian feel like he had done something wrong. So he found focus on something else, not wanting to have his core shook by a simple greeting. Dafne smiled, though it was obvious she too found Antoine's voice tremble-inducing.
"Ah...yes. Sorry I'm so late. But...there was an incident..."
"Incident?"
"With that Zackariah fellow." Antoine leaned forward slightly. The creak of the couch caused Julian to look back, only to look away when he saw his brother's scowl.



"What? Did he give you trouble, Dafne? Do I need to get my walking stick an-"
"No! No...no...he didn't do much to me. Just a bit of sass. It's your brother he harassed." As if on cue, Julian turned around and sheepishly grinned as he gave a weak wave. Antoine narrowed his eyes, leaning back.
"I see....Boy! ...Come here."
"Uh..."
"Don't 'uh' me. Here. Now." Julian scurried over to his brother's side, slipping uncomfortably in the open space next to him. Antoine then looked back at Dafne. "Now, what exactly happened?"



"Well, I wasn't there the entire time...I just saw that fellow threatening poor Julian. Julian, dear...why don't you explain?" Julian shook his head, as if pleading for her to take back her request. But a hard nudge made him reconsider.
"Tell me, boy. What happened?"
"Ah...yes, then..." Julian mumbled as he twiddled his fingers. "I...uh...."
"Louder, boy. I'm getting old, you know."
"Yes! Um...I was with Dafne at her pottery class and we were talking about the things going on. One of the women overheard and informed me Zack was in the gym next door so I decided to go talk to him, since I didn't get much of an actual conversation the last time we talked...so he took me down the street to this cafe so we could talk. He asked me how I knew Gabe...so I told him the whole story...then I asked him about his intentions and he..."
"He? He what, boy? What did he say?"
"Well...my fears were given reason. He's just using Gabriel to get to Aleera. He's hoping that by manipulating Gabe's affection for him, he'll have to get closer to Aleera and when the opportunity arrives...he'll dump Gabe and snatch Al." Julian looked towards his brother with a lost, confused expression. "Ant...what am I going to do? I can't let Gabe get hurt." His brother rubbed his chin.
"Gabe dug his own grave. There's nothing you can do. The only way he'll learn is by being hurt."
"Ant!"
"But..." Antoine continued, "I worry for Aleera. She already knows of this man's infatuation for her. Yet...she is powerless to do anything to prevent his advances, other than reject him and wait for him to come back. What will happen when he gets bold and does something criminal to her? She has already proven she alone is no match...No...I think the two of them, together, need to work to get rid of this fool. Yes...Dafne!"
"Y-yes, dear?"
"Phone Fayette. Tell her to bring Aleera. We have to plot."
"Right away!"
"...plot?"



Nothing more was said as they waited for Faye and Aleera to arrive. Julian tried but Antoine remained silent. Only when the two girls were before him did he break his silence. "Ah...glad you came."
"Any opportunity to visit your lovely home, dear brother! Oooh, is that leather?"
"What's this about?" The brunette growled as she placed a hand on her hip.
"Aleera, dear...We have a proposal for you."