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Chapter 10: Wicked Step-brothers and Fairy Godfathers

Now when I said I needed something to happen fast I had no idea that someone was listening to me, but I really must have a guardian angel that finally decided to start watching out for me. I kid you not, less than an hour after I’d wished for a change Brian strolled into the bar once again bringing the breeze with him. The look on his face suggested he was up to something. “Hey stranger.” I said with a smile when I saw the reverent look on his face.

He smiled without saying any words and finally made me look nervously at my feet. “She said you looked good.” He whispered.

Brian turned around facing the 4 other men in the bar and grinned gesturing toward me, “Is my wife a genus or what?” he laughed.

Chuck glanced at Brian curiously. “Your wife’s the one responsible for this?” He asked sternly pointing my direction.

Brian gulped. I couldn’t blame him. Chuck’s a big guy and even I couldn’t tell what was going through his mind right then. Brian slowly nodded. Chuck rose to his feet and I was ready to jump over the bar in order to stop the beating I thought Chuck was about to give Brian. Chuck walked right up to him and then cracked a smile and grabbed the terrified man’s hand. He gave it a firm shake and then laughed causing everyone in the bar to lighten up. “I just want to be the first one to shake your hand. You make sure and tell that little wife of yours thank you from all us guys.”

Steve and Rick both laughed and gave their appreciation as well. I rolled my eyes but laughed along with them. A little attention’s not such a bad thing. Gus looked up from his game and said to Brian, “You should send her to my house. My wife needs a lot more help than Cindy.” He was serious but he had us all practically rolling on the floor with laughter.

When things finally settled down Brian made his way to the counter and took a seat on the stool in front of me. “I hope Leigh wasn’t too much for you.” He said.

“She’s exhausting for sure.” I laughed, “But just between us, I had a great time.”

“Well I’m glad. And you look fantastic by the way.”

“Thank you.” I said trying my best to just graciously accept the compliment. “So Mr. Can’t hold his liquor, what can I get ya?”

“Well actually,” Brian began with a twinkle in his eyes. “I really just came by to chat.”

“Chat?” I asked sarcastically. What the hell did he want to chat about? I could see it on his face that there was something particular on his mind. I’ve been a bartender way too long to not recognize when someone wants to spill what’s in their head.

“All right let’s chat.” I said placing a glass of ice water in front of him. “How’s your mom? Leighanne said you took that little rug rat of yours to see her.”

Brian sighed. “Well she’s, you know… the same I guess. How’s your mom?”

“Ugh!” I groaned thinking back on the longest drive ever. “She’s back to being Mom. Whatever that is.”

Brian and I exchanged sympathetic smiles. We both had a shity situation but at least we were both still in good spirits. I poured myself a shot. Brian watched me suck down the alcohol as if I needed that drink to survive, and I may just have. Just thinking about that woman makes me frustrated. I looked up at Brian to see that sad smile with the wondering look in his eyes back. I can’t get over how cute it is that he seems to genuinely worry about me. After all, I hardly know the guy. “Our mothers seem to be a less than merry topic,” I sighed sorry I’d brought up the subject. “So what did you want to chat about?”

Finally after a minute he looked at me and got to the point. “I wanted to say thank you… and apologize.”

What the hell was he talking about? Thank me? Thank me for what? And apologize? He had nothing to apologize for. He’s been an angle every time I’ve seen him. He and Leighanne are fucking fabulous. “If anything I should be thanking you.” I laughed. “Shit, between you and Leighanne my life has just improved like 500%”

I smirked when Brian fucking blushed. I guess he was glad he was able to help. Then the smile was gone from his face and he looked up at me with those beautiful piercing blue eyes of his and I swear the man was about to fucking cry. “Leighanne’s been stressed out for months. She’s lived her whole life in Georgia near her family. And even though she was the one who suggested we come back to be close to Mom, I know she was really worried about it. I’ve been feeling so awful about everything, but she was looking ten years younger when she came back today.”

“Right.” I smirked, “So she looked a whole 8 years old?”

“I’m serious.” Brian persisted, “She rattled my ear off for an hour about how much fun she had with you today. She said you’re an amazing person and she’s glad to have a friend here. I swear finding you was an answer to my prayers.”

And there was that fucking word again. Amazing. What the hell kind of alternate universe had I stepped into this week? Two different people called me fucking amazing, one of who is a fucking woman. I’m wearing a skirt and going goo goo over a boy that treats me nice. “I’m pretty sure that’s the first time anyone’s ever said that about me.” I said forcing a laugh. I couldn’t help but be a little uncomfortable. It’s one thing for him to say I look good, but to be the answer to someone’s prayer? I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of praise. God knows I’m nobody’s angel!

“Well thank you anyway.”

Brian looked so pathetically grateful that I couldn’t help but come out from behind the bar and hug the man. Fuck! I’m on a roll lately with all this touchy feely shit lately. I was surprised by the force with which Brian pulled me into his arms and I stood there for a moment letting him hug me as tightly as he needed to. “Sorry.” He whispered still unable to let go. “I just can’t thank you enough.”

I laughed at the entirely too sensitive man but I returned his hug. I was fully aware that everyone in the house was pissing their pants right now but fuck, I really didn’t care. I was surprised that it didn’t bother me but I think what surprised me the most is that I liked the feel of his arms around me. I liked knowing that he was grateful for something I did. I was glad that I could help them out so much even though I still didn’t understand how I’d done it. “You’re welcome.” I finally whispered with a little laugh, “And thank you too. You and Leighanne both.”

Brian finally pulled away and we smiled at one another having an understanding that had not fully been there before. I sat down on the stool next to him and that’s when I realized that things were about to get really fucking complicated. Danny and John had come in the bar just in time to witness my tender moment. They both stood there fucking frozen at the sight of me.

I felt the blood drain from my face and I tensed up on my stool. Brian watched the change curiously and then followed my gaze. John’s eyed darted back and forth between me and Danny while Danny couldn’t take his gaze from me and Brian. The tension in the air was so think it could have stopped a fucking bullet.

Everyone stood there waiting to see what was going to happen. The only person who didn’t seem to understand the severity of the situation was Brian. He looked around at everyone confused but didn’t say anything. Chuck stood up again taking a protective step in my direction. It felt good to know he was on my side no matter how sick I felt. It was obvious that Danny was not happy. “What the Fuck Cindy!” Danny snapped being the first to break the god-awful silence.

Seeing him so angry brought a bunch of mixed feelings. He was looking at me with utter disappointment. I felt sad thinking I’d somehow let him down although I didn’t understand what exactly I’d done. Then I felt scared thinking that he wouldn’t be able to accept all the different things that were starting to change about me. He’s the closest friend I’ve ever had and I love him so much that I would die if we ever had a real falling out.

Mostly though, I felt angry. He had no right to be mad at me right now. I hadn’t done a damn thing to him. He’s always been so hot tempered. And fucking controlling! What the hell should he care what I wear? He’s my best friend. He should be supportive, not fucking jump down my throat without even trying to talk to me.

My blood began to boil as he stared at me with angry eyes. I instinctively became defensive. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I snapped back making only a minimal effort to control my temper.

“Me?” Danny shouted, “What the fuck is wrong with you? You fucking blow me off the other night and I find you here hugging this fucking prick? What the fuck Cindy?”

“Watch your fucking mouth Danny. He’s not the prick here.”

“Fuck you!” Danny said taking steps toward me.

“Fuck you!” I screamed jumping up off my stool meeting him in the middle of the room. “From what I hear you’re the one who fucking walked out on me!”

“Yeah and I felt really bad. I’ve been trying to call you for a fucking day and a half. I was home fucking worried sick about you while you were off probably fucking those city motherfuckers!”

“Keeping tabs on me?”

“Somebody fucking has to, the way you’ve been acting lately!”

“You’re not my fucking mother.”

“Thank the fucking Lord for that!”

Normally I’m a hitter. I punch things and I punch them hard but I was so hurt by what he said that I reached up and slapped him across the face. Both of us were shocked. He didn’t budge but my handprint immediately appeared on his face. I regretted my action instantly but then Danny stared at me as if he were truly disgusted. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on here but you’re different. You’re turning into a fucking girl or something.”

“I am a fucking girl! I’ve tried my whole life to ignore that fact afraid that you and John might not like me if I didn’t. Well I’m fucking sick of it. God damn it I like the skirt, and I had fun shopping for it! I’m wearing lacy underwear and if I want to fucking hug somebody I’m gonna fucking do it! And you know what else? I fucking like Thai food!”

Danny stood there with nothing else to say. The fact that he couldn’t accept what I was saying hurt me more than anything had ever in my life. I was overwhelmed with fear that this was going to destroy our friendship forever and for the first time in my life my eyes welled up with tears. One by one tears, real honest to God tears, began rolling down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them, but I didn’t try either. I just stood there staring at him, frozen, pleading with my eyes, desperate for his approval. “Danny?” I finally whispered through my tears.

He shook his in shame and I felt my heart break. Until that moment I didn’t know it could. My whole life had been full of so much sorrow and disappointment that I was sure it was frozen for all eternity but through it all there had always been Danny and now he was turning his back on me when I needed him the most.

Danny reached up and flicked a piece of my newly styled hair. “Nice hair Cinderella.” He said.

That was the first and only time he ever called me by my real name. It was the greatest insult he could have come up with and it hurt like no pain I’d ever felt. He was about to leave and I balled up my fist. “You’re a fucking bastard.” I said coldly and then punched him as hard as I could.

Danny fell to the ground out cold. Everyone in the bar just watched us. I stared down at his unconscious body and just wanted to kick it over and over again but all I could do was cry. John carefully took a step toward me. “Cin.” He whispered and reached out his hand toward me.

I looked up at him and then took a step back from him. I wasn’t mad at him, but I was confused. And I was scared. “Could you please just get him out of here?” I croaked now sobbing.

Danny smiled sadly at me and then nodded. I’m pretty sure he knew I wasn’t angry at him. John has always understood me better than Danny. Like I said, he was always the most sensitive of the bunch. He was worried about me but knew I needed my space so he picked our friend up off the floor and carried him out of the bar.

As soon as they were out the door I ran in to the back and collapsed to the ground. I had lost complete control of my emotions and didn’t know what I was going to do. Brian waited a minute for the shock to wear off and then followed me in to the back. Normally Hal would threaten to shoot any man that dared walk behind his bar but these were not normal circumstances and he let Brian pass without question.

I was surprised when I felt his hand on my shoulder. “You did the right thing.” He said taking a seat on the floor next to me. “It may not feel like it but you’ve got to stand up for yourself. He’ll come around. I don’t know you that well yet but if you really are changing the way he said you are, that’s a good thing.”

I looked up at him wanting so badly to believe him. I needed to believe him. I was scared and hurt and his words were bringing me comfort. He smiled at me and then did something I never expected. He reached up with that delicate touch Leighanne was telling me about and wiped away my tears. My face melted into his hands and I climbed into his arms. He held my close while I cried. “It’ll be OK sweetie.” He whispered.

Normally I would have felt so stupid for the way I was acting but I was so distressed that I didn’t care. I wasn’t think about my actions, I was simply reacting to my own heart. After a minute Brian sat me up and smiled at me retrieving an envelope from God knows where. His eyes twinkled as he handed it to me. “What’s this?” I asked with a shaking voice.

“The reason I came here.” He said, “It’s an invitation.”

I looked at him confused and he blushed. “I sort of started this foundation called the Healthy Hearts Club for Kids a few years ago. We help kids who need heart surgery and educate kids on how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.”

“You would.” I said with a bit of a smirk finally getting my tears under control.

Brian seemed relieved to see the smile. “Anyway,” he continued, “We’re having this big charity fundraising thing Wednesday night and I know it’s kind of last minute but Leighanne and I would love it if you came with us.”

“What kind of a thing?”

Brian hesitated but then said, “It’s sort of a ball.”

He smirked and I know he thinking it ironic that he was inviting Cinderella to a fucking ball. My mouth dropped to the floor. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Do those even really exist? He had to have meant something else. “A what?” I asked trying not to laugh.

“You know, a nice dinner, a really boring speech given by yours truly, a little live music and some dancing. It would mean a lot to us if you would come. Leighanne always gets really nervous for these things and I stay pretty busy. I know she would love the company.”

“A fucking ball? Are you fucking kidding me?” I laughed, “You two never cease to amaze me.”

“Then you’ll come?”

I hesitated. I couldn’t go to a fucking ball. “I don’t have a thing to wear.” I said only half jokingly.

“I’m pretty sure Leighanne will have that taken care of by tomorrow.” Brian laughed.
I tried to come up with another reason but couldn’t think of any. Finally I sighed. “I’m sorry Brian. I just don’t belong in that kind of world. Look at me. I’m the trailer trash daughter of an abusive alcoholic. I’m a fucking hick.”

Brian’s eyes looked sad and he seemed desperate to convince me. “At the risk of being knocked out,” Brian said, “Let me just point out that Cinderella was the servant girl of a wicked step mother and she deserved a night out.”

“This isn’t a fucking fairy tale Brian and you’re not my fucking fairy godmother.”

“Maybe not, but I am your friend, and you deserve to be happy.”

I looked at my lap unable to look Brian in the eyes. He was right and I knew it, I was just scared. He sat there for a second and then set the invitation on my lap. “Just think about it.” He said and stood up.

Brian started to leave and Hal, who had witnessed the entire conversation, nodded respectfully as he passed. I looked up as Brian walked through the door. He turned around and smiled at me one last time. “You know where to find me.” He said and then left.

Hal smiled at me but didn’t say anything. He let me be and I just sat there for a while trying to catch my fucking breath.