The Proximity Of Stars

Chapter 2

2

The two slender girls seemed like a “godsend”, like eye candy to Gary. He carried on chatting eagerly with them over dinner. The Mediterranean food was quite appetizing and delicious. The seafood dishes and side orders went extremely well with a bottle of white wine.

“So, Brenda, how do you find this snug little house right in the middle of nowhere?” Gary continued blatantly.

“Well, it’s a great place to be, especially with you guys, of course,” Brenda retorted with a sparkle in her eyes.

“Sorry, but I can’t help asking why you both are stuck here, being so lonely. You're both straight after all, aren’t you?”

“Oh, this is our after-party, in fact. We’ve just graduated, you see,” Brian jumped in, looking slightly perplexed at Brenda.

“Good heavens! You can talk then,” Alice replied in turn.

“Of course I can, I simply couldn't get a word in edgeways the whole evening, because of my friend Gary, the chatterbox. And, just look who's telling me I didn't dare to speak, you sneaky snake in the grass,” Brian responded in a seemingly agitated way.

Gary looked surprised.

“All right, all right, calm down and stay cool, you two,” Brenda insisted with urgency. “I was only teasing you, so please excuse me and accept my sincere apologies. I didn't mean to offend you in any way. You both seem like really nice guys, rather adorable, to be honest. I even suppose you have a bunch of admiring ladies chasing after you, right Gary?

“On second thought, I wonder if you were trying to escape from some wildcats, tigresses, bimbos or something?” Brenda was obviously attempting to make up in a more amicable manner.

Alice cut in, “Brian and Gary, if you allow me to say a few words as well. We really didn't want to cause any hassle to you by popping up like that, unannounced. We could leave this instant, if you wish.”

Brian replied, “No, no, Alice, of course that's out of the question. We don't want you to leave now in the middle of the night. We’re nice blokes after all – real gentlemen, so to speak.”

Brian was visibly more cooperative and ready to negotiate, “As we said before, you're most welcome, ladies! Please enjoy your stay here with us. May I therefore kindly ask you to a dance? It’ll be an honor for me. I can even hear a pleasant ballad playing in the background, as we speak.”

“I can’t agree with you more, sir,” Alice replied. “What a brilliant idea, thank you.” She grabbed Brian's offered hand, smiling.

A few seconds later, there were two dancing couples on the improvised dance floor next to the bar countertop, bopping and swaying in time to the sweet melody.

The state of peace and quiet was restored and ruled harmoniously for the next four or five minutes. Everything seemed very tranquil and appeasing. The gentle music was the only thing that could now be heard in the house. Both girls and boys appeared to be relishing the soft, swinging moves to the rhythm of the blues.

The roar of the surf could also be heard, as though the waves were following the sound of music.

When the song ended, Gary returned to his usual cheerful but sort of smarmy manner. “Girls, since it's getting late now, would you like me to show you to your bedroom? As your considerate host, I’d be glad to welcome you on board once again and put you up for this memorable night.”

Gary's cheeks had turned crimson, not due to embarrassment, but because he had already emptied several glasses of wine. Apparently, he was not much of a drinker.

Sensing his growing desire and considering the allusions made, Brenda quickly regained her composure. “That’s very kind of you, Gary. However, I suppose you’ve got some big plans for tomorrow. Don’t tell me you're going to stay in bed all day, having a lie-in?”

Gary understood the irony in her intonation but did not want to back off and resign like a loser just yet.

“We could actually enjoy your lovely company for a little longer tomorrow and go out together on a city tour, if you like. We definitely want to be out and about during our vacation, what do you say?”

Brenda glanced at Brian, her eyes begging for help.

“Gary, let’s behave ourselves and leave the ladies alone now. We'll talk to them again in the morning for sure, when seeing them off, okay man?”

After a second of silence, and without any more verbal objections, Brian helped Gary stand up and go to his bed. He urgently needed to speak to him and express his concerns about the ladies as quietly and as tactfully as possible.

But the moment his head hit the pillow, Gary fell fast asleep and began snoring in between blabbering some drunken gibberish.

“The night brings counsel,” murmured Brian.

By then his face had become sharp and serious again, but he forced himself to look polite before going back downstairs to attend to the suspicious girls.

“Sorry about my friend’s behavior earlier tonight. We've been to some wild parties lately and he hasn’t got, I mean, gotten over them yet, obviously. Let me take you to your room now; please follow me.”

“Ah, don't even mention it, big boy. We're glad we landed on this lovely little island, Mr. Sunderland,” Brenda tried to reassure Brian in an overly flirtatious way.

Brian’s fearsome apprehensions came over him once again at full throttle.

“And how do you happen to know my surname then, Brenda?” Brian was lost for words and steaming under his stern facade.

“Calm down and take it easy, young man! The tour guide told us about you and your friend when we got off the cruise boat earlier today,” Alice explained. “In fact, we are extraordinary dancers and could perform for your eyes only, Brian. The night is still young and—”

Alice leaned toward Brian's face and attempted a sly but gentle kiss on the verge of his mouth, just below his now-rosy cheek. Brian shivered a bit, instinctively recoiling and backing away.

“Look ladies, I really don’t want to be rude, but I actually don’t know you. That’s why you should let me make something clear.” Brian paused for a second or so to gather his racing thoughts. “Now, not that I am supposed to explain anything to you at all, but at some point tonight you seemed like fairly decent ladies.”

“Wha-aat, what do you mean by ‘decent’? What are you implying here? Do you think we are some sort of sluts, pickpockets or gold seekers, Mr. Right? And what kinda word’s that, by the way, who says ‘decent’ nowadays; did your granny or grandpa use it, hey-ho?” Brenda retaliated quite cheekily.

Then Brian got the idea, the whole picture was now crystal clear, no doubt at all. The only glitch was that he was in two minds as to whether he should chuck those two little bitches out straight away by calling the coast guards in the middle of the night or just “tell the girls off”, take them in and then go to bed himself.

Shortly afterwards, he made up his mind. He decided to be a genteel guy, as usual, although he subconsciously knew he might bitterly regret his choice later on.

If, by any chance, the worst comes to the worst, then they couldn’t pose any threat, could they? By all means, they’re leaving in the morning.

“OK, Alice and Brenda, I do apologize for my misdemeanor, but you definitely need to leave at dawn; do we have a deal?”

The girls appeared more cooperative now and nodded in consent. Brian felt a bit less tense and continued: “I’ll arrange a water taxi boat for you, if you need one.”

“Don’t bother. I’ve got my smartphone with me, so we can arrange it ourselves,” Alice quickly retorted.

“Very well then, here’s your room. There are a couple of spare bedsheets in the chest. Good night ladies and farewell to you both.”

The two girls did as instructed. They even seemed a bit too obedient to Brian. Needless to say, his mind was boggling. He realized he had just shot himself in the foot. He had to have a word with his best friend Gary, because things had just got out of hand. But, should he wake him up this very moment, or wait until daybreak?

Let's not get paranoid! Gary's still drunk, and besides, there's nothing to be afraid of, is there?

Finally, Brian went to bed and, almost immediately after that, sleep got the better of him. It had been a long day for the young boys.