and then i met you

5. DREAM

The waves crash calmly. Wright watches a family on the beach. Two brothers, not yet teenagers build a sand castle together, as their parents gaze into each others eyes and share a glass off wine. Wright smiles at them, until the younger brother looks at him, only for his bright smile to disappear.

Suddenly, the scenery vanishes out of Wright's mind as-

"Hey kid," the Uber driver sitting in his car, calls out to him," you going to pay me or what?"

MOMENTS LATER;

Wright stands in front of his father's house. The door is partly open, causing Wright to slip in between the gap and shut the door behind him. He walks to the kitchen and stops to stare at a family photo on the wall. He only looks at it for a second.

"Dad," Wright sniffs the atmosphere, not surprised by the fresh smell of cigarettes lingering. Quickly, he sees a pot on the hot stove plate bowling over. Rushing to it, he switches the plate off, takes the pot by its handles and dumps it into the cool basin and pulls away quickly, holding his hand," dammit."

A drop of the hot water attacks him, mercilessly. He kissed the side of his hand, while whimpering. The side door opens, a man in his 50s enters, wearing wet board shorts and a towel over his shoulder.

"Aargh, I wasn't expecting you so soon" he smiled at Wright, water dripping from his long hair. His body is barely even dry. This is Wayne. He opens up his arms," I missed you, kid."

Wright walks into his dad's open arms, smelling the ocean and strong cigarettes. By now, this is a smell he has come to terms with. The father holds him for a long ten seconds, almost drowning Wright with the sea water on his shirt.

"Dad," Wright says in the long hug," you left the stove on. You can't leave the house with it on. You could've lost the house or worse."

"Oh no," Wayne lets go of Wright, hitting himself on his forehead," I am sorry I worried you."

"Mistakes happen," Wright looked up into his father's dark eyes, with black bags under them. He smiles at his father and holds his slippery hands," I'm happy to see you."

"I'm happy to see you too," Wayne rubs Wright's shoulder, then takes a good look at him," have you gotten taller? I'm glad to see more colour in your face."

"Not by much," Wright stands on his tippie toes, only just higher than Wayne. He stands at his normal height," I guess I have, but I doubt I'll get any taller from here on out."

"I was shorter at your age," Wayne clicks his fingers," aargh, I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" Wrights hides his excitement.

"A surprise," Wayne repeats to himself," it's on your bed."

Wright enters a small room, just enough space for a bed, desk and minor walking space. He approaches the wrapped gift that lies on his bed, a grin on his face as he picks it up. He tears the wrapping apart, holding a picture frame. A family portrait with Wright, his mother Serena, his father Wayne and older brother Malcolm. Wright closes his eyes and opens them, finding himself in his 14-year-old self.

"Ok smile everyone," a girl, about seventeen, holds up a camera, but lowers it," Malcolm, smile."

Wright stands in between Serena and Wayne, a bright smile on his face. He holds candy floss, taking small bites. Serena puts her arms around Malcolm, as the "too cool for family pictures" teen Malcolm joins with smiles. She kissed him on the cheek.

"Is everyone smiling?" Aila smiles, especially at Wright," you have the best smile."

She takes pictures of the happy family at the Last day of summer festival. Wright looks back at his mom and dad, who shared no eye contact with each other. He pays no attention to them and smiles at the camera.

"I promise you we'll be a family again," Wayne stands in the doorway." I promise you that."

"It's," Wright wipes a tear from his eye, then looks at his dad with a smile," I remember this day in the picture., but that's all this picture is. Everything is shattered and ugly things were done and said. Something so broken can never be repaired. I wish it could but... hey what's dinner?"

"Are you hungry?" Wayne smiles," I'm glad you have your appetite back," your brother will be home soon."

Wayne walks away, closing the door. Wright drops the portrait onto the bed, then watches the door.

"Dad," he whispered to himself," you never said what we're eating."

He lies with his back on the bed, looking up at the family picture. He places it on his chest and closes his eyes, drowning into a deep sleep.

All is quiet, until-

THUD! Wright opens his eyes and sits up, yawning and getting up off his bed. He leaves his room, hearing a loud, noticeable voice. He trails the noise which leads him to the front door. There stands his older brother, Malcom.

Malcolm stands at 5''11, a slender build much like Wright, has dark short brown, a few freckles on his face, a bit of facial hair and troublesome brown eyes.

"Well, if it isn't my innocent private school bro," Malcolm opened his arms, a large smile all over his face," Bring it in little bro."

Wright couldn't wipe his smile away. The two brothers embrace each other. Malcolm slightly lifted Wright off the ground, putting him down and forcing his head under his arm, rubbing his knuckles against his scalp.

"You have no idea how much I missed you, chosen child," Malcolm let go of Wright, lastly kissing him on his forehead.

"Yo, Mal," a voice from behind him grabs his attention," your bags man. I am not your butler, bro."

Wright walks backwards slowly, looking down at the ground, neatening his hair that Malcolm so kindly messed up for him. He catches a glimpse of the friend, who stands at six feet something , wearing a large brown jacket, carrying a heavy bag.

"Braylon," Malcolm hauls a bag to his room," this is my brother Wright. Wright meet Braylon. My brother probably won't like you. He hates all my friends."

Braylon looked at Wright, stopping abruptly, not saying a word nor moving a muscle, until a small smirk appeared on his face. Wright, on the other hand, doesn't smile back. He shows a dead stare directed at what seems to be the eyes of nihilism and dead space combined.

"Move it," Malcolm bumps into Braylon," if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're in love with my brother."

"Up yours Mal," Braylon, eyes still on Wright, walks to Malcolm's room, disappearing out of Wright's sight.

"Wright," Wayne calls to Wright, who is still in the processing stages." Wright-"

"Yeah," he clears his head and looks at his dad," sorry, I."

"Your cheeks are red. Are you feeling well?" Wayne curiously speculates.

"Yea... I'm perfectly ok," Wright clears his throat," do you need help with dinner?"

"Yes please," Wayne chuckles," I was afraid you'd never ask. I think I may have overcooked something."

Wright stands in front of the stove, looking at porkers in a pan, then at his dad, raising his brow.

"Yeah you didn't overcook anything dad," he looks at the crispy porkers," you burnt them...like really bad. Don't worry...i'll take care of this. Go sit for a bit."

"I'll set the table," Wayne taps Wright on the back and leaves the kitchen," that's something I wont screw up."

Moments later;

Seated at the table, knives and forks clink against plates, except for Wright's. He pokes his food, just looking at it, while everyone was near to finishing their food. With a mouth full, Malcolm stops to look at his younger brother, then his fool plate.

"Hey," he caught Wright's attention," are you going to eat that or do you still... you know."

Wright (15-years old) leaned over the toilet and forced his fingers in his mouth and vomited into the toilet.

"Aye," Wayne points at Malcom," that's your brother. Besides, I'm trying to enjoy my dinner. Apologise to him."

"Sorry...sorry," Malcolm fills his mouth with more food, then looks at Wright again," so... do you still-"

"NO," Wright exclaims, rolling his eyes," I don't do that...not anymore."

Braylon looks briefly at Wright from across the table, then next to him at Malcolm, hitting his shoulder into him.

"Not cool man," he shakes his head,returning to his food," might I add, this dish is delicious."

"All Wright's doing," Wayne sits back in his seat and lights a cigarette," he must get it from his mother. As for me, I can't cook for shit."

"Wright is a very good cook," Braylon smiles at him," we-"

"Thanks for saying," Wright cut in before Braylon could possibly utter another word. They stare at each other momentarily. Wright bites into his porker, then back at Braylon," what did you say your name was again?"

"Braylon," he leans forward, his brown eyes digging into Wright's eyes, a sneaky smile on his face," you know...you look very...have we met before?"

"I'm sorry," Wright sat back, thinking to himself. He remembers quite vividly where they met, but plays the fool," no, you don't stick out in my mind. No, I don't know you."

"Oh," The sure smile of Braylon is like a candle being taken out by a strong breeze of wind." I guess you look like someone I thought I knew."

"Right," Wright eyed his food," sorry to disappoint."

There's a moment of pure painful silence, Malcolm pushes his chair back and stands up and puts it back in. He rests his arms on the chair and smiles at his dad," thanks for the meal, papi and prince of dreams. I will be off to bed. I'm tired as fuck."

"You punk," Wayne picks up a pea and throws it at Malcom," no swearing at the table."

"Love you papi," Wayne skips to his room, disappearing around the corner.

"Thanks for the meal," Braylon gets up, smiling at Wright and slowly nods his head," it was really good."

Wright watches Braylon follow after Malcolm, then glances at his father who suspiciously stares at him, puffing away at his cigarette.

"Do you know him?" Wayne asks curiously," he seems to know you."

"Dad," Wright stands up and begins to pile up all the plates," smoking at the table, really?"

"I seem to be picking up a lot of bad habits, lately," Wayne gushes but continues to smoke," this will be my final pack."

Wright watches his father as he continues to smoke and walks out of the dining room and leaves the house.

Moments Later;

Wright walks out of the kitchen after finishing all the dishes. He sits on the couch and picks up the tv remote. Starting his film, he opens a bag of popcorn and pours it into a bowl. Five minutes into his sitcom, Braylon comes from out of nowhere and sits next to Wright, who rests his legs on the coffee table infront of them.

"This isn't how I expected tonight to go," Wright flicks popcorn in his mouth," you being here of all places."

"I'm sorry....I thought you forgot me," Braylon shuffles his hands into Wright's popcorn dish and takes a hand full.

"Seems weird that we'd know each other," Wright briefly looked at Braylon, then at the TV," besides, it's true. I don't really know you. Still weird though. I meet again after-"

"Must be fate," Braylon moved a bit closer to Wright's side, their shoulders touching," I bet there's an invisible red string connecting us together."

"It's just a coincidence," Wright snarks," or you're stalking me."

There's a pause as they both stare at the TV screen. They look at each other, then at the TV screen again. Wright thinks of the billions of things he wants to say but none of them come out of his mouth.

"Did..." Wright finally finds the words," did you ever think of me?"

"Hmmm," Braylon crosses his arms," I can't say I did. I actually do recall missing my favourite jacket."

"If you want the dumb jacket back, I can give it to you," Wright rolls his eyes," I haven't worn it since meeting you. Forgot I actually had-"

"Every day," Braylon cuts in," I...I thought of you everyday. I lost your number and there are a thousand Wrights out there on social media, so you were the one that got away, but I knew one day...I knew we'd meet again."

"Yeah," Wright is taken by surprise," well... I'm not good with feelings but...I...I guess I missed you too. Like, more than I'd like to admit, but-"

"But?" Braylon looks at Wright, eyebrows raised.

"Comeon," Wright strains, sitting," Wright closer to Braylon," my brother can't know that we knew each other before today."

"This isn't the kissing booth," Braylon protests," Mal and I didn't make any dos and don'ts list of rules."

"You watched the kissing booth?" Wright chuckles, covering his mouth," did you really-really watch it?"

"Could we change the topic?" Braylon removes his foot off the coffee table and taps Wright on the knee," how are you, how's school, dating anyone?"

"I'm tired," Wright groans," I recently finished exams, so yeah, I just want to sleep all weekend."

"Can I join you?" Braylon moves in closer, while Wright is quick to push him away.

Braylon watches as Wright makes some space between them, furthering himself from Braylon. He draws his attention to the screen and tucks a strand of his hair behind his ear. Awkwardly, Wright looks at Braylon, noticing that he's looking at his lips. He moves in but-

"I'm off to bed," Wright jumps over the couch, narrowly escaping a kiss on the lips. He tiptoes his way to bed, lastly looking back at Braylon," goodnight."

"Sweet dreams," Braylon watches the sitcom on TV, picking up the abandoned popcorn.

Wright shuts his door behind him. With his hand on his chest, he felt it beating at an unusual speed. With his back against the door, he slowly sits down, closing his eyes. Heavy breathing calms down into smooth, controlled breaths.

"Am I dreaming?" Wright questions himself," I'm totally dreaming. Yeah, Wright, this is all a dream."