Promise... Progress... Peanut.

“We’ll be drunk, you’re playing with me. And ugh, I blame you, you make him think it’s still funny.”

“Fine. We’ll be drunk.” He corrected himself smiling. “What am I supposed to do? Be mean to the guy? Those war stories are all he has! And he’s funny sometimes..like that boat story.”

“The guy behind the counter gave me an extra coffee, did you want it? I don’t think I can drink two”

“You sure? I don’t mind buying one.” Preston’s eyes flicked up at the sky silently thanking God for the free coffee from a friendly face. “Thanks--can I know your name so I can know who i’m thanking?”

Meyer family Christmas party tonight, let the drunken shade fest commence. And this year I’m taking a shot everytime somebody asks me why I haven’t brought a guy home yet. 

“At that rate you’ll be drunk before uncle Jerry tells us his war stories wearing one of the lampshades as a hat.”

“No, I don’t understand how important your butt hole bread is.” Tierney raised an eyebrow, tempted to inquire as to why Pres said ‘their’ as opposed to he or she, but she wasn’t in a fuck with her brother mood, just a be around him and enjoy him mood. She gave him time to come back from whatever train of thought he’d started to ride, then got up. She bit her lip, as if she was holding back the words, she’d thought about why she wanted to tell him, partly because he was her best friend, but also partly because, well…maybe she wanted to stake her claim a little because she could not go through another round of girls she was with going for her brother over her. “So I like a girl, and I’m not 100% sure yet, but I think she may like me back.” 

Preston started to comment on her use of the term butt hole bread, but he rolled his eyes instead, laughing at her colorful commentary. When she mentioned a girl, he sat up, leaning forward. His interest clearly piqued. “Seriously? Who is it? What’s she like? Do I know her?” He asked all the questions a best friend would in this situation. “Of course she likes you. What’s not to like? You’re great aside from you’re opinion on God’s gift to us all..Stuffing.” He clarified. 

General poll time; being a regular where all the servers know your name at the Coyote Ugly, creepy or no? 

I’m gonna go with no. It’s their job, right? Plus you love that place.

“Right..” She played along, if only for his sake, returning his smile. Swallowing the food in her mouth, she nodded, “It’s delicious. You should try it.” Offering him her fork, she smiled warmly. There was a certain tact Taylor was developing, she didn’t have to try too hard because he probably wouldn’t notice anyway, it was the subtle things that counted. Subtlety masked in friendly innocence. His obliviousness was proving to be a challenge and a benefit at the same time.

It was amazing how nice Taylor was. Nice and pretty. Always giving of herself, it made Preston smile to himself. Was bible study playing a hand in this? He sure hoped it was. Taylor seemed to be the person he’d been looking for to share his spirituality with, she was heaven sent in his eyes. Taking the bite of food she offered him without another thought, he nodded. It was delicious. He kissed his pointer and thumb much like an Italian chef before chuckling, “I think i’ll be ordering that next time.” He took a sip of his soda, eyeing her, “I prayed for someone like you..someone to talk to and share this kind of stuff with, I mean..” Preston pointed at the ceiling, referring to God. Hearing himself say that out loud wasn’t as weird as he thought it be. “You’re the only person besides my sister who listens.”

Tierney chuckled and rolled her eyes while she hucked her book at her brother, “You’re ridiculous. Do you want to go raid the fridge for leftovers? Your precious stuffing is still there I’m sure, you’re the only one who eats that shit. Anyway, I have news.”  

Preston laughed, catching the book and shaking his head at his twin sister. She could’ve punched him in the eye and he would’ve given her a hug for it. “It better be. You don’t understand how important stuffing is. I bet God crafted it with their bare hands..” He quickly became preoccupied with the thought of God creating stuffing before snapping back to reality and giving Tierney his full attention..or the highest amount of attention that he was capable of giving. “What’s your news?” 

“…How long have you been sitting here thinking about stuffing, Preston? We’re supposed to be reading.” 

“How long since we sat down?” 

Taylor had learned two things from the time she’d been spending with Preston at bible study and now sometimes casually around campus: That he was going to say something that made her head hurt–she could handle stupidity. The young republicans were stupid, some of her classmates were stupid, hell, she thought one of her professors had gotten his job from sleeping with the dean, but Preston was a special kind of idiot. And that she would have to learn how to grin and bear it if she was ever going to finish what she set out to do. So that’s what she did. It was becoming increasingly easier by the day, she could admit that he was sweet, ignorance truly was bliss, but thinking too much about his character would only get her too invested. Sticking her fork in the vegetables on her plate, she glanced around the canteen, forcing out a giggle. Was he serious? “You can eat stuffing whenever you want. They sell it everyday, not just on Thanksgiving. You know that, right?” 

“Yeah, of course!” He lied, chuckling. Taylor was smart, Tierney smart, but he wouldn’t give anyone the pleasure of being categorized with his sister. “I just wanted to make sure you knew. Keeping you on your toes. How are you enjoying your food?” He changed the subject, smiling at the girl in front of him before focusing on his own plate. 

As far as Tierney was concerned, the deb ball had been a success, her niece had a blast, her son went up to his room smiling and even made a point give her a hug. And after such a successful night, Tierney thought she deserved a little celebration in the form of her brother and a bottle (even if she did do the heavy lifting with the alcohol, it was nothing new). “So tonight was good.” She declared, on her couch, talking to her brother then narrowed her eyes, “You prayed for that, didn’t you?”

“I did.” Preston chuckled, smiling at his sister, “I’ll admit it. I get to be a little selfish sometimes.” He joked. “And my prayers were answered. Grace looked beautiful, Ollie was grinning ear to ear. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.” He knew the bridge between Tierney and Oliver, he asked God about some clarity on the whole situation, but tonight he was sure he saw an inkling of a breakthrough. Maybe the ice was melting. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees, “I can’t believe my little girl just went to deb ball. Before I know it she’ll be married with two kids and i’ll be someone’s grandpa. They both will. Ollie’s gonna make me someone’s..granduncle?” He quirked an eyebrow, signaling for his sister to help him out. Was granduncle even a word? 

“Thank you.” He looked down in front of him. “Crazy what taking a bath does to someone.” Harlow said, laughing as he nervously pulled on the cuffs of his short. “You look nice too. Really nice, actually.” Harlow smiled. “I don’t know if my ma counts for a lucky girl, but I haven’t embarrassed her yet, so I think she’s happy so far.” He shrugged with a small laugh. “What about you? How did you manage to get away from your date? Because I doubt he let you go that easily, looking the way you do and all.” Harlow could feel himself growing warm, a clear sign he was nervous. But how could he not be in front of the girl? Especially when she looked like that.

“Thanks, Harlow. It must have been the bath for me, too.” Grace seconded with a laugh, running her hands down the front of her dress. “The bath, a hairbrush, and a little bit of my mentor Chanel’s fairy dust.” She looked up when he mentioned his mom, a warm smile spreading across her lips--he hadn’t escorted anyone and he came with his mom. How sweet is that? “Me? Oh, I don’t have an escort.” She waved it off, shrugging lightly, “Between the preparations and general everyday life, I didn’t really have time to ask the person I wanted to..” Grace looked him in the eye, biting her bottom lip with a small giggle,“But it looks like he’s here with someone and how can a girl ever compete with a boy’s mom?” She sighed, playfully.

Harlow was giving his friends that just so happened to be girls, the easier way to put it being his girl friends a Harlow Chambers pep talk when he spotted Grace not all that far from them. And man, she looked good. Really good. So he patted Dom on the shoulder and made his way towards the blonde. “Hey.” He said, although he should have probably started with you look smoking. Well, no, maybe you look beautiful. Yeah that sounded a lot better.

“Hey.” Grace smiled, trying to be sly about giving him a once over. To say he cleaned up well would’ve been the understatement of the century. “You look nice..great..” Grace laughed at herself, starting over, “You look very handsome. I’m sure you’re making some lucky girl’s night tonight.” She baited, glancing around, not trying to be too forthcoming with her question, but clearly interested in the answer of whether or not Harlow had come with someone. 

“Whoa, this whole thing is… not what I read about on the internet, but still great, I guess. There’s a ton to look at.” 

"There is. Everything and everyone looks awesome.” Grace turned to her cousin, a huge smile on her face. “But you. You’re like the fairest of them all. And you have two dates--not one, but two.” She held up two fingers, “You’re the man. Who called it? I did.”