Underneath

Fundamentally I’m ‘against’ the whole meet my friends as an undercover relative thing. But, I must admit I’m curious to meet them. Me and Harry exist in a fairly abnormal secret bubble for the most part. Not that I mind having him all to myself, but it can’t be a healthy long term thing.

I wonder who the friends he trusts are? What has he told them about me? Most of all, will they be shocked? What if they tell him to stay away?

I dither endlessly about what to wear. It’s just at Harrys place so its casual. Too much effort and I’ll look like I’m trying too hard. Too little and I look too young. I stare in the mirror and carefully stroke on some black eyeliner. Harry stands behind me frowning. “I like you without makeup on,” he mutters sulkily. I pout, “But then I look really young!” he grins snuggling in, wrapping his arms round me. “I like you young and fresh!” he says in his best dirty old man voice. “Get off me! and stop being a creepy cousin!” He grips my ribs to tickle. “Don’t you dare!” I squeal, “I haven't got time to redo this eyeliner!” He ignores me and starts ticking as the door buzzer sounds.

He catches my eye in the mirror and says, “just be yourself and they’ll love you.” “Hmm you mean, they’ll think I’m a weirdo with a really inappropriate crush on a near relative!” I reply, as he laughs and heads to the door.

I must admit my palms are sweaty as the first guests arrive. As Harry makes drinks I realise we’ve missed an important trick. I have no idea who knows and who doesn’t! I could make a real prat of myself pretending to be a cousin in front of people who know full well I’m not.

They’re mainly guys with the odd girl thrown in. I’m guessing that several of them are old school buddies. I feel really out of place and keep smiling awkwardly. I dodge several questions that could uncover my age and say off-hand that I’m ‘studying.’ One older guy fixes me with a kind smile. “Hey, come join me outside, Harry gets tetchy with me when I smoke in the house.”

We head to one of the balconies and perch on the edge. The man extracts a cigarette and lights up. “Is there a code word?” he starts quietly. I wince at him, guessing the gist, “to let me know if you’re in the know or not?” I whisper conspiratorially. He winks, waving a finger around. “That’s right, the subtext of this little get together…the elephant in the room!” I fold my arms in consternation. “I’m an elephant then?”

The man laughs and extends a hand to shake. “A very pretty elephant maybe? I’m Barker, worked with One D when they first started. Security,” he finishes, taking a deep drag. “So you know Harry pretty well then?” I ask, glancing inside to see everyone else chatting. “I reckon so, he trusts me,” says Barker.

“So you’re here to check me out then? Make sure I’m good enough for Harry?” I ask worried. Barker lets out a deep throaty laugh. “He said you were funny! Harrys good at breaking hearts, you know that right?” I nod sadly. “He’s already broken mine a few times!” I admit. Barker nods, “He’s essentially a good guy, he wants to give everything to his girl but …he’s also a silly sod sometimes! doesn’t know when he’s got a good deal!” I shift uncomfortably and ask, “am I a good deal for him then?”

Barker pats my knee like my dad might. “Take him off that pedestal sweetheart. Underneath all this crap, he’s just a normal guy. Just as imperfect as the rest of us. Thing is he gets more temptation shoved in his face than the rest of us.” Barker finishes and smiles kindly again.

“and we can resist anything but temptation right?” I add channeling Oscar Wilde. “That’s right,” says Barker softly. I look up to see Harry wave and pull a face at me through the window. I stick my tongue out. “You’ll never have a normal relationship with him, you know that right?” I nod, knowing full well its true. “His world just isn’t normal anymore.”

I see Harry look my way again with a shy little smile…

Ⓒ SphinxWriter13 2017

Notes