2) BEFORE - Barbecue
Before: Barbecue
"Briony, Christian! Time to leave!" Simon yelled up the stairs, and I reluctantly dragged myself away from my book. I hated these barbecues at the Simpson's house. Chris and I were always the only two younger people there, but from now on it would be even worse than normal since Chris was officially an adult too.
At least the food is good. I thought, jogging down the stairs behind my brother.
Just after we started walking, Mum explained that it wouldn't just be the normal lot at the barbecue (us, the Ramsbottoms, the Harrisons, and the Simpsons), but a new family had moved in across town. Mrs Simpson had got to know them since she went to craft club with the mother on a Monday evening. Apparently they had three children of varying ages, but Mum had no idea quite how varying since she had never met any of the family herself.
I honestly couldn't have been more relieved at the possibility of there being someone for me to at least talk to since I had my doubts over whether Chris would want to bother sticking with me now that he was adult enough to talk to the old people.
We arrived at just after twelve, and I dragged my feet as I walked down their driveway, still reluctant to go any further.
"Come on, Briony!" Mum complained, already at the front door while I was barely three steps past the gate. "I'll drag you in here unless you get here in the next five seconds." I knew she wasn't kidding.
We greeted Mr and Mrs Simpson's middle-aged son, Nick, at the door and he led us through his parents' cramped house and into their large backyard, where everyone else was already there waiting.
They sat along the long table made up of multiple smaller ones, all covered in a few mix-matched picnic blankets and tablecloths. I could already see the new family shifting on the uncomfortable garden chairs. After a few awkward greetings with the Ramsbottoms and the Harrisons, we all headed over to introduce ourselves to the newcomers, and it was difficult not to stare at them. They were all ridiculously beautiful, the parents probably mid-thirties but looking about ten years younger than that, and their children... I gulped, and shrunk down within myself. They were in a whole other league. The oldest and youngest were girls, probably in their late teens and early double figures respectively, with long curly dark hair that I was extremely jealous of. The boy seemed to be about my age with the same dark hair against tan skin, and I knew at that moment that he was the most beautiful human being I had ever seen, and would ever see in my whole life.
"Hi, it's lovely to meet you!" Mum said enthusiastically, startling me out of my thoughts, and I realised that my mouth was gaping open slightly. I slammed it shut, my teeth clanking together painfully. "I'm Michelle, this is my partner Simon, and my children Christian and Briony." Only someone who was watching the family as closely as I was would have noticed the man's eyes harden slightly in disapproval while Mum was talking, but I hid my confusion.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Matthew Garcia," the man introduced, turning to the rest of his family to tell us their own names.
"Samantha. Pleasure to meet you all," the woman said brightly, and I felt myself calm down a little at how normal she seemed underneath her beauty.
"Kathryn," the older girl said, before nodding at her sister, "And this is Thyme." The younger girl looked up from where she was staring at her lap to give us a small, shy smile before dropping her head back down again.
The boy was the only one to reach out his hand for us to shake. "Sebastien," he said, "But just call me Seb." His skin was warm and slightly clammy when his hand touched mine, but he shook my hand firmly.
Sebastien Garcia. I thought. Suits him. Unusual and memorable and just absolutely beautiful.
***
I sat with Chris a little way down the table from the Garcias, but I didn't have the willpower to stop myself from glancing at Seb every few minutes just to relieve the boredom slightly. It was only when I caught his gaze that I realised that it wasn't only me staring at him, and I couldn't help the blush that stained my cheeks at the discovery.
Quickly, I tore my eyes from his and focused back on my food, drawing Chris's attention in the process.
"What's up?" he asked. There was flash of concern in his voice, but I shook my head at him.
"Nothing, just bored," I told him, and he nodded, before narrowing his eyes and leaning in towards my ear slightly.
"Did you see Mr Garcia's reaction to Simon earlier? Is that what's bothering you?" he murmured.
I was startled, having entirely forgotten about what had happened until that reminder, and hesitated before saying, "You saw that too?"
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I don't think he likes how Simon and Mum aren't married."
I frowned, chancing a sideways glance at Mr Garcia who was deep in conversation with his wife. "Really?" I asked Chris, and he nodded confidently. "Weird..."
"Hmm," he agreed, before turning back to his conversation with Tom, the youngest Ramsbottom at about twenty-five, and leaving me to focus on my food again.
***
I didn't get to speak to Seb that day except to say goodbye, since they left immediately after everyone had finished eating. We helped the Simpsons clear away before heading home ourselves.
"Mum," I started, breaking the silence which was quickly becoming more and more tense and awkward. "Is it weird that you and Simon aren't married?" I asked, and the two of them tensed in the same way Mr Garcia had earlier.
"Whatever made you think that?" Mum said sternly, stopping in the middle of the path and turning around to face me.
"I don't think that." She ignored my words.
"It's not at all weird. In fact, there are lots of families in town like us."
"Good," I said, and we all went silent again, but I could sense Christian's narrowed gaze on the back of my neck.
No doubt he'd be speaking to me about this later.
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