He’d taken the window seat out of spite and then slept most of the trip’s seven hours, waking only to enjoy a small meal and a drink, and to use the lavatory before returning to sleep with his window shade pulled flush to the bottom.
But that was behind him - time to find the baggage claim and collect his two suitcases. More of his belongings would be shipped to him once he was slightly more settled - or just shipped to his Aunt Rebecca’s who would hold them for him - but everything he would need for the interim could either be purchased anew, or was in his two large suitcase and single carry-on. Ian checked his phone, taking it off ‘airplane’ mode and waiting see if there were any messages from his aunt, who was supposed to be meeting him there.
Excellent, at least one person is on the ball today. The blond quickly tapped out a message, telling her to meet him at the baggage claim, then headed to the restroom before going after his luggage. There was already a crowd of people standing around the winding metal snake as it rattled to a start and suitcases, duffle bags, boxes, and other parcels came tumbling down and onto it. Ian pushed his glasses up with a sigh, expression bored and put upon as he watched and waited. The moment he saw one of his bags, he pushed in and snagged it - he was stuck waiting another minute and a half for the second, and by that point Rebecca Hargrove had found him.
“Ian? Oh my goodness you’ve grown!”
“Hi Aunt Becky, it’s good to see you too.” Because she was his aunt and was also letting him stay with her for a bit, Ian put on a happy face and enveloped the petite woman in a big hug.
“So you have another bag, honey?” When he said he did, she offered to babysit his carryon and the one suitcase he’d already gotten so that he could more easily navigate the throng of cranky people grasping for their luggage.
Once he’d gotten his last piece of luggage, the pair left the airport to get into Mrs. Hargrove’s mini-van and made their way through the streets of Destiny City to the apartment where Rebecca Hargrove lived. She made sure to take the ‘scenic’ route so that she could point out all the local “flavor” - including the Theatre where his cousin worked as a ballet dancer (which actually had posters out with the guy’s name and face!) - the sprawling Destiny City University campus, and a strip mall that was near her home and would likely be a place he frequented to purchase needed items.
“Thank you again for taking me in on such short notice Aunty. I’ll try to stay out of your hair.” With a suitably grateful expression, Ian settled his belongings into what had once been Colin’s room turned home office, and once again sacrificed for a curly-haired youth to dwell. “I’m sorry to put you out of your office.”
“Think nothing of it, sweetheart. I’m sorry you couldn’t stay with Collie, I’m sure he would’ve loved for you to stay with him…”
“But he’s already got someone using his couch, that would be too much to expect.” Secretly, Ian was certain that even if Colin’s couch had been free (or if there’d been an entire room available for is use) that the danseur would have rather burnt the place down than have Ian come stay with him. Despite all the attempts made by their parents, Colin and Ian had never gotten along and likely never would.
“Oh, Ian dear…I thought you might like to see Colin, so I’ve invited him over for dinner. He’s still a vegetarian, but we’ll be having lasagna with meat for us.”
His mouth twisted into a distasteful grimace, but that was eased by being told that he would not have to suffer without meat. “Wonderful idea Aunty, thank you so much.” Maybe he won’t show - no, she won’t have told him I’m here…that little goody two-shoes will show up and I’ll have to listen to him blathering on about dancing. Ugh. Inwardly Ian sighed, outwardly he was all smiles pushing up his spectacles again. Just deal with it for now, make her happy until I can get a place of my own. It’ll be fine - he won’t want to hang around, I’m sure.
At least he wasn’t stuck on a cheap-a** air mattress - Rebecca’s office apparently doubled as a guest bedroom (smart) and there was a nice-enough day bed that also had a roll-out trundle with it, so that it became a full-sized bed if he wished. “I feel kind of jet lagged, would it be alright if I got a shower and a nap before dinner then?”
“Of course, I’ll leave you to it then.”
***
Colin was right on time, as usual, which meant that his cousin arrived thirty minutes early and had even brought his mother a potted plant as a gift. Kiss-a**. Ian’s unkind thought brought a smirk to his lips as he smoothed his cardigan down to press out an imaginary wrinkle (there were none, for he had ironed his clothes before putting them in the closet on borrowed hangers).
“Oh Collie, I have the best surprise for you! You’ll never guess who’s here~” Rebecca’s voice sing-songed as she lead her eldest child into the living room. Colin and Ian caught each other’s gaze just before Miriam chimed in from her perch on the couch.
“It’s cousin Ian!” Miri might have been excited (even though her cousin was not as interesting to her as say, a movie star or her BFFE’s new boyfriend) but Colin’s expression quickly fell, hardened, and then shifted to his ‘professional’ face.
“Colin.”
“Ian.” Knowing that his mother would expect a warmer welcome, the danseur went to embrace his cousin, though he did hiss into the man’s ear, “Do not cause them problems or I will end you.” Louder, so Rebecca and Miriam could hear, “It’s so nice to see you - it’s been what, almost ten years?”
“At least.” Too bad it couldn’t have been longer, but I needed a job and this one was too perfect to pass up.
Colin and Ian might have looked similar, especially when they were younger, but time had put some very definite spins on them both; an outsider would be able to ascertain that they were fairly closely related, but no one would think they were twins - which is what had oft happened whenever they’d gotten together as kids. Ian was slimmer than Colin, much less graceful than the professional dancer, though his arms likely held a similar amount of strength thanks to his love of archery. Colin was an inch shorter, with a more golden hue to his hair, brighter eyes. But it was a close thing and always had been.
“Dinner will be ready soon boys, why don’t you catch up while Miri and I put the finishing touches on our meal?”
“I could help—“ Colin’s attempt to escape his cousin’s presence was thwarted, not only by his mother but by his beloved little sister, who told him to park his keister because anything he touched might turn to rabbit food. When the ladies were back in the kitchen, the two curly haired blonds were free to glower and show their mutual distaste openly.
“Aw, what’s wrong twinkle toes, don’t like seeing what you could have become if you weren’t such a girl?”
Colin bristled, once at the cruel nickname, then at his cousin being such an insensitive p***k, “Blow me, Ian. If ballet makes me a girl, then I’m a ******** girl - I’m still a better person than you.” He knew from experience that the evening would not go well for him; Ian had a way of making people think that he was anything other than a vicious pit viper…a way of putting all the ‘wrongdoings’ on the other party. God help me, all I have to do is make it through dinner. Just dinner, nothing more. Then I can plead off and go home..get away from him.
***
Dinner could have gone better, but it also could have gone much, much worse. Colin and Ian had both done their level best to out-nice one another, and Miri had enjoyed having two ‘brothers’. Most of the conversation had revolved around Ian’s work, the family still in France, his trip. Colin found out that Ian had come over for a teaching job at some place that was supposed to be opening at the end of the summer…and Ian found out that Colin was actually not dancing after having been in a really nasty ‘car accident’.
With topics to focus on, there was less time for the pair to snipe at each other and by the time the meal was over, neither was having to bite their tongue too much.
Even so, Colin did beg off after helping clean up, citing his injuries as a reason to head home and rest. Ian stayed in the living room with Miriam while Rebecca escorted her son to the door.
“Wasn’t this nice Collie? I’m so glad you two are still getting along after all this time.”
“It was really nice Mom. I love you, g’night.” The danseur kissed his mother’s cheek, went to his car and headed home, glad that dinner hadn’t gone quite as badly as it might have.
He still sucks. Was the last thought of each curly-haired blond before falling asleep that night.
WC 1,695
