Realistic or Modern ꧁𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬꧂ | Private

[Citrus Corvidae]

The premature warmth of South Carolina spring gave the entire university campus a haziness, the air heavy with humidity and the perfume of a hundred different flowers in bloom; even the blasting A/C inside the dorm building did little to cut through the dampness in the air. Despite the stickiness, a head of golden curls stayed miraculously frizz-free as the owner bounded down the hall and toward his best friend's now-former dorm room. Knocking on the door frame to announce his presence, Matthew stuck his head into the almost-empty room.

"Need any help with the boxes?" He asked brightly, putting his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts as he stepped inside. "All my stuff is packed in Casey's truck already, and there's still room left!" The frequency with which friends offered to do favours for Matthew was unsurprising only when considering how Matthew managed to make friends constantly, wherever he went. Casey was the perfect example, a post-grad who'd had a class with him the previous year, who'd driven back to town after moving out just to help Matthew and his best friend move into their new place. But however many friendly acquaintances Matthew made, every one of their peers could see he never got closer to anyone than he was with Mary.

One was rarely seen without the other, prompting all sorts of jokes from their other friends about them being joined at the hip; they'd been mistaken for a couple and for siblings more times than anyone could count, but in truth, Mary was simply the person Matthew trusted more than anyone else in the world. She knew more about him than most people, certainly more than anyone else they knew in Carolina—she was the first person he wanted to tell with good news and bad, the one he texted to talk him out of every stupid idea that occurred to him at 2 am, the calm stability that perfectly balanced his chaotic energy. Like the loyal golden retriever he seemed to embody in personality, he'd have done anything for her, his closest friend in the world.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

The young man's inquiry went unanswered for a good while, until a shuffling noise came from the half-opened closet at the other end of the room. Mary Hunt emerged from the rather small opening, dragging a cardboard box on the ground. Her entire fashion statement of the past three years, fitted within such a small package. She brought it closer to its siblings, two similarly-sized boxes laid on top of one another placed at the foot of her dorm bed. Only when she was satisfied with this arrangement that she finally acknowledged Matthew's presence.

"Nah, I'm good..."

Mary halted for a moment before lifting the topmost box.

"Actually, carry this for me."

She handed him the box filled with her daily trinkets. Its weight was mainly contributed by her laptop, a tool of utmost necessity in today's education system.

The bottom box was filled with yesterday's tools instead; numerous books of various thickness, half of them required textbooks for her courses, the rest merely to fulfill her own curiosity. She placed the newest box on top of it before lifting them up effortlessly.

"That's really nice of... your friend, to help us," Mary said, feeling a bit guilty that she couldn't put a face on this Casey. Matthew had a large network of friends and acquaintances. Too large for someone like her to fathom. She could barely remember the few that he usually hang around with.

Sometimes she wondered why he would stick around this plain ol' her. It was quite a miracle.

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Matthew accepted the box with a nod and watched her pick up the others to ensure she had it handled. He grinned and perked up at the mention of Casey's help, nodding in enthusiastic agreement.

"Yeah! He's a great guy, funniest person in my ethics class last year. It was lucky he was willing to let us use his truck!" Matthew knew Mary wasn't exactly a social butterfly, so he introduced her to friends and acquaintances of his whenever he could and encouraged her to join him at parties and events as often as she allowed. Even still, there were always more friends she hadn't met. "You'll like him, he's super friendly, and I promise he's actually funny!" This wasn't usually a very strong statement, as Matthew found humour in most things, but he smiled so earnestly at her that it was hard to deny him.

The blonde led his friend out of the room, grabbing the handle as if to close it behind them, seeing as Mary's hands were full, but he paused before he did so.

"Is that everything from here?" They would have to return their room keys to Administration before they were properly and entirely moved out of their dorm rooms, but in a way, this felt like their final goodbyes with their old rooms; at the very least, it was likely the last time they would see the inside of the room. Matthew glanced around the empty space, the nostalgia of good memories past playing across his expression briefly before he looked back down at Mary for her answer.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

"That's all there is."

Mary shrugged before she took the lead down the dorm hall, boxes in hand. Moving didn't take much effort for her, as her belongings were few to begin with. It certainly wasn't because she was thrifty, nor was a lack of money ever an immediate concern. In short, she was just lazy. The kind of laziness that caused a young woman in her prime to dress in cheap tees and jeans when she go out on this fine spring day, the dark bags under her eyes showing naked without the slightest touch of make-up to cover them up.

The kind of laziness that Beatrice Augusta wanted to correct at all cost. So far, her attempts remained unsuccessful in front of the walking fashion disaster that was Mary Hunt.

"Birdie couldn't come today. She had to fill in for her friend at their part time job. Too bad. She was looking forward to meet you," Mary showed Matthew a knowing grin.

She had only known Beatrice since last year, and the latter was the one who approached her first. It didn't take long for her to find out why. Nevertheless, she could be counted as the few that Mary had regarded as friends.

The sun was quite intense for this time of the year, prompting Mary to narrow her eyes in response. She noticed the truck at the parking lot waiting for them, with its owner leaning on the side, his gaze pointed at the busy street outside the gate. She took another good look at his face before mentally nodding to herself.

Yep. Still had no idea who that was.

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Matthew nodded in acceptance of that and closed the door after them, falling into step beside her as they headed out of the dorm building. He returned the grin as she explained about her friend and offered a quick solution.

"Hey, maybe once we're unpacked enough for the night we can invite her for dinner. Our first house guest!" He chuckled happily at the idea, deciding he liked the sound of that and the novelty of the fact that they were going to be living in a house, their house, and could have house guests! Not to mention that he was eager to meet Mary's new friend, considering all the great things he'd heard about her thus far, and the fact that he knew Mary was particular about her friends, so Birdie MUST have been someone cool.

As they stepped out of the sanctuary of the dorm's air conditioning, Matthew waved at Casey and called out to get his attention. The older boy looked cool enough in the heat, straight black hair cut short and white tank top clinging humidly to his skin, as he waved back and beckoned them over to the truck. He took the boxes from them both as soon as they reached him and loaded them into the truck, and then once he and Matthew had jointly ensured the precariously balanced boxes wouldn't topple over, Casey turned to Mary.

"Hey, I'm Casey, or Alec, 's nice to meet you," he greeted her with a brief smile. "You guys want a ride? Could probably use some help making sure nothing falls over on the drive." Casey shrugged, glancing between Matthew and Mary.

"My car's still here," Matthew began, turning to Mary. "One of us can ride with the boxes and the other can take my car to the house? It's up to you," he offered.

Ranix Aurus Omd was that a reference?? "That's all there is"!!

 

[Ranix Aurus]

"I'm Mary. Nice to meet you too," she gave him a light nod, taking the chance to quickly survey the older boy in a single glance. He looked nice enough. Then again, that was a guarantee when you were friends with Matthew. She believed that even the most notorious gang member would turn docile once they had joined his ever-expanding circle of associates, at least as long as Matthew was present.

"I'll go with you," Mary proposed to Casey. It didn't feel right to drive a car when its owner had to scuffle around with cardboard boxes. She might as well take the chance to express her gratitude in person.

Citrus Corvidae Maybe. Maybe not~

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

"Sure," Casey agreed, and Matthew smiled brightly.

"Great! I'll see you guys at the house, then!" He bid them goodbye with a wave as he started toward the student parking lot, and Casey opened the back door for Mary to sit next to the stack of boxes in the back seat. The truck was large enough that it wouldn't be too much of a squeeze, but it wasn't implausible to expect the stack of boxes on the back seat could topple over if he made a turn just right.

The house they'd rented was only a few minutes drive from campus, convenient enough that Matthew had been surprised it was still available for rent when they'd found it. It was a little small, but it had two stories, a full kitchen, and it seemed perfect; Matthew insisted it was a good sign that they'd found such a place so easily, that it was meant to be.

"You got everything back there?" Casey asked over his shoulder as he turned into the neighbourhood, the part of the drive that would be all tight turns until they'd reached the house and would make Mary's job of stabilising the boxes that much harder for the last few minutes.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

"I've got it covered," Mary replied, her hands pushing back on the topmost box that was leaning ever so slightly forward with each gentle dip of the pedal. It was a delicate balance that made her thankful for the close proximity of their new home. If she had to keep this posture for an hour, she might've just given up from the start.

As the car drove further down the neighborhood, she could finally see the two-story building creeping into her sight. A bit old, with slight stain on the paint from years of weathering. An acceptable sacrifice considering the rent price. At least the inside was in a more pristine condition, judging from their last survey tour.

"Hey... thanks for helping us. With the moving."

She was genuinely thankful. Their notice for the house had come rather suddenly. She wasn't sure if they would be able to hire a moving company on so tight a schedule. Thankfully, Casey had come to the rescue. Connections were indeed more precious than gold.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

"No problem," Casey smiled over his shoulder at her. "Matthew's a good dude, I'm always happy to help him out, and he speaks highly of you!" He quieted to focus on taking another careful turn in preparation to pull up in front of the driveway, then he put the truck in reverse.

"Hold onto those, I'm gonna back up the drive." Casey turned to watch out the back window as he manoeuvred the truck around and carefully up the driveway, trying not to move too fast and risk throwing the stack of boxes forward off the seat. Matthew's car wasn't anywhere in sight yet, so Casey pulled the truck right up to the side door leading into the house. As they got out and he started unloading boxes while he let Mary unlock and prop open the side door, Casey spoke up again.

"I don't mean to pry, but are you and Matt, like, together?" His voice was a little strained by the stack of boxes in his arms, but he glanced at her in expectation of an answer as he passed her, carrying the stack just inside the door to set on the floor of the small living room.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

The mundane task of sliding the tiny brass key into its equally-small keyhole, turning it, and then hearing the audible click as the locking mechanism disengaged, felt magically different when it was a place of her own. From the moment of her birth in this life until now, it was the time when she finally flew off the nest, metaphorically speaking. Not under her parents' roof nor in the school's carefully-crafted walled garden. It was a step out of her comfort zone, an exciting foray into adulthood.

Well, not hers alone, per se. Matthew was still here. That was the only reason her parents would approve of her moving out of the dorm so abruptly in her third year.

"Hmm? Yes, we are together," Mary replied offhandedly, her back facing the older boy, as she picked up her stack of three boxes from the rest of the pile. She carried them into the bedroom farther down the hall, which she had elected to be hers with Matthew beforehand. The rooms were identical, she had merely chosen it by a whim. Funny how things become sentimentally more valuable simply by the act of claiming it.

She popped back out as quickly as she entered, this time her teasing grin was visible for Casey to notice.

"No, we're not like that. I might call him my friend, my brother, my bosom buddy, my bee... eff eff..? But definitely not what you think we are," her reply was calm, the kind that people used when describing the weather. She was used to this question. Matthew was used to this question. Perhaps they had also wondered at some point, and wondered how it could be different, but it was simply what it was. They just didn't function that way.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Casey raised his eyebrows at her initial and entirely casual response, thinking back on how Matthew had referred to her as his friend, but before he could wonder about it, he caught sight of her teasing smile. He returned it in understanding after a moment, setting down the next stack of boxes he'd brought in.

"Well, you guys do seem close. I'm sure you get that a lot," he added a little sheepishly. Attempting to change the subject after the incorrect assumption, Casey looked around the small place. "This isn't half bad. Bet it was expensive, though," he surmised, looking at her for confirmation. Out front, the sound of another car pulling up on the street could be heard, and a flash of pale blue through the open curtains of the front window revealed Matthew's car stopping along the curb. His grin was radiant as he got out of the car and looked up at the slightly-dingy little house he was already calling home in his mind, and he began to half-jog over to the driveway and the propped-open side door.

"Hey, man! What d'you think, isn't it great?" Matthew greeted Casey just inside the door as he ducked in, glancing admiringly around the small living room and peeking into the kitchen beside them. "Everything go okay on the drive?" He asked Mary next, looking over at her.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

Mary followed her gaze around, taking the moment to appreciate the new space she would be living in as well.

"On the contrary. The rent is quite generous."

She didn't know if it was Matthew's golden finger at work. The landlord had even left some furniture for them to use as a bonus. The baby blue plastic dining table was tacky, but surprisingly well-maintained. She gave the surface a light tap with her slender fingers.

Right on time, the sound of Matthew's car pulling up could be heard outside. The energetic boy came in right after, bringing with him the infectious bundle of energy that deviously attracted people to him against their will.

"It's an experience," Mary replied to his inquiry. "Not your fault, mind," she added, turning to Casey this time. He was a good driver, but she would rather not kept her arms hoisted up for a long period of time if she could help it.

"So," she pulled up her phone, unlocking it with slightly exaggerated movement as she moved her gaze between the two boys. A slight smile hung on her face. "Are you fine with pineapple pizza?"

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Casey shrugged, unoffended by the comment but appreciating her assurance nonetheless. In response to Mary's pizza suggestion, Matthew grinned immediately, thinking she'd read his mind, and looked over for Casey's verdict. Casey looked sceptical, and Matthew laughed, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"C'mon, man, I promise you'll love it! Try before you deny!" And it was so hard to refuse Matthew's earnest enthusiasm, so though he didn't look much less sceptical, Casey shrugged a little and nodded his agreement to Mary. While she ordered the food the boys brought Matthew's boxes into his room, and once they returned Matthew unpacked the box of 'new house essentials' he'd bought shortly after they'd settled the lease on the place: plastic utensils, plates, and dishrags for the kitchen (no cooking implements though, as neither of them were big on cooking), and a couple of IKEA boxes were dragged in belatedly from the truck bed, one a shelving unit and the other a coffee table for the living room.

"Are you getting delivery or takeout, Mare?" Matthew asked as he dumped the entire utensil set unceremoniously into a drawer in the kitchen while Casey stood in the living room with the disassembled coffee table spread out around him, squinting at the pieces and doubting whether it would fit in the space at all.

Ranix Aurus please excuse the Stranger Things reference I am legally required to write it that way lmao

 

[Ranix Aurus]

"Delivery. With pops, and chicken wings," Mary sneaked a glance at Casey. "Just in case."

She finished the order with a swipe of her thumb. The joy of modern technology. With provision done for the night, she decided to tackle the DIY shelving unit, confident with her mastery in the art of placing round pegs into round holes.

...It did take a bit longer than she had anticipated, but clearly it was the fault of the surprisingly arcane instruction booklet!

Her struggle was thankfully cut mid-way by the ringing of the doorbell. A quick peek from the slightly opened door revealed the poor delivery boy from the pizza parlor, his life seemingly drained by the sweltering heat of south carolinian spring. He handed her order with a typical business smile before scurrying back to his scooter, off to another great deed of rescuing civilians from their unnatural craving for pineapple pizzas.

She plopped open the cardboard box on the baby blue dining table, revealing the unholy combination of Italian traditional dish and the creativity of one too-adventurous Greek immigrant.

And with that, they were ready for their, unofficial, housewarming party.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

With one Swedish torture device furniture tackled and the other still fighting back, both boys looked up with relief at the sound of the door. The half-assembled shelving unit was abandoned as they followed Mary into the kitchen and Matthew seemed to immediately forget about the plates he'd bought specifically for this occasion in favour of his hunger and proving the two of them right in the face of Casey's scepticism. He handed Casey a slice of pizza and watched eagerly for his response. Casey stared at it, glanced at Mary as if to ask, Do I really have to do this? He shook his head a little and took a bite.

Matthew began laughing almost immediately at the shock on Casey's face, but it turned out to be a good shock as he nodded after a moment and relented the fact that it was really good. While Casey had a moment with his food and, after a second, actually began reaching for plates, Matthew wandered back out to the living room as he demolished half a slice in two bites, returning to the unfinished shelves with a renewed sense of determination now that he had acquired fuel. He sat down to study the vague drawings that claimed to be instructions, and after another moment the living room fell quiet.

"Don't say 'I told you so,'" Casey chuckled with a wry look as he handed Mary a plate and began loading his own up with chicken wings. "What kind are these? Hey, Matthew, you want any wings?" Casey called to the living room, pausing with his hand over the box to listen for an answer. There was silence, and he stepped out of the kitchen to look into the living room. Whatever he saw made him frown, and he leaned back into the kitchen just enough to set his plate down on the table and wipe his hands on a napkin before he returned promptly to the living room. "Matthew?"

Ranix Aurus literally obsessed with your writing style skdjfh

 

[Ranix Aurus]

Mary had a triumphant smile the whole time Casey was having a major revelation that would change his life, for better or for worse. She took a slice for herself, enjoying the delicate balance of sweet, sour, and salty with each bite.

"Matt, wipe your hands first, you'll get oil on the shelves-"

Her words fell short as Matthew stormed back to his task at hand. She leaned back on her chair, to the point that she could take a glance at the living room. The troublesome kid was already knee-deep in his swedish instruction manual. She just shook her head, feeling a bit helpless, before turning her focus back to her meal.

"Don't worry, it's nothing weird. Just your usual BBQ sauce," Mary said as she took the plate Casey had offered. She was still engrossed in her pizza until she realized that something was wrong. Casey's expression... didn't look right.

And why was the living room so quiet all of the sudden?

"Casey?" She called, her voice slightly shaking from the sinking feeling in her stomach. She gingerly stepped into the living room, wondering what was going on.

Citrus Corvidae Yay! I hope it's not too flowery. I'm experimenting a lot usually.

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

In the living room, Casey was crouching over Matthew as Mary joined them. The blonde boy was entirely too still, laying on his side on the floor, the other half of his pizza sitting forgotten on one of the half-built shelves. That much was already something wrong.

"Matthew," Casey reiterated, sounding a little stressed now as he shook Matthew's shoulder to no response. He checked the other's pulse and looked relieved at what he found, but he still gave no sign of movement or consciousness. As Casey turned him over, it could be seen that Matthew's eyes were half-lidded, just a sliver of bright blue beneath his lashes, but they looked glassy. Casey looked over at Mary, confused, more than a little freaked out, and at a loss for what to do.

"He's— breathing, but—" He tried to explain, gesturing helplessly down at Matthew.

Ranix Aurus Not at all! Makes me grin with every response

 

[Ranix Aurus]

She felt a sudden bout of dizziness assaulting her.

Even a fool could tell how wrong the situation was at a glance. For starter, people don't sleep like that. He looked like a marionette whose strings were abruptly cut; crumpled down on the floor, motionless, alive but also not at the same time. No, that's wrong. He's alive. Casey already checked just then. She believed that he's still alive, just... not too well.

Mary refused for him to be anything else but alive.

She suddenly dove her arm into Matthew's pockets. The left side. It didn't take even a second before she fished out the key to his prized ride. Before Casey could say anything, she had already pulled her best friend's arm over her shoulder, and then lifted him up to his feet. Or that was the plan. Matthew's body was completely limp, hanging off her pitifully like a sack of potatoes. There was no resistance at all except the usual tug of gravity.

"Help me carry him to the car. Please," Mary pleaded, a bit too hurriedly, at Casey. The urgency in her voice seemed to indicate that even if the older boy had refused, it wouldn't change the outcome. Just a matter of how.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Casey blanched as she dove into action, but he was too startled to argue with her command as he pushed back up to his feet and took Matthew's other arm over his shoulders. He carried more of Matthew's weight as he was taller and stronger than Mary, letting her jump in the driver's seat of the car while he laid Matthew across the back seat. Then he sat beside him in the back seat, checking his pulse and breathing again.

"I'll make sure nothing changes on the drive," Casey told Mary from the back seat, his bewilderment as to what was going on visible on his face. The ER entrance was clear as they arrived at the hospital, allowing them to pull up to the door and half-carry Matthew's limp body out of the car. Once Casey called out for help a couple of nurses came to take him from them, and one of them began asking Mary questions as to what had happened while Casey went back to park Matthew's car.

The next few hours were hectic as Matthew was checked and tested and poked and prodded without any change in his condition; Mary and Casey were informed that Matthew was being admitted to the hospital to run more comprehensive tests, and Mary was asked as many questions about Matthew's health and what had happened leading up to this as she was able to answer, the closest thing to family that the hospital had access to without any emergency contact family members on file for him. Things began to wind down as Matthew was admitted to a room and samples were taken, the only thing left to do being to wait for results to come back.

"I have to get home..." Casey told Mary once the dust had apparently settled, sounding guilty but weary. "But, hey, keep me updated, alright?" He offered to put his number in her phone so she could text him and left her with Matthew's car keys before he left her alone at her best friend's bedside.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

Mary was so sure that she had violated the speed limit during that entire drive to the hospital, but it was the least of her concern.

Adrenaline was coursing through her veins non-stop. It got to a point where her chest was starting to hurt, a sign of her body suffocating itself from heightened emotion. The calm-and-collected mask that she had preferred to wear in her everyday life was no longer in sight. A nurse had to pull her up to stabilize her, fearing that she would crumble down at any moment.

And yet, she was still here, in this moment, unable to wake up from the sudden nightmare.

"Does he have any ongoing medical trouble?" A nurse asked while holding up a clipboard.

"...No. Not that we know of," Mary replied, her voice temperate, although the constant shuffling of her fingers were betraying her composure.

"Hmm," the nurse jotted down another sentence with the usual scribbles of a medical worker, "So... had he taken anything out of the ordinary? For example... drugs?"

"Something out of the ordinary..." Mary mumbled.

The nurse tensed up, preparing to record whatever she was about to say.

"...Does pineapple pizza count?"

The nurse almost broke her professional smile. Thankfully, she managed to soldier on.

Hours passed, and nothing was solved. They couldn't do anything to help Matthew. They weren't even sure if Matthew needed their help. For all intent and purpose, he seemed to be peacefully sleeping with nothing to worry about. Except that he was unable to wake up.

The devil was truly in the details.

Mary didn't remember when Casey had left. She vaguely had a memory of nodding at him absentmindedly when he asked her something. Something about phone, and keys, and whether she would be okay. Everything was answered with yes. Nods. Very dubious, but what else could he say? After he had left, she must've fallen asleep at some point. Night was already starting to fade as morning crept in to bring the start of yet another day.

"Matthew, why won't you wake up?" She leaned her head on the bedside, staring at the boy's tranquil face. The sky blue eyes that had captivated so many people, the sweetest of smiles which attracted people far and wide, they were no longer to be seen. His vibrant golden curls were left a haphazard mess after a night of chaos. He was like a Greek statue. A feast to the eyes, but cold to the touch.

She didn't like that line of thought, not one bit. He will wake up. He had to wake up. Then they could reminisce about this episode together and laugh at the absurdity of it.

After informing the nurse that she would be out for a while, she got herself back behind the wheel of Matthew's car. Since more tests were needed to determine his condition, she had to go back home to get the his stuff. And hers too. If it was going to be a long stay, then there was no way that she would leave him alone.

Unlike the night prior, she was leading the mechanical steed in a painfully slow pace. Another car passed her with a loud honk. She was not in the mood to let it bother her. Never was, but especially not now. Instead of going straight home, she had taken a longer path, veering toward smaller roads with less traffic. At one point she brought the car to the side, and stopped the engine.

Her forehead touched the top of the wheel. Her eyes closed shut. She would be of no help for Matthew if she couldn't contain the turbulence in her heart. She had to be strong for him.

But for now, she just wanted to let it all out.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Though she may have felt like it, Mary was far from alone in her determination and concern for Matthew's state. The man made no introduction of himself as he swept into the hospital, watching the blonde boy and his devoted guardian from afar. Answering a hundred useless questions would do nothing for Matthew now, he knew better than anyone. He was the only one who could help him—or perhaps, not the only one. It took only a single glimpse of those three intersecting lines on the young woman's skin, pale white like three faded scars, for the man to understand what a significant part she would play in this effort to restore Matthew. More information was needed, as it always was, but a plan of action was never far from his mind. Just as silent, just as unseen, he swept back out of the hospital and off to do a bit of necessary research before he would face this head-on.

As Mary finally made it back to the rented house, the early sun dusted everything a pale yellow and reflected blindingly off of a luminous silver Volvo parked along the curb in front of the house. The driveway was empty now, Casey having left hours earlier, but a tall, sharp, dark-haired figure stood on the porch, leaning patiently against the railing blocking the sides of the narrow walk from the lawn in front in a long gray wool overcoat, which seemed ridiculous in the already fast-growing Carolina heat that the sunrise brought. The figure stood upright as Mary pulled up, seeming to have been waiting for her to arrive, and slid its hands into its overcoat pockets calmly, slowly making its way along the porch toward where she would step out of the car.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

Mary had no idea how long she had spent cooped up in the car. An hour? A couple hours? The morning air was already heating up, forecast to keep rising up to uncomfortable degree. In her infinite wisdom, she had forgotten to turn the air conditioner on, and now her entire body felt damp and sticky.

Once she got back home, the first order of business would be to have a freezing cold bath.

The car rolled down in a more agreeable speed, the entire ride a smooth drive until she reached the entrance of their neighborhood. She noticed the Volvo parked in front of the house, but she paid no mind to it. Carefully, she drove around the luxurious machine, wiggling her way into the driveway. That was when eyes glanced over the figure leaning on the railing.

Her soul screamed with fervent violence.

She had to grasp the wheel really tight to stop herself from losing control. What was that? She stepped on the brake, abruptly halting the car, not even close to the entrance. But at least the car was already inside. She was not in the mood to keep going. All she wanted to do was to run down the rest of the porch, lock the door thrice, and then hide under the blanket.

...No, she wasn't being logical. It was just a stranger. The little glimpse that she had hadn't revealed any name that she had the knowledge of. Surely he was simply waiting for his colleagues who lived nearby, or he was just passing time before making his way to work. Yes, that must be it. Heaving a sigh, she meekly climbed out of the car, and was about to go inside when she noticed that the man was making his move as well.

Toward her.

It was rare for Mary to lose composure, but it kept on happening as of late. Bewildered, she took another glance at the stranger, keeping notes of his appearance, and when he seemed like he was about to say something...

"I'm sorry!" She blurted out while averting her gaze. "We're already subscribed!"

...Hmm. Even a child would've noticed the confusion on his face. So... he's not a cable TV salesman?

"We're not interested in making donation either!" She half-screamed, still avoiding his gaze, before darting toward the front door.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

Declan could see her distress even from this distance, but it hardly surprised him, after what he'd seen at the hospital. Clearly, she was someone close to Matthew. He hadn't had a chance even to open his mouth to speak before she was shouting something at him, assuming him to be a solicitor of some kind; his brows drew together in confusion, and a touch of amusement as she continued to shout at him. He continued to make his way closer to her, though slower than before as he registered her unwillingness to talk to him. Before she managed to duck out of his sight, he called out to her.

"It's Mary Hunt, isn't it?" Hands still in his pockets, he sauntered calmly over to her, stopping a safe few feet away to make it clear he wasn't trying to come after her. "I got your name from the university," he explained, trying to remain as transparent as possible. "My name is Declan Lynch, I'm Matthew's eldest brother." His expression was open, genuine, the greatest show of trustworthiness he could manage, as he knew they didn't have time to stall any longer than absolutely necessary. His eyes the fair blue of a stormy sky and framed fetchingly by long dark lashes and thick dark brows, and his dark curls neatly trimmed and arranged agreeably on his head, just barely shadowing the top of his forehead, he looked positively nothing like Matthew.

Ranix Aurus

 

[Ranix Aurus]

Mary froze in her track. Slowly, cautiously, she turned around, one hand left hanging on the doorknob.

"Eldest... brother?" She murmured. Her gaze wandered toward the tip of his dark hair, down to the enticing visage of an Adonis, which seemed to conceal the rougher, tougher man underneath. Finally, she locked eyes with that pair of perfect blue, the endless depth of which threatening to drown her in.

She gulped, and then gave him a slight nod. And then...

She promptly slipped through the front door, locking it with a harshly audible click.

Eldest brother my ass. There was zero part on him that looked even remotely like her Matthew! Goddamn scammer!

"I'm calling the cops!" Sensing that he wasn't giving up just yet, she yelled from behind the door.

Citrus Corvidae

 

[Citrus Corvidae]

As she spoke Declan nodded a little, thinking she was coming around, that this was going to be much simpler than he'd anticipated—or not. As the door was slammed in his face he blinked in surprise, opened his mouth to protest, and then simply sighed. He planted one hand on his hip and pinched the bridge of his nose with the other, considering what to do about this obstacle and completely ignoring her threat to call the police. He sighed again, softly, and then moved closer to the door.

"What can I do to prove it to you?" He called to her from the other side of the door, a genuine question in a calm tone despite his mild annoyance that he was having to prove himself at all. Hadn't Matthew mentioned him, even once? "I know almost everything about him, I did help raise him." A pause in thought. "I may have pictures, if you'll give me time to look." Declan wasn't certain he did have pictures, but anything to stall her abject dismissal of him, anything to get her to listen long enough to prove he was who he claimed. In the wake of her silence he leaned back against the door frame beside the door just in case she decided to open it abruptly, but he accepted that he would have to prove himself from this side of the door.

"He's claustrophobic, because of the time some asshole locked him in the trunk of a car when he was fifteen," He began, calling through the door whatever personal details and stories about Matthew came to mind. "When he can't sleep, he sings an old Irish folk song under his breath. 'Of all the money that e'er I had...'" He trailed off after singing quietly just the first line, all that would be necessary for anyone who'd heard it to recognise the tune. Declan was quiet for a moment, thinking. "He's pretty much always loved boats and being on the water, and he's loved animals even longer. It didn't surprise me in the slightest to learn he's studying marine biology." He smiled slightly to himself. "He's the fairest person I know, sticks to the people he cares about regardless of what else they've done or what problems are going on in their lives." He fell silent for a long moment, then, wondering genuinely whether Mary was still listening on the other side of the door. Declan hadn't seen his youngest brother in a long time, too long, he knew, but he knew that these things about Matthew weren't the sort that changed with time or distance. They were who he was, and having seen how close this girl seemed to be to Matthew, he knew she would have been let in on these precious little stories of his.

Ranix Aurus