Los Angeles | 2009
Bradley's POV
Today was going to be special; it was also Luke's Birthday. My own party was a recent happy memory, and now it was my Luke's turn. Erin and I were invited, of course, and I was headed out with her to get Luke a gift. The primary mission objective: find something he would actually play with. Hopefully, he wouldn't end up playing with the wrapping paper or the gift box more than the present itself.
The moment we stepped into the mall, Erin's excitement took over. She grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the first toy shop, a collage of pink and purple that assaulted the senses. We spent the next hour in a whirlwind of her enthusiasm. In one store, she was convinced Luke needed a 1,000-piece puzzle of a waterfall. In another, she was certain a build-your-own-volcano kit was the perfect gift. We checked different toys in different shops, with me acting as the voice of reason against her chaotic suggestions.
"But look, it has real lava!" she'd insist.
"It's baking soda and vinegar, Bug," I'd reply patiently.
It was in the third store that our mission was completely derailed. Erin suddenly froze, her eyes wide. I followed her gaze and saw it: an entire section dedicated to Naruto toys and memorabilia. She completely forgot about the gift.
"Brad! Look!" she gasped, pulling me toward the display. "It's a real Leaf Village headband! And a plastic kunai! I need this. I can't be a proper ninja without it!"
"Erin," I said, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "We're here for Luke, remember?"
"But I need it!" she wailed, her lower lip starting to tremble.
"I know," I said "You can get those later for your birthday. We'll make a list, and you can get all the ninja gear you want. But for now, we are here for Luke."
That seemed to do the trick. She gave a final, wistful look at the headband, then took a deep, fortifying breath. "Okay," she said, her focus returning. "For Luke."
After refocusing, we finally found the perfect toy for Luke. It was a Nerf Thunder Fury sword, a brightly colored piece of foam and plastic that promised epic, harmless battles. Most importantly, it came in the simplest packaging possible—just a thin piece of cardboard on the back. It was perfect. Luke-proof. There was no chance he'd get distracted by the box.
"He's going to love this," Erin agreed, her eyes wide with admiration for the foam blade.
We got it packaged as simply as possible and then headed off with Harris to the Dunphy residence. When we arrived, it was clear that Claire's idea of a "simple" party had already gone off the rails. The backyard was a chaotic landscape of varied attractions. There was a massive bounce house already inflated, a portable rock-climbing wall set up on the porch, and a zipline stretching from the treehouse to the far end of the yard.
"Looks like we're the first ones here," I muttered to Erin as we walked up the driveway.
Claire saw us through the open front door and waved us in, a stressed but welcoming smile on her face. "You're here! Thank God. Come in, come in. There is still time before the party starts, but I can use all the help I can get."
Just then, Luke came in from the backyard, his face already smudged with dirt.
"Happy Birthday, Luke," I said with a grin.
Erin didn't waste any time. She shoved the gift into his hands. "Here! This is from us!"
He didn't hesitate. He immediately tore the wrapper off to reveal the sword, his eyes lighting up with pure, unadulterated joy. "Whoa! This is so cool!" he yelled, brandishing the foam weapon. He then turned to Erin, a look of serious challenge on his face. "I challenge you to a duel! To the death!"
"Yeah!" she screamed in delight, and they dashed off into the yard, already locked in an epic battle.
"Luke, you didn't even thank them for the gift!" Claire shouted after the two kids as they ran off.
"It's alright, Mrs. Dunphy. Him liking the gift is thanks enough," I said cordially.
"Oh, you have no idea. Last time we gave him a gift, he ended up playing with the wrapper," she said, a weary chuckle in her voice. "Anyway, you can help me set up my arts and crafts table." Her eyes lit up with a genuine, wholesome joy that I immediately knew was going to be a problem.
"Uh, okay, but are you sure that this is a correct fit for this party?" I asked carefully.
Her eyes turned tense. "Why wouldn't it be? You can craft so many things that will be useful! A comb sheath, a paper-mache bowl, drawstring pouches…"
I had to stop her. "Mrs. Dunphy, with all due respect, those are all things that boys Luke's age never use." I paused and gestured out the main door towards the yard. "I mean, he is Luke. You remember that, right?"
I directed her gaze out the main door as well. There in the yard, Erin and Luke were dueling. Luke, with his new sword, kept slashing wildly while Erin, channeling some kind of inner ninja, kept dodging and throwing mock punches as if she were in a martial arts tournament. I turned to look at Mrs. Dunphy, and I could see the realization dawning on her.
"Nevertheless," she said, her optimism unbowed, "you should help me set it up. Who knows, some of the kids might join me."
Just then, Phil walked down from the stairs, his phone pressed to his ear. "Yeah, it's the third house on the lane. I'll just come out to the porch." He saw us and his face lit up. "B-Money, you made it! Just you sit tight, this party is going to be EPIIIIIC. I even called for an Animal Showing! The keeper just showed up at the driveway. I'll go help her set up."
"Hey, Mr. Dunphy, you've really outdone yourself with this party," I told him.
"I know, right?!" he cheered as he walked out towards a van that had animal stickers on it.
"Come, we should go set it up," Claire said, and so my fate was sealed. It took some time, but I helped Claire set up a neat table filled with crafts material in the driveway. My duty was done. Now, I was going to have some fun.
"Alright, Mrs. Dunphy, I'll go find Alex and hang out with her, if that's alright?" I said.
"Oh, sure, sure," she said, already arranging glitter pens. "And if you find any kids interested in crafting, you send them my way."
"Will do," I replied, though I knew the chances of that were slim to none.
I headed into the house and found Alex and Haley in a corner of the living room, deep in what looked like a serious conversation. I stopped, hidden by a doorway, and listened, a smirk already forming on my face.
Haley was watching the jungle lady, Tanya, getting overly comfy with Dylan, her expression a mixture of anxiety and forced nonchalance. Alex, I could tell, was masterfully stoking the flames.
"You don't deserve this," Alex said to Haley, her tone dripping with mock sympathy.
"What?" Haley asked, her eyes still glued to Dylan.
"Hot reptile chick," Alex listed off clinically. "You know, probably has her own apartment. Obviously okay touching gross stuff…"
"They're just talking," Haley insisted, though her voice was tight.
"You're right," Alex agreed, her voice dangerously sweet. "Dylan's far too sophisticated to get sucked in by a single lady with tons of cool tattoos."
Just then, across the room, Dylan yelped. "Hey, I think it peed on me!"
"Oh, no!" Tanya exclaimed, immediately rushing to his side and placing a comforting hand on his arm.
I watched Alex's perfect timing with a strategist's appreciation. It was a flawless tactical strike. Deciding it was time to make my entrance, I snuck up behind her. I leaned in close and gently blew a soft puff of air into her ear.
She let out a startled squeak and jumped, spinning around with her hand raised to swat me. Her expression of annoyance immediately melted into relieved surprise when she saw it was me. "Brad!" she whispered, a happy blush rising on her cheeks.
"Hey beautiful, did ya miss me?" I said cheerfully, taking Alex's hand in mine.
"Here comes the other nerd," Haley chimed in from where she was watching Dylan talk to the animal handler, Tanya.
"You know, being a nerd is going to be a popular thing in a few years," I shot back, looking at her. "What do you think being the popular dunce is going to be?" When she didn't say anything, I looked at Alex, and she answered immediately: "Boring."
"Exactly," I said with a grin.
"Oh, don't be too sure of it now," Haley said, her teasing tone not quite hiding her insecurity as she watched Dylan. "You can get by being a nerd because you're also on the basketball team. Alex only has her books, and that won't get her far on the social ladder." She then walked off, leaving a wounded silence in her wake.
I saw the comment hit a nerve with Alex. "It's okay," I said softly, giving her hand a squeeze. "You'll always have me, right?"
She looked at me, a small, grateful smile forming. "I know, but Haley can be such a... ugh."
"I know," I patted her back. "Come on, let's get me something to eat. I'm famished."
After we grabbed some pizzas, we found a spot to sit, but it wasn't long before we were drawn back to the drama unfolding in the living room. Dylan was now holding a snake, completely captivated by Tanya. Oh shit I didn't think it would happen now. Why the hell is such a massive one in here?!
"So… do you keep these in, like, a zoo or something?" he asked.
"No, I just keep them at my place." Tanya said with a coy smile. "That's awesome. I only have a cat." Dylan said enthusiastically, unaware of the storm brewing within Haley.
"Yeah? I used to have a cat." She said with a hint of sadness and regret. The goddamn snake ate it didn't it. This is why I never want to be around one.
Alex leaned over to a now-fuming Haley. "I was just messing with you before, but… seriously, he's still talking to her."
Then Tanya brought out the big one—a massive python that she draped over Dylan's shoulders.
And my world narrowed to a single point of pure, unadulterated terror. The sounds of the party faded. My vision tunneled. A cold sweat broke out on my skin. I immediately tightened my grip on Alex's hand, my knuckles white. She winced, looking at me with concern.
"Brad? Are you okay?"
I could feel the blood draining from my face. "I'm very, very afraid of snakes and spiders," I managed to choke out, my eyes locked on the reptile. "I was fine as long as they were far away, but now..."
"Okay, okay, let's go," Alex said, helping me stand as we began to walk out of the room.
But we were stopped by the escalating drama.
"You're like Britney Spears." Dylan said in an amazed tone.
"Hahaha, you're so funny!" Tanya said chuckling as she rubbed his arm.
"Hey, jungle lady," Haley interrupted, her voice sharp. "I think… I think one of your bugs got out." She pointed to an empty container. "This box thing here, it's… it's on its side."
Tanya looked over, her playful expression vanishing. "Oh my god, where did it go?"
"Is everything okay?" Dylan asked.
"No!" Tanya snapped, her voice frantic. "I… I lost a poisonous scorpion, and I need to find it. Okay, kids! Um, let's all tuck our pants into our socks! Avoid shady, moist places and let's make a game of looking where we step!"
A wave of pure, primal fear washed over me. I was trapped in a room with a snake and a loose poisonous scorpion. This was not how I planned on dying.
My vision narrowed, my heart hammered against my ribs, and a cold sweat slicked my skin.
Just as my panic threatened to consume me completely, a firm hand grabbed my arm. "Brad," a voice said, calm and steady, cutting through the noise in my head. It was Alex. "Look at me. We're going outside. Now."
I couldn't speak; I just nodded dumbly, letting her lead me. All the kids in the room were tucking their pants and standing on the sofa it was unabashed chaos. She took me outside, guiding me through the sliding glass door and into the relative safety of the backyard. The cool night air was a shock against my overheated skin.
"Okay," she said, turning to face me, her hands still holding my arms in a firm, grounding grip. "Take deep breaths. In and out. Pace yourself. You're okay."
I tried. I forced air into my lungs, my body still trembling. My training, my discipline, my strategic mind—all of it was useless against this primal, irrational fear. All I had left was rationalizing. The snake is inside, I thought, chanting the words in my head like a mantra. 'It's locked away in the living room. It can't reach me out here. I am fine. I will be fine.'
Alex was holding me the entire time, her hand moving to my back, rubbing slow, steady circles. "You're fine," she repeated, her voice a low, soothing anchor in my storm.
Slowly, agonizingly, the panic began to recede. My breathing evened out. The frantic hammering in my chest slowed to a steady beat. The world came back into focus, and the first thing I truly saw was her face, etched with a deep, unwavering concern. I had calmed down.
I took one last, deep breath and let it out. "Thank you," I said, my voice still a little shaky. I looked at Alex, a wave of profound gratitude washing over me. "For standing by me. When I needed you the most."
"Always" she said smiling and she never looked sweeter to me then. Alex's hand was still a warm, steady presence on my back. She had seen me at my absolute worst, completely undone by a primal, irrational fear, and she hadn't flinched. She had been my anchor.
I had plans on taking my time with her, doing things the right way. My strategic mind had mapped it all out: a series of dates, quiet conversations, a slow and logical progression toward intimacy. But in that instant, standing so close to her, her face full of a deep and genuine concern that was just for me, it felt more right than any moment I could have planned and strategised for.
All my carefully laid plans dissolved. I straightened myself and slowly moved closer to her. I saw her eyes widen slightly, her breath catching in her throat, but she didn't move away. She couldn't figure out what was happening, and frankly, neither could I. My body was moving on an impulse my brain couldn't counter.
I moved in and planted a short peck on her lips. It was hesitant, almost shy, a question more than a statement. Her lips were soft, and for the brief second they touched mine, the entire chaotic, noisy world of the party, the scorpions, the clowns, all of it just… vanished.
A chaste and tender moment ensued between us as I pulled back. A deep, blooming heat spread across my cheeks, a stark contrast to the lingering paleness from my panic attack. I looked at her and saw that a beautiful, matching blush was coloring her own face.
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was full, charged with everything that had just happened, and everything that was about to change.
"I, uh," I started, my voice a little shaky. "Sorry. I just..."
"It's okay," she whispered, a small, wondrous smile starting to form on her lips. "I liked it."
"Me too," I admitted, my own smile finally returning, genuine and relieved.
We heard a sudden, loud crash followed by pandemonium breaking loose out front, there was a lot of shouting "No, Manny, don't go in! Por favor"
"I must"
The spell was broken. "Come on, we need to see if everything is alright," I said to her, my voice urgent as I pulled her along with me to the front yard. On the driveway, we saw Luke had fallen near Claire's craft table, a rainbow of tiny plastic beads scattered around him like shrapnel.
"What happened? What happened, honey? What happened?" she asked him carefully as she sat down to help him up.
"I slipped on these stupid beads" he said groaning.
Claire's eyes widened in horror as she looked from Luke to her now-demolished crafting station. "…Oops," she whispered.
"Come on, here we go," Phil said, gently lifting Luke up into his arms.
In an instant, Claire shifted from panicked mother to efficient commander. "Alex, go get my purse and the car keys from the kitchen table. We need to go to the hospital," she ordered, her voice sharp and focused. She then turned to me, her expression a whirlwind of apology and stress. "Bradley, honey, I am so sorry. Do you have a ride home?"
"Yes, Mrs. Dunphy. Don't worry about me," I assured her. "I do."
"Okay, good," she said, her attention already back on Luke.
I caught Alex's eye as she was about to rush back into the house. Her face was full of worry for her brother, but she gave me a quick, apologetic look. I just nodded in understanding. The sweet, quiet moment we'd had was over, replaced by the loud, messy reality of her family.
"Bye, Brad," she said quickly.
"Bye, Alex. I hope he's okay."
As she disappeared inside, I went to find Erin amidst the remaining party guests to let her know it was time for us to get back home.
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Major Milestone in a budding relationship achieved. Now gimme some powerstones and reviews to keeping churning out chapters.