My Best Friend's Brother

by Chrissy Fanslau

  “Ha-ha!” Then I tried to push him over, but he saw it coming and ducked. And he beat me the whole way down.

  ~ ~ ~

  In Luke’s foyer, I handed him his bag. “You never told me what it is.” He smiled nervously.

  “You’ll like it. It suits you.”

  “It’s not Peter Pan in tights, is it?”

  I laughed and headed for the half bath. Inside, I dropped my clothes and pulled out the glittery white Toga with the gold ribbon shoulder straps and belt, the gold sandals and the golden wreath. The sandals would have to wait for school, and I’d just have to freeze with nothing but a coat over the toga.

  It fit like a dream! My reflection in the door mirror made me giggle. I looked awesome!

  After putting my hair up in a neat bun and crowning myself, I went into the living room, where his mom waited to see us off. She clapped her hands when she saw me. “Adonia! You look beautiful, honey! I’m so glad you two are together,” she said. “You’re so good together!”

  “Really?” I sat on the couch. It meant so much to hear her say that.

  She nodded. “Really! Now he can stop moping and be useful for a change!”

  I giggled. “Mrs. Jacobson? How come you never mentioned him?”

  She looked remorseful. “Some things are too hard to talk about, dear. And he didn’t stay put long enough for me to talk to him much, anyway.”

  I laughed. “Well, he turned out wonderful!”

  She embraced me. “He’s wonderful for you, too.”

  I squeezed her tight. “I know.”

  She squeezed me tighter. “I love you, honey.”

  I burst into tears, this time of joy. “Thank you, Mrs. Jacobson.”

  She kissed the top of my head. “You know I’m always here for you. And there’s no need to thank me.”

  I wiped my eyes. Steps descended the stairs. Seconds later he stood in the doorway, wearing his white toga with the single gold ribbon for a shoulder strap. Gold sandals clad his feet (they fit!), his hair was perfect and his face was beet red.

  He kept trying to hide his face with his hand, but finally he put his hands to his sides and asked, with a shy grin, “Um, why are we dressed like the Romans?”

  His mom laughed. “You’re a very handsome Roman, Lukasz.”

  He rolled his eyes and tore off the tag hanging from his toga. “Greek God,” he read, and frowned. “Did Lilly put you up to this?”

  I could barely contain myself. “No, not at all!” If he only knew! I sank back into their leather couch and gripped my heart dramatically. I couldn’t get over how hot he looked!

  His face flushed and his head fell into his hands, humiliated. “I’m supposed to wear this in public?” But he was hot as hell with those bulging arms!

  I had no doubts that he was a Greek god all along!

  “Everyone’s wearing a costume, don’t worry! Besides, we match!”

  Luke took a few steps toward me and took my hand. “All right. Ready to go, Aphrodite?”

  I squeezed his hand and we headed for the foyer.

  Once my boots were on, we threw on our coats, I held my sandals, and we stepped out into the cold.

  He freaked as powdery snow flooded his sandals. “On the other hand, maybe this was not the best idea! That’s what I get for being lazy! Holy shit!” He bounced about, trying to keep his feet from sinking into the snow.

  “Have fun you two!” Mrs. Jacobson shouted, waving from the front door.

  Burke’s Volkswagen pulled into the driveway just as we made our way to the Jeep.

  “Lukasz,” he said a moment later, patting him on the back. We’d actually stopped to say hi to him. “Why are you wearing a dress?”

  “Don’t ask!” Luke laughed.

  Burke chuckled. “You’ll come back home tonight, yes?”

  “Yeah, I live here!”

  Burke nodded. “Yes, thank God!”

  “You’re welcome!” Luke yelled.

  Burke looked at me. “You look nice in your dress too, young lady!”

  I grinned. I absolutely love this family! “Thanks, Burke. You look well too!”

  He nodded and met his wife at the door. “Thank you!” he shouted back.

  Luke opened my door and winked at me. “Better hurry, or we’ll be late for the ball! Not just that, but my toes may fall off!”

  ~ ~ ~

  We got to school at eight. The place was packed with students, teachers, and—ugh!—guidance counselors.

  The music was loud, coming from a stage by the far wall of the gymnasium. A 63-inch television was mounted on the wall above the stage, playing music videos, mostly from scary movie soundtracks. The lights were dim, the fruit punch was plentiful, and the dance floor was packed.

  We made our way past Bigfoot, Count Dracula, the Cookie Monster, Snow White, Peter Pan, Wendy, zombies, devils, angels, and a few vampires. Frankenstein and his bride were easy to spot, flirting in a corner, stealing kisses. Anna was even with them—a witch—drinking punch and at least trying to dance. She looked over my costume and gave me a thumbs-up, munching on a caramel apple.

  “Lukasz! Adonia!” Lilly waved our way, on an ultimate sugar rush. Her eyes twinkled and her face was flushed. “What are you two wearing!”

  We made our way over. “He’s a Greek god, didn’t you know?” I checked him out again. “And I’m his goddess!”

  “Aw, how sweet!” Gino teased, giving Luke a high five. “Nice dress, Zeus!”

  Luke shook his head and shoved him lightly. “It’s a toga! Don’t make me hit you with a lightning bolt!”

  Gino laughed obnoxiously. “Hey, there’s a mountain of candy over there if you guys want some!” He turned to Lilly. “You want more?!”

  “I don’t think I could handle more! But if you feel the need, go get me some, cutie!”

  Luke wrapped his arms around my neck, pulled me close and kissed me. Wildly.

  When we were done, Lilly looked disgusted. “God!”

  “What?” we asked jointly.

  She shook her head. “That was so gross!”

  We laughed. When Gino came back with candy for her, she had no problem kissing him that way.

  “Lilly, that was so gross!” Luke mocked.

  Lilly rolled her eyes and sipped more punch.

  Luke gripped my waist. “You’ve got great taste in friends, Lil!”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know!” She pointed into the crowd. “Look, Jenna came as Little Bo Peep!” She laughed.

  Anna tapped my arm. “They’re gonna do the Lambada soon. Mr. Michaels’ idea,” she said, chewing on a Snickers bar, “you guys wanna join?”

  I made a face. “How do you do the Lambada?”

  Anna shrugged. “Mr. Michaels is there teaching people.” She pointed with her candy bar. “Wanna watch?”

  “Sure,” Luke answered for me, pulling me along. “After we get some punch and candy!” We walked past Tom’s corpse on the dance floor, dancing dirty with Little Bo Peep. “She dates corpses now?” Luke laughed.

  I shook my head, somehow feeling sorry for her. I felt sorry for anyone who got with Tom.

  By the time we made it to the other side of the gymnasium, the Thriller video came on. Everyone turned toward the TV and started dancing like zombies. Mr. Michaels stood in the corner, a chicken in suspenders. He looked bummed, as all his students seemed to have lost interest in the Lambada.

  “That reminds me!” I hollered, gripping Luke’s arm. “Can you help me study for a retake in math?”

  His eyebrows met. “What! A goddess like you has to take a retake? How can that be?”

  “Well, I was so miserable and hungry and missing you that I failed my midterm!”

  He grinned and shook his head. “You’re such a drama queen!”

  “So what do you say?”

  He sipped some punch and wrapped an arm around me. “I say I love you! So. Freaking. Much.”

  I giggled and grabbed his bicep. “What do you say about studying, Lukasz?”<
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  He laughed and wiped his forehead. “Yeah, we’ll hit the books tonight!”

  “Or tomorrow…?” I breathed in his ear.

  He grinned devilishly. “Even better!”

  As we watched people dance, it suddenly occurred to me that Jake wasn’t there. The thought of him alone at home made me grin. Yes, I’ve got a bit of a mean streak. But what girl doesn’t, deep down, you know?

  Someone tapped my shoulder. It was Mr. Bias, dressed like a Hawaiian tourist. Complete with a camera, khaki shorts, a tropical button-up shirt, sandals and an iced tea with one of those umbrella straws. Shocked.

  “You like it?!” he asked, all wide eyed with that eternal smile.

  “It fits you like a glove!” I shouted.

  He shook his head. “It’s not a glove, it’s a tourist outfit! I’m in Hawaii!”

  Luke laughed. “No, sir, you’re in Alaska, USA! It’s dark, ten below and windy out!”

  I giggled, though Mr. Bias’ smile faded momentarily. I said, “I like the outfit!” and it returned.

  “You look nice too!” He pointed at Luke. “The two of you match! And you missed my office visit!” he informed me.

  “I know! I haven’t wanted to talk about it lately! But while you’re here, I guess we can talk quickly?” Not that I had a choice.

  He nodded and pointed his nose at Luke. “Is that your boyfriend?!”

  “Yeah!”

  He looked dubious. “Want to talk about him?!”

  “No!” I laughed, hoping that was the end of it.

  Mr. Bias bobbed his head to the beat of the music. “I got something back from a University in British Columbia! It says you’re accepted! Congratulations!”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Really!”

  He nodded. He took a bite of his candy bar and sucked on the umbrella straw. After a minute he waved. “See me next week! We’ll talk about financial aid!” Then he danced into the crowd.

  Luke looked at me uncertainly. It felt odd, being told I got into college. It was exciting and scary. “I’m glad I decided to stay!” Luke shouted. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be here with the prettiest girl in school, wearing this!”

  I laughed, looked into his gleaming eyes and adjusted his wreath. “I’m glad, too!”

  After an awkward silence, he put his mouth up to my ear and said, “So I guess you’re going to college, huh?”

  I thought for a minute. Then I said, “Yeah.”

  He smiled, but eventually looked down halfheartedly.

  “You know,” I noted, “There’s lots of snow in British Columbia! And you’re practically dressed for the Olympics anyway!”

  He beamed and kissed me. The kind of mind-blowing kiss where everyone and everything around us just fades out.

  I opened my eyes in the middle of it, just to be sure he’s really there. Nope, I wasn’t imagining him—a Greek god really was kissing me. I gripped his toga strap like he’s a million bucks!

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