Stage Left - The Beaulieu Yard After School
Cath was the first of her siblings to make it home after school and as always her first priority was to walk Taffy. Her brown and white little puppy was getting bigger but he wasn’t a huge dog it seems. Maybe his size was more on the beagle side of his parenting. She holds out the leash and Taffy gives her a betrayed look.
“Taffy we have to...I’ll let you run free at the end when we're back this way. Come on boy walkies!” She clips the leash on and begins down third towards the pizza place with the happy little dog sniffing all around. Cath had her hair in two buns and was wearing a multicolored knit sweater her mom had made her with a pair of blue corduroy pants and white sneakers.
A minute after Cath had left the yard Tristan followed Rene into it. They had a plan to study after school and then maybe play a video game or two. Mason had buggered off for some online thing that was time sensitive and Tony had rehearsal. But Tristan rather cherished getting time one on one with Rene. They had many of the same classes together but parted ways that day for Rene and Tony going to Drama while he and Mason walked the other way to computer science. “So Mr. Gupta’s teaching is how to code games. He’s really cool and he knows a lot….possibly more than Mason...possibly.” He laughs and sets his orange backpack down on the Beaulieu back desk. He was wearing a green Alexandra Otters sweatshirt and black cargo pants with his usual black and white trainers. “How was drama?” He asks casually. “Did you get the part you wanted?”
Rene arches his brow as he dumps his bag on the porch. He was wearing blue jeans and a comfy black sweatshirt blus his black trainers. “Mr Gupta had BETTER know more than Mason.” he argues. “How embarrassing is it to know less than your student.” he huffs. Then he straightens and almost struts down the stairs. “I got … well the other role I wanted if I didn’t get the one I wound up not getting.” he shrugs. “Romeo Rogers got that part. Probably because he’s older.” he blows out a breath. “Both are leading man kind of roles.” he rolls his eyes, because he knows what that means. “I. Am. Drew.” he announces, dramatically. “Romeo is Elliot.”
Tristan watches Rene as he talks. He grins at the strut. Rene seemed oblivious to how cute he was but Tristan was not. Then he’s exhaling and eye rolling and Tristan isn’t sure how to respond “Well hello Drew...are you pissed that Romeo got the Elliot part? I mean if you say they're both leading men..doesn’t that just mean you’re both main characters? Could be a lot of lines. You asked me to help you read before. We can still do that. I feel like I should say congrats...but I’m not sure you’re loving this?” He leans against the deck folding his arms and looking puzzled. It sounded like Rene got a part, and a big one.
Rene laughs. “I’m mostly just being a diva.” he admits. “It’s my first part and a big part and a dramatic play.”. He is holding the play in one hand. “I’d love for you to help me read. Taffy sucks. He grins again. “I am totally loving this.” he confesses. “And I don’t really mind sharing my spotlight with Romeo. We're playing brothers, so I also get to practice my Canadian accent.”
Tristan cracks up “Your French accent is one version of a Canadian accent Rene. And I love your accent…” He blushes a bit and then clears his throat casually “But it would be amusing to see you try and pull off sounding like an Anglophone? Is that what you call us?” He reaches for the script “Can I snoop?”
Rene smiles. “Merci, Tristan.” he nods. “Well this is about people on this island in its early days.” he explains. “I am willing to bet they were not French Canadians, so …” hs clears his thrust and speaks without his accent, but it's very slow. “I will speak without an accent.”
Tristan looks impressed “Wow listen to you. Who are you and what have you done with Rene Beaulieu?” He teases and then looks curious “People on the island in the early days. So like explorers? Indigenous people? Cro Magnons? How early are we talking? Can I have a look at the script?”
Rene smiles. “Perfect English hurts my brain.” he confesses. He looks at the script. “We only did a few lines from the beginning so I am not sure. I think it is the first Alexandra colonists.” he moves beside Tristan and hands him the script. “Give it a read …. I’m ready when you are.” he has been so excited, he hasn’t read the entire script. He thinks it is about two brothers who come to Alexandra, make friends and end on the ever of their happily ever after.
Tristan grins and takes the script “I’ll try not to hurt your brain...colonists...ok…” Tristan is a fast reader and he’s quiet for a few minutes. “You’re Drew….K I’m skipping over some of this Elliot stuff where you have no lines….but wait a minute...that’s like Morgan Wright. They call him Martin but that’s totally…..huh….and a baker named Sylvia...Zilpha...this is like old school townies here. That’s hilarious. This is brilliant. And not colonists…” He flips back and looks at the title “Through the Fog…..yeah it’s the fog.” Tristan flips back to where he was and then flips further “Spoilers...I’m going to read the ending because there's lots of you back here. Hey who plays Lara?” He looks a little awkward “Because it says here you guys have a big cupid lighting strike moment and then kiss. Who do you have to kiss?” He’s a mix of amused and anxious about the idea.
Rene smiles as Tristan gives a summary. “Yea. Mr Zelenko is a great writer, I think.” he blinks when Tristan asks who is playing Lara and before he can reply Tristan explains that he has to kiss her. He takes the script and reads that part. “Merde. It’s .. Elise Girard…” his own eyes wide and anxious.
Tristan watches Rene and then sighs “Well you’re an actor. Guess you’ll have to...act…”
Rene blows out a breath. “Well … oui .. obviously.” he shrugs, looking uncertain. “Only … this would be my first kiss … I mean …” he shrugs “Kiss . scene … “
Tristan sighs and wonders if Rene is trying to cover for it actually being his first real kiss. He tries to get to the truth by admitting his own “I’ve never kissed anyone... in person.. IRL. But if it is your first....” He laughs a bit “Do you want that to be on stage? With Elise Girard?”
Rene had wondered if Tristan had kissed anyone in real life. Kissing doesn't make you boyfriends … does it? He pushes that out of his head. “Yea .. it’s my first kiss …” he sighs and rolls his eyes. “Elise isn’t exactly my type, Tristan.” he swallows. “You know it’s not …” he almost says its not her he wants to kiss, but stops ald lets it sound like Tristan knows it would not be a girl he wants to kiss, what with Tristan being one of the few to know he’s gay. “It’s just … the part says I have to kiss her ….”
Tristan looks sympathetic and conflicted. He felt like he was getting a signal from Rene and it called to him like a siren. But what if he was wrong and fucked up everything. But the call was deafening. He decided to say it in a way they could potentially laugh off if it bombed but what he came out with was way more flirtatious than anything he’s ever said to anyone, even Banjo. “Well I did say I’d help you practice for the play. I mean you know if I have to kiss you as part of that I can take one for the team.” He tried to look like he was kidding but his gaze lingered a bit and his grin softened into something more wistful.
Cath and Taffy were stalled at the most interesting lamppost Taffy had ever sniffed. Clearly every dog in Alexandra had marked it.
Rene nods and moves closer, facing Tristan. “You did say that…” he gives a very soft smile and leans in. “And I really need your help on this.” and he swallows. If Tristan wasn’t ready … if Rene were reading the signs all wrong … this could be a disaster. But he looks at Tristans eyes, and then his lips and then, lowering his eyelids, he leans in to kiss, hoping he wasn’t ruining everything.
Tristan can’t help but grin as Rene lets him know so sweetly he wants him to kiss him. He leans in more too, fumbling a bit over what to do with his hands. Timidly he places one hand at Rene’s waist and the other slides a bit up the opposite arm. He presses his lips against Rene’s for a little peck but as soon as they touch he gets a jolt...like lightning. He pulls back in surprise for a second searching Rene’s face for some kind of explanation and then leans back in as something shifts in him and he just gives into it and gently begins catching Rene’s lips with his over and over. It’s like an instinct taking over. His arm winds around Rene’s waist pulling him closer and his other hand slides up the rest of the arm until he’s tenderly cupping the side of Rene’s cheek.
Rene backs up in slight shock as he is jolted as well. As he and Tristan search each other's face, Rene breathes out “Mon Dieu…” and as Tristan moves in for another kiss, he does as well.. He feels Tristan’s hand on his face, and his own arms go around Tristan’s waist and pull him close. If this was kissing Tristan, he could go forever. He gives a soft moan and experiments with his tongue, to see if Tristan is interested in French kissing the French man.
Tristan gets lost in the kiss, lost in Rene. When he feels Rene’s tongue in his mouth he lets out a breathy little “Mmm...” and then opens his mouth more and starts to explore back with his tongue sliding against Rene’s. There’s a bit of fumbling at first but then that instinct takes over and he feels them start to deepen the kiss more naturally and their lips and tongues just find a happy and wonderful pattern. Tristan pulls Rene against him as he leans back into the deck. He could kiss Rene like this endlessly.
Cath lets Taffy off the leash as they reach the side yard and Taffy merrily runs off into the yard. Now he was moving fast. Cath laughs at him and follows and then rounds the house moving towards the deck and audibly lets out a gasp of complete shock. Rene and Tristan were making out against the deck!
Rene leans into Tristan along the deck. He lifts his hand into Tristan's hair and turns his head slightly for a kiss at another angle. Softly he moans at the taste of Tristan’s tongue on his mouth. Then he hears a gasp and he breaks the kiss. He doesn’t jump away, but he does turn towards the sound, his body in front of Tristan's protectively.
Cath holds up a hand “Sorry...so sorry. I seem to be on a roll walking up on people kissing.” She points at them “By the way this makes WAY more sense than Mabel or those psycho twins. Carry on. Taffy!” She calls and walks a few steps forward looking for her loose puppy.
Tristan laughs into Rene’s shoulder and then breaths out “Shit! Hi Cath...thank you.” He kisses Rene’s cheek “You don’t have to hide me….but do you want to maybe tell your sister not to blab this until you’re ready for it?” He’s still holding Rene and catching his breath a bit as he basks in what just happened between them. Tristan is hoping to god this isn’t just a one time thing because that might just kill him.
Rene looks over his shoulder. “I thought I was protecting you….” he murmurs and then realizes he’s right. “Hey Cath.” he calls after her. “Could you not … you know … we’re not ready for everyone to know .. okay?” he reaches behind him for Tristan’s hand.
Cath turns and walks back towards them “Rene….I wouldn’t. You forget we grew up in the same closed minded town?” She smiles looking between them “It’s your news to tell. But...I’m happy for you guys.”
Tristan takes Rene’s hand and holds it and smiles at Cath “Much appreciated. Seriously.”
Cath then frowns “You know you should tell them though...Maman and Papa….I mean after Marc….and now what we know about Auguste. I think they would just be good about it. And I know Sasha and Gen would. I mean it’s none of my business but Tristan...does your family…”
Tristan jumps in “My family knows I’m gay….but um this..” He squeezes Rene’s hand “Is new….” He laughs and asks “Who else did you walk in on kissing?”
Cath rolls her eyes “Elise and that Nolan guy….”
Rene sighs. “I think they would, but … Tristan is right .. it’s new and … our whole family is not Tristn’s whole family. Let the family be happy for Sasha and Paige … and Maman and Papa more in love than ever before. Maybe after Dante comes home and settles back in.” he squeezes Tristan’s hand back. “Our own friends don’t even know yet.” then Cath mentions Elise and Nolan. “Elise is pretty cool and Nolan deserves some kind of happiness.” he chuckles.
Tristan starts silently laughing when Cath says Elise and Nolan. Rene having to kiss Elise was what started all this. Then he listens to Rene and the timeline that he feels comfortable with, but it also means he’s thinking they have a timeline that has a future and that part makes him incredibly happy. “I’m cool not to rush on anything…” He says honestly and then smiles “Elise and Nolan. That makes me feel a little better about you kissing her..” He chuckles.
Cath listens to them both and then looks at Rene in shock “You kissed Elise and THEN you kissed Tristan? When was all this? Have I been living under a rock?”
Rene laughs when Tristan reminds him that he has to kiss Elise and then rolls his eyes at his sister. “I HAVE to kiss Elise. For the play I’m in. I WANTED to kiss Tristan. Big difference. But yes, you are living under a rock. You and Taffy.” he tugs a bit on Tristan's arm, putting it around his waist.
Cath breathes out a sigh of relief “OK that makes more sense...big difference.” Then he says Taffy and she eeeps “Taffy! Oh he’s probably down at the inlet rolling in the mud. Your secret is safe….I better go find my puppy.” and with that she runs off.
Tristan happily lets his arm get tugged and then leans his face into Rene’s shoulder as he gives him a squeeze “I’ve been wishing for this….dreaming of it….super scared I’d wreck our friendship if you knew how much I liked you….how i like you…” He finally admits.
Rene watches Cath take off after her uppy and hears the words Tristan speaks into his shoulder. He turns around and puts his arms around him. “Me too … it was driving me crazy.” he smiles. “Now it feels like this has always been.” he leans in to kiss Tristan again.
Tristan exhales and smiles “Oh my god it’s good to hear you say that. And it does feel like...we;; it feels oddly familiar.” His arms wrap tighter around Rene and he kisses him back, forgetting the world again as he lets himself get lost in it once again.
Rene kisses him, letting himself enjoy what he hasn’t been able to in a while. But then he breaks the kiss. “Should we be kissing here?” he wonders, even as he goes in for another. “It is not the front yard, but .. who knows.” but he doesn’t stop kissing him. Not yet.
Tristan fully enjoys kissing Rene. It’s a beautiful freedom after waiting and wondering. When Rene pulls back and asks if they should be kissing there he smooths his hair “I think it’s ok…” And then they’re kissing again and he lets out a happy little grunt into the kiss. It felt so damn good. Finally he breaks this one apart and says “Maybe we should talk about where you feel ok being close to me...I don’t want to ever make you uncomfortable. I mean I’d say my house…” He shrugs. “I feel like my mom and dad would be ok….I mean with us and this….not sure they’ll let you sleep over anytime now..” He grins and blushes
Rene keeps holding Tristan as the kiss breaks. “I’m never uncomfortable around you .. at least not when we’re alone. Some of the kids at school, I just don’t know about. Most people are so kind, but … I’d have to follow your lead on who to trust. But .. your house .. perfect.” his accent strengthens on the last word. Then he chuckles. “I suppose I understand that sleep overs are over.” He smiles and caresses Tristan's hair. “So your house .. and here those three minutes a day when the place is empty.” he grins. Then he bites his lip. “Tristan … you know kissing Elise .. it is only a role, oui?”
Tristan’s arms are still around Rene too and he’s enjoying the warmth of their embrace “The school thing is unpredictable. I mean I think our friends are pretty supportive...they have been of me...well the guys. The girls don’t know aside from Cath. But Daphne has always been open minded all the years about everything…” He breaks off “Oh shit...Mabel. I don’t think she’s homophobic but she really has a thing for you. I mean it seems calmer lately but maybe only because of the Wong twins. Damn how many girls will I have to fight to be with you?” He jokes and leans into the caress and wiggles his eyebrows “My house is empty a lot...just so you know. But Uncle Ryan and Aunt India have keys...so does my Grandma Sakura and….Kaitlin….pretty sure John. Mostly they all knock but Uncle Ryan has been known to walk right in and just leave with a measuring cup of sugar. Usually he doesn't want to get caught either though…” He laughs. Then he looks Rene in the eye and nods “I do know that. I’m not worried you’re going to run away with Elise. Besides I’ll just make friends with her boyfriend and make sure he and I get front row seats.” He chuckles and runs his nose along Rene’s cheek after and then kisses it.
Rene is considering their friends also and sighs when it comes to Mabel. “Yea … I would want to let her down as gently as I can. She’s been really sort of normal since school started.” then he groans. “God … the Wong twins. Just … every nope in the world.” he chuckles, though. “It could be an interesting fight, especially if you have Nolan on your side. He’s a big guy. Not as big as your Dad but … still.” he smiles about the emptiness of his house and laughs about his uncle. “So he just comes in, gets sugar and leaves again? Is had and arrested?” he grins. “I’d love to see you in the front row. Gives me motivation to make the kiss better.” he takes the cheek kiss. “If it helps Elise has to kiss me AND Romeo.” he shrugs. “Apparently the brothers fall in love with the same girl, blah blah bah. But Romeo has his own group of girls in his grade but he seems to like it.”
Tristan laughs “I gotta warn you I am not much of a fighter. Always been more reliant on the fact that I’m a fast runner and a quick thinker? I suspect Nolan might know a thing or two about fighting. Doesn’t he play hockey? Gotta know your skill set. Those Wong twins are a little ….well at least you’re not sitting with them anymore.” He smiles and nods “One time he just took our whole bottle of olive oil. Be funny if Dad arrested his partner. But I actually think it’s my Mom he’s afraid of. Older sister.” He wiggles his eyebrows at the making Rene make the kiss better by his inspiration in the front row “Strange...and hot..” He chuckles and then grimaces “Oh god poor Elise. Not about kissing you but having to kiss two people on stage at all….and Romeo. Yeah he’s like Tony. Although you’re a bit that way, not that you encourage it. I think Tony and Romeo kinda do.”
Rene grins. “I don’t fight either. Nolan does play hockey I think, I heard some of the jocks talking about him making the team. Maybe I can hire him as a bodyguard.” he suddenly laughs. “Well thats is arrogant of me.” he laughs about Tristan’s uncle and nods about older sisters. “Yea … older sisters can scar you for life. Gen has these moments where she’s really nice and helpful and then moments where she is evil incarnate. Dante evens her out.” he sighs dramatically. “I miss him as much as she does.” he laughs and leans in for another kiss. “Yea Romeo seems to like that level of attention. But you kinda can’t blame the girls .. he IS sort of cute.” he smirks.
Tristan grins “Bodyguard huh…” he teases and then shrugs “Yep another only child ignorance. When’s Dante out?” He kisses Ren back sweetly and lets his face linger leaning his forehead on Rene’s cheek like he’s basking in finally being able to be this close and then he smiles “Yeah Romeo’s cute. But you’re much much much cuter.” He kisses Rene again for a little longer this time but breaks off when he hears the sound of children running out from the Alvin back door to play. He steps back a bit and keeps holding Rene’s hand so it could look like they’re just chatting to anyone who’s not watching closely. “You’re in yard range of Mina and the Stanleys…..just dawned on me. Especially since we’re trying to not hurt Mabel’s feelings.”
Rene shrugs. “It’s not a Romeo caliber body, but I’d rather it not be broken.” he grins. “When you commit the crime of being younger, any child above you will resent you. Because … taking food and attention away … because … we’re primitive?” he considers. “He will be in nine months if its just basic I guess, but if he behaves and gets good grades and stuff he could get early release. Gen has her heart set on Christmas.” he smiles a bit more with each much as Tristan says he’s cute and enjoys the kiss until the Alvin kids begin to pour out of the house. He holds his hand. “Shit . yea … The trees block a lot but … yea. We can go in and do homework … maybe do it more at your house because homework here can get kinda hectic.”
Tristan squeezes Rene’s hand and head juts at the house “We’ll figure it out. Let’s go in. I’m happy to spend time with you no matter what we do Rene.” He lets go of Rene’s hand and walks up the steps to the deck grabbing his orange backpack “I hope Dante gets out early...for all your sakes.”
Rene takes his bag and heads into the house. He looks at the new stove. “Oh, you know I’ve been working on my not cooking cooking skills.” he proclaims. “If Mrs Baldwin can teach me how to not start fires, I might be able to try with fire again.” he laughs. “I’ve heard that that vegan egg mix is really good and I’d like to try it.” He knows Trista’s allergy and has already been thinking of ways around it.
Tristan smirks “Not cooking skills huh. I like that. We just use the ground flaxseed for faking eggs in baking. It’s actually pretty effective.One tablespoon of ground flax to three tablespoons of water per egg. Then mix it and let it sit until it’s mush. My allergy is not airborne though. Just so you know. It’s eating it or to a degree touching it by accident...which has happened once or twice when I didn’t realize who’s baking I was picking up. My family is pretty careful and my parents pretty much don’t eat eggs at home anymore but when we have like a bigger dinner with the Reinhardts there are just dishes that they keep at the other end of the table from me and I always know what’s safe. Kurt has actually figured out a ton of baking...he’s super nice. Logan’s boyfriend. I confess I had a tiny crush on him at first. Blonde…..accent….fuck...I might have a type..” He admits.
Rene listens. “That can work, I guess. If I’m ever allowed to use the new stove, I can try it. But after that fire, I don’t think my dad is in a big hurry to let me try again.” he listens to the story of Kurt and his accent. “Oh .. so when I have to lose my accent in the play I won’t be as handsome as when I am rambling on with my usual accent, eh?” he teases. “I will have to remember that.” he winks and pulls out his homework. “Know what is funny? I have to take French. There is a temptation to fail it, just for laughs.”
Tristan blushes and laughs “Nope I don’t think there’s any way possible for you to be less handsome to me. If you flunk French wouldn’t your parents be pissed? I mean especially since it’s such an easy one. You must be bored as hell though.” He pulls out his binder and pencil case and then while he still has his bag in reach he pulls out a little tube like structure and holds it out to Rene “Since we were talking about my allergy...I should actually tell you how to do this. I’ve shown Tony and Mason. This is an epipen. If I accidentally eat something with eggs and my throat starts to close up it’s likely someone will have to do this for me. It’s never happened yet...but since we’re….well you should know just in case.” He takes the cap off “It’s pretty simple actually….you just take off the cap...and I won’t do it for real because then I’d need a new one...but you just pick a spot….” He smooths his jeans and stretches out his leg “A big fleshy spot like my thigh is good...not that I’ve got a lot of meat anywhere but this is the best. And then you just stab me, don’t be gentle. It’ll go through clothes. I mean unless for some reason I was wearing ski pants...which is not often. But yeah lid off and stab me in the leg. It’ll be really obvious if I’m having an anaphylactic reaction. Lips swell, breathing is a struggle and I can’t talk….and hives often come before it but if I don’t notice them then I’m screwed.”
Rene laughs. “Oui, I would be in a lot of trouble with my parents. I’ll just have to be bored in class” he looks at the epi pen and his brows go up. “Alright … but … I think it’ll be the only time I feel the need to stab you.” he quips. “I hope I will never have to stab you or use that thing. It’s scary.” he admits.
Tristan smirks “That’s comforting to know you’re not naturally homicidal.” Then he puts the epi pen back in the front pouch of his backpack “It’s always in there. It is scary ...but I’m super careful so it’s probably just a precaution. I’m guessing it’s worse for the nut allergy kid, whoever that is in our class.” Since they’re the only ones in the house still Tristan leans in and gives Rene a light kiss and then smiles at him “I still feel like I’m dreaming.” He laughs “Hear I thought the closest we’d get was you smooching my pillow. That was beautiful agony to watch by the way.”
Rene nods, making the point to remember where it was should he ever need to use it. He smiles after the kiss and then bites his lip. “I thought so too … and I do hope the real thing is alright. I didn’t do the melodramatic stuff but … I hadn't planned on it it just … felt right to kiss you out there.” he grins and kisses him again.
Tristan watches Rene bite his lip after the kiss and looks at him with total bliss “the real thing is amazing….I knew it would feel good to kiss you but I had no idea...no idea…” He breathes out and then they kiss again and he lets his school binder slide down one side of his leg and his arms start to wind around Rene as he becomes more passionate. But then there’s the sound of footsteps up the front steps, a squeak of the mailbox opening and shutting and a key turning in the door lock and he freezes and looks at Rene sheepishly as he pulls back and grabs the binder and opens it to a random page of notes, pretending to study.
Amelie Beaulieu comes shuffling in the door “Bonjour!” She calls out as her shoes can be heard dropping to the boot tray at the front. Her keys clatter in the bowl and she walks by the entrance to the living room still in her dental scrubs absently sifting through the mail she just grabbed from the mailbox on her way in. She opens a letter as she looks into the living room “Rene...hello...and hi Tristan. Studying hard. Good for you boys.”
Rene smiles just before he is kissed and again is almost lost in it. Then he also hears the steps and backs away, trying to look like he’s been studying and not kissing anyone. His mother walks in and speaks to them and he watches her. “Always studying hard.” he replies and then he smirks and winks at Tristan … a double meaning sort of thing. “We had French today.” he clears his throat and in the worst French he can conjure up, he says. “Bon joor. Comment tally is vous?” and he smiles at her, as if proud of his French delivery.
Tristan fels his cheeks go warm at the double meaning joke and the wink and gives Rene a tiny look as he flips to the page of where his notes are caught up to what they’re doing in ELA. He laughs about the bad French and looks up at Rene’s mom.
Amelie smiled and then pointed at Rene “Rene Auguste Beaulieu, that is blasphemy.” She mock scolds “Mon dieu.” She makes her way to the kitchen “Did you offer Tristan anything? A drink….we have cookies...chips…..”
Tristan blushed again as Rene had definitely offered him many things today, just not food and drinks.
Rene can’t help but laugh. “I will do better, I promise.” he clears his throat. “No … I didn’t. I know I am a horrible host.” he looks at Tristan, thinking of all they had offered each other, but then simply asks. “Would you like anything. A drink … we have cookies … chips. Oh no cookies, they have eggs in them … but the chips don’t.”
Tristan smiles at Rene “A drink and chips would be awesome. Thanks.” He just keeps looking at Rene a little longer because he can now without feeling like it’s inappropriate. His mom can’t see them from where she is.
Amelie chuckles in the kitchen and begins to open cupboards and the fridge thinking about what to make for dinner and sighs “I am out of dinner ideas. Maybe your father has some…”
Just then Cath comes in the back door with Taffy so covered in mud you would swear he had no white fur at all and Amelie stops them “Catherine….you need to hose him off!”
“I did Maman...twice….” She whines “You should have seen him before!” She picks up the dog and she’s almost as muddy “I was going to put him in the bathtub and then clean it after we’re done.” She notices Tristan and tries to look casual “Oh hi Tristan...so nice you could come over.”
Amelie frowns at Cath and then shakes her head around “Ok but use the old towels…..and you’ll be mopping this floor too Madamoiselle!”
Tristan waves weakly. Cath was not good at playing it cool, at all. He watches her and the muddy dog head upstairs.
Rene looks at Rene until Cath and Taffy come in. “We have leftover meat. I can make one of my really healthy salads?” he offers. Then he looks at Cath as she tries to play it cool and fails. He looks at Tristan again. “Welcome to a day in the Beaulieu home. Please don’t rip the door off the hinges as you run screaming from the insanity.” he grins. He didn’t think Tristan was going anyplace … especially considering his own family was in their way just as crazy as his was.
Amelie smiles at Rene “that would be wonderful. No rush though. Study and then have some fun with your friend. It’s still early.” The sound of water running in the tub is accompanied by sploosh and a scuffle and then Cath’s voice yelling “No Taffy, come back!’” Running footsteps all over the upstairs make Amelie sigh and then tear up the stairs to see where the dog has escaped to “No Taffy! Bad boy!! Oh…..the bed…” From here she ended up in the upstairs it’s the parents bed that now has a muddy wet dog.
Tristan just starts laughing “Oh my god….pandemonium. No Hulk smash runs out your door I promise but wow...just wow.” He keeps laughing “Ah….”
Rene smiles as his mother suggests he and Tristan play, but then all hell breaks loose upstairs and he looks up at the ceiling until he realizes that the dog went into his parents room and Tristan starts laughing. “Dieu …” he looks at Tristan. “That is good to know, but I might run.” he laughs. “Well, this suggests to me that when we study together we should really do it at your house.” he rolls his eyes. Then he gets serious. “Oh … there's a party tomorrow .. for Dr Page … would you like to be my date .. or guest .. or … come?”
Tristan blushes again briefly at Amelie’s words and then keeps laughing a bit “Yeah you can run to my house anytime.” Then he looks touched “Dr. Page? Oh yeah you guys are all connected. I would love to do all those things Rene...I mean…” He cringes at how the last one could be taken and then smacks himself and gets serious too “Aislin will be there though too….is she going to wonder? I mean I assume most of our friends think we’re best friends so maybe it’s not so weird. And you are my best friend….and more….but yours is the most important friendship of my life..” The last part comes out a little emotional “That’s why it was so scary to risk it if you didn’t feel the same way…”
Rene hadn’t thought about a lot of that. “She will be, yea … um … so … as my guest.” he nods and moves to touch Tristan’s hand. “Me too, Tristan … and I’m so glad we do feel the same way.” he is almost ready to steal a kiss when there is the sound of little feet and Taffy comes half running half flying down the stairs because her paws are wet and slippery.
Amelie and Cath are both running after Taffy and Amelie yells “Catch that dog!”
Tristan was misty eyed looking at Rene and ready to grab him for a kiss too when the dog flies by and then Amelie says catch it. He hops up and runs to head Taffy off as he rounds from the kitchen and does manage to scoop him up. He’s a sopping muddy mess and now so is Tristan, at least his sweatshirt is “Got him….oh squirmy friend...you are a mud monster…..” The dog thinks it’s the best game and starts licking Tristan’s face. Tristan laughs “Ugh slobber…”
Rene also jumps up. “Mon Dieu … out …” he grabs a bottle of soap and then opens the back door. “Hold him tight, Tristan.” he is becoming messy too as he puts dishwashing soap on the dog and begins to wash it. The brown soap bubbles get all over everywhere. “He’s not here . this is nothing but a mud monster!”
Amelie comes down and walks up to them and ses the boys have a strategy and looks relieved.
Tristan looks into the kitchen “Let’s put him in the kitchen sink. He’s small enough and then we can hang onto him without him running.” Rene’s soaping had both their shirts now muddy and soapy with a dog between them. “They used to bathe Jayla in the kitchen sink because it was a good height.”
Cath watches them working together now and her understanding of how they became a couple keeps growing. Tristan and Rene just fit, even with a muddy puppy.
Stage Right - The Green space between the Lancaster House and the Girard house
Elise was visibly a little stressed but trying not to be a downer as she walked with Nolan cutting through from school to both their houses. She had gotten ehr part in the play and then skimmed the script and found something unexpected. But she was trying to shrug it off “Hey we should go to a movie this weekend Nolan?” Sometimes they held hands but today he hadn’t reached for hers and she wasn’t feeling calm enough to make that move. They hugged a lot. She kissed him on the cheek but he seemed to hold back returning that too. He had told her why he wanted to go slow and she got it. His brother was a rapist and he had some messed up idea he would become some kind of terrible person. Elise knew he wouldn’t and he did say he liked her, but sometimes waiting for him to come around made her feel like he didn’t. Gen had been telling her to just up and kiss him but she was having trouble feeling brave. Her feeling for Nolan towered over her and loomed. She felt overwhelmed. “I read they’re playing The Shining.”
Nolan walked with Elise, but his mind was not even on the island. It was only a few days in, but he’d already heard whispers. Not whole sentences. Just enough to make him paranoid. Words like ‘Lanaster kid’, and ‘brother raped’, for example. Adding to that is having both Dante Mendoza’s name along with Brett Lancaster spoken at morning roll call every single day for the first week. Granted … nothing THIS week, but those five days had drilled into him for life. Elise’s voice comes to him as if from a lot further away than she actually is. “What? Sure … The Shining sounds nice. He looked at her and tried to remember his therapy sessions. He was not his brother. That wasn’t how genetics worked. But now … teasing absolutely came with being a kid … what if Elise hears these things? What if kids started to tell her to watch out for him, because he was a rapists brother.?
Cath and Taffy turned the corner onto 4th street. She was two steps in when Taffy found some old food wrapper on the ground and started eating it “Ewww! Taffy drop it…..drop it!” She fished it out of his little mouth and then looked for a garbage bin while cringing “Oh disgusting…”
Elise knew what was on her mind but Nolan seemed even more distracted. She stopped him with her arm and tried to take his hand looking into his eyes “Are you ok?” They were basically both home but she didn’t want to say goodbye and not while he was in whatever mood this was.
Nolan stops and shudders a bit when they hold hands. He could do that forever. “Yea. I’m .. yea.” he tries to play it off, looking into her eyes, which almost always made him forget where he was. He tightens his grip on her hand, looking down at her tiny frame. “OK ….” he finishes stupidly.
Elise is happy for the show of affection but still worried “Nolan what’s bothering you? You’re kinda freaking me out here and I’m already a bit stressed from drama. I suspect mine is stupid though so tell em yours please.” She implores him.
Nolan holds her hand. “I’m good. Made the hockey team … what more can I want?” he offers and then sighs. He wouldn’t lie to her. He just tried. “Don’t freak out. But has anyone at school told you to watch out for me?” he asks her, searching her face.
Elise beams at him about the hockey team “Oh Nolan that’s awesome! I knew you would though.” Then he goes on and she looks a little confused “Watch out for you?” She furrowed her brow and then pipes up “Oh…..yeah but it was stupid. Fricken Maddox...or Maddog whatever those jocks yell in the hallway. He told me you’d give me Covid because he got it from your house. I told him to piss off. Honestly Nolan he’s an idiot. He got Covid from that Brooke girl from what I saw of them at the party. Then he and Justin walked off and bugged some other girl...Romeo’s sister. I considered telling Romeo but she got out of there pretty fast. Bullies are full of hot air. Let’s leave the drama for drama class.” She grimaces and then smiles “Do you wanna hangout for a bit.” She looks up at him with total adoration.
Nolan smiles a bit shyly about making the team. But it was a good outlet for him. Then he hears about Maddox and he tenses. He barely hears that he moved on to Romeo’s sister, even though he knows Romeo. Then Elise wants to hang out and he looks down at her in her togue and he gives her a genuine smile. “Yes, I do.” he grins. Maddow’s words weren’t as bad as he thought they would be. He takes her hand. “My place or yours?” he quips. Her house had a brother, his no longer did.
Nolan’s smile melts Elise every time. She stumbles a little watching it “Oh….yours…” Then in this perfect sweet moment she has a dawning and frowns “Nolan I better tell you about something before it’s an awkward surprise when you come see the school play. This isn’t actually something I’m into...as a disclaimer. And I feel a bit ripped off that we didn’t get the whole script before auditions.” She stalls and lets out a breath and then just says it “I have a scene….where ….well my character has to kiss someone. It’s stupid and of all the people...it’s freakin Rene….ugh Gen’s little brother…”
Cath and Taffy are walking past the school now and Taffy is being a slowpoke today. Cath begins to feel impatient and decides to start cutting through the greenspace between the brownstones so they can get home faster.
Nolan holds her hand more firmly as she says she wants to go to his place. Then she mentions her play and that she has to kiss Gen’s little brother. He blinks and faces her. “You’re going to … kiss … Rene?” he doesn’t really know him except for that luncheon when Brett got taken away and their mother had a heart attack. “I …. I mean …” he swallows. “It’s . just .. It’s just a play … right.” he realizes that HE hasn’t even kissed Elise yet. Now he fretted that she might not want to for a while. He leans into her a bit without thinking about it. “But it’s not what you’re into?” he realizes that he is starting to get into her personal space. “I … don’t understand.”
Elise looks at Nolan incredulously “Really? Really?” She takes off her toque and fwaps him with it “Nolan I don’t want to kiss Rene...because I want to kiss you you dummy…” She realizes that was an awful way to say it as soon as it’s out and then looks apologetic and steps closer to him leaning her face up to his “I want to kiss you.” She tugs at his shirt and pulls him closer and then takes Gen’s advice and presses her lips to Nolan’s gently. As soon as they touch she feels a spark bigger than any little one from before and gasps a little into the kiss and then throws her arms around him and kisses him more intensely.
Nolan flinches when she takes off her togue and hits him with it. Then she says she wants to kiss him … calls him dumb … tells him again and … pulls him close and puts her lips on his lips. He is jolted a bit by the feeling and when she deepens the kiss, he doesn’t stop her. Her arms are around him and he copies her movement, putting his arms around her and lifting her in the air, kissing her like he’s never kissed anyone. He is just doing what feels right .. and kissing Elise feels like it was meant to be.
Elise feels Nolan lift her up but she already felt weightless. Kissing him was beautiful perfection and she never wanted to stop. She holds onto him tightly and just keeps kissing him. The scent of him this close, the taste of his mouth. Elise was intoxicated by all of him.
Cath stops short with Taffy when she sees two people further down the path they’re walking have some intense romantic moment. They started kissing like they were the last people on earth and then man lifts up the tiny....oh my god it was Elise. And Nolan? Cath scoops up Taffy and goes back the way she came in, making her way the other way around to 3rd to give them their privacy.
Nolan feels no time has past. He loves kissing this woman and he only breaks it to murmur. “God, Elise.” he kisses her again. “Thanks .. I’m ..” another kiss. “A chicken shit.” he’s wanted to kiss her … from the beginning … but he didn’t. Now she was in his arms because she put herself there and it’s more than he ever hoped for himself.
Elise giggles into their kisses at his words “Mmm you feel so good...” Another kiss “Nolan..” She runs her fingers through his hair and kisses some more and then breathily breaks off “How do you do that to me? Chicken shit and you were holding back all that? Oh my god...”
Nolan smiles when their kiss breaks. Her hands are in his hair and he can feel her laughs on his face. “I’ve wanted to kiss you but …” he sighs and eases her to the ground, bending over a lot to keep his head in her head space. “I want to respect you, but I don't know .. when it’s too much … when I’m being …” he pauses. “A pig.” he leans in and kisses her softly. “You get only the best from me, Elise.” and he kisses her one more time.
Elise kisses him back and then looks sweetly at him “Nolan...wanting to kiss me doesn’t make you a pig. I wanted to kiss you...and I did. Oink oink…” she jokes about herself. “And you are the best guy I've ever met.”
Nolan pulls her a little closer. “It’s a slippery slope.” he admits. After she oinks, he caresses her face. “Am I, really?” he doesn’t think much of himself. He’s always lived in the shadow of his father and brother. He leans in and kisses her forehead. “Be patient with me?” he kisses her softly. “Please?” and he kisses her again only slightly harder.
Elise leans into him as he pulls her closer and then tilts her head into his caress “You are…..” She closes her eyes as he kisses her forehead “I’ll be patient.” She kisses him back and then nods and then when he kisses her harder she feels weak in the knees and kisses him passionately.
Nolan deepens the kiss. How had he not done this before now? He pulls her close and lifts her up again. “I love how small you are.” he teases her, his hand caressing the hair that falls down her back.
Elise sighed into their kiss. It was so perfect. She feels herself being lifted again and giggles “Well that’s good because I think I might be done growing….so this is all you’re going to get baby.” She teases. She was petite but she still had hips and boobs, just everything on her was small in proportion. She leans her head back “That’s nice…”
Nolan sets her down again and it’s a good thing because his knees wobble a bit as she calls him baby. On her feet she is a good foot shorter than he is, maybe more. “How tall are you?” he asks, still happily standing in the copse of trees and not moving. This was a place he would remember the rest of his life. The place they had their first kiss.
Elise touches ground and looks up at him “I dunno maybe 5 feet? I haven’t had a check up here and they usually tell me. I’m kind of the Girard runt. My Kookum was little like me though. My parents and sister are...normal. Stefan….well he’s 13 and a little taller than me already. Could be the coffee.” She giggles.
Nolan moves to her side and puts his arm around her shoulder. “A nice fit.” he murmurs. “That's the only thing I got from my Dad … he .. is like my mom … shorter.” then he laughs about the coffee. “Maybe .. but I love it.” he moves again so they are face to face. “Elise … I keep .. making you make the first move. Is that Ok?” he rubs her shoulders.
Elise is amused by his height comparison moves and nods “Perfect. I kind of enjoy you being taller than me. I mean most people are but with you it feels...sweet...secure...like I could duck under your wings?” She looks up at him once they’re face to face and nods “I am….I know why. You told me that night you stayed over. And I think I had a little crisis of confidence for a while in between thinking my feelings were one sided. But I’m over it….and I know you’re moving slow because you care about me. I like that...I love that…”
Nolan smiles again. “Duck under my wings anytime you want.” he tells her. He looks relieved that she is OK with making the first move, because he has been overanalyzing every move from the beginning. If she hadn’t initiated, he would still be worried about hugging her. “Your feelings are SO not one sided. God …. Yes I care about you … I love it too.” he searches her face and bites his lip. “Um … ok … now if I sound like a 12 year old girl, just hit me again.” he runs his fingers through her hair, while it's still free of the hat. “Like… what are we, Elise?”
Elise smiles sweetly about the invite to duck under his wing and exhales and nods as he expresses his feelings. It did feel nice to hear him reassure her. Then he asks what they are and she smiles and shrugs “What do you want us to be Nolan?” She looks a bit shy “You asked on the first round...about going out...like on a date. So maybe it’s my turn …..be my boyfriend?”
Nolan looks at her face and sees her shyness. He’s grateful that she isn’t so shy she can’t kick him in the pants to progress their relationship. She brings up the word boyfriend and he beams. “I love that title. Elises’s boyfriend.” he grins and smiles. “Yes, please.” he puts his arm around her. “Let’s get inside. I can help you with that script before I hit my homework.” he offers.
Elise happily sighs “Oh good you said yes.” She giggles. After the kissing it would have been weird if he said no. “then I’m Nolan’s girlfriend.” She comments and slides her arm around his waist “That would be awesome...I have so many lines. I honestly just sped read it.” She walks with him into his house and takes her shoes off and then fishes the script out of her book bag.
Nolan shudders a bit more at being called Elise’s boyfriend and then laughs. “WHo would od that. Kiss like we do and be like … nah … never mind.” he goes in his house and leaves his shoes by the back door. He takes the script. “You want anything?” he asks her, loitering a bit in the kitchen as he begins to read.
Elise goes to the couch as she’s been over many times and is comfortable in Nolan’s house. She pulls out some of her other homework and look at it “Actually just a glass of water would be great thanks.” She smiles and reads over her science notes.
Nolan gets her a glass of water and brings it to her, pausing to boldly give her a quick kiss before he goes back in the kitchen with the script. He reads even as he makes himself a thick sandwich involving a large chicken breast, sourdough bread, lettuce, green peppers, black olives. Bringing it back to the couch, he sits near Elise. He demolishes half the sandwich in three botes as he reads and finally sets it down. “Hey this is a cool story.” he admits. “It’s lke the history of Alexandra, it sounds like. Two brothers coming to the island and all.” he takes another huge bite and keeps reading.
Elise takes her water and happily accepts his kiss, loving that they do this now. She sips at the water and then sets it down on a nearby table. When Nolan comes back he has a giant sandwich and demolishes half of it like a human vacuum. “Your appetite is remarkable...but that does look good. I’m still full from lunch. You had lunch right?” She teases him and then nods at his summary “Yeah some kid said it was based on a true story. Mr. Zelenko wrote it.’
Nolan chuckles as he chews. “I had lunch and breakfast. But with hockey I’m burning a lot of calories. I’m also working out a bit more.” he shrugs. “But I’ll be ready to eat dinner once Mom comes home.” he turns his eyes back to the script. “It’s kind of neat that he isn’t falling back on the old already written plays. That’s like … creativity.” he chuckles and takes another huge bite, still reading. He swallows and opens his mouth for the last one and freezes. “Oh … well …” he pauses. “Um … about this kiss scene, Elise … did you know you’re kissing BOTH brothers?” he looks up at her and then back down at the script.
Elise marvels at Nolan’s metabolism and lets eyes rove over him a bit as he sits beside her. His body was very nice to her. She nods “I do like the original story thing.” She listens some more setting down her science notes she’s not reading anymore and then her eyes go wide and she grabs for the script when he says she has to kiss both brothers “WHAT?!” She scans the section involving Eliot now and then coughs out a breath “Zelenko could have warned us at the auditions!” She smacks the script into her forehead. “So I have to kiss Rene and Romeo…..ugh…” She falls back into the couch.
Nolan pops the last bit of sandwich in his mouth when Elise snatches the play away from him. He goes into the kitchen and pours a large glass of milk, drinking half of it down and then filling it again. He returns to the couch sipping it. “Yea .. apparently Lara has a hard time deciding … or something like that. She’s in love but kisses the other … because … reasons?” he puts his arm around her. “I promise to try not to get jealous and go all agro on them.” he teases, as he may be big but he was very mild mannered for the most part.
Elise leans into him and sighs “It’s Rene and Romeo and this is a work of fiction. Believe me I have no trouble deciding on the fact that you’re who I want to be with. Besides with those guys...I should be more worried about their fan girls coming after my head. I might have to join the witness protection program after the performance.”
Nolan’s heart pounds when she says he is who she wants to be with. Then he laughs about the fan girls. “Yea, I see them in the halls.” he admits. He hasn’t played in a game yet, but he knows that girls do the same with hockey players. Or they did with Brett.
Elise rolls her eyes “It’s ridiculous. I wonder if Mr. Zelenko was shipwrecked or betrayed by a woman….which part of the play is a true story? I mean the island stuff about here is likely just him having fun with personalities he’s met.” She points out some names “See here this Sylvia is Zilpha...the bakery lady. Wayne is that Walrus guy on the radio….and I’m super happy he included a version of Buni...he calls her Bontu but she’s got a Carribean accent and a coffee shop? It’s Buni. She’s one of my favourite people here. Keisha got that part….I think she should go work in the coffee shop and do a character study…” She laughs.
Nolan downs the last of his milk in several large swallows. “That would be cool… well not cool but really interesting.” he nods about the character comparison. “Zilpha is fun. She feels like … very sweet like a loving grandmother that bakes for you because the thinks you’e too thin.” and he laughs about Buni. “You love Buni because Buni gives you coffee.” he grins. “Will you like me more if I give you my sushi roll.” he gasps and covers his mouth, looking horrified at the innuendo. “Not like that. Seriously, Elise. I meant .. like … not like that.” he fumbles.
Elise was smiling and nodding along and then he gets awkward after hsi sushi roll comment and she cracks up and almost tips over “I’m sorry,,,,that was hilarious.” She comes back to him and hugs his side after “I know you weren’t propositioning me with a dirty sushi joke. You can totally make me sushi...and if you ever did want to get into my pants sushi would probably help that.” She teases.
Nolan had fumbled and been awkward with his own words, but Elise’s make him blush. “I wasn’t . and . I .. no … I mean your pants are safe .. I mean .. I wouldn’t … I never … I …” he groans and hugs her, burying his face in her shoulder. “So much for the smooth hockey star?” he sighs. “This is why you're in charge of all future moves. I can’t even kiss you properly with my foot in my mouth.”
Elise can’t help but giggle more and she kisses the side of his head “You’ve been smooth in all the right ways. Don’t worry. I’ll take on the decisions about that...I guess. I’m no expert and it was kinda the opposite with the guy I dated in Banff..well the one where those decisions were a thing. So honestly this is a nice change...big time.”
Nolan chuckles as she kisses the side of his head. Then he hears about the guy in Banff. “If you don’t mind … I mean…” he looks at her. “I think I get now that hugs are ok. And kisses …” he kisses her softly, then pulls his head back. “But the rest … maybe you should just take me by the hand and guide me … when that time comes. No rush … no pressure. I’m not going anywhere.” he assures her.
Elise looks at Nolan sweetly as he talks and kisses him softly back “Thank you. I’m in no hurry…..and I think the main thing I want….I mean if and when we….do more…” she just says what she means by it “Go to bed together….is that you still want to spend time with me that’s” She gestures between them and the couch and just in general “That’s this….because once I went there with Parker….all he wanted was sex. I didn’t feel like he actually liked anything else about me. And it ...I couldn’t deal with that. I don’t want that ever again. And I’m not assuming you’d ever do that...I guess just telling you what hurt me before so you know.”
Nolan listens and is a little amused that she is faltering a bit like he does. Then he understands why. “I love spending time with you.” he tells her, as if amazed she’d think that could possibly change. “I’m sorry but that guy was a jerk.” he takes her hands. “When … if we ever have sex … or whatever … I still want to go out. Movies … and to Perk and the beach. Hanging out with friends. Seeing you in your plays. Maybe it’s me being a virgin, but if sex is all relationships are about, I’d rather not because the rest with you is incredible.”
Elise lets out a big sigh of relief and holds on to both his hands as he takes hers. She listens to him and looks at him with absolute adoration. Then she lets go of his hands, moves her school books and climbs into his lap and hugs him hard for a long time. “That’s all I want.”
Nolan sits back as she climbs into his lap. He hugs her back. “Our life will be more than just making love, Elise. I promise.” He looks at her and kisses her, because that is the best thing ever.
Elise melts into Nolan and is comforted by his words and then he’s kissing her again and she kisses him back eagerly. His kisses were perfect. And despite what they’d just discussed she could actually imagine making love with him, in the balance of all the other things they wanted. She’s never wanted any man more. She kissed him harder and ran her fingers through the back of his hair.
Nolan kisses her, trying not to think about that day … it would come he knew, but there would still be coffee and movies and stuff. He leans back as she kisses him harder, her hands in his hair. She could play with his hair all day. He takes her face in his hands and intensifies the kiss. “Elise…”
Elise feels his intensity and his hands on her face and gives a little whimper into the kiss as she feels more affected by it than any other kiss in her life. “Nolan…” She whispers and kisses him again relentlessly.
Nolan just feels tingly kissing Elise. It’s this warm, comfortable feeling he can feel in his toes. He moans softly and adjusts his body … and suddenly stops. The kiss is a little TOO nice. He sits up quickly. “Shit … sorry …” he realizes he was getting far too excited. They had only just kissed for the first time. Now he was sporting a semi … oink oink.
Elise feels the abrupt sit up and hears Nolan. She felt a little jilted for a second and then it dawned on her what the issue was and she blushed fiercely and smiled at him “It’s ok...but we can dial back.” she moves off of his lap and kisses him chastely on the cheek as she sweetly takes his hand. They had time for everything else. This was a good place right now and she wasn’t rushing away from it.
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