FicWad

It was just another regular Sunday afternoon at our house. Jesse was lying stomach first on the floor in the lounge in tantrum mode, trophy wife was standing over him, alternately bribing him (now, stop crying like a good boy and I’ll take you to Six Flags Magic Mountain tomorrow) and threatening him (you get up from that floor this instant young man) and I was sitting on a couch, my feet curled under me, snacking on some popcorn and watching the show.
“But mommy, you promised,” Jesse wailed, pounding his fists on the floor.
“I know sweetie, but I wont have time! Auntie’s coming to visit today and I’ll be so busy,” trophy wife explained. I rolled my eyes. This was freaking priceless. Who in their right minds explains things to three year olds? Damn, just listening to her try was giving me a headache.
“I want to buy Assasin’s Creed mommy! You promised!” bawled Jesse, sounding exactly like the spoilt brat that he was.
“Sweetie, please listen to mommy. I’ll take you to buy it tomorrow,” trophy wife soothed, patting Jesse’s head like he was an animal.
“Today!” screamed Jesse, tears streaming down his face. It was quite entertaining and I took a swig of my Coke Zero. I was supossed to be working on my History paper, but between history and domestic disputes, I choose domestic disputes. Why do you think so many people watch Jerry Springer?
“Not today, Jesse. Heavens above, your auntie will be here in half an hour! Do you want her to see you like this?” trophy wife asked.
“I don’t care!” wailed Jesse.
“Wait a second,” I said. “Did you just say ‘auntie’ is coming?”
Trophy wife looked at me as though she had just noticed that I was here.
“She just jetted in from Aruba. Or was it Belize? One of those Carribean islands she enjoys so much. We’re going to have a drink, maybe get a manicure, gossip a little…”. Trophy wife suddenly looked all dreamy and her voice trailed off. I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat loudly to snap her back into reality. It worked. She blinked and tittered in embarrassment. “We havent seen each other in a while,” she ended lamely.
“I’ll take Jesse to buy his stupid game,” I blurted out.

Trophy wife stared at me. I could tell she was thinking ’wow, that hit on the head must have ben worse than I thought. She’s offering to what now?”

Okay, I may have a few problems, such as always wanting to be right, hating being told no and being a tiny bit vain, but I do try to be helpful. But helpfulness was not why I offered to go video game shopping with Jesse. The reason was simple. Trophy wife’s sister was coming. I hate trophy wife’s sister even more than I hate trophy wife. End of story.

“Are you sure, sweetie? It’s really no trouble. He’ll just cry himself out. You don’t have to worry yourself,” trophy wife simpered. I gave an inaudible snort. As if I was doing this for Jesse! I just wanted to get out of the house without arousing too much attention. Dad was at work but he had put me under trophy wife’s watch. Repercussions from my concussion, I guess. Even though I was feeling good and I wasn’t exhibiting any signs of amnesia, nausea and anything else that people suffer post-concussion, dad was still treating me with kid gloves. It was annoying, to say the least, but now I had found a way out.
“Oh, no, Suzanne. I don’t like seeing Jesse so uspet,” I said in a saccharine sweet voice, standing up. Jesse, sensing that his mom’s focus wasn’t on him anymore, looked up at us curiously. I winked at him. He was doing the fake tears thing and my heart swelled with pride. That’s a typical West way to get your ass out of trouble.
Trophy wife still looked uncertain. She picked up her cellphone from a nearby table.
“Well, I suppose I should call your dad first,” she said slowly. “He did say that you should stay in today. He’s worried you’re overdoing things.”
Fuckity.
“No, don’t do that, Suzanne,” I said, trying to keep the desperation from my voice. I forced a laugh. “The last time I called him at work, he was really not happy. He won’t mind. After all, it’s for Jesse.”
Lies. Dad loves anything that relieves the monotomy of his job. He used to call me at school in the middle of the morning, asking if I wanted to meet him for lunch.
Trophy wife stood for a moment, lost in thought. Then she brightened and I breathed. Yes!
“Okay, sweetie, you can take him to Toys R Us. If you truly don’t mind that is?” she smiled at me.
“Of course I don’t mind,” I said, smiling through gritted teeth. Of course I didn’t mind. All I wanted was to be out of the house before Trisha MacMahon- Granger AKA trophy wifes older sister swept through the door leaving behind her the scent of fake Joop.
Trophy wife turned to Jesse, who was sitting up now as he noted that things were turning to his favor.
“Jesse, sweetie, guess what? Elektra’s going to take you to Toys R Us! Isn’t that nice?” she asked him in a bubbly voice. Jesse looked up at me.
“Can I get two games?” he asked hopefully. I shrugged.
“How ever many you want, playa. I’m not the one buying,” I said indifferently, slipping my feet into my well worn peach flipflops, the ones with the fake flowers and seashells. Jayden calls them hobowear, but I really like them.
“Oh, yes, I should give you my credit card,” trophy wife chirped. Well, duh.

I drove Jesse to the nearest Toys R Us in my dad’s Porsche, the music on high, me and Jesse singing along to Rihanna’s Shut Up and Drive as loudly as possible. Once in the store, Jesse took off to the video game section and I found myself in the board game section. I picked up a box of Taboo.
“Hmm,” I muttered, reading the description on the back. It seemed like a good game and Jayden’s birthday was coming up. God knows he could use something to exercise that brain of his.
As I turned the game over in my hand, debating on wheter to buy it or not, the corner caught on a pack of cards and they fell to the floor. I gave a disgruntled sigh. My short denim skirt, while excellent for showing off my legs, was useless for bending down, unless I wanted people to see my underwear. Sureptitiously looking around to make sure that there were no peeping Toms around, I crouched and picked up the deck of cards. And found myself staring at a pair of bright green and white Bapes with a Santa Claus logo on the side. I looked up to see Spencer staring down at me quizzically.
“Last place I expected to see you,” he said casually, extending his hand to help me up. I took it, supressing a shiver as we touched.
'Stop it Elektra,' I yelled at myself in my head as I stood up.
“Yeah, I'm here with Jesse. He wanted a video game,” I explained breathlessly, snatching my hand back as soon as I was back on my feet. I did not like swooning over this guy, who knew the effect he had on me, even if he wasn't letting on.
“Oh. I see,” he replied calmly. He pointed to the game I still held in my hands. “Good game. You ever played?”
I shook my head. “I wanted to buy it for Jayden, but I'm not sure he'll understand the rules. He's a boy, after all. Boy's don't think,” I said flippantly. Spencer grinned.
“What makes you say that?” he asked softly, stepping closer to me.
“All guys think about is football, sex and booze,” I stated matter of factly. Pretty much true, though.
“Thats not so true,” Spencer shrugged. “I play the piano.”
That was so random that I burst out laughing. Spencer was looking at me with a pleased expression on his face.
“Oh, so you do laugh!” he exclaimed, a smile on his face. “I was starting to wonder.”
“You do not play the piano,” I spluttered. Spencer pulled a sheaf of well worn music sheets from his back pocket.
“Trust me on this. I play the piano. You might just call me the next David Sides,” he said, a bit cockily.
“Yeah, right,” I muttered. He grinned.
“I got a recital coming up soon. You should definately come. You'll be pleasantly surprised,” he said cheerfully. He held up his hands. “See these? These are the hands of a musical genius. And a high school football player. So if I break my hand, I'm screwed.”
“You are the most modest guy I've ever met,” I teased, tossing my head. Spencer gave a wry smile.
“I'm not always so full of myself. Only when I wanna impress someone.”
It was there again. That small, elusive spark of electricity that had first come into play at home, after that dinner was back.
“So, who do you wanna impress?” I asked.

Two can play at this game.

Spencer came closer and my insides knotted. Infuriating or not, there was just something about this guy that turned me on. Could be that smile, or how happy his eyes always seemed, or his hot body, or his charming personality or a combination of all these things that reduced me into a blob of jelly everytime he was near me. All I knew was that watching him suck on his lip (bottom one this time) made me want to jump his bones. Badly.
“I don't know. You tell me,” he said softly. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face as he looked down into my eyes.

Two things registered. One. I was standing so close to Spencer that our lips were less than two inches apart. Therefore, if one of us made a slight move, we'd be bumping lips, or at the least, noses. And if I ever felt like getting kissed senseless.... Two. Spencer was tall. I'm not a short girl myself, yet the top of my head came up to his neck.

“Um-,” I said, opening my mouth and realising I didn't have anything to say. That was happening to me an awful lot since I met Spencer, and I didn't really like it. I hate being speechless. “How tall are you?”
“6'1,” Spencer replied. He was sucking on his lip again, the bottom one this time and I could not keep my eyes of it. I knew he knew I was turned on to the max, but I wondered how he would react if I just grabbed him and laid one on him. “You?”
“5'5,” I said softly.
“Really?” he muttered, not taking his eyes off my face. Suddenly (yes! Finally!) he leaned into my space until our lips were almost touching and (what?) plucked something off my face. “You had an eyelash,” he explained, moving back till he was a respectable distance away from me.
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.
“Oh,” I said woozily. I couldn't believe it. I was pissed at myself for almost jumping Spencer in Toys R Us (a fucking toy store, for goodness sakes, Elektra!) just because he had moved close to me to remove a stupid eyelash. And him! Hadn't he felt the electricity between us? Why hadn't he just kissed me then removed the bloody eyelash? Oh crap. Now I sound like a Justin Timberlake fan. Lovestoned. Shit.

“Elektra! Elektra, I found the game! I found three! Can I get them all?”
I groaned as Jesse ran up to me, waving his stupid games in my face. Spell was broken. Again.
“Hey, Jason! Whats up?” Spencer said enthusiastically, turning to Jason and leaving me looking all flushed. He certainly had a gift with women. He hadn't even kissed me and I was horny.
“Hi, Spencer! I'm buying games today! Then after Elektra's gonna take me to see a movie!” Jesse exclaimed.
“For real? You lucky, having such a sweet sister, man,” Spencer said. He looked at me and gave me an adorable grin. In spite of myself I smiled back. There was just something about him. I didn't want to like him coz I knew his type. Love them and leave them. I had no intention of becoming a statistic and I scowled suddenly as I remembered how close I'd come to grabbing him just a minute ago. Disturbing.

An old lady passed us and smiled at Jesse, who was explaining how to play his brand new games to Spencer.
“What a handsome boy,” she wheezed. “He looks just like his father.”
Oh, come the fuck on.
I opened my mouth to correct the assuming old biddy but Spencer beat me to the punch. Slipping his arm around my waist, he gave the old lady a charming smile.
“I think he looks more like his mother,” he said cheerfully, giving me a small squeeze. I was too shocked to do anything but stare.

Old biddy gave me a cursory look and turned back to Spencer, whom she had obviously fallen in love with.
“Hmm,” she sniffed. “He's a handsome boy nonetheless. You must be very proud.”
And with that, she was gone.
I turned to Spencer, wrenching his arm from my waist. He was laughing at the outraged expression on my face.
“Very funny,” I snapped. Obviously, Jesse hadn't noticed or heard a thing. Stupid boy.
“Come on, it was the least I could do. I didnt wanna dash her hopes, she seemed so certain that we were Jesse's parents,” he protested. I rolled my eyes. “Has anyone ever told you you look really cute when you do that?”
Random.
“Do what?” I said tersely. I wasn't ready to play nice yet.
“Roll your eyes. You look really cute when you do that. Really cute.” He had stopped laughing and was looking at me with a really serious expression on his face. My breath caught in my throat.
“Thanks,” I said, my voice sounding a bit wobbly.
“You're welcome,” he said softly.
“Elektra, can we go now?” Mr. Oblivious himself whined. I stared down at him. Stupid boy. I love Jesse, but he has ridiculous timing.
“Okay, Mr. Grumpy,” I sighed, grabbing his hand. I turned to Spencer. “I gotta go.”
I'll see you around,” Spencer smiled at me and bent down to muss up Jesse's hair. “Be good, J. Check you later.”
And he was gone.

I dragged Jesse to checkout, my senses still reeling.