If I Never Knew You (If I Never Knew You Series) (3 page)

I went into the kitchen, and raised an eyebrow at the lack of dirty dishes, before realizing that Mom had cleaned up before going out to do the grocery shopping, which she did every Friday.

"Can't beat me," Orion said. "I told you that already."

"I let you win," Andy lied.

I heard them drop the controls and they both walked into the kitchen. Orion sat on a kitchen chair, while Andy went to the fridge. "You should have seen it Madison. I was so close...and then he beat me."

"I heard," I said, smiling slightly.

"So, what's for dinner, Mad?" Orion asked.

I paused at his unusual nickname. Most people just called me Maddy or Madison. "Mom usually picks up something easy to prepare on her grocery day. We'll have to wait until she gets back to find out what she got," I explained.

Orion said that he didn't want to impose and suggested we go to his place instead.

"You cook?" I asked.

"He does
everything
." Andy said, closing the fridge door and leaning against it.

"Actually, I'm not really in the mood to cook today. Why don't we go somewhere to get some grub?" Orion suggested. When I hesitated, Orion put his hand on my shoulder. "On me," he assured me.

"I'm in no mood to be going anywhere, so why don't you two go?" I said.

"We can have takeout," Orion said, "or how about delivery?"

"Let's do delivery!" Andy said. "What about Chinese! Madison and Mom love the food from the Twelve Dragon place downtown."

"Alright then, we'll do Chinese," Orion said. "It will also give your poor mom a break from cooking-Andy told me how hard you guys are always working. Andy, why don't you give The Golden Dragon a call and order the dinner special for four," Orion said.

"Sure," Andy replied. He ran out of the kitchen to the phone in the living room. Just then, we heard the front door open, and in walked my mother, Barbara, with a few bags of groceries.

"Hello, everybody!" she greeted us. She had already met Orion once when he had been at our house when I was working.

When she found out that she did not have to cook dinner, she was thrilled, and proceeded to unpack the groceries.

"Orion, that's great. Thanks so much!" she exclaimed. We were all happy to give her a break; she deserved it for being such a nice mother.

"So how're
you
doing?" Orion asked me, after asking Mom. He was leaning against the stove and looking at me.

"I'm okay. Why?" I asked.

"Well, you worked late last night, you worked late today," Orion started, "Seems like all you do is work, according to Andy."

"Oh, and what else has my dear little brother been telling you about me?" I asked.

"He's said that you're stubborn," Orion said. "He said you work a lot of double shifts.

At this point, my mom looked over and interjected, "Yes, Orion, that's true. I worry about Madison, you know. I wish I could help out by working full time, but after my spinal surgery, I was advised by my doctors to work only twenty hours a week." Mom looked dejected when she said this, and I loved her all the more for her vulnerability.

Orion nodded sympathetically and looked at me, changing the subject. "Andy tells me you're the family-first kind of girl. And more like a best friend to him than anything." I smiled. "He never mentioned that you were this pretty, though."

"This is me in my work uniform," I said.

"So, you're more beautiful without it, then?" Orion asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Man, you better not be saying what I think you are," I warned, pointing a finger at him. He laughed. "And, by the way, don't you have a girlfriend?"

"How'd you know?" he asked.

"What-you think Andy just tells
you
about
me
and not the other way around, too?" I teased.

After a few minutes of light banter, the phone rang.

"Hello?" I said. "Hi, Damian. No, I've only just gotten home." I looked at Orion, who was now looking at the stereo.

He pushed the play button, and I recognized one of his own songs as it began to play.

I waved my hand to get Orion's attention, and try to get him to turn it down or turn it off.

"No Damian, it's just Andy, I swear." I waved my hand more frantically, and Orion finally looked up. I mouthed 'Turn it down'.

After giving Orion a desperate look, he finally turned the stereo down. I mouthed 'thanks' to Orion, who just nodded.

"Tonight? Okay, I'll be there...Yeah...Well you're my boyfriend. I should be there to see you off." I chewed on my bottom lip. I wanted to hang up so badly, but I didn't want the consequences. Orion was watching me now, leaning against the wall with his arms loosely crossed. "Yeah, sure...Okay...Nine? I got it. See you then." I hung up the phone

"Everything cool, Mad?" Orion asked.

"Yes, I'm fine, I guess," I said, with hesitation.

Orion looked worried for me. "Well, I don't know much about this relationship of yours and I realize it's not exactly my business, but from what Andy has said, it doesn't sound too great."

"What has he said?" I asked.

"His thanks that Damian is not good for you and you seem almost afraid of him at times," Orion said. "And listening to your side of that little phone conversation proves the second half of that theory." He pushed himself away from the wall and stood in front of me. "What's he done?"

"Nothing," I said, too quickly. "It's none of your business. He's just...a little...protective. Then he gets carried away and sometimes doesn't realize what he is doing." Orion didn't seem to buy my defense of Damian, and inwardly, I didn't as well.

"Madison," he said. "If you ever want to talk, I'm a great listener. I mean, your brother is a good friend of mine, so it's only natural that I care. I'm just trying to be your friend-someone to lean on when you need it."

Mom then walked back into the room and I could tell the tension in the air was palpable, but if she could tell, she was too polite to make us aware of it. Instead, she asked me to set the table, while she quickly tidied up the counter and put out some dishes for our meal.

"Food's here!" Andy yelled. Orion smiled at us before going to the door to get the food and pay for it.

"Andy ordered Chinese," I told Mom.

"That's great, Orion. We all love Chinese. Thanks again!" She thanked Orion. Andy and I thanked him, too, and we all sat down to eat.

The phone rang again during dinner: it was Dad's brother, Uncle Jack. I remembered that Andy had told me about Orion's band playing at Uncle Jack's bar, Knightsbridge Tavern, this weekend. Uncle Jack wanted more information about their upcoming show, so I gave the phone to Orion, who raised an eyebrow at me. "It's my uncle...he owns the bar your band is playing at this weekend."

"Ohhh," Orion said, slowly. He took the phone and started talking about the songs they would be singing and the length of each set. Orion came back into the kitchen as we started eating dessert. He grabbed a bit of everything before joining us at the table.

"So what was that all about?" Andy asked.

"Just doing some last minute arrangements with Jack," Orion said. He looked at me.

After some contemplation, I said, "I would love to see your show. What time are you on?"

"At nine. I can get you two in for free tomorrow, if your uncle won't do it," Orion said.

"Really?" Andy asked, looking excited and even bouncing slightly.

"You're sixteen. Calm down." I said, trying not to smile. "It may not be possible."

"Just show up with me," Orion said.

"I don't know," I hesitated. Uncle Jack was not the easiest person to get along with-just like dear, old Dad-and I didn't want to push any buttons.

"But, you don't work tomorrow night," Andy reminded me. That was true-I had tomorrow off all day. In all honesty, though, I didn't want to arrive with the lead singer of a band that, as I was learning, was actually really popular around town. Especially since that singer supposedly had a girlfriend. I did NOT need to give my uncle any more reasons to believe I was a 'schemer', as he thought I was.

"Come on, Madison. It'll be fun. And you really can't say you don't like the music because I've caught you humming it."

Damn...busted.

"Yeah, Mad, come on," Orion nagged me. He nudged my leg with his foot. I gave him a look, but he did it again and within seconds both of us were kicking each other under the table.

"Madison, you and Andy would have a good time, so why not go for it?" my mom suggested. Mom was such a cheerleader for us, but wouldn't take any credit for all her efforts. Talk about humility...

"Fine, I'll go!" I said, pulling my legs out and tucking them out of Orion's reach. I smiled at Mom then glanced at Andy, who looked relieved that we were going to Knightsbridge Tavern. Even though we didn't show it sometimes, we had a brother-sister bond that was very strong and we were reminded of it now.

After dinner we went into the living room, where Mom and I sat talking on the couch, while the boys resumed their positions on the floor and began playing another game. At one point during the game, after Mom had left the room, it looked as if Orion was going to win.

I smiled, leaned a bit closer, and whispered seductively in his ear, "Don't mess up."

Orion smiled and turned around to look at me. His eyes met mine and I gave him a wink.

"Yes! You lose! Suck it!" Andy shouted. It must have worked.

"Yeah, okay. You win," Orion said and gave me a look like the defeat was worth the moment we had just had.

I continued watching them for a while, before I suddenly remembered about Damian. I had to figure out how I was going to get home from the airport after seeing him off.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked as I returned from changing into jeans and a t-shirt. Orion looked at me appreciatively.

"I'm going to see Damian off. He leaves tonight, remember?" I said, pulling on my shoes.

"Oh, yes," Mom said. "He's picking you up?"

"Yes. His friend is going by the airport tomorrow to get his car."

"Then how are you getting home?"

"Bus?" I suggested.

"I'll get you," Orion offered.

"Nah, don't worry," I replied.

"Nah,
you
don't worry," Orion said. I figured I wasn't going to win this, so I just nodded. "When's he leaving?"

"Umm, he has a nine-thirty flight so..." I said.

"I'll be out front at nine-forty then," Orion said.

I had no chance to ask questions or argue, because just then Damian pulled up and was honking outside. After saying good-bye to everyone, I grabbed my jacket and headed outside to Damian's car.

I WAS SURPRISED that Damian really didn't do anything. I thought for sure he'd want something more passionate, but all he did was kiss me before he left. As soon as I stepped out of the airport departure area, I saw Orion and his car parked not far away. We didn't talk much on the ride back to my place, but I sensed we were both happy to be together again. When we arrived at my house, Orion told me that he'd pick Andy and me up at six the next evening. I was definitely more excited than I let on.

On Saturday, after helping Mom clean the house, I was sitting in Andy's room watching him as he looked for something to wear. Lately, Mom had managed to save up some money so that he could get a gym membership. He goes two or three times a week after school, and it shows too. I wonder sometimes why he wanted it so badly. My initial thought was that he wanted to build up muscle to beat up Damian. That thought still lingers in my mind, even though I've never gotten a straight answer from Andy.

"I think Orion might be breaking up with his girlfriend," he said as he rifled through his dresser drawer for a shirt.

That was so unexpected, that I just shook my head and looked at my brother quizzically.

"What?" I asked, wondering if he had really said what I thought he said.

"I said that I think Orion might be breaking up with his girlfriend...Crystal." Andy repeated.

"Do you know why?" I asked, hoping and praying it wasn't because of me. That was just what I needed-another girl thinking that I'm stealing her boyfriend.

"He thinks she's cheating on him," Andy said. "Actually, he has a few reasons to believe that."

"Is that why you've been putting us together all the time?" I asked, suddenly wondering if Andy purposefully used the upstairs phone the previous night so that he could leave Orion and me alone.

"Maybe," Andy said. He held up a dark blue shirt. "What about this?"

"Sometimes you're like the little sister I wish I had," I said, smiling. "It goes with your eyes, and makes you look very handsome."

Andy nodded then he looked at the pile of clothes next to him. "Okay, now what about pants?"

"What about those black jeans?" I suggested. "They would go well with that shirt."

"Alright, I guess that does it," Andy said. He looked at me with bright eyes. "Oh, you should wear that dress you made for fashion class."

"Which one?" I asked. I had made a few things for fashion class before I graduated, but had made nothing since. I had a sewing machine in the basement, which sadly I had little time to use anymore. There was a bunch of material down there that I could use to make different outfits, if I wasn't so tired working double shifts.