Sunday September 9 2017 10:05am
DayBreak Coffee
...
"Do not disappoint me."
Her father hung up the phone shortly after that, his words leaving a sour taste in her mouth. If she knew anything about her father, it was the fact that he was always trying to get ahead in life. He would do whatever it took to ensure the continued success of the Hato name. Even if it meant tying their business futures to his rivals the Uris. She wasn't sure how far he wanted her to pursue a relationship with Sabaku. He certainly expected more than one failed date.
"You look like your tea is too bitter." A deep voice chuckled next to her. "Did you not pour in enough honey?"
Amia looked up from the book she was never reading and smiled at her cousin and sister. She had been so preoccupied with her own thoughts that she had forgotten that she had invited him and Aviva to check out the coffee shop Ellie was working at. Aviva immediately laid her head on the table and groaned.
"Why is it so loud in here?" She whined and Ezra's eye twitched.
"If someone had come home Friday night they wouldn't feel so miserable now." He said flatly. “Getting up early today to do chores is recompense for that.”
Aviva turned her head on the table to glare at Ezra.
"I told you I just left early in the morning for a run! Dad's guys don't keep as close tabs as you think. And besides Amia didn't come home Friday or Saturday night. Why are you working her to the bone?"
"Because Amia is an adult and you, my dear cousin, are not." He replied and turned his attention to Amia. "I heard you had a date with George Sabaku from Uncle. How did it go?"
"Well..." Amia said and bit her bottom lip.
How does one explain that they didn't finish their date with their intended? Ezra sensed her reluctance and frowned.
"Did something bad happen Amia?" He asked tersely.
Amia held up her hands and waved off his concern. Ezra was scary when he went into his protective mode.
"No! Um, George is very kind!" She tried to explain but her cousin remained suspicious.
"Alright! We have a caramel macchiato with extra whip cream." Ellie announced, placing a small mug with a tower of wobbly whip cream and caramel drizzle in front of Aviva. She immediately perked up at its appearance, all traces of weariness vanished.
"Matcha latte." Ellie said as she placed a cup in front of Ezra. "It's been a while, Ezra."
"It has. How...how have you been?" Ezra asked.
Amia and Aviva shared a look between them as they pretended to be occupied with their own drinks.
"I've been good. The gym is expanding so Garcia and Lee have decided to renovate the facility. It may take a while knowing them so I'm working here in the meantime." Ellie said with a small smile, holding her drink tray to her chest. "What about you?"
"Busy." He said and the word hung heavy over the group.
Ellie nibbled nervously at her bottom lip and shifted her weight slightly from one foot to the other.
"Of course." She said and turned her attention to the Hato sisters. "Well, please enjoy your drinks! It was nice seeing you Aviva! Talk to you later Amia!"
As she retreated from their table, Ezra stared at her. Amia noticed the frown beginning to form on her cousin's face as he watched Ellie get reprimanded by her boss for spending too much time at their table. His jaw tightened as she repeatedly apologized for taking too long. For a moment Amia thought he was going to get up and interfere. When she disappeared into the back of the restaurant, he turned around and pushed his tea away.
"You. Are. An. Idiot." Aviva scoffed.
While Amia wouldn't use that exact word to describe her cousin, he certainly wasn't being astute about the situation. Ellie was the only woman they’d ever seen Ezra take an interest in and the only one they would have approved of. She sanded down his sharp, stern nature and somehow managed to get him to lighten up. Enjoy life in the body of the twenty-six-year-old man he was not the forty-year-old he pretended to be. She brought out more of his nurturing and less of his strictness. It was wonderful for herself and Aviva as they liked to see their cousin happy and off their backs for a time.
Unfortunately, after three years of dating the relationship came to an abrupt and quiet end. Even though Ellie was her best friend, Amia never dug too deep into had happened between her and her cousin last year. Whatever it was had left them both despondent shells of themselves. The two of them had been out of sorts for months until they finally returned to some semblance of normalcy.
"Ezra-" Amia started and placed her hand over his but he slipped away from her grasp.
"I do not wish to talk about it Amia."
Amia nodded slowly and returned to her tea only to find it had grown cold. She pushed it away as well and looked up just as the bell to the front door rang with its opening. Strutting into the café was none other than Ira Uri. Despite his bedraggled attire splattered with patches of paint, he still managed to look regal.
Aviva jumped from her seat and marched over as the barista at the counter handed him a to-go coffee tray and a brown paper bag. He looked at her for a second, confused as to where she had popped up from but smiled as she spoke. Amia couldn't determine what they were saying but the man kept looking at their table. As they talked, Amia couldn't help but notice the difference in Ira's demeanor from his brother's. Although Ira was quite intimidating in his own right, he had a certain warmth about him that made him more approachable. Or at least Aviva found him approachable. Her sister brazenly grabbed the man's hand and practically dragged him back over to their table.
"We can't take her anywhere can we?" Ezra sighed as they both stood up and Amia giggled. "Nice to see you again Uri."
"And you as well." Ira said with a slight nod of his head. "Aviva here was telling me that you were all free today. If you don't mind I may have to impose on that."
Ezra shot a quick glare at Aviva who was looking somewhat satisfied with herself. Amia couldn't blame him. This was his first day off in a long time and it appeared that Aviva had just pissed it down the drain. It couldn't be helped though. Ira actually did look like he needed assistance. Amia smiled at the eldest Uri and held her book close to her chest.
"We would be happy to help."
…..
Sunday, September 9 11:17 am
Uri Residence
...
"Ira you could have said something before you left me with this fucking mess!" Sylas shouted as he heard the front door open and the shuffle of feet and bags.
He tossed his roller brush back into the paint tray and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the edge of his shirt. Why in the hell did Ira not hire someone to do this? That excuse that painting it alone would build character was full of bullshit. He was pretty sure that Ira hadn't thought things through when he bought the paint and now it was much too last minute to commission anyone halfway decent for such an extensive job.
"Don't get your panties in a knot Sylas! I'm back aren't I?" Ira said with a giant grin on his face as he came around the corner with a tray of coffee. "And I brought reinforcements!"
Sylas raised an eyebrow at the vague statement. His confusion was quickly corrected when the youngest Hato skipped into the room, followed by her older cousin and sister. He felt his mouth go dry as Amia gave him timid looks from beneath her long dark lashes. Not that it wasn't a welcome sight but what was she doing here?
"Ira?" Sylas asked as his brother set the coffee down on the floor and rolled up the legs of his sweatpants. "What are they doing here?"
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"We have names ya ba-" Aviva snapped but was stopped by Amia putting a hand over her mouth. Whatever insult she was going to say was muffled beneath her sister's palm.
"Ira said you needed help painting your new place." Amia answered softly when she released a pouting Aviva. "We are here to help."
Sylas looked at the three Hatos skeptically. None of them were really dressed to be painting anything, heck Ezra was wearing a button-down shirt, but he would accept their help. It was better than having to paint on his own.
"There are more brushes in the bag in the kitchen." Sylas said and retrieved his own from where he had tossed it.
"Alright, let's get to work!" Ira cheered.
...
Sunday, September 9, 12:00pm
Uri Residence
...
'How did I get stuck with the runt?' Sylas thought to himself as he glared at his brother on the other side of the room.
He scowled as Amia's laughter echoed off of the walls of the cavernous room. Ira's own smile widened as he pushed an unruly strand of hair behind her ear and she blushed. His grip tightened around his brush as he felt the ugly feeling of jealousy once more crop up into his chest. Ira was literally pushing his patience.
"If you keep staring like that you'll set them on fire." Aviva said dryly and nudged him to the side with her shoulder. "You're in my way."
Sylas grunted at her statement but didn't reply. He should be the adult in the situation and not respond to the young woman's taunts. How was it possible that someone as gentle as Amia was raised by the same stock that produced this brat? Shaking his head, he dipped his brush back into the paint tray and returned to painting their share of the wall. He was even able to make a bit of progress until Amia laughed again. It irritated him beyond measure that Ira could make her laugh like that. He took a deep breath and tried to quell his ripening anger. When he turned back to the paint tray, he was blocked by Aviva leaning against the wet wall with her elbow and her other hand on her hip.
"You like my sister don't you?" She said in a low voice as she narrowed her eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Sylas grumbled. She was messing up the damn wall standing like that!
"Most guys do ya know." She said with a slight shrug of her shoulders. “She’s objectively pretty.”
"I am not most guys."
"If you have a dick you are exactly like most guys."
Sylas glared at the vulgar, yet accurate, insinuation from Aviva and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'll bite little Hato. What do you want?"
"Nothing." She said simply. "I know that you two work closely together now with the merger and all. My sister is too innocent and trusting for her own good. I, on the other hand, am not. If you try anything I will chop your dick off and feed it to you."
'Too late for that.' Sylas thought with a smirk.
He leaned down so that he was at eye-level with Aviva and poked her in the middle of the forehead, leaving behind a large dark blue dot in the center.
"And what would you know about trying anything on anyone? Aren't you like twelve or something?"
"I've seventeen!" She hissed, unaware of the blue dot she was sporting. Sylas looked her up and down before shaking his head.
"You're pretty flat for a seventeen-year-old."
"Pervert!" Aviva shrieked as her face turned bright red and she frantically covered her chest with her arms.
Sylas chuckled at her reaction but his amusement didn't last for long. She took her paintbrush and swiped it down the front of his shirt. Sylas felt his eye twitch at the juvenile action but returned it by smearing her left arm with paint. She gasped and made a swipe at his face with her brush. He lunged back at her but she skillfully dodged him and got another successful swipe. Soon he was chasing the laughing runt around with his paintbrush. Just as he was about to catch her, she hid behind Amia and used her as a human shield. Needless to say, Amia was quite surprised when her entire right arm was covered in blue paint.
"Sy-Sylas!" Amia gasped and the entire room stopped painting.
"She started it." He said but the excuse sounded ridiculous as soon as the words left his mouth. Aviva poked her head out from behind Amia and stuck out her tongue.
"He's a liar!"
"You little brat!"
Sylas tried to reach around Amia but Aviva quickly slipped away. The action caused him to fall against Amia, pushing her back against the wet blue wall. Amia was dazed for a moment but quickly pushed him away. She looked up at him with angry eyes as her grip tightened on her paintbrush.
"Ami-" he started but was cut off by Amia dragging her paintbrush across his face.
"Hahahahaha!" Aviva doubled over with laughter as she pointed at his shocked face.
"Why are you laughing Aviva?" Amia said sweetly and Aviva gulped before scurrying to hide behind a reluctant Ezra. "You're next."
Soon the walls were forgotten as an all-out paint war commenced. Alliances changed. Backstabbings occurred. Hato versus Uri. Brother against brother and sister against sister. It was all Ezra could do to keep his hair free of paint which proved to be a futile endeavor in the end.
…..
Sunday, September 9, 2017, 2:36 pm
Uri Residence
...
"Pizza's here!" Aviva announced as she traipsed into the apartment with Ira who was holding a plastic bag full of beer and soda.
Sylas felt his stomach begin to growl as the smell of the pizzas engulfed the empty penthouse. Aviva and Ira set the pizza and beer in the middle of the floor just as Amia emerged from down the hall. Her long hair was heavy as it air dried but it was in a much better state now that she had washed all of the paint out of it. When the paint war had subsided, they had all taken turns using the three showers inside of the apartment since it wouldn't do to remain covered in paint. Of course, that meant that while everyone else had been in the shower, he and Amia had wasted no time getting reacquainted in their absence. The floor of the living room was officially broken in...
…"Ah-" Amia moaned. "Sylas, someone could hear us!"
Sylas smirked against her nipple and gave it a soft bite. His teasing then moved in favor of placing slow kisses against her soft, supple skin. She squeaked and squirmed under his ministrations.
"Then we should be quiet, " he replied, moving to give her other breast the same attention. She was incredibly shy but that only made her more alluring...
He smirked when Amia caught his eye and her face instantly turned red. He didn't mind making her embarrassed, especially when she was wearing his clothes that were much too big for her. She sat on the floor between Ezra and Ira and grabbed a slice of pizza, avoiding his eyes at all costs.
"I'm starving!" Aviva groaned as she immediately began digging into the pizzas.
In her other hand, she began swiping her phone until she turned on some pop station she liked.
Once she found it, she began slightly swaying to the music as she ate. Sylas popped open a can of beer and nudged Ezra.
"Is she always like this?" Sylas asked and Ezra sighed.
"I fear so." He replied. The two men bumped their beer cans together as they continued to watch their youngest member.
"Oh my god!" Aviva squealed as a small rift came on and immediately grabbed Amia's hand. Amia shook her head profusely.
"No Aviva!" She said with a sly smile on her face.
"Please!" Aviva begged as she tugged on her arm. "It's been so long! Please!"
"No!"
"Please!"
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen
Sylas looked over at Ezra who had a rare smile on his face as well as he watched the sisters bicker. Aviva eventually won out of course and Amia stood shyly before them.
"Friday night and the lights are low. Looking out for a place to go. Where they play the right music, getting in the swing. You've come to look for a king."
As Amia sang into her beer can, Sylas’ eye twitched. She was not that great of a singer. No one was going to make a record deal off of her voice but she was, dare he say it, good. Aviva giddily clapped her hands before grabbing her soda bottle to use as a microphone.
"Anybody could be that guy. Night is young and the music's high. With a bit of rock music, everything is fine. You're in the mood for a dance. And when you get the chance..."
Amia seemed to gain more confidence once her sister chimed in. Aviva was arguably the better singer but the two of them sounded much better together than when they were apart. Though they still looked silly.
"You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine. You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life. See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen!"
Ira cheered the two sisters on and clapped his hands as they pranced around the room. Even Ezra swayed in time to the music. Sylas had to admit that even though Aviva was a brat she brought out a side of Amia that he doubted many people had gotten a chance to see before. A carefree side that only wanted to see her sister smile. If that meant making a fool of herself in front of others, she would do so gracefully. She reminded him so much of Ira in that way. He caught her eye as she spun around and her smile widened.
"You're a teaser, you turn 'em on. Leave them burning and then you're gone. Looking out for another, anyone will do. You're in the mood for a dance. And when you get the chance..."
"You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine..."
As the song continued for a little longer, Sylas enjoyed their ridiculous dance as he drank in the smile on Amia's face, hoping to commit the genuine expression to memory. When the song finally ended, the sisters were breathless but happy. Instead of returning to her original seat between Ira and Ezra, she sat beside him and gulped her beer in her thirst. Sylas felt his chest swell a bit as her shoulder brushed up against his. Ira raised his eyebrows at the new situation but Sylas pointedly ignored the look. He casually nudged her with his elbow and she hit him right back.
Once the pizza was polished off, they looked around the streaky room and sighed.
"This looks terrible." Aviva said bluntly and the group collectively nodded in agreement. Sylas glared at Ira who was scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"I'll see if some of my associates can pull some strings and get someone in to fix it."
"I think...that would be best. I am sorry that we were not much help." Ezra conceded as he looked around at the destruction in the room. "Come Aviva. You have school in the morning."
Aviva thumbed her nose at him but went along willingly. Ira laughed and walked the two Hatos towards the front door. Amia moved to follow them as well but he caught her wrist. As she looked up at him with that confused expression, Sylas forgot why he had stopped her in the first place. Looking away from her, he let go of her wrist and shoved his hands into his pockets. He hadn't expected the Hatos to make an appearance today but their presence had undoubtedly lifted the spirits of the place they were now to call home. Despite the fact that they had ruined more than they had helped, in a way, he was grateful.
"Sylas?" She asked. At a loss for words, he grabbed onto the first thought that popped into his mind.
"Thanks." He quickly mumbled under his breath.
Amia's confusion deepened as she tried to decipher what he said, but her entire face brightened once she did. She looked behind her at the empty living room before taking a step towards him with her hands clutched to her chest. She stood on her toes and stretched as far as she could to place a kiss on his jaw. She stepped away quickly as soon as her lips made contact, a pink blush and a shy smile.
"You're welcome."
…...
Sunday, September 9, 2017, 9:36 pm
Uri Residence
...
Silence.
He usually treasured the brief moments of peace. Stillness. When his attention was being demanded by a ringing phone or the ping of his email. Sara was not less than a foot behind him rattling off his to do list today from a tablet. It was wonderful to let his mind go blank and yet right now it felt empty. Perhaps it was all the stimulation provided by the Hatos visit. Perhaps it was the fault of one Hato in particular. Either way he needed something to occupy his mind. Occupy his hands before he lost all sanity and sent her a text. He had absolutely no business texting her, especially when she had barely left.
What was it about Amia Hato that left him wanting more? Shaking his head, he dug through the mountain of moving boxes in his room until he found what he’d been looking for. His cello. When he was about twelve or thirteen his mother thought it would be best to sign him up for an extracurricular activity-one that had not already been excelled at by Ira. She saw it as a way to keep him occupied and out of his brother’s shadow r a at least a little while. His father saw it as a waste of time. Sylas saw it the same way but…as he got better at it that opinion changed. Playing the cello was a way to occupy his mind for hours and on his darkest days it could bring great solace.
Today he did not need comfort, but he did need a distraction. Carefully he unzipped his cello case and inspected the instrument for damage. He’d had more than one cello decimated at the hands of a moving company. The neck wasn’t crack. The strings were fine….
“Ah, you are going to play?”
Sylas turned to find his brother leaning against his bedroom doorframe, half obscured by boxes.
“I may.” He replied as Ira pushed off the doorframe and came inside.
He smoothly made his way around the boxes before taking a seat on the bed. Sylas glared at him but quickly noticed the dark circles that had formed under his brother’s eyes. Had the activity of today really taken that much out of him.
“You should get to bed.”
“I’m already in a bed.”
“Haha Ira.” Sylas said with a roll of his eyes. “I’m serious. You look ready to pass out.”
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Right now I want to hear my little brother play something.”
Sylas scoffed and stared as Ira made himself more comfortable on the bed. Hands behind his head. Eyes closed. He looked almost too cozy. Still, Sylas pulled his cello vertical and plucked the strings. The sound was…off. It was going to need some tuning.
“You know…we haven’t lived together like this since we were kids.”
Sylas frowned at the instrument in his hands and continued to listen to the cello’s sound as he adjusted the pegs. Even as children he and Ira never truly lived together. When he awoke in the morning Ira was already off to school. After classes they both had separate tutors, clubs, sports. Their lives barely intersected with their parents as well. His mother tried her best but their father was rarely home. It was lonely at times, but he got over it. The silence meant their father wasn’t criticizing his actions. His mother wasn’t smothering him to overcompensate for the time lost. Silence meant peace.
“I wish… I wish I’d been a better brother to you.”
“Go to bed Ira.” Sylas grumbled. He didn’t want to listen to Ira’s nostalgic musing.
“Like I said…I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”