Nocturnal Bravura

FLASHBACK
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Sixteen year old William Giles sat out of his porch reading his book. It was a beautiful day out. The real reason why he had to escape the confines of the inside of his house was because it felt like a circus had settled into their living room. Spike was in his room working on his latest song.

William loved music but Spike was going through his angry punk phase. Everything he wrote lately sounded like some sort of tribute to The Rollins Band. Loud brash cords with shouting instead of singing.

His father was given the task of cleaning out the study getting things ready for his wife’s latest project. The sounds of British curse words and loud angry groans emanated from the study.

While his mother was just a ball of energy. Making snacks and scurrying around the house preparing for the big day.

“William, dear what time is it?” Jenny asked.

“It’s 10:30 Mum exactly ten minutes after the last time you asked me.” William teased.

Jenny laughed and sat next to her youngest son.

“You’re mother can be so silly sometimes.” She sighed.

William squeezed his mother’s hand.

“You’re just excited. When was the last time you saw Mrs. Summers?” William asked.

“We were both in college before her husband made her drop out of the Art program. Before I met your father and we moved to England.” Jenny replied.

“I do hope you and Joyce’s girls get along. I am afraid Hank was not much of a husband or father. They have been through so much in there young lives.” Jenny said.

“I will make an effort.” William promised.

Jenny smiled.

They both heard Spike yell a few lyrics.

Jenny and her younger son shared a laugh.

“He’s just expressing himself.” Jenny supplied.

“What about you William I have not heard any of your poetry as of late.” Jenny inquired.

William iiateiately blushed. He opened his mouth to give his mother a reply when they both saw the large moving van approach.

Jenny squealed.

“THEY’RE HERE!” She screamed.

Jenny ran into the house announcing the arrival of her old friend and her daughters to the members of her family inside.

William closed his book and stood up. He watched as a Cherokee jeep filled to the brim pulled up to the driveway acrthe the street.

First a small auburn haired little girl came bouncing out of the car. She saw William and immediately ran over.

William hopped the three steps of his porch to go and greet his new neighbors. He did not get far at all. The little bundle of energy had made it all the way over before he could step on the grass.

“Hi, I’m Dawn. But most everyone calls me Dawnie. You can call me that too. I’m nine I’ll be ten in eight months. Isn’t it so cool that your Moundound us a place right across the street from you guys? Are you Spike or William? I have never met identical twins before. I can’t wait to figure out how I will be able to tell you apart!” Dawn rambled completely out of breath.

William smiled the little girl secured a place in his heart instantly. He pulled playfully on her pigtail.

“I’m William, Lil Bit. Spike is upstairs. Don‘t worry Luv you will be able to tell us apart quite easily.” William said.

Dawn’s eyes got wid
“
“WOW you have the coolest accent! How are you able to keep it? I mean assimilation and all...” Dawn continued.

“DAWNIE!!!” They both heard.

William’s head snapped up at the sound of the young women’s voice.

William felt his throat go dry. He watched as the petite beauty looked both ways and ran across the street. Never had he felt like a git more than at that moment. He swore she was running in slow motion. The sun danced on her blonde hair as she ran. Her eyes were the brightest green he had ever seen.

“Bloody Hell.” He mumbled.

Beautiful, no gorgeous. None of the words seemed like enough. She was in all essence of the word Poetry.

Finally she arrived in front of them. She frowned at her younger sister.

“Dawnie you did not even look both ways when you cross the street. What if you got hit?” The older girl asked.

Dawn sighed.

“This is my sister Elizabeth. We call her Lizzie. She’s fifteen and a bit over protective. Weird huh? Most fifteen year olds despise their younger siblings. Mine acts like Mini-Mom.” Dawn groaned.

Elizabeth laughed. She looked at William for the first time and smiled. Instantly she turned a slight shade of pink. Why was she wearing a pair of old overalls and ratty t-shirt with her hair under a blue handkerchief instead of one of her more stylish outfits? Mentally she kicked herself. When her mother mentioned her old friend had twin boys around Elizabeth’s age she should have been listening a bit better. The boy in front of her was beautiful. Could a boy be beautiful?

They continued to stare at each other for a moment.

“Um, Hi I’m Elizabeth Summers. This is you know is my sister Dawn.” Elizabeth said sticking out her hand.

“I’m William...we...welcome to the neighborhood.” he stammered taking her hand and shaking it.

Welcome to the neighborhood? Welcome to the neighborhood?? He was the poet out of the twins and that’s all he could come up with? Lord her hands were soft...

Both of the teenagers continued to stare at each other. Dawn still completely giddy continued the conversation for them.

“William is the younger one by a few minutes. I know because Mom told us you were named after William Shakespeare. Your brother was named after Randolph Churchill but in England Randy means....” Dawn found her mouth was being covered by her sister.

William chuckled.

Dawn moved her sister’s hand away.

“Well, he got sick of everyone making fun of him so he gave himself the nickname Spike because of this old jazz musician Spike Hughes real famous waaaaaaaay back when.” Dawn explained to her sister.

William took a step back looking at the girl in awe.

Elizabeth tugged on her sister’s braid much the same way that William just had.

“She has a photographic memory. She remembers everything she sees and hears. It’s kind of eerie trust me, you never want to get into an argument with ” El” Elizabeth said wrapping her arms around her sister.

“I’ll keep that in mind Pet.” William said.

“Doesn’t he have the coolest names. Luv, Pet.. he called me Lil’ Bit when I came over to say hi. I think I like that the best.” Dawn said looking up at William.

“Than Lil’ Bit it is.” He announced.

The eldest of The Summer’s women finally made her way over. She smiled at William and said

“I see you have met my girls...um..”

“William” both Dawn and Elizabeth supplied.

“Right William.” Joyce said.

“Very nice to meet you Mrs. Summers. I have not seen my Mum this excited in a long time about anything.” William said politely.

Elizabeth continued to smile at the young man. He was so sweet so polite. William stared at Elizabeth. Dawn looked up at the two of them and sighed. Teenagers could be so dumb.

“JOYCIE!!” They heard from behind. All four of them looked at the direction of the house.

Joyce’s face lit up.

“JENNY!” She screamed.

The two women acted more like children than their kids did. Hugging and shrieking a flurry of “oh my Gods” and I can’t believe your really heres” bombarded the air.

Jenny looked at the three kids.

“You guys come in and get some lunch then we have some work to do.” Jenny announced.

William stepped aside ushering the two girls toward the house. Dawn raced in as Elizabeth walked a bit more slowly. She stopped when she saw the sit sitting on the swinging chair on the porch. She picked it up and looked at it. William cleared his throat. God she was going to think he was a Nancy Boy... To To his surprised Elizabeth got a look of wonder and awe on her face doing the impossible in William’s eyes. The look of her face made her even more beautiful.

“Plato.” Elizabeth said.

William nodded.

Elizabeth looked at William then looked down and closed her eyes.

“The soul takes flight to the world that is eternal. But there arriving she is sure of bliss, and forever dwells in paradise.” She said softly.

William looked at her this time it was his turn to be in awe.

“Mom has all the works of The Great Philosophers. We took this road trip across the country when I was 13 and I picked up the wrong book. Mom offered to get me something else to pass the time but I decided to try to read it. It was kind of cool. When Dawnie and my dad would fall asleep Mom would explain the parts I didn’t understand. At thirteen there were a lot but she was patient. Anyways I got kind of stuck on it. My inner nerd.” Elizabeth said.

Her eyes got wide and she clasped her hand over her mouth.

“Not that I am calling you a nerd or anything..Jesus..” She groane
W
William laughed. Soon Elizabeth joined in. William opened his mouth to say something when they heard the screen door slam shut.

“Will, Mum says get your prissy ass in....”

Spike Giles stopped talking. He looked and saw the girl in front of him.

Elizabeth’s heart started beating hard against her chest. The young man before her was the carbon copy physically of William. His clothes and demeanor were the exact opposite. While William was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. Spike was wearing black jeans and an old black wife beater. William’s platinum hair hung on top with loose curls while Spike’s hair appropriately stood up in spikes.

Elizabeth felt dizzy as Spike stared deep into her eyes.

William watched the exchange.

“Spike this is Elizabeth.” William said looking at the girl in front of him.

“Everyone calls me Lizzie.” She offered.

Spike continued to stare at Elizabeth with a look William had never seen in his brother’s eyes. He tried to find the right word then suddenly it hit William...desire.

Spike leaned up against the post of their home and crossed his arms. He smiled seductively at Elizabeth. William hated that Spike could do that. Wear his emotions so easily. Especially now. After a long moment Spike smiled a devastatingly cute grin.

Elizabeth thought she was going to melt right there.

“Look at you... glowing.” Spike said.

He looked up to the sky pondering something.

“What's a word means "glowing"? Gotta rhyme.” He mused.

“Rhyme? Why?” Elizabeth asked.

“Has to Luv, normally that’s what songs do. And if I going to write one about you It’s gotta rhyme.” Spike said finally moving toward her.

He reached down and touch her tiny hand and kissed it gently.

“Lord your hands are soft.” Spike said looking at her hand reverently as he held it.

Elizabeth’s hand began to tremble a bit.

“Hey Wanker that’s what I said!” William screamed in his head.

However he had never spoke it out loud. He did not have the confidence Spike had.

Spike ignored the presence of his younger brother and guided a mesmerized Elizabeth into the house. William watched hearing his brother say.

“Let’s get you inside Pet. Get that cute y ofy of yours filled.”

William awoke gasping for air. His body covered in sweat. He held his face in his hands. Maybe if he had said something that first day, maybe if he had acted faster.

His thoughts haunted him like they always did. He thought of all the different ways he could have saved her. None of it counted, of course, but every night his mind raced. He’d see it all again ... do something different. Be faster or more clever. Dozens of times, lots of different ways ... every night he saved her....