Name: kay_brooke
Story: The Prime
Colors: Bone #15 (gallows humor), Lilypad Green #10 (curiosity), Plant Party #6 (Star Flower)
Styles/Supplies: Canvas
Word Count: 1,200
Rating/Warnings: PG-13; no standard warnings apply.
Summary: David meets Tabitha's family.
Note: I tried half a dozen approaches to this scenario, and this is the only one that doesn't make me tear my hair out. Constructive criticism is welcome, either through comments or PM. Last Bone


Don't be weird, she'd told her family. She was very firm about it. It was her only instruction, the top of a list that only included itself. Don't be weird.

When she walked in a silence fell over the room, and every eye turned to stare.

Then her mother, her voice very loud, said, “Can I take your coat, David?”

“Uh, sure,” he said, shrugging off his black peacoat. Tabitha nearly groaned as her mother surreptitiously ran her hands over it before carefully arranging it on a hanger and putting it in the hall closet. No one offered to take Tabitha’s coat, so she took it off herself and wordlessly moved past her mom to put it in the closet next to his.

Everyone was still staring. Her dad was in his usual chair, his hands clasped across his lap. Brian and Paul were on the couch, Brian’s son BJ asleep between them, head against his dad’s knee and feet splayed out over Paul’s thigh. Ellie was on the floor with her daughters, both of whom had stopped playing with their Legos to turn and look at David with wide eyes.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Tabitha?” Ellie said with a giggle. A giggle. Never in her life had Tabitha more wanted the earth to open up and swallow her. Or maybe swallow Ellie. That’d be good, too.

“Everyone, this is David,” she said, plastering on a smile. “David, my family.” If they wanted anything more specific than that, they would have to handle it themselves. She made a beeline for the kitchen, hoping there was something harder than soda to drink.

There was beer, which hardly counted, but she would have to make do. Popping open a can, she considered whether she was being rude, leaving her boyfriend at the mercy of her too curious family. She put the beer down and went back into the living room. A little bit of normalcy had returned; at least her dad was engaging Paul in conversation and someone had turned on the TV, but her mom was still hovering at David’s shoulder and Ellie was still giving him flirtatious looks. Tabitha gritted her teeth.

“Do you want something to drink?” she said.

He looked at her like a deer caught in headlights.

“You should come see what we have,” she said a little louder. “Pick out what you want. In the kitchen.”

“Yes,” he said. “Right. I’ll do that.” Giving Tabitha’s mom a quick smile he excused himself and headed for the kitchen. Unfortunately he had to pass by Ellie to do so, and she stood up before he could get by.

“I’m sure we can find you something better than soda,” she said, and her back was to Tabitha so she wasn’t sure what face she was making, but David’s own expression said it all. “Hey, Dad, can we get into the liquor cabinet? David doesn’t want beer.”

“David doesn’t drink,” Tabitha snapped, lunging into the living room and grabbing him by the hand.

“Really?” said Ellie skeptically, turning to her.

“Not usually,” said David.

“Come on.” Tabitha tugged his hand and pulled him into the kitchen. Unfortunately, Ellie was right behind him.

“I can get your drink,” she said. “What do you want?” She gestured to the array of sodas set out for their little party.

“Uh,” said David, looking over at Tabitha in confusion.

“So, Ellie, I didn’t see Jared,” Tabitha said, pulling David just a little bit closer to her. “Where’s he at?”

Ellie made an ugly face at her. “At work, if you must know.”

“Jared’s her husband,” Tabitha said to David, deliberately turning her back on her sister. “You remember, I told you about him. They have two daughters together.”

Ellie huffed, and the next sound was her leaving the room.

“Sorry,” Tabitha whispered. “My stupid sister. She hates it when anything good happens to me.”

“Is that what I am?” David grabbed a plastic red cup and a bottle of Diet Coke.

“Of course you are,” said Tabitha. “Ice?”

“Nah.” David poured until the cup almost fizzed over. “Wait, was she flirting with me?”

“If it makes you feel better, it probably had nothing to do with you,” said Tabitha, taking another drink of her beer. “She just likes to piss me off.”

“I don’t know if that makes me feel better or not.”


Tabitha snorted, and David followed suit, and pretty soon they were both giggling into their shirtsleeves, trying to keep their muffled gasps quiet so as not to attract attention.

Tabitha sobered first. “They know who you are. I didn’t tell them.”

“Yeah, it happens a lot,” said David. “Also things like your sister wanting to get out the good liquor. Like people think I only ever eat caviar and have never socialized with anyone who makes less than six figures. At least your mom didn’t call this perfectly lovely house a hovel and apologize for making me step foot in it. Which has also happened.”

“She fondled your coat, though,” said Tabitha.

“Did she?”

“Yeah.” And they were off laughing again, and they didn’t stop until Brian came into the kitchen, a still sleeping BJ slung over his shoulder.

“Something funny?” he said. He put one finger against his lips, the message clear: don’t wake the toddler.

“Just talking,” said Tabitha, making an effort to take a breath. David nodded solemnly.

Brian spotted the beer. “Maybe you’ve had one too many.”

“This is my first one!”

Brian shrugged. “Just passing through. Going to put this one down in the rec room to sleep.” He headed for the basement stairs.

“What’s with him?” David asked as soon as he was gone.

“I just think my family’s not used to seeing me laugh.” She meant it as a joke, but the truth of the words struck her as soon as they were out of her mouth. It had been a long time since she’d been anything but miserable around her family. She loved them, but seeing them just rubbed in her face how they all seemed to have more going for them than she did. Derek with his successful career, raking in the money; Paul with his exciting tales of New York City living; even Brian and Ellie had their kids to tell stories about. For such a long time she’d had nothing. She didn’t want her family to fall over themselves trying to impress David, and she didn’t want David to feel so awkward around them. She didn’t want to be the center of attention just because of her boyfriend and not because she’d done something on her own merits.

But there was a small part of her that thought, finally, it’s my turn.

“Honey, don’t hide away in here,” said her mom, coming into the kitchen. “Come back out and socialize. We all want to get to know David.” She flashed him a smile.

Tabitha sighed. “We were just getting something to drink.” She raised an eyebrow at David. Ready?

He nodded, and the two of them went out to face her family.