(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey horndogs, thanks for your patience with me on this series. I'm sure we can all imagine how 2020 was for everyone, and its bleedover into '21 so far. I hope to be finishing this series rather quickly, in comparison to my normal work ethic. Maybe by the beginning of summer.
As always, I appreciate feedback. This story is in the same world as Friends, Enemies, and Exes, which is part of why it's been a slow process. I had to answer a lot of questions for things that just came off the top of my head for that series. Now that I think I have it straight, onward I go. Please enjoy and leave a comment and rating. Even non-members can do so, and any feedback, positive or negative, helps me adjust and plan ahead.)
Chapter Three
Tom and Nora Harper did not know whose house the block party was at, nor did Brandon. They only knew to walk down the cul-de-sac, look for a line of cars, and follow the sounds of music and chatter, which they did quite easily. Evidently, Brandon thought, a block party meant half the neighborhood in New Sanning.
This house was just as nice as any other. Two stories, beautiful and dark hardwood floors, adjustable lighting. Brandon thought he caught a glimpse of a few couples' portraits, but he didn't recognize the couple in them.
It isn't the smallest small town. Or maybe I'm just used to big ones.
New Sanning was no New York, to be sure.
In the spacious backyard, as flat as a tabletop, Brandon felt far from home. Couples mingled and chewed on charcuterie, took turns throwing lawn darts by the fence and real darts around the corner. Someone Brandon didn't know manned the grill, though surely he did not live here as his was not the face in the portraits inside.
While Brandon scanned for the hosts, a familiar and now unsettling voice called out, "Howdy, Harpers!"
The Mayor approached, Misty under his arm, with that same smile as ever. Nora Harper quickly pecked them each on the cheek like old friends, and Tom took each of their hands in turn. "All right, you've done it!" Nora exclaimed. "We're completely enchanted with this town."
"Oh, don't speak too soon," Henning said. But Brandon could hear the insincerity in his humility.
Who are you?
Brandon wondered.
What the hell is going on in this town?
"No, it's true," said Brandon's father. "We've barely settled and it feels like home already."
"That's wonderful to hear," Misty crooned, squeezing Tom Harper on the arm. She turned her eyes to Brandon. "You too? We'd hoped you would at least get along with the Moores."
"Yeah," Brandon said quickly, hoping to sound natural. "Haven't had as much time with Ricky, but Lana and I are... clicking."
"They're here somewhere," Henning said. "Say, can I get you folks something to drink?"
Nora perked up. "Do you have any more fresh lemonade, or maybe some tea?"
"Over here!" Misty pointed. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the Shermers."
Tom sensed something in his son, as he often did. He gave Brandon a pat on his shoulder and said privately. "Get some water inside. If you're not up for this just head on home. Boring crowd anyway, huh?"
Brandon forced a smile, though inside he did appreciate his father's care.
If he would just listen to me about that statue... does he really think that whole thing was just okay?
Walking back into the house, Brandon took a deep breath and leaned against the dining room table, one massive slab of mahogany. It shined so much that he could see his reflection in it, and how his face was scowling. That didn't happen often. Even on rough days Brandon could normally let the stress roll off his back. But here he was, his second day in town and already he'd found something unsettling about its mayor and fucked another man's wife. Not only that, but he finished inside of her, unprotected. That was a first, to be sure.
And just as he was thinking about Lana's voice begging for him to cum inside of her, he heard Lana's voice behind him. "Brandon?"
Brandon turned around and saw her at the sliding glass door, watching him carefully. He tried to kill the scowl, and started walking toward the kitchen. "Hey, uh... just came in for some water."
"Oh, okay." Lana followed. "You don't look okay."
"I'm just a little -"
"It's
him
, isn't it?" she asked. When Brandon saw her standing in the kitchen doorway, eyes afraid and locked to his, he felt the need to hold her.
"Henning," Brandon confirmed.
"Something's wrong," she said, almost a whisper. "I never noticed it before, but he's... I mean he's a little
scary
isn't he? The way he talks and smiles. It's unsettling. Like yesterday everything was fine, and then today he just... he freaks me out, you know? And that thing this morning was just like,
what
?"
Brandon forced himself to find a glass and get some water, but as she mentioned the park he stopped and started to think.
Everyone believed him. But not me, and not Lana, and not... Melanie.
"Lana, how much do you know about Melanie Jarowski?"
"Um, as much as anyone else in town... why?"
"She didn't believe him either. It might be just us three."
"Oh..." Lana smiled nervously. "That's great."
Brandon walked over to her, and suddenly she looked down to the ground as though she were nervous. Any time she could bring herself to angle her face up to him, Brandon could see the blush in her cheeks. She was bashful about something, and it was goddamn adorable. But Brandon shook that off his mind and stayed focused. "So Henning seemed totally normal to you until today?"
"Yeah, I-I guess so. I mean it's been a really weird day too, but the feeling is
really
strong. I don't think I'm just having an off day. I mean, I am. But... you know? Like first I have a really intense sex dream about you and then the whole statue thing, and now I just want to stay away from him."
Brandon tossed aside his inhibition and held her for a moment. "I'm just glad I'm not alone," he said. After a moment she put her arms around him and sighed, as though he'd taken something huge off her back. Brandon continued, "You don't have to stay here. You can go home, I'll let Ricky know where you went."
"I know I don't
have
to..." she said hesitantly.
Brandon took her by the chin, forced a look between them, and said sternly, "Lana, you can do whatever you want right now. There is no shame."
And then a smile broke across her face. "Okay," she said, sinking to her knees right there in the kitchen. Brandon stood dumbfounded as she laid her hands brazenly on his crotch and started to rub, biting her lip and growing red in the face.
"Lana, why are you doing that?" he asked, hands away from her and trying to find a decent way to make her stop.