Name Blame, the Bonding Game

Finding the Boulevard

"There is one flaw in your brother's list."

"What?" He asks me. I take a deep breath for composure.

"Romeo wouldn't be you, it would be Luke, even though he's a Boulevard like I am. Luke is the man that I wanted to marry. Ivan is amazing, I love him with all my heart, but if Luke were still around then Luke and I would be together. No doubt." I tell him. "Sorry to throw that kink in your theory."

"Okay, well that's okay, we'll sub Luke's name in for Paris then. Remember, this is completely hypothetical. None of it's real, the only reason I'm in for Romeo is because the two of us know each other better than the others."

"We've talked twice, you've taken my phone, and you've kept your psycho friend from killing me, I guess that's grounds for bumping into each other." I tell him, "But we don't know each other." I correct him, "And I would hardly call that grounds for being in love."

"No Stockholm Syndrome then?" He asks with a cocky side grin.

"You haven't tried to kidnap me yet." I retort. "Lets edit this cast list of yours."

We work through it and come up with a list of the names matching my group based more on how this fits the Boulevards. Only a few minor changes. "We're going. To stop trying to instigate fights. I want this over."

"You and me both." I tell him. "I have to go. I'm meeting Holland for lunch. Brother Sister bonding day." I smile picking up my things.

"There you are, I was worried you were going to stand me up."

"Like I could ever stand you up." I tell him as we both get into his car. "Halifax wanted to talk to me and an Avenue about the feud."

"What about it?" Holland asks as he drives us to our favorite restaurant for lunch. We both get out of the car and walk inside.

"How we're going to end it." I tell him as the hostess greets us. We both smile to her.

"Reservation for Keaton." He says to her. She nods and leads us to a table in the back. Our table. "How is it going to end it's been going on for over a hundred years."

"Drinks?" A waiter asks he winks at Holland.

"Two waters no lemons." Holland says. "Right Sis?"

"Yeah." I answer him with a small smile as I turn to my menu even though I know what I want. "What are you thinking big brother?" The waiter smiles at Holland and walks off to fill the order.

"About what to do with Darren out. I think he has a few hit men working with him." Holland says. "Duck," Holland says. I look down pretending to rummage through my purse. Holland catches something in his hand. A half lemon. If I wasn't deathly allergic to citrus, I would've laughed. He stands and goes to the bathroom making me follow him. "On your left." He says spinning me to his left as a plate comes at us with a loose knife. I feel as if I've walked into an action movie. Holland grabs another plate to knock the knife off the plate where it falls harmlessly to the ground. He returns the plate to the table as the other shatters to the floor.

"This is ridiculous." I tell him. "Let's just get our lunch to go." I tell him. He agrees and we go back to the table to flag down our waiter ordering our things to go. The waiter hands us our ticket and gives Holland his number. Holland gives me a panicked help me look. "Come on Brother, Melody is waiting." I tell him. A flash of confusion crosses his face before he goes into a dazed look.

"Melody." He says in a dazed voice. I 'struggle' to get him out of the restaurant and eventually take his keys and we duck around to the back where he hops into the driver's seat and I sit shotgun with the food.

"I know you write screenplays and scripts, but have you ever considered performing one of them?" I ask them as we sit eating our lunch in the school parking lot.

"Nah, stage fright. Kills a good show." He answers as A couple of the Avenues come toward the group. Only the boys, and they're missing one.

"Avenue alert." I mumble closing my take out container. "Let's go mediate." I tell him. We both get out and make our way across the parking lot.

"Just tell us where she is pretty boy." One of the Avenues' tells him.

"If you're looking for me, you found me." I announce myself and everyone looks over to Holland and I.

"Is that her?" One of the other boys asks.

"I think so."

"What does he want with her again?"

"She's worth a fortune for one." Another answers.

"You know it's rude to talk about someone when they're standing right next to you , you know that right? Or did mom and dad forget to teach you about manners?"

"That's her." The first ones says. "Now would you shut up?" He asks his friends not looking to them, "Harry." "Leif." "Zack." "Joe." They all introduce themselves.

"What can I do for you boys."

"I'd like to talk to you, privately." Harry says.

"Okay, but I bring one person with me." I bargain. He gives a nod and steps away from the group. His friends disband and disappear.

"Holland?" I ask questioning him with my eyes instead of my voice. He gives a nod.

"Ivan." I speak to him next, "Come with me?" He nods and takes my hand and we follow Harry. Our group slowly disbanding.

"This is Marisa," Ivan introduces me, "And I'm Ivan." He says holding out a hand. No matter who it is, introductions are always formal for us. Even we're introducing ourselves to our rivals.

"Harrison," He says, "But call me Harry."

"What is it it that you wanted to speak about Harry?" I ask him.

"Drag." He says. "I want to explain what he was talking about."

"Go on." I tell him slowly and a bit unsure about whether or not I want to hear it.

"Well, you see, it started just after the feud." He says.

AN: One more chapter, but don't worry, there's another part of the story to come. Something that will fill in a lot of the gaps that NBBG has left.