Reality And Romance

“Really mother?” Came a voice from the other side of the room. The three of them turned their heads only to spot Aaron, Johnny and McKenzie, walking towards them. Like Vanessa, they were dressed in full costume.

Andrew grinned and Libby heard him mutter, “Just in time. Libby these are my brothers, Johnny and Aaron, and Aaron’s partner McKenzie.”

“Nice to meet you,” Libby said smiling. From the look on Andrew’s face this was no coincidence. For the first time since arriving, she felt like she had allies.

“Hello mother,” said Johnny. “Do you like our costumes?”

“Very impressive,” Vanessa replied dryly, sounding distinctly unimpressed. “Would you mind telling me what you boys are doing here? As you were made well aware, this was supposed to be a private meeting.”

“We know, but we simply couldn’t resist meeting Andrew’s girlfriend,” Aaron said, winking at her. He was dressed in a soft purple, embroidered with gold lace. On his eyes there was a strip of black material.

“Also we had Andrew make us these costumes and we wanted a chance to wear them.” Shrugged Johnny, who was dressed fully in red with a comet decorating the center.

“Thanks for making me one by the way,” McKenzie added, pushing his green hair out of his face. He was wearing simply black one piece, with a matching mask. The only distinctive features of his costume were eight jagged spikes stuck out the back like the legs of a spider.

“You’re welcome,” Andrew responded with a smile.

Vanessa sighed, “Very well Andrew. I see you’ve got me cornered so I shall come straight out with it. Libby you seem like a reasonably respectable girl, this whole super hero thing aside. I, of course, will have to talk to you more, but I would like to extend you a tentative invitation to come on the show.”

“That’s really nice of you Vanessa,” Libby responded cautiously. “But I’d really rather not.”

Vanessa frowned, “But think. No more hiding. You and Andrew could be seen together in public, you could go where you like without these ridiculous costumes.”

“But with the press,” Andrew cut in. “And we had a deal mother, if Libby said no, you would leave it.”
Vanessa nodded, the smile back on her lips. “Very well then.” She clicked her fingers, “Aaron, Johnny…McKenzie, we ought to take our leave. Clearly I’m not going to get anywhere today and we should give these two their privacy.”

“Goodnight dear,” she said to Andrew, before turning to Libby. “It was nice to meet you dear, I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”

With that parting statement she lifted up her dress and left. The two remaining brothers and McKenzie followed shortly after, although not before giving Libby a smile and Andrew a wink. Andrew in turn gave them his thanks and jokingly told them to do some damage control on his behalf.

“Well, that wasn’t too bad,” Libby stated brightly after they had left, “Although, I hope I haven’t offended her or anything, she didn’t stay too long.”

“We got away easy,” Andrew said, although he was smiling. “She left because she knew me and my brothers would be on her if she tried anything.”
“Like what?” Libby questioned.

“I’m not sure,” Andrew ran a hand through his hair. “She just has a way of getting you to agree to stuff. I’m not sure how?” He laughed.

*****

They stayed at the bar for about an hour afterwards, laughing and having a couple of drinks, before leaving. Andrew had to be up early for filming the next day and he wanted to get home to talk to his mother before she went to bed. The presence of all six of them in their costumes had given him an idea about what to do for the most recent fashion week. Manipulative she-devil though his mother was, her business sense was unparalleled and she wasn’t petty. His mother would help him even if they never got Libby on the show.

“Hey Andrew,” Libby asked, as they finally reached the door to her apartment, “Are you sure you don’t want me on the show? I mean, I don’t want to especially, but I care about you, and if it would help you with this whole fashion show thing…”

Andrew shook his head and walked purposefully towards Libby, bringing his hand slowly up to her cheek and caressing it gently. “I know,” he said gently. “But I would never compromise your needs for my job. You come first. That’s a promise.”

As if to punctuate this, he softly tipped Libby’s head to the right and gently bit down on her lower lip and deepened the embrace. Andrew smirked as he felt Libby shiver in his arms as he ran his fingers back through her hair before pulling away. Then there was silence, nothing but the sound of Libby’s heart beating against his chest and her softly panting breath, which felt hot against Andrew’s neck. “Do you believe me?” He asked softly.

“Maybe…I could take a little more convincing…just to make sure you’re really sincere…” Libby began, but she never got to finish her sentence. Andrew was already pressing lips to Libby’s neck, moving up towards her ear and then slowly working his mouth down to her collarbone.

Libby shuddered as Andrew’s hips pressed against her own and she let out a strained moan as his wicked mouth moved back up to her lips. Panting, they both pulled away and Andrew felt his stomach flutter, as she looked at her. Noticing her deep black eyes, still half lidded with desire and her still swollen lips. There was a pause, before he saw them move and heard her say though soft pants. “Alright then Andrew, I believe you.”