Erin’s Revenge (Canus, July and Erinyes) @kay @troylus

“Does it make you look good to have a fabulously talented brother? You’re so lucky, you know.” He winked at her cheekily.

She pretended not to enjoy his flirting and had to turn away to hide her smile, looking out the window instead of at her brother. “We’re nearly there. Just remember, don’t talk about yourself constantly, and don’t talk about music all night either. Not everyone else cares about it as much as you do.”

“What sort of things does July like?” He had been planning on talking about music all night, but wasn’t going to admit that. He was happy to get some sound advice from his sister as she knew this girl well, and he wanted to make a good impression on her.

“Obviously she likes people who pay her attention. You can talk about music a little, if you like, but just not all night. If I feel that you’ve spoken for long enough about a certain topic, I will give you a signal and you can change the topic.”

He winked at her again, “You’ll play footsies with me under the table so I know when to switch it up?”

“I’ll kick you under the table,” she promised with a smirk of her own.

“Don’t put scuff marks from your heels on my trousers, and not too hard either, because if I keep making a pain face she’ll think I’m a freak. And that’s something I like to reserve my dates knowing until the third date at least.”

“Make sure you compliment her a lot. Her outfit and her hair and all that stuff.” She reached over to pat his knee in a comforting, yet superior way. “Don’t mention anything that makes you sound like a freak, as you say, and I’m sure you’ll get a second date.”

They walked arm in arm up the long driveway and informed the servant at the front door of their names. True to her word, after adjusting Canus’ collar slightly and directing a stray spike on his perfect ‘random’ spikes hairstyle, Erin stepped back slightly to allow him to be on display for July.

Canus tried to slow his heart rate down with a few slow deep breaths like his therapist had shown him. He went over the suggestions Erin had given him in the car and added a few of his own to the list. He’d spent hours over the last few years perfecting different smiles and facial expressions in the mirror. He’d even given them names so he could practice them with flash cards, in order to be able to produce them in moments of stress and still look amazing. As the door opened he had what he called a ‘Ferdinand’ ready; a combination of charm, roguish cheekiness and a hint of lust. You can do this, you rock, he silently coached himself. She's going to be drooling over you all night, he promised himself.

The view that greeted Canus as the door was opened took his breath away.  He'd been expecting July to be fairly average by Erin's friends' standards.  All of them were attractive in their own way, Erin wouldn't be friends with unattractive people, being such a popular and vapid person. But he had thought Erin would set him up with one of the least attractive friends.  The young woman who stood in the doorway, her hand on her hip in an appealing manner was utterly stunning, however, beyond his wildest expectations.  He had to catch himself in his gaping, slack-jawed, and plaster his smile back on his face.  Thankfully she wasn't looking at him at first, and he hoped that she hadn't noticed his cave-man type response.  

He took her hand when she offered it, lowering in a bow to brush his fingers across her knuckles.  He stood, admiring her hair and the way it cascaded so appealingly. "Good evening.  Yes, I'm ready to go if you are."

"My parents have gone for the weekend to the mountains. So, I don't have a curfew."
Canus felt all the blood draining from his face as she said this.  It sounded to him like a direct invitation to spend the night with her, and he had to bit the inside of his mouth to keep his body under control.  It was NOT made easier by the flirtatious wink she gave him.  He considered suggesting they ditch the restaurant and just stay at her home for a meal and the following fun, but he realised Erin was there and wasn't sure how to ditch her without even having dinner first.

He realised July was standing on the porch holding her coat so he took it gently from her and held it up so that she could step into it.  It seemed like a crime to cover up all that lovely tanned, perfect skin but it wouldn't do to let his date go cold.  

Canus stood back to let the two friends embrace one another, and remembered he was supposed to give compliments.  He had prepared some already, but now faced with such beauty he felt none of them were in any way adequate.  He waited until the girls had finished their greetings before offering July his arm.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, July.  Erin has told me so much about you, and she did tell me how beautiful you are, but I thought she must be exaggerating.  Now I discover she was inadvertently doing you an injustice, not for lack of affection, but because mere words could never convey your radiance."