When the Sun Goes Down

“Who the hell has a Lexus?” A female voice called after the sound of the front door opening and closing had interrupted the dinner conversation. Jesse, Travis, and Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard had been sitting around the kitchen table which was full of every food imaginable. Chicken legs, ribs, steaks, salad, mashed potatoes, beans, corn, bread, and several other small bowls filled with delicious, mouthwatering food covered the mahogany wood. The boys had both scooped up as much food as their plates could hold and were now hunched over them, focusing on them as if it were the last food they’d ever be able to eat. The Blanchard parents had made small conversation here and there, but they realized that the boys didn’t want to talk, they wanted to eat, so they had quietly ceased conversation and engrossed themselves in their plates as well.



At the sound of the voice, Jesse looked up to see who he assumed to be Nicole standing in the doorway. He nearly choked on his steak when he saw her. It wasn’t like he had never seen a beautiful girl before, but when you’ve already imagined someone in your head and they turn out to look completely different than what you thought…well you get a little surprised. He had seen both Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard when they came up to UNC to visit Travis, but he had only seen Nicole in a picture Travis kept on his nightstand of his family in the Bahamas. It was from a few years ago and Jesse couldn’t help but notice that Nicole was on the heavier side. Now he was staring at her in a tight pair of yoga pants and a tiny white tank top without an ounce of fat on her body.



She had the body that most girls would kill for, Jesse thought, decent sized chest and ass, flat stomach, perfect cheekbones and lips, and long, skinny legs. Her blonde hair fell to below her shoulders and her Caribbean blue eyes sparkled. She was also very tan, but he imagined she’d be just as beautiful pale.



“Nicole Marie Blanchard watch your language,” Mrs. Blanchard said over her plate of food, her voice brought Jesse back to reality.



“Travvvvvvvv!” She yelled, ignoring her mom. She ran to the side of the table where Travis was sitting and threw her arms around him, “Wow talk about the Freshman 15.”



“It’s all muscle,” he replied flexing his arm, “anyway, I can’t believe you were too busy with that Clark d-bag to come and welcome your brother home.”



She playfully slapped him on the shoulder and yelled, “One, I wasn’t with Clark; Two, he’s not a d-bag; and Three, I was with Cara, you’re lov—”



“Nikki this is—” Travis cut her off and watched her jaw drop when she turned to see the guy sitting next to him.



“Holy Rebecca Lamore’s son,” she interrupted him, finally acknowledging Jesse’s presence and forgetting about what she orignally meant to say to Travis.



“Jesse Buchanan,” Travis finished and then turned to Jesse, “meet the ditzy and rude part of the family.” Nicole threw him a dirty look and made her way to her spot at the table across from Jesse.



“Nice to meet you,” she said, locking eyes with Jesse. She remembered seeing him in some of Travis’s pictures and even magazines, but he was ten times sexier in person…actually he was a god! She couldn’t wait to call all of her friends and brag to them. She shot her mom a ‘Why-didn’t-you-tell-me-the-friend-Travis-was-bringing-home-was-Jesse-Buchanan’ look and her mom shot her an ‘I-didn’t-know-either’ look back.



“You too,” he replied, trying not to smile at the look on her face. He was used to the reaction of girls when they first saw him or realized who he was. Whether it was because he was the son of two celebrities or because they thought he was handsome, he never knew, but it was still amusing to him. “Mrs. Blanchard, your cooking is amazing,” he said, breaking the silence.



“Isn’t she just the best?” Travis cut in with a grin on his face.



“Oh my god Trav, have you heard the good news?” Nicole asked loudly out of no where.



“Don’t think so.” Travis replied, more focused on his food than on what his sister was saying. He figured it’d be something immature and stupid like Clark had given her his varsity jacket and they were considered official or something to that effect. His mind completely shifted though when he heard what she said next.



“Cara’s going to UNC,” she said with a bratty smile on her face.



“Cool?” he replied, trying to show no emotion.



“I didn’t know Travis liked Cara,” Mrs. Blanchard cut in with her sweet voice.



“I doooooon’t,” Travis grumbled and leaned back in his chair.



Jesse smiled as he watched the family bicker back and forth about whether or not Travis had a crush on Cara. Even Mr. Blanchard spoke here and there, revealing that he had a good sense of humor. Jesse never got to experience things like this growing up, he was an only child and his parents were always too wrapped up in their own schedules to sit down and have a family dinner. He didn’t care that he was miles from home, wherever that was, or that he’d be spending his summer working, or that he’d have to live under rules he was never used to following, he was just excited to be part of a family, something he would have given all the money in the world for.









I\'m sorry for another short chapter, but I wanted to post it rather than wait and possibly lose reader interest. I promise the story will pick up once all the main characters are introduced and I get through the beginning stuff. Thanks again for reading and please, please feel free to post reviews. I\'d love to get some feedback, hear what you think, and maybe get some ideas! Thanks again, Sarge.