Scene 6

Scene 6

Leaning back in her chair Brandi had a constant smile on her face seeing her granddaughter so happy holding hands with her boyfriend. The two of them seemed good together, young love didn’t always last, but theirs started with friendship for a foundation. She figured one of three things would happen with the two. College would separate them, Cynthia would get involved and bungle things like she tended to do or they would last. “I have truly enjoyed spending time with you Genna, but if you want to go off and do something with your boyfriend Marcus here, I would understand.”

“Heavens no, Genna has been talking non-stop about spending time with you. The two of us have all the time in the world to be together. Heck, her mom once threatened to spray us down with the hose so that I would go home.” Marcus said, leaving out the part that the two had been playing in the backyard and were covered in mud at the time.

Seeing the expression on his grandmother's face, Greg’s eyes widened thinking how she must have taken the comment. “Marcus…” Greg said in a harsh whisper.

Brandi laughed a little at Genna’s embarrassment. “It’s okay dear, I am well aware of what happens between a young couple in love like the two of you. Just make sure you use protection, and you need to think of both of your futures.” The last thing she wanted was for Genna to have to make a decision between college, a career and taking care of a baby.

“We are very careful ma’am.”

“Marcus!” Greg said louder this time, earning another round of laughter from his grandmother. Marcus just leaned over and gave his friend a kiss on the cheek. He still couldn’t believe how much of a babe Greg made. The way he looked dressed up he would have to be gay to not want to be with the lovely young woman he sat next to. His mind was at odds with itself, one part said he can’t be attracted to Genna because it was Greg, a boy. The other kept telling him to look at her, that is a girl and a pretty one. It didn’t matter what was between her legs, just kiss her!

“If I know Genna, and I like to think I do. I know after you leave here she will be looking forward to the next time you can come around. She used to talk about a country club or something her father was part of and how she always wanted to go there and rub elbows. Is that the right phrase, Genna?” Marcus paused, but instead of a reply he only found his friend staring at him in the eye. More than likely trying to figure out what he was doing and wanting him to stop. “That and she always wanted to go on a yacht cruise for a vacation.”

“Genna, honey, I would love to take you to the yacht club, I could even introduce you to a few of your father’s old friends. I bet they would just love to meet you. And Marcus, I believe I told you to call me Brandi.”

“The two of you have fun, just try not to introduce her to any eligible bachelors, don’t think I could keep up with them. Genna you would love that, wouldn’t you, spending more time with your grandmother.”

“Genna dear, a yacht and a cruise ship are different things, but I would love to take you out on my yacht. I don’t think I have been out on it for a few years, I would need to have it restocked and ask someone to be a captain. That does sound like fun, and Marcus don’t be silly. I would break Genna’s heart if I tried to set her up with another boy. Though I reserve the right to change my mind if I don’t think you can take care of her. What do you plan to major in for college?” Brandi looked briefly away from Marcus to her granddaughter, wondering more if it was less of a problem with education and more of the fact she was ditzy, but she would love her even if she didn’t inherit Jackson's intelligence. It just meant she needed to make sure she was taken care of. Thinking a yacht and a cruise ship were the same thing, poor girl.

“Well ma’am, I mean Brandi. I plan to be a computer programmer. I took a basic computer certificate course called the A plus, for just a foot in the door to understand things before I go to work on a computer science degree. My father said I need to learn some of the older languages because a lot of big companies built everything on top of them and hardly anyone knows them anymore. That and I need to know some of the new ones so I can stay competitive in the field.”

“Smart man, and it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders.” She didn’t know exactly what he was talking about, but she knew there was money to be made in that field.

“I know what a cruise ship is.” Greg said when there was a break in the conversion. His mother drilled into him how Brandi hated being interrupted. He needed to try and get control of this situation before Marcus ruined things more.

“She has been wanting to go on a cruise for a while, and I promised to take us on one, but I don’t make much so saving for it is a little slow. She of course knows what a cruise ship is, I am terribly sorry my love. I didn't mean to make anyone think that.” Brandi still had her doubts, a good man was always there to cover and she was pretty sure that was exactly what he was doing.

“I have not been on a cruise in ages, have you ever been on a cruise Genna?” She was already sure she knew the answer. Cynthia was a workaholic and she doubted the woman used any of her vacation time for anything more fun than getting a root canal. Taking her granddaughter out on a cruise, getting away from her horrible mother, would do the girl some good.

“Umm no, can’t say I have.” Greg looked over at his friend, feeling the squeeze of his hand as he smiled. This is what Marcus was after, he was trying to butter the old hag up so she would pay for them to go off on a cruise together. The two of them out on their own, in international waters with money to spend and plenty of babes. “I have always wanted to go on one though, but I’m not allowed to have a job. We will be soooo happy when we finally save for our first cruise won't we honey?” Greg said now finally understanding his friend's angle. The old bat had more than enough money if that was all he wanted.

“Marcus you keep saving, but I’m betting the two of you will get to go on your first cruise much sooner than you think.”

“Grandma, are you saying you're going to pay for me to go on a cruise!?” Greg felt himself getting really excited. His mom really was right, all he had to do was act like the perfect granddaughter and the woman’s wallet would open right up.

“I didn’t SAY that.” She gave a playful wink to Genna and Marcus. “But if I were to do something like that I would imagine you wouldn’t want to go alone.” Greg looked back to his partner in crime, biting his bottom lip, tasting his lipstick.

“Of course not, I would get lonely by myself.” Greg imagined him and Marcus swimming out in the shallows while fish swam around them in the clear ocean with blonde girls with large chests hanging off their arms.

“Making plans for the future always makes me happy, and it warms my heart knowing I get to do it with you Genna.” She didn’t want to be a third wheel on the cruise, but she would book a few excursions they could go do off on their own. She never had gone on that Alaskan cruise, and doing it with her granddaughter while she still had the energy sounded wonderful.

“Me too Grandma, making plans with you has made me like sooo happy.” Greg wasn’t sure where the bubbly talk came from, but that is what came to mind when he thought of a girl talking when she was excited.

“It is getting close to when I have to go honey. How about I get a photo of the two of you, maybe over there on that swing before I go?”

Greg looked over his shoulder at the old rope swing that hung from a tall tree in his backyard. It had a long worn board for a seat. “Yeah, that would be fun!” He wasn’t excited about pictures being taken, but he was excited about her leaving so he could get out of all the girly clothes.

Sliding his hands on the rear of his dress so it didn’t slide up as he sat on the swing, Greg shifted a little to be at the center of the board and was careful to keep his legs together. Marcus walked behind his disguised friend, putting his hands on the both ropes while he leaned in close. “Remember to smile Genna, want to keep Brandi thinking we are in love.” He whispered. Tilting his head back and to the side to look at his friend he was going to tell him how they were going to have a long and hard talk after this, but was not prepared for Marcus, the person he had known since second grade to kiss him.

The kiss felt wonderful to Marcus, feeling Genna’s soft lips, tasting her lipstick and smelling her perfume. Giving in to kiss the her his mind had finished the battle over the attraction he felt. It didn’t matter who this was before, because right now it was Genna, a beautiful girl he was kissing.

Quickly as he could Greg pulled his face away, staring daggers at him. “That was so cute and romantic. Genna kiss him again like that for a photo.” Brandi said, holding up her phone and deleting the blurred pictures she just took. “And try to hold the pose, my hands aren’t as steady as they once were.”

“Grandma, you don’t want a pic like that. Don’t you just just want one of me alone or maybe the two of us?” Greg was doing everything he could to keep his composure while he wondered why Marcus would do something like that.

“Genna, Marcus can take some photos of the two of us after, but I do not need you telling me what I want. Do you understand me young lady?” She had to be stern with the girl, it was clear she got too much of her mother in her if she thought she knew what others wanted. She was going to get plenty of pictures of Genna smiling, but seeing her in love. Genna herself would love to have those photos a few years from now.

“Don’t try anything funny.” Greg whispered to Marcus as he tilted his head back again to receive a kiss he didn’t want for a photo that would leave proof it happened.

“Nothing funny about the two of us in love and showing it to the world Genna.” Marcus said, teasing his friend as he leaned in to kiss his feminized man, and this time holding it. He couldn’t help himself, he couldn’t leave his lips still as he pressed his to this beautiful girl’s lips. Greg had ruined his relationship with Holly, he was trying to scam money out of this nice old lady… his own grandmother. He didn’t have a full plan when he came into the backyard, but now kissing Genna. He knew exactly what he wanted as payback for all these years being the butt of Greg’s pranks.