Too Much To Dream

Chapter Six


After returning to her seat, Brandy noticed that Matt's demeanor had changed. He was quiet, allowing Jeff and Mr. Hardy to dominate the conversation. More than once she had glanced over to see him staring intently at her. She gave him a smile which he returned, almost absent-mindedly. Abruptly Matt rose, saying, "I think I'm gonna go get someting to eat. Jeff, why don't you come with me?" Jeff, waved him off, pausing in his conversation with the girl next to him.
"Nah, that's okay. You go ahead." Matt, grabbed his brothers arm glaring at him.
"Now, Jeff." Jeff stumbled along after his big brother, scowling. As soon as they were out of earshot, he jerked his arm angrily away from Matt.
"What the hell is your problem, bro? You're old enought to get food by yourself! Why'd you have to bri--" Jeff was cutt off by Matt's quiet reply.
"I love her." Jeff looked at him, confused.
"Who?"
"Brandy." Jeff rolled his eyes and turned to head back to the grandstands.
"No shit. Tell me something I don't already know. Damn! I can't believe you dragged me out here just to--" Matt grabbed his arm, whirling him around.
"What do you mean, you knew?!?! I just figured it out myself!" Jeff looked surprised at Matt's nervous look. Suddenly he started laughing, unable to stop. Matt glared.
"What's so funny?" Jeff's laughter slowly died and he wiped his eyes to clear them of the tears that had filled them.
"Matt, your MIND may have just figured it out, but your HEART has known for about three weeks now." Matt groaned, lifting a hand to his head. They made their way through the crowd, stopping at the Jaycee's booth. Matt ordered the first thing on the menu, too busy trying to figure out what he was gonna do. Jeff slapped him on the shoulder good naturedly.
"Don't sweat it , bro. She's in love with you too, ya know." Matt eyes jerked up to Jeff's face in astonishment.
"She is? She does?"Grinning maniacally, Jeff grabbed the nachos the lady behind the counter was thrusting toward him. Scooping up at huge blob of cheese, he stuck the entire chip in his mouth.
"Mhrs tee doofs." Matt rolld his eyes and handed his baby brother a napkin.
"Wanna try that again, minus the nachos?" Jeff took it, wiping his face and smearing cheese across his lips.
"I said, 'Yes, she does.' " looking up at Matt's hopeful expression, Jeff reassured his brother. "Look, Matt, everytime you two look at each other, it's like no one else exists. You're in a world all yur own and we could probably roast marshmeelows on the sprks that come off of you two. If that's not love, well....I dunno what is." Matt's face lit up with a huge grin, dimples flashing. Just as abruptly, though, he frowned.
"How do I tell her, without scaring her, though? I mean, I know that she isn't ready for a seriously serious relationship, and I respect that but....I feel like I just want to tell everybody, ya know?"
Making there way back through the c, Je, Jeff gave matt some advice. "All I know is that if it were me, I'd wait for her to say it first. SHE'S the one who needs to take it slow, so I'd let her take the next big step, ya, know? That way you don't have to worry about rushing her. And in the mean timou cou can SHOW her you love her....you don't have to TELL her." Matt looked over at Jeff chomping away on the nachos. he reached out and affectionately tugged on his purple and green ponytail.
"Since when did you get to be so smart, baby bro?" Jeff grinned.
"Always have been...you were just too stupid to notice." Before the last word was completely out of his mouth, Matt had him in a headlock, shoving another cheese covered chip at his face.
"Bite me, turd burglar." Jeff laughed and Matt released him just as they returned to their seats. Brandy looked up at Matt and for the first time, Matt knew the look in her eyes for what it was --- love.

"Wow, Brandy, I didn't know you could sing like that!", Mr. Hardy exclaimed again on their way home. He was still amazed at the fact that she had a phenomenal singing voice. Brandy laughed and linked her arm through the older man's.
"Well, I was a music major in college, Mr. H." she said, giving Ma wia wink. He smiled, seemingly distracted. Brandy frowned and looked at Jeff, raising an eyebrow. Jeff shrugged td turned back around in his seat. Matt was alternatley driving and staring at Brandy in the rearview mirror and Brandy and Mr. H were sitting comfortably in the backseat.
"What made you quit?" Jeff asked, unknowingly bringing up some rather bitter memories. After a few moments, she quietly explained.
"Shortly after Paul and I were married we goto ato another big argument. This time it was about school. He didn't want me to continue because he felt that it was degrading for him, as a man, to have a wife that wanted a career." Trying her hardest to appear nonchalant, Brandy shrugged. "One afternoon he came home and I was giving a piano lesson. He barely waited for my student to leave before he start beating the shit out of me. For some reason he focused all his attention on the left side of my head, hitting me again and again." Brandy looked up to see Matt's eyes glittering hotly with fury.She shook her ehad and reached up to lay a song hng hand on Matt's shoulder. "It's okay, Matt....It happened long before you met me." Sitting back in her seat, she leaned against Mr. Hardy. "Because of the severe bruising and swelling, my eardrum ruptured. They couldn't do anything to save my hearing and I lost my scholarship to college."
"But why? You sang great up there today!" Jeff asked, twisting aroun hin his seat to face Brandy. "I mean, unless sombody already knew, there'd be no way to tell." Brandy smiled and glanced up at the back of Matt's head, his curly ponytail whipping around by the breeze coming through the partially opened window. He glanced in the rearview mirror with a tight smile.
"I agree with Jeff, babe. You should give it another go." Sighing, Brandy leaned her head back against the seat and thought about all she'd been through.
"You know, guys, I don't even think music is my real calling anymore. I don't mind writing it occasionally, but as far as performing goes, well.....I'm much happier sitting in the audience, than being onstage." Mr. Hardy patted her knee and nodded his head. He knew she really wasn't that comfortable talking about it, so he decided to change the subject, a task he'd yet to learn to do subtlely.
"So, you kids got anything planned for this evening?" Jeff grinned slyly over his shoulder at his father.
"Me, Shane, Libby and Beth are going into Winston-Salem for the night." Mr. Hardy looked over at eldeeldest son in the driver's seat.
"Guess that means you two kids have the house to yourself tonight." Mr. H. looked over at Brandy, but her eyes were elsewhere. Locked in a smoldering gaze with Matt, Brandy didn't even register that he'd spoken.
"Huh? Oh, uh....yeah. I guess you're right." she blushed profusely, turning her head to watch the passing scenery. Jeff looked at his father and grinned, a knowing look in both of their eyes.
They pulled up outside of the Hardy's home fourty-five minutes later, all of them exhausted from the day. Matt opened her door, almost before the car had completely stopped. He took her hand and pulled her out and directly into his arms, catching her up in a huge hug. Brandy laughed and returned the hug.
"Surely you didn't miss me that much, Matt! I was only in the backseat!", she teased. She looked up into the face she had come to know so well and was surprised at what she saw there. Blushing, she pulled away to help Mr. Hardy into the house. Matt watched her retreating figure, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Jeff looked at his older brother, shaking his head.
"What?" Matt asked.
"When are you gonna tell her, man?" his baby brother clapped him on the back heartily. Matt's eyes never left the woman he loved.
"Tonight, Jeff. I'm gonna tell her tonight."