The brothers and their partners entered the music mister club. They heard the most melodic, lively jazz music fill the air, booming from the musicians’ horns. Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the dark room, and individuals from many ethnicities danced the night away, covering its large nine hundred square feet of space.

  “Come on, angel.” Daniel grabbed Karen’s hand.

  Karen giggled. “If you say so, Danny boy.”

  Daniel dragged Karen over to the dance floor, and they started dancing like the wind. The two indulged in a lively Lindy hop. Daniel grabbed her in his arms, swinging her around, and Karen laughed heartily. But Vanessa looked at the couple, growling like a rabid dog, as she noticed Daniel’s hands were inching closer to her butt. Benjamin saw his brother's example on the dance floor and prepared to follow suit. However, as he went to pull Vanessa, he tripped, dragging her down and falling over a dozen other people. “Oh, boy.” As Daniel saw the incident, he quickly stopped dancing with Karen, dashing over to help.

  ***

  The pairs walked over to a dining table. Daniel and Benjamin took their seats first. Karen moved to take hers, but Daniel pulled her into his lap. As she realized what he did, she rolled her eyes at him and grew a smile as she fixed herself to sit better.

  Again, Benjamin saw his brother's example and prepared to follow suit. Still, Vanessa started to sit down quicker than his hands could move, and he accidentally grabbed her butt. She quickly realized what he had done and slapped him in the face. ”Pig.” And Daniel and Karen grimaced as they saw her hit him.

  “Oh, man.” Daniel gripped his forehead.

  A few minutes later, Benjamin talked to the waiter. Vanessa looked at Daniel, seething, seeing him make out with Karen as she sat in his lap. However, as the waiter readied to leave, Benjamin stopped him.

  "Vanessa, I ordered some chicken. Would you like something?"

  "To find whoever invented love and hack them apart with a machete," Vanessa shouted.

  "I'll take that as a no." Benjamin released the waiter.

  Suddenly, smooth jazz in the air replaced the lively one. All the couples flocked to the dance floor for a slow dance, including Daniel and Karen. Daniel held Karen close to his body, wrapping his arms tightly around her as they danced. But as Benjamin and Vanessa saw them, looking into each other’s eyes and kissing, they quickly left the club together.

  ***

  Benjamin walked with Vanessa away from the club.

  "Vanessa, how do we get to your place from here?"

  As Vanessa heard Benjamin, she pulled out a gun from her purse like lightning, aiming it at him. And as he saw it, Benjamin almost jumped out of his skin.

  "All I want to do is make sure you get home safe, honest."

  Vanessa took a deep breath and stopped aiming her gun at Benjamin.

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  "Thanks, but I think I can take care of myself."

  "Are you sure? Because it wouldn't be gentlemanly to leave a lady to walk alone in the dead of night."

  Vanessa looked into Benjamin's eyes. They were steady and calm as they looked back at her. The pure honesty of his statement shot right to Vanessa from them. He was indeed telling her the truth. And she exploded into a cackling laughter but quickly broke down into a loud cry, snot dripping from her nose.

  "Okay, I'll leave you alone.” Benjamin started walking backward away from Vanessa. “Please don't cry."

  "No, it's not that. It's just that I don't deserve a gentleman."

  Benjamin stopped walking. "W-why would you say such a thing?"

  "Why? I tried to be with a guy knowing he had a girlfriend. I wasn't smart enough to graduate from High school. And I coast on my beauty to get anywhere. I'm such a failure of a human being."

  Benjamin took a deep breath. "You sound a lot like Daniel. Whenever he fails, he shows himself no mercy. But in the end, he always forces himself to try again. If he can do it, I know you can, Vanessa."

  As Vanessa heard Benjamin, she looked at him in shock. Her heart began pounding harder and harder as she stared at him. She hurried over, hugging him tightly, sobbing, and Benjamin slowly reciprocated. But as she looked into Benjamin's eyes, she quickly kissed him with spirit. And as Vanessa finished, Benjamin was in a daze, his face bright red.

  "Benny, do you have about ten or twenty dollars on you? I need a taxi for two."

  "S-sure, but why do you need it for two?"

  Vanessa kissed Benjamin. "Try not to talk for the rest of the night."

  ***

  Daniel stood before the entrance to Mar-Jam College as a small army of guards protected it as the morning came. He scanned the area from left to right, wondering about the increase in security. His mind forged several reasons why, many of them involving a terrorist threat. He came to apologize to Benjamin for another of his renowned failures, the sore night he subjected him to. But now he had the additional task of staying as the knight to protect the campus. However, among the guards, several familiar faces gave Daniel a death stare, placing their hands on their weapons.

  ”I’ll go.” Daniel waved them off, bellowing a sigh.

  Benjamin walked up to the entrance behind Daniel without his brother noticing. As he saw Daniel ahead, Benjamin prepared to run away, going in the opposite direction. But, Daniel spotted him as he readied to leave and sprinted over.

  "Ben, man, I'm so sorry for last night.”

  “Don’t worry about it, brother.” Benjamin wiped the sweat off his forehead. “It’s not your fault I’m horrible with women.”

  “Still, we searched the whole club, but we couldn't find you. Karen warned me that this was a bad idea."

  "Daniel, don't feel bad.” Benjamin took a deep breath. “After Vanessa and I left the club, we connected better.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, despite my best efforts, she’s decided to give me a shot. And now we have another date scheduled for next week."

  "I didn't fail you again, thank go—, I mean goodness.” Daniel let out a sigh of relief. “I lost sleep over this mess, and seeing all the security here didn't help my anxiety. What's the story with the extra suits anyway?"

  "From what I know, a princess, Abigail, is visiting today. But I have classes to prepare for now, so later."

  Benjamin sweated a storm and went to leave. But as Daniel saw the anxiety dripping from his face, he grabbed him, looking closely at his clothes.

  "Ben, aren't these the same clothes you wore last night?"

  "I-I can explain."

  Daniel looked at Benjamin with bewilderment. The young man pondered the sweat, the clothes, and his fearful demeanor. He realized he was unquestionably hypocritical, but he couldn’t help but wonder about what secret his younger brother was hiding. However, as his mind formulated the answer, he slowly entered into a wheezing laugh. Vanessa and Benjamin had made love.

  Benjamin scowled. "Daniel, what's so funny?"

  "I'm just so happy for you.” Daniel laughed, clutching his sides. “I can't find the words. Especially since this is your first t—"

  "Will you please be silent? Some of us don't like to boast," Benjamin angrily interrupted.

  Benjamin stomped away from Daniel to the entrance. But as he was about to enter, he waved goodbye to Daniel with an uneven smile, and Daniel reciprocated with a thumbs-up.