Florida Heat: Book One in the Clearwater Pack Series

Chapter 2: Either Way, I'm getting Drunk tonight

Mason’s Point of View:

Theodore, Sophia and I are all three getting off the plane that just landed in Orlando. We all three have finished our 4-year stint in New York attending College. Now, we are back to Florida heading back to Clearwater, what is and always will be our home.

Theodore is my best friend has been since the day he was born. I am two months older than him, but his mother and father, Keri and Rodney are my parents’ best friends. Theo or Teddy as people call him is my right-hand man and will be for the test of time. Sophia, we met her in New York, she’s grown to become our best friend and together we are the perfect three’s company characters.

I attended New York Tish University to study Theatre, and I graduated with a bachelors in fine arts degree with an emphasis in theatre and drama. The deal I struct with my parents is 1. I would go with Theodore who attended New York University and got his bachelor’s computer science. 2. If I don’t catch my big break after 4 years when I complete my degree then I come home. And finally, 3. No one can know what we are. So, when we met Sophia and she came home with us for a Christmas vacation my parents were less than pleased, to say the least.

My father Adam Gilmore and mother Nicole Gilmore are easily the most intimidating people to walk this planet. I mean it, they are fierce, loyal and honorable. They helped create me into the man I am today along with my younger brother Miles. Miles is heading into his third year in Gainesville at the University of Florida. My mother is shorter, with black hair and deep brown eyes, she might be shorter than most, but her personality is leaps and bounds taller than anyone in the room. She has a voice that carries, and people respect her. At least the ones within our small community do, she is the second lady as she calls herself to my father Adam who is the Mayor of Clearwater. My father is quieter but the words he does speak are always meaningful and of substance. He’s of average height with dirty brown hair and crystal blue eyes. My father runs the town while my mother runs the nonprofits and helps to keep clearwater safe and a beautiful place for not just the people who live there but the tourists who come here near and far to seeing the beautiful water surrounding the shores.

As for me, I stand at 6’3 taller than my father with black hair and hazel eyes a mixture of my parents as my mother loves to tell me. The closest I got to catching my big break was a couple modeling gigs along with some minor roles on Broadway. I had full ride scholarships to play basketball at any school I wanted, but I absolutely love acting and I don’t have too terrible of a voice. Catching a big break wasn’t exactly what I was after when I took off to New York though. I love and adore my parents but the responsibility that is within our family and the life that is being laid out for me isn’t exactly the dream I had. I realize, I was born into this and that my future will continue on this path regardless of if I like it or not.

My first year in New York with Teddy we both were reckless, we got fake I.D’s and partied literally every night. How either of us passed our first year of college is beyond me. That was when both of our parents informed us, we would be cut off it we didn’t get our s**t together. You see, Rodney is my father Adam’s right-hand man just as Theodore is mine. We are more than just best friends; we are bonded for life just as our fathers are. So when our parents laid the hammer down on us, we listened. No one wants Adam Gilmore and Rodney Davis waiting for you on your doorstep, that I can promise you.

Our sophomore year we moved out of the provided dorm structures and moved into our own apartment at 11 Waverly and thankful for the distance it allowed us from being still within walking distances to school, Broadway, bars, parks and the grocery store. That year is when I signed a modeling contract though and even though I absolutely hated doing it, I figured it was a good way to get my face out there. Being 6’3 and in better then amazing shape along with my natural tanned Florida skin I was an easy booking. I got an agent after that first booking, and he continued to get me minor gigs and booked me a couple roles within Broadway over the next two years in New York.

We’re driving now back to Clearwater, I let Teddy drive and I just stare out the window remembering everything we are coming back to. Our family, our futures. The second part of that, I’m the least excited about. I don’t want any of this s**t I was born into.

Our junior year both Teddy and I both dipped and weaved in between a different woman every week. It felt like this was a nonstop occurrence when we ran into Sophia, for rather she found us. It’s easy to point people like us out when you have the traits we do, but Sophia was different. She was originally from Washington and came to NYU in hopes of finding her other half, she was searching for romance and instead found us. My parents were less than pleased when they saw a girl get out of the car with Teddy and I but after she approached them and greeted my parents, they relaxed and understood why she is part of our gang. Sophia was sitting at the end of a bar when we walked into the club that night, when our eyes met – I knew she was going to be with me forever. Sophia’s parents both died in a tragic car accident when she was incredibly young and so she has been essentially on her own ever sense high school graduation and she prefers it that way. When she found us, we took her under our wing and Teddy, and I changed our ways and devoted our time to school and work.

My senior year, I had come home for Christmas, and we were partying in Cape Coral at some high end bar when I had to excuse myself from the group. I was drawn to different areas of the bar for no reason other than my own natural instincts. I could smell honey and lavender but couldn’t point where it was coming from or where it was going. Needless to say, it was an incredible buzz kill which ended our night quicker than it started. The drive home back to Clearwater, I was a different man. I became more defensive and furious with the life I was given, the role I was indeed made to play in this world – and had no choice over it. Going back to New York only made things worse, I grew angrier and believed it was because of whatever stupid smell I had encountered in Florida that night. I didn’t understand why, I was told the reason why – but I refused to believe it.

So, pulling into my parent’s house on the Eldorado Avenue that lays on the Coast of the Gulf of Mexico I’m displeased with my situation. Part of me wishes I would have tried harder in the acting gig or pushed myself further with modeling, so I didn’t need to come back here. I love my family and friends who are here I do; I just don’t like the responsibility that comes with it.

I get out, help Sophia out from the back seat and we all head in toward the beautiful mansion of a beach house that is my parents. My mother meets us at the door with open arms hugging and kissing us all while my father stands behind her, he steps forward and puts his hand out for me to shake. “Welcome home son.” I nod and walk past them both, up the stairs and into my bedroom that outlooks the ocean. I sit on my bed and look outward for a long time.

I’m broke from my trance when Teddy comes in to tell me a couple of the other guys in the neighborhood want to go to Jamminz tonight for open mic night, but mostly for the 2 dollar you call it beverages. I nod letting him know I’ll go, anything to get out of this house at this point that is starting to feel more like a prison. I take a quick shower throw on a Solid White T-shirt with dark jeans and converse. I don’t do anything with my thick hair and stare at myself in the mirror, perhaps I can prolong this “situation” if I continue to ride the solo train much to my parents disapproval – they can’t make me find the woman I’m supposed to be destined to. Or at least, I don’t think they can.

Either way, I’m getting drunk tonight.