My Best Friend Brother

Episode 11

“Ouuu! Let’s try in there!” Libby shouts pointing to a store and dragging me there.
We’re currently in the mall as I promised Libby today because we haven’t hung out much, thanks to the drama that has been happening in my life.

Without looking at the name of the store, I unwillingly follow her into the store. When I enter, I instantly see mannequins with lingerie on them. I look around me and see everywhere is either bra or p@anties.

“You took me to Victoria Secrets?” I whisper shouted at her.

“Yeah, so what?”
“There’s no reason for us to be on here. Well, at least not me.” I say, not really sure where Libby stands in her love life.

“What are you talking about? There’s always need for lingerie.”

“There’s no one I have to show it too.” I said in a duh tone.

“Pleaseeee.” She pleaded.
“I said no, Libby.”
“Noob.” She mutters.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She replies quickly.

——————–

After the mall, Libby dropped me off at my house.
“Mom, Dad! I’m home.” I shout while closing the front door.

My mother walks out slowly. When she sees me, she plants a forced smile on her face.
“Oh, honey, you’re home.”
“Yeah..” I say slowly. “Where’s dad.”
“He had to work today.” She replies.
“Is there something wrong, Mom?”

As you can probably guess already, my mom’s a bubbly person. If something’s bothering her, it isn’t hard to realise because her whole demeanor changes.

“Honey, it’s your grandmother.” She slowly says.

I love my grandmother very much. She would always look after me when my parents weren’t home or were on a long trip. I could talk to her about anything. I haven’t seen her in a while though. Three and a half years to be exact. Nonetheless, I still love her with all my heart which makes it harder if anything happened to her.

“Wh-what about her?” I say feeling the tears starting to p—k my eyes.

“She’s… very sick and your father and I are gonna visit her tomorrow.” I feel a tad more relaxed.

“Okay. I’m going to pack.” I say, on my way to run upstairs.

“Ariel, wait…. she doesn’t want you to come.”

I turn back around to face my mother with a confused face.

“Your grandmother loves you very, very much. That’s why she doesn’t want you to see her like this. You’ve known her as the mobile and bubbly type, just like me, so she doesn’t want your aspect of her to change.” My mother finishes.

“What? Th-that’s ridiculous-” She cuts me off.
“I know sweetheart. Just abide by her wishes and when she’s better, you can visit, okay?” She states pulling in my now crying form in a hug.
“Okay.”

“I talked to Lily and David, they’re gonna let you stay until we get back. Is that okay?”
Nooo

“It’s okay.” I tell her finally pulling away from her and wiping under my eye.

I don’t feel like dealing with Adam but I don’t want to put the stress on my mother to find another place to say, especially in a time like this.
“We leave tomorrow.”

——————————-

“I’m sorry about your grandmother.” Libby whispers after engulfing me in a hug when I arrive at her place.

My parents left this morning and I can’t help but feel sad that my grandmother doesn’t want me to come although I partially understand her reasoning.

“It’s okay.” I said giving her a light smile.
“What do you wanna do?”

“I didn’t get much sleep last night so I’m just going to take a nap.”

“Of course. You’re not going to school are you?” She asked with a worried expression.
“There’s no reason to stay home but maybe I’ll just stay today.”

“Okay, I gotta go. Love you.” She says while kissing my cheek.

“Wait isn’t Adam taking you to school?”
“No…. Heisntgoingtoschooltoday.” She rushes out, not making eye contact.

“What?”
She sighs before continuing, “He isn’t going to school today.”

“What, why?”
“Bye!” She shouts before leaving.

The whole day with just Adam and I? This should be fun.

Note the sarcasm.

I look around the mansion and mentally praised the Lord that he is no where to be found.

I sit down and relax in front of the television eating popcorn and scrolling through Netflix.

Ding

Liam: Hey.

Me: Hello ?

Liam: Wanna maybe, have lunch later?

Me: Not today, maybe another time… family issues ?

Liam: Sure no problem best friend ?

I couldn’t help but smile at that comment. I’m glad that Liam knows his boundaries and isn’t rushing anything between us, although there will probably be nothing between us. I doubt he even has feelings with me.

Me: When did this happen?

Liam: Aw come on, I’ve never had a best friend before. ?

Me: Alright but only because you begged.

Liam: No I didn’t ?

Me: Did too.

Liam: Did not.

Me: Did too.

Liam: Did not.

Me: Bye Liam.

Liam: Byeee!

I laugh lightly to myself before turning off my phone at turning my attention back to the television.

About fifteen minutes later, the front door swings open to reveal Adam. I swiftly fix myself before he can recognise my presence.

When he sees me, he glances my way before making his way upstairs.

“Adam.” I say before I can stop myself….

“Adam….. ”

He stops abruptly on the first step as if not expecting me to speak. Me myself, wasn’t expecting to speak either.

He walks backwards, turns himself around and then looks at me as if urging me to continue.

“Can we talk?” I say fiddling with my fingers on my lap.

“Alright. Talk.” He says rather rudely.
He begins walking to the kitchen with me trying to keep up with him.

“Well, let’s talk about what has…” He pours himself water. “…been going on these..” He drinks it. “…past couple of days….” He begins walking away.

I can continue ranting about nothing important, beating around the bush while trying to keep up with him until I can’t take it anymore.

“Stop!” I shout louder than expected which causes him to stop with his back still facing me. “Now I don’t know who you think you’re giving this attitude to but when I’m talking, you stop, wait and listen to me!” I shout once again pointing my index finger to his back.

He pauses for a moment before looking at the side and slowly turning my way.

“Now.” I continue. “This needs to stop.”
“What?”

“This…” I say pointing between us. “This feud. I want it to stop. I don’t know how it started but I want us to end it.”

“Ariel, I don’t know what you want me to do.” He says looking fustrated.

“I want you back!” I say feeling upset. “I-I want you to call me cupcake again. I want us to stay up and watch movies like we used to and joke around!” I say not even realising that tears were coming down my face. I glance up at Adam momentarily and see his expression soften. “I just want things to go back to the way they were. I want my friend back. Please.” I say the last part softly.

Before I know it, I break into a full blown sob that I hadn’t even realised that Adam was fastly approaching me. He engulfs me in a tight hug while I cry in his chest.

I don’t know why I was crying but put yourself in my shoes. I’ve known Adam for a very long time and we have never
fought. So for us to fight over something so petty that I can’t even remember what it is, is pretty emotional and upsetting.

“Shh. Don’t cry, you know I hate to see you unhappy.” He coos in my hair.

“I missed you.” I say but it’s muffled by his chest.

He lets out that deep chuckle that I’ve missed which shoots vibrations through my body.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you too.” He replies more seriously.

We stand there for what feels like hours. I inhale his scent that I’ve missed dearly and smile in content.

After another minute, he pulls away and looks down at me and uses the pad of his thumb to wipe away the remaining tears.

“Wanna watch a movie cupcake?”
I smile brightly at the nickname.

“Yeah.”
“Come on.”

—————–

For the rest of the day, we binged watch shows on Netflix while watching television with my feet draped over Adam. During the shows, I would see Adam sneak peeks at me and just smile but I wouldn’t say anything about it.

The door suddenly opened and Libby came in.
“How was school?” I asked with a face full of popcorn.

She jumped slightly and then turned to face me.
“It was-” She stopped herself when she saw Adam sitting there and our current position.
Libby squealed loudly and jumped on me, pulling Adam in for a hug. “Finally you guys are together! Oh my-”

“Whoa, hold up Libby.” I laughed. “We’re not together. It’s just the way it used to be.”
Libby looked between us and scoffed before walking away stomping. But not before sending a disapproving look at Adam in which in return Adam just shrugged.

“I’m gonna see what’s her problem.” I told Adam while laughing.

“Sure.” He murmured not looking at me.
I shrug at his response and get up and walk to the stairs.

I push open the door and Libby’s on the bed doing what looks like homework.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She mumbles.
“You know, you’re taking this way more serious than it is. If anything, you should be happy that Adam and I made up.”
“I am..” She whines. “You made up , now it’s time to make
out.” She shoos me away.

“Libby, you and I both know that Adam doesn’t feel that way about me, and I’ve learned to accept that and if it means him just being my friend, then so be it, as long as things are the way they were.” I ramble on.
Libby sighs and smiles at me brightly.
“Okay!” She replies.

That was easier than I thought. Too easy.
“Well I gotta call me mother.” I say ignoring my thoughts and walking out the room.
“You can stay here!” She says quickly. “I have to… do something out there anyways.” She smiles innocently.

“Okay?” I say unsure by her sudden change in attitude.

She quickly jumps off her bed and runs out the room shutting the door. ‘Weirdo ‘. I think to myself.

I lie on the bed and dial my mom’s number before hearing her answer……..