My Best Friend's Brother (20 page)

"Do you think he really did this maliciously?" I asked him.

Matt seemed too been thinking before answering.

"Um, I'm honesty not sure. I mean I know he used to be a good guy, but the last few months he's been acting strange. Like changing his friends, his style and he seems much more a loner than he used to be. But I'm hoping it's all just some misunderstanding.

As much as he annoys me, he is still my brother." Matt answered with a far away look in his eyes.

I nodded in agreement "I hope you’re right"

Hope

I was in the kitchen preparing lunch for me and the guys.

The food was finally cooking, no thanks to Nate who insisted on helping.

His idea of help was hovering around me, with his arms wrapped around my waist, as I tried to walk around the kitchen and prepare everything.

At first it was cute, but it got annoying fast.

"As much as I love you holding me, can you give me a second to walk around freely? I am starting to feel like a penguin"

Nate found this highly amusing and laughed.

"And a sexy little penguin you are too"

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but laugh.

Between the two of us we (meaning me) decided to make spaghetti and meatballs.

Once the food had finished cooking I sent Nate to tell the boys while dished it up onto plates.

I placed the plates on the table just as the boys ran into the room.

Ricky was running in socks, sending him flying across the tiled floor and into the ground. 

Everyone burst out laughing, even Ricky.

"Crap, that hurt." He said, rubbing his leg.

Nate being the ever-caring boyfriend followed me over to my brother who was still 'dramatically' laid on the ground, whilst Matt paid no mind to any of us and sat at the table and began eating.

"This is good." He said with his mouth half full.

"Thanks." Nate grinned, taking credit.

I didn't say anything; I just gave Nate a look that made him pout.

I turned back to my brother and held out my hand and said, "You going to stay down all day?"

He looked up to me and smiled, before reaching for my hand.

But Nate batted it away.

Before I could say anything he interrupted me. "He is heavy.” Ricky glared at Nate.

But Nate continued. “I don’t want you hurting yourself”

I gush over him.

Nate turned to Ricky and helped him up.

Ricky reluctantly thanked Nate, whilst Matt continued to eat.

We all sat at the table and started to eat.

“This is really good Hop." Ricky said stuffing the food into his mouth. 

"I helped." Nate chimed.

"Did you?" I asked my face and voice full of amusement.

Nate nodded cautiously.

Ricky and Matt both looked at each other and shook their heads. 

"Not likely. He is one of the reasons we aren't allowed to cook in the dorm anymore." Matt smirk and Nate shook his head.

"That wasn't only me!" He tried to defend himself.

"No but you were meant to be watching it." Ricky added.

"I did."

"Yeah right." Ricky and Matt both laugh.

"What happened?" I asked curiously.

"Well..." Matt smirks looking at me and then to Nate and back.

"...We were cooking ourselves a frozen pizza. Ricky and I decided to head to the local store around the corner quickly to get some beer. We knew Nate here was rubbish at cooking, but we thought it's only a frozen pizza! I mean who can mess that up...I guess we were wrong. Because when we got back only fifteen minutes later, the dorm we full of smoke and the fire alarm was going off," Matt couldn't help but laugh at the memory.

Ricky continued. "In the end the Fire station was called and Nate was found in the dorm trying to put out the pizza. What he told the firemen was apparently 'He was getting impatient with waiting and so decided to turn the oven up, but then he started play on 'Bad Piggies' on his phone and forgot about it until the alarm went off"

I turned to look at Nate who had his head down still eating.

"Bad Piggies?" I laugh.

He looked at me and pouts.

I am sat next to him, so I leaned in closer. "I love that game." I say in a husky voice and lick the sauce off his lip, then go back to eating as if nothing happened.

I heard the others laugh at Nate's shocked expression.

"Such a tease." I heard him mumble under his breath.

This just makes me grin more.

Once we finished eating, I make the boys wash and dry the dishes.

I mean we have a dishwasher, but I don't like it, so I made them do it the old way.

"Fancy watching a movie?" Ricky asks washing the last dish.

We all agree and head to the sitting room to choose once the dishes are finished.

"How about this?" Nate holds up Gladiator.

"Yes that's ok with me" I agree, much to Matt and Ricky's surprise. 

"What? It's a good movie."

We all agree and sit down while Nate puts the disk in and turns on the screen.

"Oh yeah. Do any of you know where Hev is today?" I ask casually.

"I think she has a boyfriend" Matt smirks.

"Really?"

'I'll have to call her later' I thought to myself.

Nate sits next to me and hand me the remote to control the movie.

"Whipped." I hear Matt whisper.

Nate doesn’t care.

He moves in closer to me and pulls me into him, so my back is resting against his chest.

I happily sink into him and he places a kiss on the top of my hair and then we watch the movie.

Matt

We were only an hour into the movie when I noticed that not only had Hope but also Nate had fallen asleep together.

I looked to Ricky who wasn't far behind them.

"Oi." I elbow him to wake him.

He jumps. "What the hell man?" He almost yells, but I hush him and point to the pair.

Ricky looks at them and nods.

Early today we both agree that it would be better if he and I only went to chat with Dean.

We both slowly get up, so not to wake them.

Ricky grabs the remote from the arm of the sofa and turns off the movie.

"Ok let's go." Ricky says place a blanket over the two.

As much of a player and stuff Ricky, but he really does care for his little sister.

We head out of the door and to my parked car and get in.

The drive there is quiet.

When we arrive there were no cars parked outside, but that wasn’t surprising as Dean doesn't own one and we already knew Heather had already headed out, the same with my mom and dad.

I unlock the front door and head in. 

We are greeted to the sound of gunfire.

It was obvious where Dean was.

"Halo again I think." Hearing the familiar cries of the Grunts. 

"Yep think so."

We make our way through the house until we reach the correct room.

I look at Ricky and then open the door.

As we thought, Dean is sat in the dark playing another game of Halo.

We walk in and over to Dean.

"Hey Dean." I say, trying to get his attention.

Much to my surprise he actually pauses his game and speaks to me.

An unusual occurrence recently.

"Oh hey, what's up? I thought you were out?"

"We were, but I just wanted to come, but and have a word with you" I say sitting down on the couch near him.

Ricky stays back and sat on a wooden chair in the corner.

"Ok. What did you want to talk about?" Dean asks sitting his controller down.

I wasn't sure how to start the questions, so I just jumped straight to the point.

"Did you speak to Nate this morning?"

"Yes, why?"

"And you told him Hope wasn't interested in him?"

"Yes." He says normally.

"Why?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" He asks confused by the question.

"I mean, why do you think Hope isn't interested in him?" I ask more clearly.

"Because I know." He says flatly.

I gave him an 'are you serious look?'

Dean gives me a twisted grin and continues, "Nate’s trying to brainwash her! She is mine and she knows it!" He says to so normally it was creepy.

Ricky and I both look at each other and I can tell he is thinking the same as me 'what the heck'.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Crazy?

Matt

Ricky stood up and walked over to me.

“Brother or not, you need to talk to him. I’m going to wait outside before I do something I regret.”
Ricky said slowly into my ear.

I silently agree with my eyes and watch him exit the room.

“What’s the matter with him?” I hear Dean say, still with his game paused.

I look at him with a shocked expression. “What do you think is wrong Dean?” I try to stay calm, but it comes out as more of a growl.

Dean shrugs it off.

“Anyway, what did you come to talk to me about?”

To say I am shocked and scared of my little brother’s nonchalant attitude would be an understatement.

“Why do you think Nate is brainwashing her?”

“I just know alright?” Dean snapped.

‘I don’t think this is going to be as easy as I thought it would be.’  I thought to myself.

“Did she say that to you?” I try again.

He shook his head “No she doesn’t need too. I can tell by the why she looks at me and smiles that it must be forced.” He looks almost as if he is dreaming and thinking back as he speaks.