My Beautiful Mistake

Chapter Two

I glanced at the alarm clock on the table next to my bed. It was only 7 in the morning, but I guess that was as good a time as any other to start the day. I got up and stretched my arms, yawning lazily in the process. I climbed up the ladder to the top bunk and looked at my brother's peaceful face. He looked younger than he really was. In reality, he was in fact 25 years old. Five years older than me.

Should I wake him up the easy way or the hard way? Screw it. The hard way.

I gently climbed onto his bunk and sat on top on his chest. I silently counted.

One. Two. Three.

Then I screamed. His eyes popped wide open and his arms flailed around like a flopping fish as he panicked. It took him a minute to register what had just happened. He glared at me with very, very angry and intense eyes.

Uh oh.

"Good mooooooorning, brotherrrrrrrr!" I stretched out the words in a sing-song voice, hoping to ease the angry vibe I was getting from him.

He pushed me off his chest and sat up crossed-legged on his bunk across from me.

"After all these years, Brookie. You still haven't given up your annoying habits. You're still a pain in the ass." He shook his head in mock disappointment forcing a slight giggle out of me.

"And you were a boring, dull, older brother. Gosh, nothing has really changed has it?" I bit my lips trying to hide my smirk as he gasped.

"Oh, you're so dead."

"Only if you can catch me, grandpa."

I jumped on the bunk bed and he followed. I ran a straight line put of the bedroom and into the kitchen where he chased me around the dining table. But, there was one place he couldn't catch me. At the first opportunity I got, I ran into the bathroom and quickly locked the door. He started banging on the door.

"Not fair!" He whined.

"Life's not fair." I grinned and listened for any sounds that meant he was leaving.

He made no attempt to leave. "Fine, but can you at least get out? I promise not to kill you."

I had to consider this. Did I really trust that he had nothing else up his sleeve? Not really, but hey, you only live once right?

I slowly turned the lock and stepped out of the bathroom. He wasn't there. Then, where was he? I made my way to the living room and found him sitting casually on my couch. He looked up when I sat next to him.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey..." I replied, with a long silence. Why was he just sitting here casually?

"So, Brookie. I've been meaning to ask you something."

Huh?

"Shoot."

"I've been thinking about this thing for a while. How about I move in with you for a couple of months or so? I'll help you pay the rent and stuff."

Whoa.

I was completely not expected this. My older brother showed up unexpected and uninvited to my apartment at midnight and I let him go straight to sleep because he was obviously exhausted. I hadn't seen him in four years since he headed abroad to study architecture. And now all of a sudden he comes back wanting to move in with me? What's wrong with this picture? 

"Well, what do you say?" He asked me with his eyes full of obvious hope for my acceptance.

I hate disappointing people. And especially someone dear to me? I could never say no to him. But, I actually moved into an off-campus apartment to escape the family even though my college was only ten to fifteen minutes away from home. I liked solitude. I liked my privacy. Dammit.

"Ummm, sure you can I guess." I regretted the words as immediately as I said them.

He smiled. "Thank you, Brookie. I really appreciate it. And Evelyn appreciates it too."

Wait a minute. Evelyn? Who the hell is Evelyn?

"Oh, Evelyn is my fiancé. I met her in the UK. "

I really, really did not want to have two extra people walking around my apartment. But, what choice did I have? He's my older brother and came to me for help. But then again, a random lady walking around my home, using my things, and sleeping in my room. Damn. What did I get myself into?

"Ok, I understand. W-when will I get to meet Evelyn?"

"She's at a friend's house right now. You two can have dinner later at the Italian restaurant down the block. Get to know each other. I'll pay."

He looked desperate at the point. He knew I was very introverted since childhood and this would be very, very hard for me to cope with.

"Please, Brookie. Promise me you'll help me. I don't know what I would do without her." His love for her was very evident in his eyes, so of course, I gave in.

Alright. 

Some moments later, I found myself at the restaurant staring at this person who was nothing like my brother at all.

"I hear you're my love's sister?"

I just stared at her in obvious shock. She had tongue piercings and tattoos covering the entirety of her neck. She smelled strongly of cigarettes and her hair was pixie cut and dyed bright red. It didn't go very well with her light skin tone.

"Dear, you can stop staring now."

I snapped out of my thoughts and shook my head. "Sorry, sorry."

She chuckled. "Don't get your knickers in a twist, hon. You're not the first to stare. I just, like to make fashion statements."

Yeah, she definitely succeeded in standing out.

"Well, I admire your confidence. I could never." I struggled to get the words out.

I didn't really want to say anything to her. She seemed intimidating to me. She was everything I've always wanted to be- confident, bold, and not afraid to stand out.

"I know, hon. Anywho, I think this is a bit of a waste don't you think? We're not getting anywhere."

"Yeah bu-"

"How about some girl gossip?" She cut me off and grinned.

Girl gossip? That was something I've never really been good at mostly because I've never had any close girl friends. But, it wouldn't hurt to try would it?

"So...do you have a boyfriend?"

I nearly choked on the fry I was in the middle of eating. 

"Excuse me?" I asked her sure that I heard her wrong.

"You heard me."

"Oh, um no I don't." I admitted. 

I didn't know how Matt found it in him to give love a chance. The wounds on my heart were still fresh.

"Bloody hell, that's perfect. I know a man who could very well suit you."

My cheeks flushed at the thought of this woman setting me up with a stranger. I had zero intention of going on a date with some stranger. Hadn't she learned from serial killer movies?

"I-I couldn't possib-"

"I will not have no for an answer, sweetie." She cut me off once again.

Great. Blind dating. What next?

"Just wait here, dear. I'll call him and he'll be here in a few minutes. Watch out for an unbelievably gorgeous hunk."

With that, she left and I immediately began to panic.

What was this even? Was she like CEO of a speed dating company or something? What the hell are you going to do now, Brooklyn?

Suddenly, it dawned on me. The bathroom! I got up from my booth and made a beeline for the bathroom. I wasn't even paying attention to where I was walking. The only thing on my mind was getting to the bathroom and hiding before the blind date came in. Suddenly, I bumped into a very hard chest. A pair of heavy hands roughly shoved me backwards.

"Watch it." A deep voice growled.

I looked up and couldn't help but gape.

"Like what you see?"

I blinked a couple times and realized he was talking to me.

"Oh, my bad. Sorry" I stepped sideways and tried not to stare at him anymore.

Cocky jerk.

He looked at me for a second before his eyebrows furrowed and he muttered a curse under his breath as he stormed away. My eyes were still on him until he walked right out the door. Now, I had never ever had any interest in boys. Believe me on that. But, this boy, no, man, was unbelievably gorgeous. I had never seen any male with such perfect hazel, scruffy hair and such deep brown eyes. Not to mention, his arms weren't looking too bad either.

Hold up, Brooklyn. What the hell are you even saying? Don't make the same mistake your mom did.

I shook my head in a feeble attempt to rid my mind of these humiliating thoughts. But, he was no doubt, the most handsome man I had ever seen. His tight shirt wasn't hiding any part of his chiseled body. Any girl would immediately throw herself at him after a single glance. But, he was sort of rude.

Forget it, Brooklyn. Stop it right now. Just go home and forget this ever happened.

That's exactly what I decided to do.