Amidst love and heartbreak

BRANDON the player

Emily’s POV

I have spent all my life doing the right thing, pleasing everyone, trying to make everything go smoothly. My family was great support and everything but I always wanted to become someone on my own. The feeling of independence has always been strong within me. That’s why I took a double major. In part because I couldn’t decide what I loved more, in part because I decided to give my best and see where it brought me. Putting my studies first was the only way I could do it. The problem, though, was that I never had time to go out. I never thought of having a boyfriend even though I might have had a little crush on Aron for quite some time now.

What is surprising to me now is my reaction to Ethan. If you ask me why I am justifying myself to this person I barely know, and to be honest, I have no intention of knowing better than I do, I would not find a single reason to give you. With the reputation this guy has, I should better run as far as I can. 

“Then, it might be for another time. If you can find time for your friend here, you can definitely spare some time for me as well,” he said and the sound of a fork dropping on the table made me turn my head. There was definitely anger in Aron’s eyes now. I knew he was pissed but I really don’t know why. We might have been playing with words for a while but it’s not that we had anything going on, right? Plus he shouldn’t be feeling that way because there was nothing between Ethan and me. We’re not even friends, for crying out loud.

I turned my head towards a patiently waiting Ethan and tried to think about something witty to say but nothing came out. I tried to avoid situations like this for as long as I could. This is not what I should be thinking right now. I should be finishing my assignment and read more before the final tests next week.

“I don’t have time for this,” I said in a low voice, more to myself than for anyone to hear. Aron, though, being the attentive friend that he is, noticed and stood up from his chair.

“Come on, Emily. We better get back so you can finish the assignment,” Aron is such a cutie. He even gave me the perfect excuse, not that it wasn’t true.

“Yes, let’s go,” I said with a voice a bit louder than before.

Ethan on the other hand chuckled and came near me. His scent filling my nose, manly, intoxicating. I have no idea what was it about his scent that made my mind go blank and my heart gets unsteady.

His face came even closer to mine and my breath got caught in my throat. He turned his face on the side and kissed my cheek. What happened? Why did he do that? In only a couple of seconds, I feel the heat coming from my cheeks. Great. Now I am blushing for this jerk.

“We have to go,” I muttered and turned to make a sign or something to Aron so we could go, but what I saw was only an empty seat and no Aron in view. I turned my head towards the door and that’s when I saw it closing. I have a bad feeling about this but I don’t know why.

Aron’s POV

He kisses her. He f*****g kissed her right in front of me. For the past few minutes he’s been friend-zoning me on her account and she, my beautiful and very busy Emily said nothing. Ironic, right? I had to get out of there immediately. I couldn’t watch him seducing the girl I wanted. I can’t … 

“Hey,” she said as soon as she caught up with me. “Is everything alright?” she asked.

Is everything alright? ‘No, nothing is alright’ I wanted to say but I was too angry to start this conversation and that would have been a death sentence for my chance to achieve something with her.

“Yeah, kind of. I have a headache and I just remembered I have to go talk to Brandon. He texted me earlier. Is it ok if I don’t accompany you today?” I wanted to get away as soon as possible.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Thanks for the burger and the fun afternoon. That helped me a lot,” Yeah, I know I am the perfect friend.

“No problem. See you tomorrow at school,” I said in a plain voice and left. She seemed like she wanted to talk but I had no desire to listen to whatever she wanted to say. Or I wasn’t ready. I don’t know. 

Saying that I had to talk to Brandon was just an excuse, but now I was really thinking that I should go talk to him. We have an amazing relationship and having an older sibling to talk to is always nice. I decided to text him. Last time I went unannounced I found him in a very compromising position and I don’t want a repeat of that.

Aron: Hey Bran, can I come over?

Brandon: Sure thing. What’s up? R U ok?

Aron: Not really. Talk to you later. Make sure your d**k inside your pants this time. I still have nightmares.

Brandon: Now that you texted I will make sure of it. This is what normal people do before visiting other people. Not open the door without a blink.

I chuckled. He was right. It was actually my fault I caught him red-handed but in my defence, I learnt my lesson.

In less than fifteen minutes I was out of his house. The fucker did a great job with it. I know that he was obsessed to follow up with every detail when the team was doing the renovations last year. Even though he hired an architect for this, Brandon still had to be present.

I rang the doorbell and almost immediately he opened the door for me. I have no idea what I looked like right now, but it might not have been a good view since he pulled me in a tight hug. I really needed that.

“What’s up, crybaby. You spilt the milk and came crying to big bro?” he asked jokingly.

“Not exactly. Someone stole the spotlight and I am not really comfortable with it,”

“You mean, she finally is dating someone? It was about time you realised she wasn’t worth waiting for,”

“Not yet, Bran. Not yet. But this time I am afraid that she might be open to the idea of dating someone, and I don’t like it,”

“You don’t like it because it’s not to you that she is opening to?”

“No. It’s the fact that that boy is a total douchebag. He is a f**k boy, a manwhore and has no sense of care for any living thing surrounding him,”

“Wow. you hate him already,”

“I hate him. I hate that he is going to play her and dump her before she realises. But I mostly hate the fact that she is so willing to open to him,” I finally said and felt relief for having said it and sadness for how true it sounded now that I said it out loud.

Brandon scratched his cheek like he always does and came near me. We were both sitting side by side on his couch with our eyes glued to his TV but not really watching what was on it. 

“What do you really want, Aron?” came his question out of a blue.

“I want her. I have not been waiting patiently for four years only for another boy to come and get her from me,” I said with newfound clarity.

“Then, go get her,” he said in a duh tone.

“How? It’s easy for you to say. You’ve got everyone on your feel, waiting for you to notice them,”

“But it’s not what I want. Look, there is this Nolan guy I am trying to get lately. It’s him I want. It’s him I will get. Even though he is a bit reluctant and inexperienced, I have to try it or I wouldn’t be able to live comfortably with myself. I don’t want to live my life with ‘what if-s’. And you shouldn’t either,” he said and I started feeling a bit better. Maybe, just maybe, she has no idea that I want her. In that case, I will make myself clear. Fucker boy or not, I will try my luck. I only hope I don’t get my heart broken in the process.

Brandon’s POV

When Aron comes to me to talk, I know that he wants to talk about Emily. He is the perfect gentleman and waits patiently for her to throw a bone at him. I usually don’t encourage him to go after her because I don’t really see any future for them. She is always ‘so busy’ with everything that she apparently hasn’t dated anyone in four years. With all the girls throwing themselves to me at the clinic, married or not, I don’t believe in any member of the same gender. Lucky for me I am not interested in them in any way, since I am gay. 

This time, though, I saw him so angry and sad at the same time that I really didn’t know what to say for a while. What I told him though is true. I don’t want to live my life with regrets, so I go for everything that I want. I don’t waste my time with anything that is not worth it. I hope he really goes after her this time, instead of just the occasional flirt or tease between the two. And for his sake, I hope that everything goes well because I do not want my brother to have a broken heart after four years of pining for the same girl.

That reminds me. Nolan has been quiet this afternoon. Maybe I should text him just to check if he is ok. When I kissed him earlier he seemed a bit off. I hope it wasn’t too soon for him, because it was perfect timing for me.

Brandon: Hey, what’s up?

Nolan: Not much. Cooking dinner.

Brandon: What are you cooking?

Nolan: Just some rice and stir fry veggies.

Brandon: mmm… sounds yummy. I bet it’s not as tasty as your lips, though.

There was a long pause and I thought there was not going to be any reply to that. But then my phone vibrated again.

Nolan: No it’s not. I bet you can still feel them pressed to yours. I know I still do.

Brandon: You just have to say the word, my boy, and I will come running to you.

Nolan: Maybe next time. I think we had enough action for one day.

Brandon: Yes, sir. Just make sure you don’t come to my dreams tonight. I will not respond to myself.

 I added a wink emoji and turned my screen off. I guess it’s enough teasing for tonight. He seemed fine with the kiss, so I can sleep calm tonight.

I am beginning to feel something for this guy that I have not felt for anyone for a very long time. It is becoming a bit scary for me with a reputation that I have got. I am the gynaecologist that almost every client goes after and the player that has broken many hearts because I was not ready to settle. While Nolan is the primary teacher that loves children and that has had probably fewer relationships than a high school kid. I could kind of see why he was always holding back. What he did not know, though, is that he had all the control in our relationship, if we can call it by that name.

I know what I want though, and I will not stop until I get it. He better be ready for what is coming. How great it would be is Aron was this determined to get that Emily girl. He would not be coming to me crying every time he wants to ask her on a date but he chickened out this time as well. that kid has to learn some lessons...